AMD Releases Radeon Software Adrenalin 2019 Edition: Streaming for Videos, Games, & VR
by Nate Oh on December 13, 2018 9:01 AM ESTClosing Words
To preface, an exact list of resolved issues was not provided before today’s launch. On the feature side however, the new Adrenalin 2019 Edition is an interesting sequel to Adrenalin, with seemingly larger investment of resources put into streaming games to mobile devices and VR headsets.
How successful that becomes remains to be seen. Otherwise, as another one of AMD and RTG’s annual major updates, it accomplishes the fundamentals by addressing user requested features, extending core features like FreeSync 2 and WattMan, and refining the previously-new AMD Link and Radeon Overlay. Particularly with AMD Link, the previous Adrenalin iteration had UX inconsistencies that could hamper the way it was designed to be used.
In terms of all the streaming emphasis, while ReLive continues to be refined for streamers, there isn’t much note of actual streamer adoption, or of notable streamers utilizing it.
With the use-case of a streamer using a tablet or phone with AMD Link as second screen, this would be something that varies based on a streamer's style or workflow. It's difficult to say without seeing a streamer utilize it in full force. For social gamers who want to send screenshots or instant replays of everything to everyone and post it everywhere, AMD Link still provides that quick option during a respawn timer or end-of-round.
The AMD Link based game streaming is in an odd place because of the WiFi network requirement, and similarly it would depend on a gamer's specific intended use case.
Usage would be more-or-less a localized area near the PC. The desktop streaming might be a little more versatile in terms of productivity use-cases while moving about. But if the implementation is solid and seamless enough across most configurations, then it might just be convenient to have if you never want to pause a game when you need to step away momentarily. The SteamVR streaming has more caveats, but also clearer benefits. The discrete GPU would outpace either the Android phone's GPU or HTC Vive Focus. Yet it's not clear how seamless the configuration is.
Even the outstanding driver matters regarding DXR and mobile APUs are somewhat out-of-scope for today’s annual feature updates. And though RX Vega received some welcome enhancements, the current support situation is not fundamentally different from last year’s Adrenalin.
Adrenalin 2019’s marquee features might be solely focused on discrete GPUs but the fact remains that the discrete Radeon GPU lineup is in somewhat of a holding pattern, with only the recent RX 590 emerging as a refresh. These are all factors that today’s feature update is not intended to address, yet at some point falls under the same driver strategy.
Another thing to note is that of mid-year overhauls like Crimson ReLive 17.7.2, which AMD stated was a possibility for the coming year.
Given that Adrenalin 2019 may not seem as wide-ranging as the original Adrenalin Edition, this would be a good opportunity to gauge the current direction of RTG driver development. For the past 4 years, the releases of Polaris and Vega provided ample areas of extending feature support, perhaps best exemplified in the feature compatibility tables for Crimson ReLive Edition. For the time being, exploring game/VR streaming offers plenty future directions.
The new Radeon Software Adrenalin 2019 Edition 18.12.2 drivers are available through the Radeon Settings tab or online at the AMD driver download page. More information on this update and further issues can be found in the Radeon Software Adrenalin 2019 Edition 18.12.2 release notes.
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jordanclock - Thursday, December 13, 2018 - link
I'd be really interested to see if AMDs game stream app can be sideloaded to an Nvidia Shield TV. If it works, I would absolutely be in the market for an AMD card.Pablok - Thursday, December 13, 2018 - link
Exactly my thoughts.PhilipJ - Thursday, December 13, 2018 - link
I have to admit that the auto-overclocking & auto-undervolting features being exclusive to the RX Vega lineup of cards is a bit disappointingThough now I can at least stream video games to my phone lol
seamonkey79 - Thursday, December 13, 2018 - link
You're not missing anything. You can only use undervolt OR overclock GPU OR overclock RAM, no combination of the three. They seem to be present profiles, not doing any real testing except to see if the profile works or crashes.Using undervolt, I had no change in voltage.
Using GPU overclock I got 1%.
Using RAM I got 890.
Manually I'm able to far outdo any of those, and wonder of wonders, do all three at the same time.
It's at best a placebo to make some people think they have driver parity with Nvidia. I am sorely disappointed, though I'll admit my expectations were colored by the lack of them saying anything and seeing what Nvidia is capable of doing automatically.
sing_electric - Thursday, December 13, 2018 - link
AMD's previously said that they won't support DirectX Raytracing until they can offer it "in all product ranges." That means I wouldn't expect it in any cards that are on sale today, and possibly not with the first-gen Navi-based cards (the low end of which is rumored to be like a Vega 56). Of course, if the market changes - if RTX becomes essential to a lot of games in the next 2 years, or if Nvidia pulls a rabbit out of its hat and releases a RTX-capable GPU with say, Vega 56-like performance for $200 next year, then I'd bet AMD will do an about face very fast.https://wccftech.com/amds-david-wang-we-wont-imple...
haukionkannel - Thursday, December 13, 2018 - link
They actually did say that DirectX raytracing does not become mainstream until all product rages support it. There has been many not so well translated versions of that interview...But the head of AMD says the obvious that also low end products have to support raytracing until it will be popular...
BertrandsBox - Thursday, December 13, 2018 - link
Really disappointed that we're still not getting a solution for Ryzen Mobile.I bought a laptop with a 2500U in it and to say the driver situation is a mess would be the understatement of the century.
If really hoping they deliver on the promise of delivering more (or even manage a single) update through the OEMs or just deliver it themselves, because if not, they'll have lost a lot of fans on this.
StevoLincolnite - Thursday, December 13, 2018 - link
I have a Ryzen 2700U notebook and I have to agree.Thankfully Lenovo is a little bit ahead of other OEM's though in releasing updates...
evernessince - Thursday, December 13, 2018 - link
AMD can't force the OEM to update and the same goes for Nvidia. This is always a problem for laptops and completely depends on the vendor you buy from.Nothing AMD can do for each and every custom solution and it doesn't make sense for them to be doing other company's work.
limitedaccess - Thursday, December 13, 2018 - link
Nvidia and Intel both provide reference drivers on their website. As far as I know those will work without relying on OEM specific drivers.AMD does the same as well for mobility Radeon products as well as pre-Ryzen APUs mobile or desktop. Only mobile Ryzen APUs starting with Raven Ridge do not have drivers.
I wonder if there is some intrinsic hardware difference/issue that prevents this for mobile Ryzen APUs?