Making Crossfire Work and Optimization

[simaomacaco]

-------DX9--------
Single card
Run #1- DX9 1280x1024 AA=No AA, 64 bit test, Quality: High ~~ Overall Average FPS: 31.415
Run #2- DX9 1900x1200 AA=No AA, 64 bit test, Quality: High ~~ Overall Average FPS: 20.51
Run #3- DX9 2560x1600 AA=No AA, 64 bit test, Quality: High ~~ Overall Average FPS: 11.87

Crossfire enabled DX9
Run #1- DX9 1280x1024 AA=No AA, 64 bit test, Quality: High ~~ Overall Average FPS: 39.1
Run #2- DX9 1900x1200 AA=No AA, 64 bit test, Quality: High ~~ Overall Average FPS: 32.815
Run #3- DX9 2560x1600 AA=No AA, 64 bit test, Quality: High ~~ Overall Average FPS: 16.415

-------DX10--------
Single card DX 10
Run #1- DX10 1280x1024 AA=No AA, 64 bit test, Quality: High ~~ Overall Average FPS: 22.68
Run #2- DX10 1900x1200 AA=No AA, 64 bit test, Quality: High ~~ Overall Average FPS: 15.125
Run #3- DX10 2560x2048 AA=No AA, 64 bit test, Quality: High ~~ Overall Average FPS: 5.49

Crossfire enabled DX10
Run #1- DX10 1280x1024 AA=No AA, 64 bit test, Quality: High ~~ Overall Average FPS: 22.68
Run #2- DX10 1900x1200 AA=No AA, 64 bit test, Quality: High ~~ Overall Average FPS: 15.125
Run #3- DX10 2560x2048 AA=No AA, 64 bit test, Quality: High ~~ Overall Average FPS: 5.49

crossfire enabled DX10 - non calgon with crysis 1.1
Run #1- DX10 1280x1024 AA=No AA, 64 bit test, Quality: High ~~ Overall Average FPS: 22.49
Run #2- DX10 1900x1200 AA=No AA, 64 bit test, Quality: High ~~ Overall Average FPS: 15.565

Single card DX10 - 3870PCE GPU at Over Clocked 840Mhz
Run #1- DX10 1280x1024 AA=No AA, 64 bit test, Quality: High ~~ Overall Average FPS: 25.535
Run #2- DX10 1900x1200 AA=No AA, 64 bit test, Quality: High ~~ Overall Average FPS: 17.075

 

[trog100]

so it seems to work in dx 9 but not 10.. or is that vista still on high.. aint dx 10 very high..??

trog

 

[simaomacaco]

i kept all the settings the same in the benchmark tool Trog.. so DX10 was on high

 

[Dr. Spankenstein]

^^I think that helps emphasize the differences. In Vista, you can play via the DX9 or DX10 path. The "Very High" settings are only "selectable" while running DX10, but as others have found, you can load custom Cvars to approximate "Very High", but it really isn't quite the same.

@ simaomacaco, Thank you so much for your results! Hopefully it will be encouraging for others. Would you be so kind as to give the Specs you are running these tests at? (ie. CPU, CPU speed, card speeds. I'm surprised you aren't seeing any benefit in DX10....

Are you in Vista only or do you dual-boot? (and no, that's not "prison lingo"!)

 

[simaomacaco]

System spec.. a bit better than average i would guess but i win at online poker

vista x64 pro single boot
E6600 at stock 2.4
Asaka EVO 120 cpu cooler
2*3870 PCE 8x each PCIe
Intel XBX 975
4gb pc5300
PCIe soundblaster at 4x
800gb+300gb hdd
30" dell (sweeet)
Blu-ray DVD writer
800w PSU

 

[Dr. Spankenstein]

Hmmm, must be the 64 bit Vista choking the works on the DX10 tip....

or, not to insult your intelligence (I mean you do have a 3870 CF on a D975XBX board!), but have you bothered to install the latest DirectX?


And which drivers did you end up using? You might need to experiment. I know 7.11/7.12 supported Vista 64, don't know about the Crysis Hotfix or 8.1....

EUREKA!

Check this ATi 8.1 Hotfix! Look half-way down the page.

"This hotfix resolves the following issues:


Fix for problems with DirectX and Radeon AGP Graphics cards.
Crysis: DirectX 10 Performance optimizations using Crossfire "

Tada! Glad to see they recognise that Crossfire need some help! Keep up the good work ATi!

 

[simaomacaco]

Some more numbers

I installed the 8.451.4.0 ATI hotfix x.x.4 = vista64 and i noticed that cf works a bit better:

Single card
Run #1- DX9 1280x1024 AA=No AA, 64 bit test, Quality: High ~~ Overall Average FPS: 31.415
Run #2- DX9 1900x1200 AA=No AA, 64 bit test, Quality: High ~~ Overall Average FPS: 20.51
Run #3- DX9 2560x1600 AA=No AA, 64 bit test, Quality: High ~~ Overall Average FPS: 11.87

Crossfire enabled DX9
Run #1- DX9 1280x1024 AA=No AA, 64 bit test, Quality: High ~~ Overall Average FPS: 39.1
Run #2- DX9 1900x1200 AA=No AA, 64 bit test, Quality: High ~~ Overall Average FPS: 32.815
Run #3- DX9 2560x1600 AA=No AA, 64 bit test, Quality: High ~~ Overall Average FPS: 16.415

Single card DX 10
Run #1- DX10 1280x1024 AA=No AA, 64 bit test, Quality: High ~~ Overall Average FPS: 22.68
Run #2- DX10 1900x1200 AA=No AA, 64 bit test, Quality: High ~~ Overall Average FPS: 15.125
Run #3- DX10 2560x2048 AA=No AA, 64 bit test, Quality: High ~~ Overall Average FPS: 5.49

Crossfire enabled DX10
Run #1- DX10 1280x1024 AA=No AA, 64 bit test, Quality: High ~~ Overall Average FPS: 22.68
Run #2- DX10 1900x1200 AA=No AA, 64 bit test, Quality: High ~~ Overall Average FPS: 15.125
Run #3- DX10 2560x2048 AA=No AA, 64 bit test, Quality: High ~~ Overall Average FPS: 5.49

crossfire enabled DX10 - non calgon with crysis 1.118
Run #1- DX10 1280x1024 AA=No AA, 64 bit test, Quality: High ~~ Overall Average FPS: 22.49
Run #2- DX10 1900x1200 AA=No AA, 64 bit test, Quality: High ~~ Overall Average FPS: 15.565

Single card 3870PCE GPU at Over Clocked 840Mhz
Run #1- DX10 1280x1024 AA=No AA, 64 bit test, Quality: High ~~ Overall Average FPS: 25.535
Run #2- DX10 1900x1200 AA=No AA, 64 bit test, Quality: High ~~ Overall Average FPS: 17.075

crossfire DX10 - 8.451.4.0 ATI hotfix
Run #1- DX10 1280x1024 AA=No AA, 64 bit test, Quality: High ~~ Overall Average FPS: 23.7 +4.5% increase
Run #2- DX10 1680x1050 AA=No AA, 64 bit test, Quality: High ~~ Overall Average FPS: 18.61 +22% increase
Run #3- DX10 1900x1200 AA=No AA, 64 bit test, Quality: High ~~ Overall Average FPS: 15.49 +2.5% increase
Run #4- DX10 2560x1600 AA=No AA, 64 bit test, Quality: High ~~ Overall Average FPS: 8.46 +54% increase

Note that CF really makes a diff at the v high resolution.

 

[BullGod]

Oh no you didn't! Spankenstein was a gay porno from the 70s!

(Google)

 

[Dr. Spankenstein]

*Vista Users: UPDATE*

I wanted this thread to be a resource, so I'm adding what seem to be essential Hotfixes for Crossfire.

Two are available for download:

KB940105-Pertains to Virtual Address space/Memory usages.

KB936710-For Multi-GPU scenarios.

The third is available only by submitting a "Request Form".

KB945149-Addresses how the DMA (Direct Memory Acess) packet schedules work to the LDA (Linked Display Adapter).


Plus check and see if you have Performance and Reliability updates KB938194 & KB938979

Waiting on more confirmations than simaomacaco & myself....

 

[piebobs71]

do we need 2 of the little connector cables? i hadn't found any data on where to put the cable/s until yesterday, i seen a small instructional video showing a crossfire setup with 2 of the connectors i only have 1 on just now will i gain anything from having both on? i have another one, i got a connector with each card i bought but you would think a little more info in the boxes or on the cds with the cards would be better.

http://ati.amd.com/technology/crossfire/howitworksdemo.html

 

[imperialreign]

do we need 2 of the little connector cables? i hadn't found any data on where to put the cable/s until yesterday, i seen a small instructional video showing a crossfire setup with 2 of the connectors i only have 1 on just now will i gain anything from having both on? i have another one, i got a connector with each card i bought but you would think a little more info in the boxes or on the cds with the cards would be better.

http://ati.amd.com/technology/crossfire/howitworksdemo.html

if you're talking about the bridge connectors that attach directly to the side of the card (and not the back of the slot), you don't need both, but, they'll perform much better with both bridges. Both brdiges allows for better communication between the two cards, whereas with only one, IIRC, they'll partially communicate across the SYS BUS - I might be wrong, though - but I recommend using both.

 

[piebobs71]

thanks imperialreign,ive installed second bridge cable.

@Dr. Spankenstein number 2 of your crossfire install guide says

2.) Then uninstall the current Display Adapter(s) via the Device Manager.

do you mean the vga ones windows uses? while there are no other drivers on.(is this maybe why im having the issue with things onmy desktop magically duplicating themselves?)

(Vista users can replace Steps 7 & 8 with a plain boot and power down. Vista will install the driver on the second card automatically.

my xp install found the second card automatically i didnt need to find the drivers dir.

 

[Dr. Spankenstein]

thanks imperialreign,ive installed second bridge cable.

@Dr. Spankenstein number 2 of your crossfire install guide says

2.) Then uninstall the current Display Adapter(s) via the Device Manager.

do you mean the vga ones windows uses? while there are no other drivers on.(is this maybe why im having the issue with things onmy desktop magically duplicating themselves?)

Yes, correct on both counts. Even after your uninstall the drivers, you must uninstall the display adapters via the Device Manager or you will see results just as you described and will not be recieving the "full" benefit of this technique.

I have also seen this happen with the Cat 8.2 drivers. Try either the Crysis Hotifx drivers or the 7.12 drivers until I can verify if the 8.1/8.2 are advantageous to use.

(Vista users can replace Steps 7 & 8 with a plain boot and power down. Vista will install the driver on the second card automatically.

my xp install found the second card automatically i didnt need to find the drivers dir.

Again, this is a symptom of not completely removing all traces of the software and hardware. Follow the steps and use the above reccommended drivers, you should be surprised!

 

[piebobs71]

this is gonna sound really lame but i cant get my pc to boot in safe mode lol i press f8 but all i get is a little pop up window asking me which device i want to boot from no option for safe mode ,is it f8 for safe mode with asus mobo's ive been through the manual and cant find anything about it.


ok got it ,once that little popup thing happens you press esc then f8 and it worked found some things while searching all files folders that im not sure are ati even tho they have ati in the name can anyone confirm.

 

[Dr. Spankenstein]

Yes they are, but they shouldn't be a problem. They are in a "backup" folder.

 

[piebobs71]

just the same as last time it auto found the second card but this time its showing both cards as 3870 and both on the same monitor.before it showed 1 as 3870 and 1 as 3800 series 1 on my lg204ws and 1 on default monitor.altho its still showing me as having 2 monitors in device manager and the file duplicating thing is still happening.this is really starting to bug me now.

 

[Fitseries3]

anyone know why my graphics "flash" in crysis?

 

[Dr. Spankenstein]

just the same as last time it auto found the second card but this time its showing both cards as 3870 and both on the same monitor.before it showed 1 as 3870 and 1 as 3800 series 1 on my lg204ws and 1 on default monitor.altho its still showing me as having 2 monitors in device manager and the file duplicating thing is still happening.this is really starting to bug me now.

Just a couple of questions:

I'm thinking that you might have to delete those files you were questioning earlier. Seems they are loading up when the OS discovers the new card.

Are you trying with the Crysis Hotfix drivers, 7.12, 8.1, or 8.2? Try the Hotfix drivers, if you haven't already.

@ fitseries

I had this for a while, then I had added some hotfixes and it went away. Check the KBs listed in Post# 31 & 34 and see if you have those. If not, give them a try. You can always uninstall later.

 

[asb2106]

Dr. S, you are the man!

Well I got my rig all built, went to install crossfire, and it wouldnt work. I have a very elaborate water setup, making it hard to pull out a card......

I was able to work it out, got it working!! although my computer did JUST locked up on me oh crap

Well either way, your instructions worked, so thanks!

BTW, I think its really lame that its so tough to get crossfire working. You would think ATI would have this worked out better than this.

Dr S, you are the man!!

EDIT***

HELP! So, I got it to work, was running 3dmark, locked up, restarted and now crossfire is off and it doesnt recognize the second card! WTF is going on??? Anyone able to help>?????? Please????

 

[CrackerJack]

Dr. S, you are the man!

Well I got my rig all built, went to install crossfire, and it wouldnt work. I have a very elaborate water setup, making it hard to pull out a card......

I was able to work it out, got it working!! although my computer did JUST locked up on me oh crap

Well either way, your instructions worked, so thanks!

BTW, I think its really lame that its so tough to get crossfire working. You would think ATI would have this worked out better than this.

Dr S, you are the man!!

EDIT***

HELP! So, I got it to work, was running 3dmark, locked up, restarted and now crossfire is off and it doesnt recognize the second card! WTF is going on??? Anyone able to help>?????? Please????

you can't see crossfire in 3dmark or CCC? I heard people were having to install the 3dmark patch when they installed a updated ATI drivers, I would try that. Which windows are you running?

 

[Dr. Spankenstein]

@asb2106,

Thanks. Glad you found this usefull!

Sounds like the drivers got borked when the crash happened. Run ATI uninstaller, Clean in Safe Mode w/Driver Cleaner Pro (do two runs with all the ATI selections listed) then start from the top.

Have you determined what the cause of the crash? Trying to bite off too much at once, eh?

Post back your success!

 

[asb2106]

@asb2106,

Thanks. Glad you found this usefull!

Sounds like the drivers got borked when the crash happened. Run ATI uninstaller, Clean in Safe Mode w/Driver Cleaner Pro (do two runs with all the ATI selections listed) then start from the top.

Have you determined what the cause of the crash? Trying to bite off too much at once, eh?

Post back your success!

I think the crash was actually from overheating on one of the cards. My first attempt at the water, I ran both cards in a parellel water loop and it wasnt getting the flow it needed, So i re did the water last night and got this!

Its been working great now, I have done a few restarts and played with the settings to get the best I can for right now. But Im pretty happy with it!

 

[asb2106]

you can't see crossfire in 3dmark or CCC? I heard people were having to install the 3dmark patch when they installed a updated ATI drivers, I would try that. Which windows are you running?

XP, I got it running now, it was weird, if the ribbons are on, it recognizes as one card.

What I did, because my water setup was so tight I could not take out just one card. So I removed the ribbons, wiped all traces of drivers, restarted, installed 8.2, restarted making sure it seen both cards(device manager - seen both on its own) shutdown, add ribbons, boot and go in CCC then enable xfire, works great!

 

[Dr. Spankenstein]

Can't argue with results like that!! Great score! That's good for 3rd place overall in the '06 thread!

Nice clock on that Quad, BTW!

You seemed to have found the same "barrier" at 877MHz for CF like I did. Trying to determine how to get beyond that one. Will post back if I find anything....

 

[asb2106]

Can't argue with results like that!! Great score! That's good for 3rd place overall in the '06 thread!

Nice clock on that Quad, BTW!

You seemed to have found the same "barrier" at 877MHz for CF like I did. Trying to determine how to get beyond that one. Will post back if I find anything....

that would be awesome! I sure did hit that "barrier" myself, highly annoying! Ahh well, I really cannot complain about 21k 3dmarks.

I can however complain about how hot my Northbridge is getting on the rampage!

I left the computer on over night running seti at the clocks, and I worked the voltages down as low as i could get them stable CPU 1.54, NB 1.33 and my NB still runs at like 68 - 71 C!!! I really didnt want to have to WC the NB on this, that would require me to have to find something to cool the SB then too!

I love this board, clocks great, hell, for fun I got my q6600 at 4.4 stable, the temps were almost 78C on the cores though, so I had to back off. Right now Im at 4ghz at 1.54 and the cores are running around 63C @ 100%