Holy cow! This is the first time ever since the start of the Catalyst program, invoked by Senior Software Manager Terry Makedon, that a 'beta' driver has escaped the watchtower of ATI. 3DChipset was daring enough to host the drivers on their servers for some hours. They had to take down the files because ATI asked them to. Warp2Search has been approached as early as June 17th with the request to host the files. However as we had serious issues with our server we were not able to provide them. I have been speaking with Terry Makedon about the possible source of the drivers and ATI is investigating the 'leak' at this time. Mr. Makedon asked me to pass the following information on to our readers: These are not CATALYST 3.5 but some interim OEM driver. 3DChipset tries to sell you these as Catalyst anyway, but let me assure you, they are not. Read more...

The leak consisted of two parts the driver - v6.14.10.6351 - and the control panel - v6.14.10.5011. The driver and control panel core files were dated May 15th, 2003. Here is part of the Windows XP .inf file: ;-----------------------------------------------
; ATI Display Information file : ATIIXPAG.INF
; Installation INF for the ATI display driver.
; Copyright(C) 1998-2003 ATI Technologies Inc.
; Windows XP
; Base INF Last Updated 2003/05/11
[Version]
Signature="$Windows NT$"
Provider=%ATI%
ClassGUID={4D36E968-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318}
Class=Display
DriverVer=05/15/2003, 6.14.10.6351
CatalogFile=CX_09328.CAT
[DestinationDirs]
DefaultDestDir = 11
ati2mtag.Miniport = 12 ; drivers
ati2mtag.Display = 11 ; system32
[ControlFlags]
ExcludeFromSelect=*
;
; Driver information
;
[Manufacturer]
%ATI% = ATI.Mfg
[ATI.Mfg]
"ALL-IN-WONDER 9000" = ati2mtag_RV250, PCIVEN_1002&DEV_4966&SUBSYS_4F721002
"ALL-IN-WONDER 9000 - Secondary" = ati2mtag_RV250, PCIVEN_1002&DEV_496E&SUBSYS_4F731002
"ALL-IN-WONDER 9700 SERIES" = ati2mtag_R300, PCIVEN_1002&DEV_4E44&SUBSYS_4F721002
"ALL-IN-WONDER 9700 SERIES " = ati2mtag_R300, PCIVEN_1002&DEV_4E44&SUBSYS_2F721002
"ALL-IN-WONDER 9700 SERIES - Secondary" = ati2mtag_R300, PCIVEN_1002&DEV_4E64&SUBSYS_4F731002
"ALL-IN-WONDER 9700 SERIES -Secondary" = ati2mtag_R300, PCIVEN_1002&DEV_4E64&SUBSYS_2F731002
"ALL-IN-WONDER RADEON" = ati2mtag_default, PCIVEN_1002&DEV_5144&SUBSYS_00291002
"ALL-IN-WONDER RADEON " = ati2mtag_default, PCIVEN_1002&DEV_5144&SUBSYS_02AA1002
"ALL-IN-WONDER RADEON 7500" = ati2mtag_RV200, PCIVEN_1002&DEV_5157&SUBSYS_0F2A1002
"ALL-IN-WONDER RADEON 8500" = ati2mtag_R200, PCIVEN_1002&DEV_514C&SUBSYS_0F2A1002
"ALL-IN-WONDER RADEON 8500DV" = ati2mtag_R200, PCIVEN_1002&DEV_4242&SUBSYS_02AA1002
"ALL-IN-WONDER VE PCI" = ati2mtag_RV200, PCIVEN_1002&DEV_5157&SUBSYS_0F2B1002
"RADEON 7000 SERIES" = ati2mtag_RV100, PCIVEN_1002&DEV_5159&SUBSYS_000A1002
"RADEON 7000 SERIES " = ati2mtag_RV100, PCIVEN_1002&DEV_5159&SUBSYS_000B1002
"RADEON 7000 SERIES " = ati2mtag_RV100, PCIVEN_1002&DEV_5159&SUBSYS_00381002
"RADEON 7000 SERIES " = ati2mtag_RV100, PCIVEN_1002&DEV_5159&SUBSYS_003A1002
"RADEON 7000 SERIES " = ati2mtag_RV100, PCIVEN_1002&DEV_5159&SUBSYS_013A1002
"RADEON 7000 SERIES " = ati2mtag_RV100, PCIVEN_1002&DEV_5159&SUBSYS_013b1002
"RADEON 7000 SERIES " = ati2mtag_RV100, PCIVEN_1002&DEV_5159&SUBSYS_01BA1002
"RADEON 7000 SERIES " = ati2mtag_RV100, PCIVEN_1002&DEV_5159&SUBSYS_00BA1002
"RADEON 7200 SERIES" = ati2mtag_default, PCIVEN_1002&DEV_5144&SUBSYS_00081002
"RADEON 7200 SERIES " = ati2mtag_default, PCIVEN_1002&DEV_5144&SUBSYS_000A1002
"RADEON 7200 SERIES " = ati2mtag_default, PCIVEN_1002&DEV_5144&SUBSYS_001A1002
"RADEON 7200 SERIES " = ati2mtag_default, PCIVEN_1002&DEV_5144&SUBSYS_001A1002
"RADEON 7200 SERIES " = ati2mtag_default, PCIVEN_1002&DEV_5144&SUBSYS_00381002
"RADEON 7200 SERIES " = ati2mtag_default, PCIVEN_1002&DEV_5144&SUBSYS_00391002
"RADEON 7200 SERIES " = ati2mtag_default, PCIVEN_1002&DEV_5144&SUBSYS_008A1002
"RADEON 7200 SERIES " = ati2mtag_default, PCIVEN_1002&DEV_5144&SUBSYS_01391002
"RADEON 7200 SERIES " = ati2mtag_default, PCIVEN_1002&DEV_5144&SUBSYS_053A1002
"RADEON 7500 SERIES" = ati2mtag_RV200, PCIVEN_1002&DEV_5157&SUBSYS_013A1002
"RADEON 7500 SERIES " = ati2mtag_RV200, PCIVEN_1002&DEV_5157&SUBSYS_013B1002
"RADEON 8500 SERIES" = ati2mtag_R200, PCIVEN_1002&DEV_514C&SUBSYS_013A1002
"RADEON 8500 SERIES " = ati2mtag_R200, PCIVEN_1002&DEV_514C&SUBSYS_003a1002
"RADEON 9000 SERIES" = ati2mtag_RV250, PCIVEN_1002&DEV_4966&SUBSYS_00021002
"RADEON 9000 SERIES " = ati2mtag_RV250, PCIVEN_1002&DEV_4966&SUBSYS_20021002
"RADEON 9000 SERIES - Secondary" = ati2mtag_RV250, PCIVEN_1002&DEV_496E&SUBSYS_00031002
"RADEON 9000 SERIES - Secondary " = ati2mtag_RV250, PCIVEN_1002&DEV_496E&SUBSYS_20031002
"RADEON 9200" = ati2mtag_RV280, PCIVEN_1002&DEV_5961&SUBSYS_20021002
"RADEON 9200 - Secondary" = ati2mtag_RV280, PCIVEN_1002&DEV_5941&SUBSYS_20031002
"RADEON 9200 PRO" = ati2mtag_RV280, PCIVEN_1002&DEV_5960&SUBSYS_00021002
"RADEON 9200 PRO - Secondary" = ati2mtag_RV280, PCIVEN_1002&DEV_5940&SUBSYS_00031002
"RADEON 9500" = ati2mtag_R300, PCIVEN_1002&DEV_4144&SUBSYS_00021002
"RADEON 9500 - Secondary" = ati2mtag_R300, PCIVEN_1002&DEV_4164&SUBSYS_00031002
"RADEON 9500 PRO / 9700" = ati2mtag_R300, PCIVEN_1002&DEV_4E45&SUBSYS_00021002
"RADEON 9500 PRO / 9700 - Secondary" = ati2mtag_R300, PCIVEN_1002&DEV_4E65&SUBSYS_00031002
"RADEON 9600" = ati2mtag_RV350, PCIVEN_1002&DEV_4152&SUBSYS_00021002
"RADEON 9600 - Secondary" = ati2mtag_RV350, PCIVEN_1002&DEV_4172&SUBSYS_00031002
"RADEON 9600 PRO" = ati2mtag_RV350, PCIVEN_1002&DEV_4150&SUBSYS_00021002
"RADEON 9600 PRO - Secondary" = ati2mtag_RV350, PCIVEN_1002&DEV_4170&SUBSYS_00031002
"RADEON 9700 PRO" = ati2mtag_R300, PCIVEN_1002&DEV_4E44&SUBSYS_00021002
"RADEON 9700 PRO - Secondary" = ati2mtag_R300, PCIVEN_1002&DEV_4E64&SUBSYS_00031002
"RADEON 9800" = ati2mtag_R350, PCIVEN_1002&DEV_4E49&SUBSYS_00021002
"RADEON 9800 - Secondary" = ati2mtag_R350, PCIVEN_1002&DEV_4E69&SUBSYS_00031002
"RADEON 9800 PRO" = ati2mtag_R350, PCIVEN_1002&DEV_4E48&SUBSYS_00021002
"RADEON 9800 PRO - Secondary" = ati2mtag_R350, PCIVEN_1002&DEV_4E68&SUBSYS_00031002
"TYAN TACHYON G9000 PRO" = ati2mtag_RV250, PCIVEN_1002&DEV_4966&SUBSYS_000210F1
"TYAN TACHYON G9000 PRO - Secondary" = ati2mtag_RV250, PCIVEN_1002&DEV_496e&SUBSYS_000310F1
"GIGABYTE MAYA RADEON 9000 PRO" = ati2mtag_RV250, PCIVEN_1002&DEV_4966&SUBSYS_40101458
"GIGABYTE MAYA RADEON 9000 PRO - Secondary" = ati2mtag_RV250, PCIVEN_1002&DEV_496e&SUBSYS_40111458
"POWERCOLOR RADEON 9000 PRO EVIL COMMANDO" = ati2mtag_RV250, PCIVEN_1002&DEV_4966&SUBSYS_2039148C
"POWERCOLOR RADEON 9000 PRO EVIL COMMANDO - Secondary" = ati2mtag_RV250, PCIVEN_1002&DEV_496e&SUBSYS_2038148C
"FIC AT009 RADEON 9000 PRO" = ati2mtag_RV250, PCIVEN_1002&DEV_4966&SUBSYS_9A001509
"FIC AT009 RADEON 9000 PRO - Secondary" = ati2mtag_RV250, PCIVEN_1002&DEV_496e&SUBSYS_9A011509
"FIC AT009LE RADEON 9000" = ati2mtag_RV250, PCIVEN_1002&DEV_4966&SUBSYS_9A021509
"SAPPHIRE RADEON 9000 ATLANTIS PRO" = ati2mtag_RV250, PCIVEN_1002&DEV_4966&SUBSYS_7176174B
"SAPPHIRE RADEON 9000 ATLANTIS PRO - Secondary" = ati2mtag_RV250, PCIVEN_1002&DEV_496E&SUBSYS_7177174B
"HIGHTECH EXCALIBUR RADEON 9000" = ati2mtag_RV250, PCIVEN_1002&DEV_4966&SUBSYS_200617AF
"HIGHTECH EXCALIBUR RADEON 9000 - Secondary" = ati2mtag_RV250, PCIVEN_1002&DEV_496E&SUBSYS_200717AF
"HIGHTECH EXCALIBUR RADEON 9000 PRO" = ati2mtag_RV250, PCIVEN_1002&DEV_4966&SUBSYS_200517AF
"HIGHTECH EXCALIBUR RADEON 9000 PRO - Secondary" = ati2mtag_RV250, PCIVEN_1002&DEV_496e&SUBSYS_200417AF
"S-MEDIA RADEON 9000" = ati2mtag_RV250, PCIVEN_1002&DEV_4966&SUBSYS_000F17C0
"S-MEDIA RADEON 9000 - Secondary" = ati2mtag_RV250, PCIVEN_1002&DEV_496e&SUBSYS_000E17C0
"CONNECT 3D RADEON 9000 PRO" = ati2mtag_RV250, PCIVEN_1002&DEV_4966&SUBSYS_900117EE
"CONNECT 3D RADEON 9000 PRO - Secondary" = ati2mtag_RV250, PCIVEN_1002&DEV_496e&SUBSYS_900017EE
"RADEON 7000 SERIES " = ati2mtag_RV100, PCIVEN_1002&DEV_5159
"RADEON 7200 SERIES " = ati2mtag_default, PCIVEN_1002&DEV_5144
"RADEON 7500 SERIES " = ati2mtag_RV200, PCIVEN_1002&DEV_5157
"RADEON 8500 SERIES " = ati2mtag_R200, PCIVEN_1002&DEV_514c
"RADEON 9000 SERIES " = ati2mtag_RV250, PCIVEN_1002&DEV_4966
"RADEON 9000 SERIES - Secondary " = ati2mtag_RV250, PCIVEN_1002&DEV_496e
"RADEON 9100 SERIES" = ati2mtag_R200, PCIVEN_1002&DEV_514D
"RADEON 9200 " = ati2mtag_RV280, PCIVEN_1002&DEV_5961
"RADEON 9200 - Secondary " = ati2mtag_RV280, PCIVEN_1002&DEV_5941
"RADEON 9200 PRO " = ati2mtag_RV280, PCIVEN_1002&DEV_5960
"RADEON 9200 PRO - Secondary " = ati2mtag_RV280, PCIVEN_1002&DEV_5940
"RADEON 9500 " = ati2mtag_R300, PCIVEN_1002&DEV_4144
"RADEON 9500 - Secondary " = ati2mtag_R300, PCIVEN_1002&DEV_4164
"RADEON 9500 PRO / 9700 " = ati2mtag_R300, PCIVEN_1002&DEV_4E45
"RADEON 9500 PRO / 9700 - Secondary " = ati2mtag_R300, PCIVEN_1002&DEV_4E65
"RADEON 9600 " = ati2mtag_RV350, PCIVEN_1002&DEV_4152
"RADEON 9600 - Secondary " = ati2mtag_RV350, PCIVEN_1002&DEV_4172
"RADEON 9600 PRO " = ati2mtag_RV350, PCIVEN_1002&DEV_4150
"RADEON 9600 PRO - Secondary " = ati2mtag_RV350, PCIVEN_1002&DEV_4170
"RADEON 9700 PRO " = ati2mtag_R300, PCIVEN_1002&DEV_4E44
"RADEON 9700 PRO - Secondary " = ati2mtag_R300, PCIVEN_1002&DEV_4E64
"RADEON 9800 " = ati2mtag_R350, PCIVEN_1002&DEV_4E49
"RADEON 9800 - Secondary " = ati2mtag_R350, PCIVEN_1002&DEV_4E69
"RADEON 9800 PRO " = ati2mtag_R350, PCIVEN_1002&DEV_4E48
"RADEON 9800 PRO - Secondary " = ati2mtag_R350, PCIVEN_1002&DEV_4E68
The most interesting part of this is that the inf file does not reveal if this is an OEM or BBA driver. The inclusion of manufacturer's like Tyan, Gigabyte, PowerColor, FIC, Sapphire, Hightech, S-Media and Connect3D leaves room for the conclusion that this driver leak was a generic OEM build that can be altered by the OEM for special purposes. We are still in contact with ATI and will update you on the findings. The official Catalyst 3.5 release will take place between June 19th and June 26th.