AMD drivers for macOS Big Sur namedrop third-gen RDNA hardware

[Lionvibez]

What's so bad about them? Im only familiar with the dumpster fire that is Nvidia's Linux drivers and was considering switching to AMD for my next build

Been on a Radeon RX580 for a few years now and no major issues for me with drivers.

 

[Eldritch]

AMD has made great strides in all departments recently and most if their ideas are hitting bullseye eg Vulkan, Freesync, Ryzen 3 and being graphics hardware of next gen consoles. They have both Nvidia and Intel beat which is truly amazing.

All that being said, of all the graphics cards I have had, the only one to go kaput was an Radeon one (around 2015) after an official driver update. So yeah, little bit of skepticism remains even as we cheer for Big Navi.

 

[angelotti]

There have been people with NAVI "issues" that eventually found out their $40 PSU (from a decade ago) was the culprit, and swapping it for a $80 more current one fixed all their woes.

There can be other causes (of iniquitous nature) at fault for your hardware troubles. If you live in (buy from) what the corporations consider to be third a world country (legislative and cultural wise, not geographical and financial) you are likely to have a substandard, rebranded, partially defective or otherwise different components (from what is advertised on the box) product.

- My 560ti was a rebranded 400 series GPU. Died 4 moths after the warranty expired, despite the fact that for the last 8-10 months of it's life the most intense work it had thrown it's way were 1080p youtube videos. In it's 3y4m life time it only received 2 working drivers, for every other driver I had driver crash & recovery one or twice an hour plus frequent game ctd's.
- The 970 I replaced it with was either a 'cut down' version or a rebranded 700 series GPU. After civil discourse with several gamers from the western world who claimed better performance from their 960 cards, I found a local with an MSI 970 Gaming 4 G bought from ebay to pit my MSI 970 Gaming 100ME bought from the biggest PC hardware retail shop in the country and benchmark-ed the most performance heavy title this guy had in his library (GR Wildlands). Same computer, both GPU's of the same maker with identical specs.., and lo and behold, my 970 was 12% slower than his. Mine also had a bios voltage hard cap 75mv lower than his.
- My sister's 730 was running loudly at ~80% while playing youtube videos. I decided to investigate and found it was just a rebranded 705 (which is a rebranded 520). The latest driver that can be installed for it is also the last driver that supports 705 GPUs.

These are just GPU related woes, from products bought from this country. I have plenty other with monitors, CPU's and non PC products.

I also have issues with my reference 5700 (non xt). Only three drivers since release have been trouble-free. All the others give me occasional black or blue screens. But I'm not so quick to point the finger at the drivers. First off, all the troubled drivers become trouble-free if I raise the gpu voltage by 25mv, which is an indication of hardware "fault". Second, I do have an old PSU, an 8y old $120 pro series with 7y warranty. Which, if judged by the above standards, might as well be a $40 psu equivalent (in terms of components).

 

[Alfatawi Mendel]

I wonder if Radeon software and drivers for Mac is as bad as the absolute ****-show that they are for Windows.

I don't know what you're talking about. My RX 5700 hasn't had ANY issues at all in Windows, nor in games. Just like the GTX 960 I had before.

 

[MaxSmarties]

I don’t know about streaming, but if people doesn’t recognize how bad are AMD drivers, they surely are biased.
And I own a 5700XT.

 

[meric]

AMD vs. Nvidia — Which Is the Better Graphics Card Option?

Are you searching for graphics cards and wonder whether you should go with AMD vs. Nvidia? Find out the pros and cons of each to decide what's best for you.

www.streamerbuilds.com

*warning* This is going to trigger the AMD fanboys on here who just wont accept the fact that Nvidia is better for streaming.

(from the page you shared)
"Nvidia comes on top because of the quality of their hardware.

Their cards don’t overheat as much as AMD’s do. They also consume less power, leading to a more efficient graphics card.

They also have a slimmer design compared to AMD graphics cards. This isn’t much of a factor, but the design choice may matter when installing the card into your PC.

Nvidia has the technological edge over AMD in every factor.

You shouldn’t disregard AMD graphics cards yet, though. They have a better memory bandwidth on their low-cost cards compared to the ones Nvidia sells at the same value. While they still overheat and consume more power than Nvidia cards, know that the gap between the two companies is getting smaller every year."

 

[HardReset]

Nvidia has the technological edge over AMD in every factor.

Oh yeah, like Nvidia's 12nm is better than AMD's 7nm. Jesus.

 

[MaxSmarties]

There have been people with NAVI "issues" that eventually found out their $40 PSU (from a decade ago) was the culprit, and swapping it for a $80 more current one fixed all their woes.

There can be other causes (of iniquitous nature) at fault for your hardware troubles. If you live in (buy from) what the corporations consider to be third a world country (legislative and cultural wise, not geographical and financial) you are likely to have a substandard, rebranded, partially defective or otherwise different components (from what is advertised on the box) product.

- My 560ti was a rebranded 400 series GPU. Died 4 moths after the warranty expired, despite the fact that for the last 8-10 months of it's life the most intense work it had thrown it's way were 1080p youtube videos. In it's 3y4m life time it only received 2 working drivers, for every other driver I had driver crash & recovery one or twice an hour plus frequent game ctd's.
- The 970 I replaced it with was either a 'cut down' version or a rebranded 700 series GPU. After civil discourse with several gamers from the western world who claimed better performance from their 960 cards, I found a local with an MSI 970 Gaming 4 G bought from ebay to pit my MSI 970 Gaming 100ME bought from the biggest PC hardware retail shop in the country and benchmark-ed the most performance heavy title this guy had in his library (GR Wildlands). Same computer, both GPU's of the same maker with identical specs.., and lo and behold, my 970 was 12% slower than his. Mine also had a bios voltage hard cap 75mv lower than his.
- My sister's 730 was running loudly at ~80% while playing youtube videos. I decided to investigate and found it was just a rebranded 705 (which is a rebranded 520). The latest driver that can be installed for it is also the last driver that supports 705 GPUs.

These are just GPU related woes, from products bought from this country. I have plenty other with monitors, CPU's and non PC products.

I also have issues with my reference 5700 (non xt). Only three drivers since release have been trouble-free. All the others give me occasional black or blue screens. But I'm not so quick to point the finger at the drivers. First off, all the troubled drivers become trouble-free if I raise the gpu voltage by 25mv, which is an indication of hardware "fault". Second, I do have an old PSU, an 8y old $120 pro series with 7y warranty. Which, if judged by the above standards, might as well be a $40 psu equivalent (in terms of components).

Well, I have an 850W PSU, so I don’t blame it for my 5700XT black screens, nor for the fact it keeps the VRAM at maximum frequency even when doing nothing on the desktop, just because I’m using a dual monitor configuration with 144 Hz refresh rate.
A very poor job by AMD, on the software side.

 

[MaxSmarties]

Oh yeah, like Nvidia's 12nm is better than AMD's 7nm. Jesus.

Those are just numbers.
Actually a 12 nm 2070 Super runs cooler than a 7 nm 5700XT, and faster most of the time.
But you know, AMD must be better because 7 < 12 ...

 

[HardReset]

nor for the fact it keeps the VRAM at maximum frequency even when doing nothing on the desktop, just because I’m using a dual monitor configuration with 144 Hz refresh rate.
A very poor job by AMD, on the software side.

That's normal. Nvidia have same issues. Using dual monitor will very likely raise power consumption because memory speed must be high enough to synchronize both displays. This could be solved by AMD or Nvidia by extra hardware but so few people use dual displays that they just don't bother.

Those are just numbers.
Actually a 12 nm 2070 Super runs cooler than a 7 nm 5700XT, and faster most of the time.
But you know, AMD must be better because 7 < 12 ...

TSMC 7nm AMD uses is superior in every factor against TSMC 12nm FFN Nvidia uses. So AMD has clear technical advantage against Nvidia when it comes to manufacturing process.

That also means claim:

Nvidia has the technological edge over AMD in every factor.

Is total BS.

 

[Irata]

Those are just numbers.
Actually a 12 nm 2070 Super runs cooler than a 7 nm 5700XT, and faster most of the time.
But you know, AMD must be better because 7 < 12 ...

So why did you buy a 5700XT then ? Judging by your posts, you consider it the inferior option in all regards....

Also, with your problems you could have RMA‘d it and gotten something else.

 

[MaxSmarties]

That's normal. Nvidia have same issues. Using dual monitor will very likely raise power consumption because memory speed must be high enough to synchronize both displays. This could be solved by AMD or Nvidia by extra hardware but so few people use dual displays that they just don't bother.

I have two PCs, with the same dual monitor configuration. Exactly the same monitor and software.
The one using a 2070 Super is scaling VRAM clock according with the workload, the one using the 5700XT is not.

And the 7nm process is "better" just because it is a smaller number. But in REAL WORLD the 5700XT runs hotter and slightly slower than the 2070 Super and its "inferior" 12nm node.

 

[MaxSmarties]

So why did you buy a 5700XT then ? Judging by your posts, you consider it the inferior option in all regards....

Also, with your problems you could have RMA‘d it and gotten something else.

I bought it in december, when it appeared to be a better solution than a 2070 Super, for 160€ less.
I already have it replaced but it is not a defective card. Drivers are just poorly written.
Around mid April the situation seems to have been improved, regarding black screens, but then CoD Warzone was released and it is a nightmare to play on a 5700XT. Frame rate is high but with many fluctuations (on the 2070 Super is much more stable), and I'm experiencing again black screen from time to time.
I am very happy about 5700XT performance and price, but I wouldn't recommend it to any friends due to the drivers.

I am not biased in any way. I love AMD and in my history as a gamer (since most of you have been child) I bought many ATi/AMD cards (I remember Fury MAXX, 9700 Pro, 9800 XT...). I have no brand loyalty, but a poorly written driver is a poorly written driver. And after one year since release it is unacceptable ...

 

[HardReset]

I have two PCs, with the same dual monitor configuration. Exactly the same monitor and software.
The one using a 2070 Super is scaling VRAM clock according with the workload, the one using the 5700XT is not.

Also Nvidia have problems with dual monitor setups. Just because you are lucky to have setup where Nvidia works better, doesn't mean everyone has.

And the 7nm process is "better" just because it is a smaller number. But in REAL WORLD the 5700XT runs hotter and slightly slower than the 2070 Super and its "inferior" 12nm node.

Not sure if...

7nm is better because it has higher transistor density, smaller power consumption and it allows higher clock speeds. In other words, 7nm 2070 would be superior against 12nm 2070. Former doesn't exist so AMD's manufacturing tech is much better. Period.

 

[meric]

Oh yeah, like Nvidia's 12nm is better than AMD's 7nm. Jesus.

I was criticizing the information he shared. My comment was probably moderated

 

[MaxSmarties]

Also Nvidia have problems with dual monitor setups. Just because you are lucky to have setup where Nvidia works better, doesn't mean everyone has.

I have two configurations with the same monitors. Exactly the same software.
One is working as intended (Nvidia) the other is not (AMD).
Not to speak about black screen bug happening with the 5700XT while THE SAME SOFTWARE is working just fine on the 2070.
But keep thinking I'm just lucky.

Not sure if...

7nm is better because it has higher transistor density, smaller power consumption and it allows higher clock speeds. In other words, 7nm 2070 would be superior against 12nm 2070. Former doesn't exist so AMD's manufacturing tech is much better. Period.

They are just NUMBERS. Nothing more.
What it counts are results, and as far as results are involved, Nvidia GPUs are running cooler and faster.
This is the only thing that matters.

And by the way there is no "AMD's manufacturing": it is TSMC.
AMD was forced to sell every foundries to avoid bankruptcy in the past.

 

[HardReset]

I have two configurations with the same monitors. Exactly the same software.
One is working as intended (Nvidia) the other is not (AMD).
Not to speak about black screen bug happening with the 5700XT while THE SAME SOFTWARE is working just fine on the 2070.
But keep thinking I'm just lucky.

Like I said, Nvidia has problems with dual monitors too. Which one works better largely depends on what displays and what refresh ratios are used.

SAME SOFTWARE working differently on different hardware? Welcome to world of PC

They are just NUMBERS. Nothing more.
What it counts are results, and as far as results are involved, Nvidia GPUs are running cooler and faster.
This is the only thing that matters.

And by the way there is no "AMD's manufacturing": it is TSMC.
AMD was forced to sell every foundries to avoid bankruptcy in the past.

Numbers that prove AMD is using better manufacturing tech. Results are also just numbers using that logic.

I know, Nvidia uses TMSC too. It's just AMD uses Better tech from TSMC than Nvidia does.

 

[MaxSmarties]

Like I said, Nvidia has problems with dual monitors too. Which one works better largely depends on what displays and what refresh ratios are used.

SAME SOFTWARE working differently on different hardware? Welcome to world of PC

You are still claiming completely false anecdotal evidence.
Nvidia has problems because your cousin told you so ?
I ACTUALLY own both.
With THE SAME HARDWARE (same monitors, some refresh rate of 144 Hz) and SAME SOFTWARE one is working and the other is not.

Welcome to the real world.

 

[HardReset]

You are still claiming completely false anecdotal evidence.
Nvidia has problems because your cousin told you so ?
I ACTUALLY own both.
With THE SAME HARDWARE (same monitors, some refresh rate of 144 Hz) and SAME SOFTWARE one is working and the other is not.

Welcome to the real world.

SAME SOFTWARE ON DIFFERENT HARDWARE WILL WORK DIFFERENTLY!!!!!

Welcome to world of PC.

 

[neeyik]

@HardReset @MaxSmarties - please take your discussion to private messaging, as it has little to do with the news article.

 

[argospanoptis]

There have been people with NAVI "issues" that eventually found out their $40 PSU (from a decade ago) was the culprit, and swapping it for a $80 more current one fixed all their woes.

There can be other causes (of iniquitous nature) at fault for your hardware troubles. If you live in (buy from) what the corporations consider to be third a world country (legislative and cultural wise, not geographical and financial) you are likely to have a substandard, rebranded, partially defective or otherwise different components (from what is advertised on the box) product.

- My 560ti was a rebranded 400 series GPU. Died 4 moths after the warranty expired, despite the fact that for the last 8-10 months of it's life the most intense work it had thrown it's way were 1080p youtube videos. In it's 3y4m life time it only received 2 working drivers, for every other driver I had driver crash & recovery one or twice an hour plus frequent game ctd's.
- The 970 I replaced it with was either a 'cut down' version or a rebranded 700 series GPU. After civil discourse with several gamers from the western world who claimed better performance from their 960 cards, I found a local with an MSI 970 Gaming 4 G bought from ebay to pit my MSI 970 Gaming 100ME bought from the biggest PC hardware retail shop in the country and benchmark-ed the most performance heavy title this guy had in his library (GR Wildlands). Same computer, both GPU's of the same maker with identical specs.., and lo and behold, my 970 was 12% slower than his. Mine also had a bios voltage hard cap 75mv lower than his.
- My sister's 730 was running loudly at ~80% while playing youtube videos. I decided to investigate and found it was just a rebranded 705 (which is a rebranded 520). The latest driver that can be installed for it is also the last driver that supports 705 GPUs.

These are just GPU related woes, from products bought from this country. I have plenty other with monitors, CPU's and non PC products.

I also have issues with my reference 5700 (non xt). Only three drivers since release have been trouble-free. All the others give me occasional black or blue screens. But I'm not so quick to point the finger at the drivers. First off, all the troubled drivers become trouble-free if I raise the gpu voltage by 25mv, which is an indication of hardware "fault". Second, I do have an old PSU, an 8y old $120 pro series with 7y warranty. Which, if judged by the above standards, might as well be a $40 psu equivalent (in terms of components).

Agree with the PSU statement, as for the rebranded GPUs, you really have to stop buying cut-rate cards from dodgy ebay resellers. Prices are pretty fixed and generally well known, so if you're paying $200 for a "new" 5700xt card, chances are it's just a 560 with flashed firmware so that it reports that it's a 5700xt.

As for drivers: I work on MacOS and Linux, game on Windows, have both nVidia cards (1060) and AMD (580 & 5700xt). The only trouble I've had is with nVidia's proprietary driver on Linux - the nouveau (open source) driver works perfectly well, as do all of the other cards, across platforms (no 1060 on MacOS).

I generally buy Gigabyte Motherboards, and overall good quality components. I think that 90% of the problems described here are due to crappy components, usually found in budget gamng rigs......

 

[MaxSmarties]

I generally buy Gigabyte Motherboards, and overall good quality components. I think that 90% of the problems described here are due to crappy components, usually found in budget gamng rigs......

and you are thinking wrong, since I'm using a Gigabyte Z390 motherboard, with a certified 650W 80 Plus bronze PSU and Corsair DDR...
There is nothing cheap on my computer. Not even the case.
The only "cheap" things are AMD drivers...

And to confirm that I moved the radeon 5700XT to the Alienware Aurora R9, with an 850W PSU, and the same issues are still here.

 

[williboi]

I’m assuming you must have never used them before nor been in the industry very long if you aren’t aware of how bad Radeons windows drivers are. They crash a lot, you get strange glitches and bugs, the latest being the black screen bug, often only fixed by a hard reset. Not to mention issues installing drivers crop up. The software changes layout every 6 months which means there is barely any forum support for it and finding out how to make basic changes is a mission. It’s pretty though, so apparently that’s more important than consistency to this company.

I very recently dumped a Radeon RX580 for Geforce RTX 2080 and the difference in software is vast. Streaming in particular is so much easier on GeForce. Not to mention driver updates and looking up fixes and settings on the app. AMD have a lot of catching up to do.

As for Linux, well many of my games don’t run on Linux so I don’t bother with it. And until my games library is supported I won’t be switching. So I don’t really care if the Nvidia drivers are had for it. They are good in Windows!

My suggestion would be avoid Radeon like the plague if you’re switching to windows for your next build and you don’t want a **** experience.

I've never had driver issues with my machine, but it might be because I'm using an iGPU (Athlon 200GE) or maybe my drivers are outdated (and the outdated ones work better).

 

[DOA]

AMD will have no problem beating the 3090 - just make enough cards to the scalpers cannot buy them all and I can get one. Hard to say an unavailable card is better. I say unavailable as there is no place selling at list price.