Can NForce boards do XFire?

Atnevon · Sep 21, 2008

Hello TPU,

So I am putting together cometition builds for a small website (design class). I wanted to make the most uber pwn machine, that I guess would compete with Alienware.

Now on the Alienware site, it makes me choose a 790i mobo. No problem there. THe only issue I am wondering is why it allows for your GPU selections to include Xfire setup. Even consisting of a Duel 4870x2.

From my understanding, NVidia boards did not allow for you to use any XFrie card setup, and just allowed SLi. Did something change, is there a specail tweak, or is Alienware incorrect on their site?

-Andrew

OverclockedBoo · Sep 21, 2008

OEMs (Alienware) use a custom BIOS to allow Crossfire on an NVidia mobo.

KBD · Sep 21, 2008

OverclockedBoo said:
OEMs (Alienware) use a custom BIOS to allow Crossfire on an NVidia mobo.

I would've said no but i had no idea Nvidia lets Alienware & other OEMs make custom BIOSes for nforce. Thats news to me. Thnx for the info.

Atnevon · Sep 21, 2008

OverclockedBoo said:
OEMs (Alienware) use a custom BIOS to allow Crossfire on an NVidia mobo.

So I could take a guess and bet it is locked down to overclocking? Would this keep still a single 3870x2 from running on a standard board due to the GPU nature?

DrPepper · Sep 21, 2008

I want a custom bios :cry:

As far as I knew they used x48's for the crossfire systems but thats what I assumed since it was a natural choice obviously for a mega super expensive alienware xfire system

tzitzibp · Sep 21, 2008

OverclockedBoo said:
OEMs (Alienware) use a custom BIOS to allow Crossfire on an NVidia mobo.

damn!

is this true?

OverclockedBoo · Sep 21, 2008

Quote from Velocity Micro:
"Thank you for contacting Velocity Micro. The setup we have (Nforce mobos w/
crossfire) works through drivers that ATI has supplied us. This is only
available through certain OEM builders like ourselves. We do not offer any
crossfire specific motherboards at this time. If you have any other
questions, please let me know."

Here's another example:
http://www.engadget.com/2008/08/12/alienware-debuts-radeon-hd-4870-x2-equipped-gaming-rigs/

WhiteLotus · Sep 21, 2008

retrieve the BIOS and upload to the masses!

but serisouly no - why would you want an alienware apart for its case?!?!?

can build one cheaper and better

Widjaja · Sep 21, 2008

I'm pretty sure there will eventually be more motherboards out which will be SLi and crossfire.

MilkyWay · Sep 21, 2008

nvidia are apparently allowing sli on a intel chipset i think its sli ship on the graphics card or summit

CrAsHnBuRnXp · Sep 21, 2008

Nehalem boards will have this I believe.

CDdude55 · Sep 22, 2008

Generally, no you cant put two Ati cards on a Nvidia chipset.

p_o_s_pc · Sep 22, 2008

I have read it can be done but I wouldn't try it myself I would just get a xfire board and be some with if.btw it is hard to type on an iPod toutch

Atnevon · Sep 22, 2008

WhiteLotus said:
retrieve the BIOS and upload to the masses!

but serisouly no - why would you want an alienware apart for its case?!?!?

can build one cheaper and better

Thats what I am doing. Comparing on my website what I can compete against, and beat it. Though I am not really building now, I can show people instead of telling them for 12 hours about the components.

cdawall · Sep 22, 2008

its not the mobo BIOS its the drivers for the VGA that will allow it

DrPepper · Sep 22, 2008

I remember a while back there used to be custom drivers to allow xfire i'm sure.

thebeephaha · Sep 22, 2008

cdawall said:
its not the mobo BIOS its the drivers for the VGA that will allow it

I have custom BIOS from the HP Blackbird that allows it for the Striker Extreme to have SLI and Crossfire. It isn't entirely just drivers either, the BIOS plays a roll.

I haven't tried it yet though.

HookeyStreet · Sep 22, 2008

They can with hacked BIOS' installed (Ive seen it done) But, to be honest, its not very stable.

InnocentCriminal · Sep 22, 2008

DrPepper said:
I remember a while back there used to be custom drivers to allow xfire i'm sure.

It was the other way around I think, SLi on any chipset. As for Crossfire on SLi boards, I'm still looking for the article about it.

DrPepper · Sep 22, 2008

InnocentCriminal said:
It was the other way around I think, SLi on any chipset. As for Crossfire on SLi boards, I'm still looking for the article about it.

I think your right there

Either way sli and xfire could be used on one chipset with a mod

InnocentCriminal · Sep 22, 2008

I know it's been done, just trying to find the article on it is really annoying me. I swear it was Xbit Labs but I can't find it.

DrPepper · Sep 22, 2008

It would have been really good on say an x48 board

newtekie1 · Sep 22, 2008

Yes, it is possible to enable Crossfire on an nForce chipset. It is more than just drivers though, the motherboard needs a custom BIOS that allows Peer-to-Peer writes over the PCI-E bus.

Edit: Here is the anandtech article about Crossfire on the 680i chipset in the Blackbird 002. http://www.anandtech.com/systems/showdoc.aspx?i=3094&p=3

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Can NForce boards do XFire?

Atnevon

OverclockedBoo

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KBD

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Atnevon

DrPepper

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tzitzibp

OverclockedBoo

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WhiteLotus

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DrPepper

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DrPepper

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