Windows users do not need to download the 2.4 SDK separately, OpenCL is included

[LegitBit]

The only thing Windows miners need are the standard OpenCL drivers which are INCLUDED by default in the regular Graphics drivers in Catalyst 11.5 and 11.6. Earlier versions required you to download a 'stream edition' that no longer applies.

I haven't installed the SDK even once and I've built 3 dedicated miners all running high hash-rates.

The only thing needed to run OpenCL code is the driver, the rest of the SDK is essentially bloat for normal users.

If you happen to have an issue, then you can install the SDK to see if it fixes the issue but it is silly to waste the space upfront, especially if you are using a PXE image or a flash install.

[Meatball]

You're half right.  SDK 2.4 comes packaged with Catalyst 11.5/11.6.  It's listed as "AMD APP SDK Runtime" in the installer.  If you uninstall that, you won't be able to mine.

Also, I've generally found much better hashing performance using SDK 2.1 on any HD 5xxxx cards on the order of 10% or so.  SDK 2.1 will not work with HD 6xxx cards though and you'll need to use SDK 2.4.

[LegitBit]

That is just the runtime (opencl driver) not the whole Software Development Kit, it was a misleading name, on the new download pages it is now called the OpenCL driver.


The SDK would also include the kernel analyzer and other tools and samples. The naming is confusing I know, but you are not getting the SDK as part of the main graphics suite, just the SDK's opencl driver.

It's like DirectX, you can install the SDK 'runtime' which includes what you need to run games programmed using the DirectX SDK, or you can install the actual SDK which is much larger and includes sample libraries and debugging tools.

The 2.1 SDK includes the old driver, which was not included in the main graphics suite at the time.

[dishwara]

Please change title from "Windows users do NOT need the 2.4 SDK" to Windows users do NOT need to download AMD APP 2.4 SDK separately.
The title completely gives false belief that Windows users with 6000 series cards can mine without 2.4.
AMD APP 2.4 comes with catalyst 11.5/11.6 as said by Meatball & no need to download separately.

[LegitBit]

Done.

[dishwara]

Thanks