tbh brando I used Windows uninstall, rebooted and just ran the downloaded exec. My Laptop didn't have a Catalyst Centre on it (it has now).

Thanks Brando, but please believe me when I say that I can reliably introduce or repair the issue, with the sole change being driver version. I am installing properly, take my word for it :) I see that you are still doing your best to help people out, and I appreciate it

What surprises me is that apparently nobody else reading my description has the same issue. This was the topic of a request for tech support from ATI that was on SIMHQ (I think) a while back. I'm hardly the only one seeing this issue or using this method to resolve it. Using 10.9 or 10.10 (Now I'll have to try 10.11!) the only program I have installed that has an issue is Il2, and the bug is the blocky text bug. Removing drivers completely and then reinstalling 10.8 reliably resolves the issue

Hi Klem, if you're still have not pulled the trigger on a new system I would wait. I built my last system because I thought SoW was just around the corner. That was in December of 2006...If SoW comes out in say 6 months there will have been new Processors and GPU's out there. I'm building my next rig again for Il2 and this time I'm holding out untill it's on the shelves. I allready have three 22inch monitors and I'm planing on 1 top of the line card for each monitor. Leaning towards Nvidia at the moment since I keep reading on the widescreen gaming forum that for 3 monitors Sli is still easier to set up and faster than eyefiniti. If this changes between now and SoW release I'll adjust my viewpoint. I've got a $3000 budget and will wait to get as much bang for the buck. This thing will probably have to last me at least 4 years.

Just a quick note - I have not had an issue with blocky text in ATI drivers since the early 10 cats.

From 10.5 to 10.6 to 10.7 (I skipped 10.8 - just forgot). No issues - now on 10.10 - I have not installed 10.11 yet, well just because I'm too lazy and the Cat's work great for me.

No blocky text in Il2 since 10.4 (as I remember, could be 10.3).

Il2 runs great
ROF runs great
Any other stuff I've thrown at it.

Good luck

S!

Gunny

2x 6850 is pretty nice, perfomance & price wise.

Or just wait untill the 5870 & 5970 replacements are out, 5870/5970 should be cheap to get then.

Hi BigC208

I've already pulled the trigger to get the invoice raised before end year when the VAT goes up but they are happy to delay delivery until week 50 so that, if AMD keep to their release date of 13th December, I can hopefully find out if I can include a 6950 or 6970 in the build. If there's still a 'delay to market' I'll take it without video cards and dump my 7800GTs in until they are available.

Thing is I could go on waiting another year but my load times, especially for FSX with hi res photo textures, are driving me up the wall. Also, while there may be some price drops if I wait they won't be enough to get me up to the next level.... and I could play that waiting game forever. And risk spend the money on something else 'sensible' in the meantime :) My current rig has lasted 5 years and is still pretty good. There is room for upgrading on the new rig although it will already be overclocked to 4GHz so processing power should stand up for quite a while.

I thought I'd pop back in here and let you know what I decided which I also posted in the "Good thing SOW is Nvidia's friendly !" thread.

How quickly things can change in just a month!

I have decided on the EVGA Superclocked 570GTX (even these were only recently released). After all the hype over the 6970, released on Wednesday, I've spent the past three days poring over the reviews. I have been steered by the written reviews but this link shows graphically what many are saying.
http://www.pcinlife.com/article_phot...game/total.png
Call of Duty is interesting because I believe it is OpenGL which is IL-2 country but these cards should spank IL-2 anyway. The Directx/3D table at the bottom looks at Directx/3D.

All the reviews are pointing to a couple of general conclusions.

General: the 6970 targets the 570GTX. The 6950 pitches in between the 480GTX (in some reviews although I think that should have said 460GTX) and the 570GTX. The 6990 will target the 580GTX.

Performance: Below 1900 resolution the 570GTX has the edge on the 6970. However, if Tesselation is in use the 6970 wins (but SoW won't have Tesselation). At 1900 its a bit of a toss-up. Above 1900 the 6970 takes over.

Power and Heat: Power consumption of the 6970 and 570 at stock speeds is very similar although one report put the 6970 as the higher of the two on higher resolutions/game demands. The 570 edged the 6970 out by something like 30w and 10 degrees under heavy load in one review which also found that two 6970s in Crossfire might lead to heat problems if they are very close, depending on the motherboard/ventilation.

Price: Not much between the 570 and the 6970 depending on which supplier/badge you pick.

My position is: 1680x1050 resolution and not likely to change in the next 2-3 years; New PC is overclocked from 3GHz to 4.2GHz so heat is a point to watch; My budget is £300, squeeezable to £350 in a very cause cause.

I am not a fanboy. I was very happy with my ATI 9600GT and have been very happy with my NV 7800GTs. As much as I wanted to believe the hype and buy a shiny new 570GTX-killing 6970, that did not come to pass so for me its the 570GTX.

It was a fine-line decision. Ultimately it came down to what would best meet "My Position". Add to that the fact that Oleg is developing SoW using Nvidia cards, which may have a sliver of an effect, and the EVGA stock 570GTX review I found that put it ahead of stock 570 cards without even o/clocking and I reckon that the Superclocked EVGA is the best choice for me.

Can't wait to get my hands on my little beauty:-

Scan.co.uk 3XS SLIK i7 X58 950 BlackOps Bundle, tailored, comprising:-
Asus Sabertooth motherboard, Intel X58 chipset, Socket 1366, PCI-E 2.0 , DDR3 1866MHz, USB3/SATA 6Gb/s, SATA RAID, ATX
Intel Core i7 950 Bloomfield 45nm, 3.06 GHz, QPI 4.8GT/s, 8MB Cache, 23x Ratio, 130W, Retail, o/c to 4.2GHz
Prolimatech Megahalems Rev B,Super 6 Heatpipe Tower Cooler (Fanless, cooled by case roof fan)
EVGA Superclocked 570GTX
128GB Crucial RealSSD C300, MLC-Flash, SATA3 6Gbps, 2.5" SSD, Read 355MB/s, Write 70MB/s
6GB (3x2GB) Corsair Dominator, DDR3 PC3-12800 (1600), CAS 8-8-8-24, DHX, XMP, New connector, 1.65V
Coolermaster HAF 912 Plus, Black, Mid Tower Case
750W Corsair HX Series Modular PSU
2 x 120mm Akasa Apache Ultra Silent Fan HDB Bearing PWM fan w/4 pin connector & Rubber Pins
Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64 Bit, Operating System, Single, - OEM
Acronis True Image 2010 sofware
Built and Overclocked to 4.2GHz, Tested and Heat Soaked
1 year on site Warranty plus 1 year rtb

@Former_Older

I got an 5870 with cat 10.8 and the same catalyst install problems like you. It is caused by the windows 7 UAC, curiously not all users have this issue but a lot. Like you i tried every possible method deleting old and installing new drivers, it always failed one, twice or more times. Same with other new install procedures like flashplayer, java, audio drivers
etc.
I finally got rid of this by creating a true 'system administrator' (not the common 'administrator' account). No problems with UAC when installing via this.

Regarding issues with my 5870 i can tell the card is working well with all actual games
or programs i use, exept IL-2 Sturmovik where i still get glass parts
or turning prop disc not displayed in external view occasionally (10.8 now).

I can give you my opinion in acouple of days since I, right or wrong, ordered two 6870 for crossfire.

:)

At this point in time there are two clear paths to go down. If you want to run a single-screen solution then NVidia. If you want to go down the triple screen road then AMD/ATI is your only choice. Just like everything else there is no hard and fast right or wrong answer, just buy what you want and you'll be fine.