Making Crossfire Work and Optimization

[Dr. Spankenstein]

Nice!

If you remember the steps, by all means, put it down here!

 

[Thrackan]

Crossfiring a 3870 and a 4850. According to Fudzilla it's a no-go, however I am able to get both cards to show up in the Device Manager and GPU-Z. CCC... no. However getting drivers on to both cards is hopefully a good sign that perhaps this may work some day.

I'm interested here! Got a HD4850 and a HD3870 and if they could be crossfired, I'd be most pleased!

 

[Daimao]

Hi!!! I've recently bought a eah3870 x2 (the one with the 4 DVI-I ports) to CF with my standart one. The CF worked but vista 64 became very, very slow.
Another thing I've noticed is when I boot up my x32 it runs great, except for the decrease in ram (2.6 to 1.6 Gb) and when I go into my bios and remove the "Memory remap feature" i don't get slowdons in x64 but like x32 I can only use 1.6 Gb. When I use the "Memory remap feature" it uses 3.9 Gb in 64.

 

[SP3CIALAG3NTBOB]

So i am one of the Crossfire only comes in on 8.10. I have tried everything you guys have suggested. I have done one card at a time, regular install, etc... And still no go. So any help with this would be appreciated.

 

[silkstone]

I have a question: does anyone know if x-fire will work on my board? i have 2 lanes (16x+4x) but the specs don;t say xfire is supported. thx

 

[ShadowFold]

P5K supports Crossfire

 

[silkstone]

But on the p5k-vm spec sheet it doesn't say crossfire is supported, can else anyone confirm that it is?

Intel Socket 775 Core™2 Quad/Core™2 Extreme/Core™2 Duo/Pentium® Extreme/Pentium® D/Pentium® 4 Processors
Compatible with Intel® 05B/05A/06 processors
Support Intel® 45nm CPU
Support Intel® next generation 45nm Multi-Core CPU
* Please update the latest BIOS to support Intel 45nm CPU

Chipset Intel G33
Intel ICH9
Intel Fast Memory Access Technology

Front Side Bus 1333/1066/800 MHz
Memory 4 x DIMM, Max. 8 GB, DDR2 1066*/800/667 Non-ECC,Un-buffered Memory
Dual Channel memory architecture
*The chipset officially supports the memory frequency up to DDR2 800. Due to the tuning by ASUS exclusive technology, this motherboard natively supports up to DDR2 1066MHz. Please refer to www.asus.com or user manual for Memory QVL
**When installing total memory of 4GB capacity or more, WindowsR 32-bit operation system may only recognize less than 3GB. Hence, a total installed memory of less than 3GB is recommended.
VGA Integrated Intel® Graphics Media Accelerator 3100
High-definition video processing with a maximum resolution of 2048 x 1536 bpp @75 Hz
Maximum shared memory of 256 MB
Supports Microsoft® DirectX® 9, OpenGL® 1.5, Pixel Shader 2.0
Expansion Slots 1 x PCIe x16
1 x PCIe x4
2 x PCI

Storage Southbridge
4 xSATA 3 Gb/s ports
JMicron® JMB368 PATA controller
1 xUltraDMA 133/100/66 for up to 2 PATA devices

LAN Marvell88E8056® PCI-E Gigabit LAN controllers
PCIe Gigabit LAN controller featuring AI NET2

Audio Realtek ALC 883 8 -Channel High-Definition Audio CODEC
Coaxial / Optical S/PDIF out ports at back I/O
Support Jack-Sensing, Enumeration, Multi-streaming
S/PDIF out on back I/O port

IEEE 1394 VIA VT6308S controller supports 2 x 1394a ports (one at midboard; one at back panel)
USB 12 USB 2.0 ports (6 ports at mid-board, 6ports at back panel)
ASUS Unique Features ASUS Crystal Sound
- ASUS Noise Filter
ASUS EZ DIY
- ASUS Q-Connector
- ASUS CrashFree BIOS 3
- ASUS EZ Flash 2

Overclocking Features ASUS Super Memspeed Technology
vCore: Adjustable CPU voltage at 0.0125V increment
SFS (Stepless Frequency Selection)
- FSB tuning from 200MHz up to 800MHz at 1MHz increment
- Memory tunning from 667MHz up to 1333MHz for DDR2
- PCI Express frequency tuning from 100MHz up to 150MHz at 1MHz increment
Overclocking Protection:
- ASUS C.P.R.(CPU Parameter Recall)
Back Panel I/O Ports 1 x D-Sub
1 x Parallel
1 x PS/2 Keyboard
1 x S/PDIF Out (Coaxial)
1 x IEEE 1394a
1 x LAN(RJ45) port
6 x USB 2.0/1.1
8 -Channel Audio I/O

Internal I/O Connectors 3 x USB connectors support additional 6 USB ports
1 x Floppy disk drive connector
1 x IDE connector
4 x SATA connectors
1 x IEEE 1394a connector
1 x CPU Fan connector
1 x Chassis Fan connector
1 x Power Fan connector
1 x S/PDIF Out connector
1 x4-pin ATX 12V Power connector
24 Power connector
1 x AP Trigger connector
Front panel audio connector
COM connector
Chassis Intrusion connector
CD/AUX audio in
System Panel

BIOS 8 Mb Flash ROM
DMI 2.0
AMI BIOS
PnP
WfM 2.0
SM BIOS 2.3
ACPI 2.0a
ASUS EZ Flash 2
ASUS CrashFree BIOS 3
Manageability WfM 2.0,DMI 2.0,WOL by PME,WOR by PME,PXE
O/S Compatibility Windows Vista
Windows XP

Accessories User's manual
1 x UltraDMA 133/100/66 cable
1 x Floppy disk drive cable
2 x SATA cable
1 2-port SATA power cable
I/O Shield
3 in 1 Q-connector

Support Disc Drivers
ASUS PC Probe ||
Anti-virus software (OEM version)
ASUS Update

Form Factor uATX Form Factor
9.6 inch x 9.6 inch ( 24.4 cm x 24.4 cm )

 

[ShadowFold]

All Intel chipsets work with Crossfire.. I know what I'm talking about. Why else would it have two PCI-E slots?

 

[silkstone]

ok thanks, they are at opposite ends of the board, i'll need to check to see if the link will reach.

 

[SonDa5]

This may work for your system.
For 2 HD4850s in CrossFire.

1. My HD4850s were more stable with only one Xfire jumper attached prior to 9.4 drivers.

2. 9.4 drivers work much better on my system with 2 jumpers connected.

3. When using "overdrive" to tune HD4850s in Xfire set your 3d options up first. Once you have 3D optins set in CCC begin to Overdrive. Overdrive 9.4 is buggy. May see artifacts. (I did).
4. Run Furmark for stability and down clock gpu clocks. This wil get rid of the artifacts seen during the CCC Overdrive.
5. Fine tune PCI bus speed for optimization. Just a little or none. All depends on your system settings. I've had good results from 105-112 mhz.

 

[_jM]

I know this is probally a stupid question coming from me but this is my first Crossfire set-up and I was wondering how in the hell do I find out if Im actually running in crossfire? When i open everest it shows both gpus etc... But like when I run 3dmark06 it tells me that im Not running linked display adapters. GPU-z is reading that im in crossfire.. strange.. PLease reply ASAP. I need to get to benching these cards ASAP for a review. Thanks guys!

 

[JATownes]

When you first installed and booted, did CCC pop up and ask you to enable crossfire? I assume so, since GPU-Z is reading duals.

 

[_jM]

When you first installed and booted, did CCC pop up and ask you to enable crossfire? I assume so, since GPU-Z is reading duals.

yes it did

I think I have everything tweaked according to what i have read here. Im re-installing Vantage and see what kinda results I get.

OK something is wrong.. I have everything set-up as Crossfire, but when I run Vantage.. its getting 14fps in the GFX test and says im NOT in CossFire.. WTF. can someone help me out?

 

[t_ski]

Do you have Vantage updated?

 

[_jM]

yes i do

 

[SonDa5]

There is an option in the 9.4 driver that displays a Xfire ATI icon when Xfire is enabled. That is an easy way to see if your 3d application is running in Xfire.

 

[Mussels]

There is an option in the 9.4 driver that displays a Xfire ATI icon when Xfire is enabled. That is an easy way to see if your 3d application is running in Xfire.

god that setting was hidden away. its in the tray icon, and not in the CCC as far as i could tell.

 

[SonDa5]

god that setting was hidden away. its in the tray icon, and not in the CCC as far as i could tell.

Just wait till it doesn't work for tons of people that think they are running Xfire.

 

[Mussels]

Just wait till it doesn't work for tons of people that think they are running Xfire.

stupid part about it: the crossfire icon doesnt fade out after a minute or so.

 

[mastrdrver]

There is an option in the 9.4 driver that displays a Xfire ATI icon when Xfire is enabled. That is an easy way to see if your 3d application is running in Xfire.

That's been there for a while. It gets annoying since it stays there. You trying to look around, but you have to move a lot more since it doesn't go away. Why can't it just some kind of splash when the game starts up?

 

[cadupradoo]

I'm having a lot of trouble and instability with my Tri-Crossfire configuration...

I would to try these steps, but I have a problem.

When I have no drivers installed at the system, Windows 7 install the standart one automatically, I can't avoid it actually...

How can I install the drivers if I can't stop windows from installing his?

Thanks for the help!

 

[bins]

xp fails to start with 2 x1800 installed

I've read pretty much every post in this thread, and followed the instructions on page 1, but when I install the second card (not cabled together yet), xp hangs on the start-up screen (the one with the blue bar that travels left to right). Both have power cables connected.

I have an 955xbk motherboard with the latest bios, a 680W psu. Funny thing is is that the same cards and a 600W psu work fine in an AMD system, but for various reasons I don't want to use that.

Does anyone have any idea what might be the problem, or any ideas on any other info I could provide that might help diagnose it?

thanks
rob

 

[Mussels]

I've read pretty much every post in this thread, and followed the instructions on page 1, but when I install the second card (not cabled together yet), xp hangs on the start-up screen (the one with the blue bar that travels left to right). Both have power cables connected.

I have an 955xbk motherboard with the latest bios, a 680W psu. Funny thing is is that the same cards and a 600W psu work fine in an AMD system, but for various reasons I don't want to use that.

Does anyone have any idea what might be the problem, or any ideas on any other info I could provide that might help diagnose it?

thanks
rob

with the information you've provided, there isnt much to go on. It could be power related, or it could be software.

 

[bins]

with the information you've provided, there isnt much to go on. It could be power related, or it could be software.

What other info should I provide please ?
thanks
rob

 

[Mussels]

What other info should I provide please ?
thanks
rob

to be honest, you need to narrow it down. Try other PSU's, try the video cards in another machine, try another operating system/fresh install.