For some time now graphic driver updates, be they from NVIDIA or AMD have started giving me the jitters and AMD’s latest announcement of a major update to its driver package had me breaking out a sweat. However, the new Radeon Software Adrenalin Edition seems to introduce a whole host of features without any significant performance upgrades.
Starting out with the all-new Radeon Overlay, the package comes in a graphical re-design that enables gamers to monitor GPU performance without leaving the game. At the same time, the company has introduced the AMD Link mobile app, allowing users to use their mobile devices as a second screen to monitor GPU performance and PC system info.
While certainly cool to have, it boggles the mind as to why team red is spending time on extending eye-candy while the hardcore gamers are constantly on the lookout for even minute performance scale improvements.
In fact, the entire package seems to lean towards a more beautiful and (hopefully) seamless experience with the Radeon drive package rather than any real upgrade. It is true that this would help reduce frustrations traditionally voiced with graphic driver installations – if it works.
“Radeon Software Adrenalin Edition continues to set the bar high with remarkable features for allowing gamers to connect with other gamers around the world. Now gamers can tailor their gaming experience directly in-game, use our ground-breaking AMD Link mobile app to monitor their gaming performance on their phone, and in an instant, share their best highlights to their streaming platforms and social networks of choice. We’ve designed Adrenalin Edition as a powerful tool for those who aspire to achieve gaming greatness among friends and the community,” said Andrej Zdravkovic, corporate vice president of software, Radeon Technologies Group.
That statement itself seems to reinforce the feeling that AMD has swept performance under the carpet while reinforcing the bling in this package. The feeling is that despite the repeated use of the term ‘gamer’, this package is intended to make Radeon drivers more mass market friendly.