" Improved RADEON PCI & RADEON 7000 performance Recent changes and optimizations will show substantial performance improvements in most applications. These changes apply to both 3D and 2D content (example: Quake 3 improvements in frame rates of up to 30% for RADEON PCI, depending on system and game configuration). "

See the Release Notes for a complete listing of changes and notes on OS 9 OpenGL/QD3D versions, FSAA and Anisotropic Filtering support for Radeon series cards (requires support in the game), etc.
(Previous June 2002 driver update info follows - the above update however should include all the latest fixes/changes - so no need to install the previous updates.)

March and June 2002 Update Feedback: For reports on the later March 2002 ATI Driver Update (OS 9 and OS X) - see This page. For reports on the June 2002 update, see this page.

ATI Jan 14th Driver Update: (from the main www.xlr8yourmac.com news page)
(http://support.ati.com/drivers/mac/macos9_jan_14_2002_update.html was a working link for weeks - but as of April 2002 it's a "404" page not found. [God I wish ATI would not move/delete pages without at least providing a simple "meta refresh" page redirect to the new page.]
I'm too buried in work to go digging there for the new link (and it may moved/deleted again later) so just try searching ATI's support page for the update.
(Note to Rage128 owners - you may want to select Radeon as the card type since those are the updated drivers name, but they include Rage128 extensions.)

This release includes a new ROM Xtender file with the following changes:

ATI ROM Xtender v1.0.9

• Fixed Applevision controls missing from Monitors control panel
• Fixed boot delay/blank screen with RADEON MAC EDITION
• Fixed scrambled TV Out on RADEON MAC EDITION
• Fixed blank screen launching Quake III Arena in full screen using RADEON MAC EDITION

After downloading and installing the update - it appears (on my system) that the update also has a later version of the Mac2TV Monitor extension (2.8.3). A quick test shows that Quake III now runs with the update and the Sony FW900 monitor here; with the previous Jan 7th update, the ROM Xtender file (v1.08) would not (setting the monitor to a 29Hz refresh rate as I noted last week.)

" I am running OS 9.1 on a (I think) Sawtooth G4/400 with an AGP Radeon from the factory and a Rage 128 VR in the PCI slot. Since I installed the Jan 14 update, everytime I launch Tom Clancy's Rogue Spear, the computer crashes before displaying the game screen. Only the MacPlay logo will launch. During the crash, my 21" monitor will revert to the desktop screen, while the 17" monitor will freeze in a grey screen. It is impossible to force quit the application when this happens. Only hitting the restart key fixes this problem.
Is it possible to get replacement drivers from ATI?
Best Regards,
Grant C. "

I asked if he backed up his original ATI extensions (I recommended this back when the first jan 7th update was posted and is always a good general rule.) I also suggested disabling any ATI Rom Xtender extension to see if that helped. Also the video articles page here, (Graphics card section, and ATI's site) there is a 1.1.1 Radeon driver download, but it may not overwrite later versions - so you might want to disable all ATI extensions (including the OpenGL ATI Renderer), then reboot and then run any driver updater. Apple's OS 9 CDs also usually install the generic ATI extensions if you don't have access to any other driver sources. (Tomeviewer can extract files from installers also.)

[1/15/2002 reports follow]

" Thanks to you and Mark. This is a great tip. [see earlier post below-Mike] It also cured the same problem on my DP800 Mac with PCI Radeon used for a 2nd monitor. The problem (which also affected Eudora) was caused by the Sept 2001 ROM update and is still listed as the first issue on the ATI Mac Radeon Technical Issues web page (called Mouse Pointer artifacts). But the web page makes no mention of this solution, even though it cites the Jan update as fix for other problems. Nor does the Jan update mention this solution.
Greg"

" Hi Mike, thanks again for your site!
I have a radeon AGP card since a week in my DP500 G4. After installing this update I tried to run the demo of graphing calculator: it hard crashes at every 3D demo! I didn't try it when running the previous drivers, but I thought I let you know. Any word on this?
thanks, Marc "

I just ran the graphing calculator here on my (OS 9.2.2) DP500 w/retail Radeon AGP with the update - it works fine (running the demos).

Reminder on ROM Xtender File Manual Copy to OS X:

" Just wanted to let you know a bit of info regarding the ATI Driver update released today. I copied the new "ATI ROM Xtender 1.0.9" into the OS X folder specified in the Sept. 2001 ROM update, and it (finally) cured the Internet Explorer cursor glitch where little black squares would pop up when the cursor passed over text. I had the problem on a B&W G3 400 with PCI Radeon. I'm glad the bug is finally killed. Works great. I thought others could really benefit from this tip.
Mark "

The info on manually installing the 9/1 ROM update in OS X was noted in the blue text of this past article here. (not needed for PCI Radeon's flashed with the 9/1 ROM update back then, but the new ROM xtender file is later than the 9/1 PCI card firmware flash I suspect.)

" And the tip is...[drumroll]...do NOT select Xclaim Video Player UNLESS you actually have an Xclaim card. My one computer does, and the other does not, and on the one without...well...let's just say "crash-a-mundo!"
--
Adam F.
GameSCOUTER Multiplay Service
Administrator "

The Xclaim video player wasn't in the update that I saw... but it's only for the VR series of cards. [I tried to reply to his email but it bounced back...]

Jan 7th Driver Update Info/Comments: Here's the news page post on the Jan 7th, 2002 driver update. Feedback/tips/problem reports follow)
(Note: If you decide to install this update, due to issues I and others have seen with the ROM Xtender extension, I'd recommend backing up your current version before installing in case you have any problems.)

I'm hoping this is the Radeon Update that adds FSAA support for games that have that option. The update can be downloaded at http://support.ati.com/drivers/mac/macos9_jan_7_2002_update.html. {NOTE - as of April 2002 that page has been deleted - see notes at the top of the page.}
.

" Requirements:
* Mac OS 9.x
* QuickTime 5.0 or higher
* OpenGL 1.2.2 (required for 3D graphics)

Supports * RADEON MAC EDITION
* RAGE 128 Mac products such as
* RAGE ORION
* NEXUS 128
* XCLAIM VR 128

Details
* Filename: OS9_RADEON_020107.HQX
* File Size: 3.09 MB
* Posted: 01/07/2002
* Release Notes
This driver version was written and enhanced for Mac OS 9.x - It is NOT supported under Mac OS 8.6.

This driver requires OpenGL version 1.2.2 or higher for 3D graphics support. At present this version of OpenGL is only available in Mac OS 9.2.1 or higher.

3D graphics are not supported with this driver when using older versions of OpenGL.

This driver package does NOT include QuickTime. QuickTime 5.0 or higher is required for correct operation. "

The readme file notes adaptive de-interlacing for DVD playback in OS 9. (This is an option now in the ATI menu option adjacent to the Finder's OS 9 Menu bar apps switcher.) I welcome Feedback from Radeon and other ATI card owners on this driver update for OS 9.

Black Screen/Refresh Rate Tip: Replacing the 1.08 ATI Rom Xtender extension with the previous 1.07 version solved the Q3 black screen issue I had with the G4/500DP and Sony FW900. (See report below.) The first reboot with the 1.07 extension hung the machine, but a reset worked. (The Cube w/LCD display and PB G4 didn't have this issue.)
I'd suggest making a copy of your existing ATI extensions/CP before the update if you have not applied it already)

Problems Running Quake3 after Jan 7th 2002 Update: [Should be fixed w/Jan 14th driver update noted above]
I applied the ATI driver update noted below have seen a problem with running Quake3 on a Sony FW900 with a retail Radeon AGP card in a Dual G4/500 after the update. When I launch Quake3 v1.30 after the update, the screen goes black on the FW900, indicating the refesh rate is out of range for the monitor. (29Hz?) This was not a problem before the driver update. I checked the Monitors control panel and it shows a refesh rate of 75Hz as before - but Quake 3 will not run as OpenGL mode apparently tries to set a very low refresh rate after the update. Trashing the Quake3 config file and then running Q3 again did not help (still shown as 29Hz refresh rate in the FW900's internal diagnostics, same black screen seen.) I have to hit the reset button to reboot the Mac after trying to run Quake3. [Replacing the 1.08 ATI Rom Xtender extension with the previous 1.07 version solved the Q3 black screen issue I had with the G4/500DP and Sony FW900. The first reboot with the 1.07 extension hung the machine, but after pressing reset it booted and now runs Q3 OK.]

The update ran Quake3 fine on my Cube running an Apple Cinema Display LCD however. (And on a PB G4 which also has an LCD display.) No performance gain was seen with the update in OS 9.2.2 w/Quake3 with the Dual G4/500 Cube w/OEM Radeon in Quake 3 1.30 when tested at 640x480/32bit/HQ and 1024x768/32bit/HQ settings.

*Note:*: The update installs the ATI extension which adds the ATI icon near the menu bar apps switcher. As with previous updates, only the retail ATI cards can use the ATI display control panel. The ATI menu offers an option for "Adaptive Deinterlacing for DVD " playback. I've not yet tested to see if this works with OEM cards as well as retail cards. (I'm playing the Matrix DVD on the Cube with OEM Radeon card and it seems to be working, but it's too early to tell.)

Reader Reports on the Driver Update: (most recent reports first)

Jan 7th 2002 Driver Update Comments (No reports yet on the Jan 14th update)

Nokia 445Pro 21" CRT Owner Notes Issues Fixed: (from a forum post)

" I posted several months ago about the screen jitters I was experiencing at 1600x1200 on my Nokia 445Pro, making that resolution entirely unusable. The dot crawl was even present at lower resolutions, though not as offensive. The new Radeon drivers have entirely solved this problem for me, though - the image is now rock-solid - and 1600x1200 is a beautiful sight to behold.

I have to endure the same long pause at startup that has been reported by others, but it's worth it to me. I'll try removing the ROM Extender to see if that solves the startup problem but still leaves intact my high-resolution image.

As for adaptive deinterlacing, I don't know what others are talking about when they say it doesn't make much of a difference. On Asian movies, anime, and TV shows it makes an _incredible_ difference, even when you output to a TV (which muddies the image and generally renders interlacing less of a problem). And I don't see any negative impacts on non-interlaced picture quality, either (though I haven't tested extensively and am far from an expert).

I'm grateful to Arshad and others at ATI for finally implementing this even though Apple still refuses to do so. Of course, this also means that OS 9 remains vastly superior to OS X for DVD playback, alas. Apple really needs to get its act together.
Patrick"

[reports from 1/7/2002 news page follow]

" Hi Mike
I have a PCI Radeon running in my 8600/g3-500 and I have to say that I'm dissapointed in these drivers. The versions are the same as what was included with the MacOS 9.2.2 update. While I can't run that version of the OS, I did take the drivers from it, so for some time I've been using what ATI just released as 'new'. Here are the versions and dates:

ATI Radeon 3D Accelerator v6.3.5 (Nov 9, 2001, items below have this date)
ATI Rage 128 3D Accelerator v6.3.5
ATI Resource Manager v3.0.5
OpenGLRendererATI v1.2.8
ATI Extension v2.8.4 (Nov 28, 2001)
ATI Graphics Accelerator v5.5.1
ATI Mac2TV Monitor v2.8.3
ATI 3D Accelerator v5.0.4 (July 27, 2001)
ATI Video Accelerator v4.8.5 (Sept 24, 2001)
ATI ROM Xtender v1.0.8 (Dec 14, 2001)

If old drivers weren't enough, to top it off now when I reboot I get about 15 seconds added onto my startup time when the radeon shuts off my main monitor for no apparent reason, just like it's going to sleep except that my second monitor is still on. Everything just stops, no hard drive activity. The first time I thought it might be doing a ROM update, but later reboots just confirmed that it was a delay. Nice bug, good thing I leave my system running all the time and don't usually have to reboot...

So whatever happened to the ATI performance driver release? What about the ROM update for the cards effected by the bug introduced with the last update (flickering text in internet explorer, etc when in MacOS X)? Is Arshad still there? I think a lot of people would like an update on those questions.

So there you have it. Thanks for the great site and keep up the good work!
CS "

" I have a Radeon AGP card.
The ATI menu (the menu that appears in the upper right hand area of the main menu bar) has a new option "Adaptive De-Interlacing for DVD". [Noted in my previous post below-Mike] I just tried using it with the Apple DVD player 2.7, and it does appear to change the video, although I really did not see a big difference in image quality (could of been the dvd I was using, a X-Files season 3 episode).

I have been looking high and low for the FSAA, can't find it. [I think the first release will not have a global FSAA option, instead requiring the game/app. to have FSAA options.-Mike] However, the ATI apple guide lists Antialiasing as a index topic, and the ATI help (though the Mac Help Center) says the following in the about - the ATI Displays control panel:
3D Full Screen Antialiasing - provides better smoothing of 3D graphic edges.

And under Troubleshooting - can't select certain features it says:
3D Full Screen Antialiasing (FSAA) is only available with the ATI RADEON.

It seems it imply that there should be a option in the ATI Displays control panel for FSAA, but I can't find it anywhere in the control panel?
-Joshua D. Orr- "

The Red Faction 1.2 Update was noted by a Radeon owner last week as having an FSAA option in OS X, but not sure it does for the OS 9 version. If anyone ties RF 1.2 in OS 9 with the ATI driver update let me know if you see a FSAA option. (I don't have the game yet to try.)

" Hi Mike!
B/W Mac G3 /ATI RADEON PCI RETAIL
Graphite Apple Studio Display 17"
Mac OS 9.2.2
I had serious problems with the ATI Driver Update. The monitor went to sleep mode during startup as the ATI-files was loading. I tried to zap the pram, tried to restart the machine pressing shift in order to boot with extensions off. That didnít help much either, the same problem ocurred. At the next startup I pressed the spacebar and thus activating extensions manager. I managed to startup with the basic Mac OS profile and I threw away all ATI files and installed an older version. Works fine again. I donít think Iíll go for another try...
All the best:
J. Wallgren. "

The G4 Cube w/Radeon AGP OEM and the PB G4/667 seems OK so far but I've on done much more than test for the Quake3 1.30 issue I saw with the update on the DP500 w/AGP Radeon retail card I noted earlier today.

Related Articles:
For previous reviews of ATI graphics cards, driver feedback and others graphics card reviews/articles - use the Video topics page link below.