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x1950xt in CF...how?

Forum Graphic & Displays : ATI - x1950xt in CF...how?


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TheOnlyPenguin   12-12-2006 at 08:14:43 PM

how does one run the new x1950xts in crossfire...i know the pro has the new interconnect...but i have no idea how to run one of these in it...the reason i ask is im building a new rig in less then a month...thank god...and im debating between the xt and the pro...i wouldnt add another card for awhile though if i did go CF on the MSI Platinum X975 board im going to get

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darkstar782   12-12-2006 at 08:45:59 PM
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You need an x1950 crossfire edition master card, these are priced a few dollars higher than the x1950XTX, and run at XTX speeds, although it will slow to XT speeds if paired with an XT.

As such, its not really economical, as the x1950 Crossfire master is as much as an 8800GTS, and with the x1950XT as well it is more than the faster performing 8800GTX, which also shows better image quality.

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darkstar782   12-12-2006 at 08:56:44 PM
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Quote :

the pro has the crossfire chip intergrated into the gpu and uses an internal bridge whilst AFAIK the xt still has the crossfire chip on the card and needs a dongle like usual.

only the new GPU's based on the 80nm process have the crossfire chip intergrated on the gpu.



Completely correct, hence the need for the expensive Crossfire master with the x1950XT

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TheOnlyPenguin   12-12-2006 at 09:02:16 PM
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Quote :

You need an x1950 crossfire edition master card, these are priced a few dollars higher than the x1950XTX, and run at XTX speeds, although it will slow to XT speeds if paired with an XT.

As such, its not really economical, as the x1950 Crossfire master is as much as an 8800GTS, and with the x1950XT as well it is more than the faster performing 8800GTX, which also shows better image quality.



thanks...thats what i thought...but i wasnt entirely sure...its def not economical

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Silentsam   12-14-2006 at 03:08:35 PM
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Quote :

You need an x1950 crossfire edition master card...



To my knowledge you do not need a 'master card' with the x1950xt. Starting with the v6.11 drivers, CF is enabled through the software so you can just buy 2 xt's and viola.

check this out:
http://www.tweaktown.com/articles/ [...] index.html

The only thing I'm not sure about is if you still need the dongle?? I assume you wouldn't because if you bought 2 x1950xt's they would not come with a dongle..

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Silentsam   12-14-2006 at 03:13:40 PM
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I took a minute to actually read that article and you don't need the dongle with software Cf. Very 8)

Quote :

For clarification, your monitor will need to be plugged into the primary video board, which is the one in PCI-E slot #1 on your system. In simpler terms, plug the monitor into the board that would be used in a single board setup.

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darkstar782   12-15-2006 at 07:52:53 PM
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Quote :

You need an x1950 crossfire edition master card...



To my knowledge you do not need a 'master card' with the x1950xt. Starting with the v6.11 drivers, CF is enabled through the software so you can just buy 2 xt's and viola.

check this out:
http://www.tweaktown.com/articles/ [...] index.html

The only thing I'm not sure about is if you still need the dongle?? I assume you wouldn't because if you bought 2 x1950xt's they would not come with a dongle..

I stand corrected, serves me right for not keeping up on ATi development other than RD600 and R600 :D

Still that was only posted on the 3rd Dec, and thats my excuse :P

From those (not very through) tests, it still doesn't seem worth it though. Without a compositing chip I can only assume they have the CPU doing the image composition which seems a very bad idea to me.

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darkstar782   12-15-2006 at 11:08:37 PM
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Quote :

i aint sure but i think they go down the nvidia way which is to use the gpu to do it. like i say i ain't sure but either way it isn't as good as a dedicated hardware solution. cheaper yes, better no.



Oh I get that the newer GPUs like the R600 and the x1950Pro will do it that way, but I wouldn't have thought it would be a simple driver upgrade that allowed the x1950XT to do it, surely it would need GPU hardware support, or it would need to be done on the CPU?

Still, this is just speculation. I have no evidence to back this up!

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markymoo   12-23-2006 at 04:20:55 AM
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software crossfire works fine use 6.12 drivers to do so. you see more fps performance advantage over non crossfire on the higher settings.

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Hx1000 going at 100%
By thelivingflesh, 194 days ago:

from your email,the motherboard you have does not support that in bios, also the bios is...

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