With Radeon Adrenalin 21.4.1, AMD released the largest graphics card driver update since the mid-2020s. Version 21.4.1 contains new functions and offers the usual performance improvements. For example, AMD activates an AV1 decoder for the Radeon RX 6000 series graphics cards, with which it can efficiently play the corresponding videos. Google, among others, uses the AV1 codec for YouTube.
AMD is adjusting the driver interface in places, for example the Performance tab, which now also displays CPU data such as clock and load frequencies when using a Ryzen processor. If you just want to read the data without making changes, you no longer need third-party software like AMD’s Ryzen Master.
The Performance tab in the driver interface now also displays CPU data if using a Ryzen processor.
(Image: AMD)
Remote cooperative play on a computer
AMD Streaming Client is version 4.0. The Android, iOS, and Smart TV apps follow a Windows 10 app that can be used, for example, to access your desktop computer from the sofa with a laptop. The latter displays any 3D game and streams it to the notebook via WLAN. Everything can also be done online, as long as you turn on the computer at home. In the case of local collaboration mode titles, this now works with two clients on one host computer, without the need to purchase the game.
If you don’t like bells and whistles, you can install slim versions of Radeon Software Adrenalin 21.4.1. AMD offers three different types, but all of them Same download package, 460MB Need:
- Driver only: Graphics driver only without surface
- Minimum: a graphics driver plus driver interface and setup options
- Complete: In addition to the driver interface, there is an AMD game client, a broadcast menu (for example for Twitch.tv), a performance tab for overclocking and AMD Link.
This slim driver installs without the need for AMD gaming client.
(Image: AMD)
The Crash Defender from a simple installation is also new: the driver must detect instability before the crash occurs, and in such a situation it restarts itself and prevents a blue screen from appearing. Together with a revised bug reporting tool, AMD aims to identify and correct errors more quickly.
For people with poor red, green, or blue, Radeon can adjust color profiles at the driver level in order to specifically adapt the color gamut.
(mma)