AMD Catalyst

- Test System Setup

Processor(s): AMD Athlon 64 3500+

Motherboard(s): Biostar 6100-M9

Memory: 2 x 512MB PC3200 RAM

Graphics Card: Sapphire X1600 Pro HDMI

Hard Disk(s): Seagate 80GB SATA

Operating System Used: Microsoft Windows XP SP2

Drivers Used: ATI Catalyst 6.12 and DX9c

Controlling the display on an AMD / ATI graphics card is handled via the Catalyst Control Center - access this via the desktop, the desktop's right-click context menu, system tray icon or Start Menu folder.

AMD's approach is a bit different to nVidia's, and to be honest, it's harder. The Catalyst driver comes loaded with pre-defined HDTV standards, and you can choose whichever one works best, but there's no easy way to resize the desktop like there is with the ForceWare drivers. Instead, you have to modify an existing preset and use it to create a custom one.

To do this, you have to be in the Advanced View in the Catalyst Control Center. In the left-hand navigation menu, expand Digital Panel Properties and click on HDTV Support. Choose the appropriate HDTV standard you want, then Apply. Don't choose one of the Optimized presets - always select Standard. The image will adjust but the edges will be off the screen.

Then, highlight the preset you're going to customise and select Add, and you're presented with a resize screen. Unlike the ForceWare resize screen, the Catalyst screen adjusts opposing edges only, so you get a much finer degree of control. However, the image you're resizing is just a white screen on a blue background - no funky borders or arrows which actually make the job much easier. I had to get close up to the screen to make sure my adjustments were accurate.

Once done hit Accept, and then Apply to save the changes. Then hit Apply Format and the screen resizes accordingly.