FirePro Catalyst Driver v8.583 supports OpenGL 3.0, vertex shader and multi-GPU extensions

Yesterday ATI released Catalyst Display Driver v8.583 for the FirePro that enables full support for OpenGL 3.0 This driver also supports the OpenGL extensions: AMD_vertex_shader_tessellator for increased geometry detail and enhanced realism and AMD_GPU_association>  designed to provide improved performance scaling and parallel processing for multiple GPUs by allowing a workstation application, especially those that do off-screen rendering, to process multiple images or datasets simultaneously and combine the final image for display. AMD also announced support for OpenGL 3.1 in the very near future.

Catalyst driver 9.2 add three new OpenGL extensions

Last month I posted about the Catalyst 9.1 drivers with the full support for OpenGL 3.0 on Radeon HD 2400. ATI has released the new 9.2 driver and it introduces three new OpenGL extensions:

• GL_EXT_bindable_uniform
• GL_EXT_texture_shared_exponent
• WGL_AMDX_gpu_association

I wrote to AMD to find out if the new WGL_AMDX_gpu_association was the equivalent to NVIDIA’s WGL_NV_gpu_affinity extension for binging an OpenGL render context to a specific GPU (when several GPUs are present). AMD responded back with the post from Nick Haemel.

Welcome to the future of graphics! AMD OpenGL 3.0 driver release on Jan 28, 2009

Welcome to the future of professional graphics!  That future begins with OpenGL 3.0. As most of you know, the OpenGL 3.0 specification was finalized late in 2008. It represents a big step in modernizing cross-platform 3D graphics support and bring applications closer to the torrential power of the modern graphics chip. OpenGL 3.0 will enable applications to continue pushing the edge of the graphics envelope while maintaining portability across all major OSes.

AMD has supported the core GL3 features as extensions for some time, allowing developers to get a head-start in developing for the new API. That means developers have had access to floating point color buffers, instanced rendering, updated GPU shader language features, new texture formats, and much more on Radeon and FirePro hardware.

The first official driver release with the full support for OpenGL 3.0 on Radeon HD 2400 and above is built into ATI Catalyst Release 9.1, set for public consumption on January 28, 2009. It will be available for download on the AMD Support & Drivers page. This release will enable full and forward-looking GL3.0 contexts on Windows XP, Windows Vista, and Linux. Look for official FirePro support later in Q1. The great news is you will be able to use GL3 on current ATI FirePro V3700 and above cards as well as ATI Radeon HD 2400 and above with a driver update.

Stay tuned for more updates on how AMD and OpenGL are enhancing application capabilities, speeding up workloads, and helping to move the CAD industry forward.

Update Jan 29, 2009 -  9.1 Driver is available for download. Check out the release notes for more info.