Tom's Hardware > Forum > Graphic & Displays > Graphics Cards > Interconnect Bridge Cable needed?

Interconnect Bridge Cable needed?

Forum Graphic & Displays : Graphics Cards - Interconnect Bridge Cable needed?


Word :    Username :           
 
Mharka   06-08-2009 at 03:02:04 AM

Hello everyone, This is my first thread so please be patient with me.
I bought a Gateway FX6800 0ie pc with ATI Radeon HD 4850 graphics card. I intend to add anohter card and use crossfire. Do i need to get an interconnect bridge cable? Or do i just placed the second card in the available PCIE x 16 slot without the cable? I heard read on some site that the gateway FX6800 series motherboard is crossfire compatible. Does that mean no cable needed?
thank you

Add a reply
Register or log in to remove.
AMG   06-08-2009 at 04:03:58 AM
- 0 +

it does need a crossfire bridge but one comes with the card anyways, if its retial

------------------------------ Q9550 3.8Ghz//ramapge formular//OCZ reaper 4Gb// 3 seagate HDDs// sapphire HD4870 512 // CM HAF 932
 Reply to AMG
Mharka   06-08-2009 at 01:57:19 PM
- 0 +

The retail box says it doesnt come with the interconnect bridge. I asked Geek squad and they told me they never heard of it.

Reply to Mharka
Mharka   06-08-2009 at 02:00:43 PM
- 0 +

What is even the purpose of getting into a hassle of crossfiring or sli dual video cards when i can get a single more powerful card with less chances of overheating my pc? I just dont get it.

Message quoted 1 times
Reply to Mharka
mousemonkey   06-08-2009 at 02:31:07 PM
- 0 +

If you don't 'get it' then why do you intend to do it?

Reply to mousemonkey
AMG   06-08-2009 at 02:58:52 PM
- 0 +

Mharka wrote :

What is even the purpose of getting into a hassle of crossfiring or sli dual video cards when i can get a single more powerful card with less chances of overheating my pc? I just dont get it.



acturly that "single more powerfull" card can be eaten by a SLI/crossfire system, basicly if you can use ethoir do so, as two HD4890s performe as well as if not better than a GTX295 and are cheaper.

you will notice these people who game on big montoirs and stuff do it, its for extra performace, as for overheating the PC, it depends on the graphics card cooler most just push the air out the vents at the back anyway so in a case with no circaltion the only thing thats going to suffer is the cards themselfs.

I state this again, if the graphics card comes as a retial package its more than likey to have a bridge connector, as for tech guys....yeah they wouldn't do :P

I have like 3 of the damm crossfire birdges lol :P if you don't get one easy enough to get. for very little $$$

------------------------------ Q9550 3.8Ghz//ramapge formular//OCZ reaper 4Gb// 3 seagate HDDs// sapphire HD4870 512 // CM HAF 932
 Reply to AMG
Mharka   06-08-2009 at 08:47:34 PM
- 0 +

OK. I am going to best buy to get the card today. So, the cable is a must to connect the cards together even if my motherboard is crossfire ready right?

Reply to Mharka
AMG   06-08-2009 at 08:56:23 PM
- 0 +

yes.

a little note, if you look at the manufaor or brand your card is from it will tell you what they inculde in the package.

------------------------------ Q9550 3.8Ghz//ramapge formular//OCZ reaper 4Gb// 3 seagate HDDs// sapphire HD4870 512 // CM HAF 932
 Reply to AMG
Twoboxer   06-08-2009 at 09:47:02 PM
- 0 +

I suspect you'll be back. Next question? Guessing something relating to a 6-pin power supply cable.

Does your Gateway's psu provide the power cable you'll need?

Reply to Twoboxer
Twoboxer   06-08-2009 at 09:55:43 PM
- 0 +

Looking a bit further, if this is true:

ATI Radeon HD 4850 System Requirements
o PCI Express® based PC is required with one X16 lane graphics slot available on the motherboard
o 450 Watt or greater power supply with 75 Watt 6-pin PCI Express® power connector recommended (550 Watt and two 6-pin connectors for ATI CrossFireX™ technology in dual mode)
o Certified power supplies are recommended. Refer to http://ati.amd.com/certifiedPSU for a list of Certified products
o Minimum 1GB of system memory
o Installation software requires CD-ROM drive
o DVD playback requires DVD drive
o Blu-ray™ playback requires Blu-ray drive
o For a complete ATI CrossFireX™ system, a second ATI Radeon™ HD 4850 graphics card, an ATI CrossFireX™ Ready motherboard and one ATI CrossFireX™ Bridge Interconnect cable per graphics card are required

Then you're wanting a 550W psu.

If I have your PC model number correct (Gateway® FX6800-01e), your psu spec reads like this:

"Note 11. Power supply can support 500W power (peak) on normal usage in some conditions."

Crossfire isn't likely to work on your box - ask Gateway to be sure.

Reply to Twoboxer
ac3144   06-08-2009 at 11:01:28 PM
- 0 +

I bought a Sapphire 4770 which did not have a bridge and an XFX 4770 that did,. You can buy bridges off ebay for $10 or so, you need 2 though.
AC

------------------------------ If only life had a votekick option....the world would be a better place.
 Reply to ac3144
AMG   06-08-2009 at 11:54:32 PM
- 0 +

I only had one on, my graphics cards didn't like two :o oh well it worked :D

------------------------------ Q9550 3.8Ghz//ramapge formular//OCZ reaper 4Gb// 3 seagate HDDs// sapphire HD4870 512 // CM HAF 932
 Reply to AMG
ac3144   06-09-2009 at 01:10:56 AM
- 0 +

Well, I got conflicting advice but thought 'hey there's two shiny bits, I'm gonna stick two bridges on there'. Don't know what the official advice is though??

------------------------------ If only life had a votekick option....the world would be a better place.
 Reply to ac3144
jennyh   06-09-2009 at 01:30:17 AM
- 0 +

It depends on who you buy them from (4770's anyway). Pretty strange really. Mine need 2 at least but i've heard of 1 being fine with other brands (mine are both sapphires).

Reply to jennyh
AMG   06-09-2009 at 03:06:36 AM
- 0 +

mine needed one only one, not saure whats wrong there lol when I stock em both on the primery card refused to work o.O

------------------------------ Q9550 3.8Ghz//ramapge formular//OCZ reaper 4Gb// 3 seagate HDDs// sapphire HD4870 512 // CM HAF 932
 Reply to AMG
Mharka   06-09-2009 at 03:06:19 PM
- 0 +

OH lord. What ever happened to ease of installing video cards nowadays. I am returning the video card i just bought in best buy and going to get a single more powerful card instead. ATI HD 4890 should be enough to eat up 2 4850, correct? And yeah i dont think i have the extra 6 pin power supply for the card and yes my psu is only 500. If i have to put 2 cards in there i would have to change to PSU also which will end up spending more money.
Well thanks for the advice guys and twoboxer thanks for the information you gave me.
I have decided against 2 video cards until time comes that i just slap 2 video cards without connecting anything anymore.

Reply to Mharka
Mharka   06-09-2009 at 03:10:41 PM
- 0 +

And yes i asked gateway. I am sorry to say that those people doesnt even know their system. A tech support told me my ATI radeon HD4850 does not support dual monitor and hence dual video card wont work. But when i went to CNET review of my box the reviewer actually said i can add another video card into my system but not more powerful card like the 4890.
So i am not going to listen to company tech support anymore. I will just have to come here regularly.

Reply to Mharka
AMG   06-09-2009 at 06:27:32 PM
- 0 +

two HD4850=HD4870 <HD4890 :) so yeah nice choice there

------------------------------ Q9550 3.8Ghz//ramapge formular//OCZ reaper 4Gb// 3 seagate HDDs// sapphire HD4870 512 // CM HAF 932
 Reply to AMG
Twoboxer   06-10-2009 at 01:40:08 AM
- 0 +

The 4890 requires 2x6 pin connectors vs the 4850 requirement of one.

Hope Gateway gave have the extra 6-pin lead - wait a minute, you said they didn't.

OK, hope the kit you buy provides the molex-to-6pin adapters . . . then hope you have the extra molex connectors in that Gateway box.

Reply to Twoboxer
AMG   06-10-2009 at 01:47:45 AM
- 0 +

the graphics card should come with a converter as well ;) 4pin=6pin PCIe;)

Message quoted 1 times
------------------------------ Q9550 3.8Ghz//ramapge formular//OCZ reaper 4Gb// 3 seagate HDDs// sapphire HD4870 512 // CM HAF 932
 Reply to AMG
Twoboxer   06-10-2009 at 09:53:53 AM
- 0 +

AMG wrote :

the graphics card should come with a converter as well ;) 4pin=6pin PCIe;)



I think that's what I said lol. Would be a shame if the same sort of problem beat him two times in such short order.


Message edited by Twoboxer on 06-10-2009 at 09:55:25 AM
Reply to Twoboxer
AMG   06-10-2009 at 05:47:26 PM
- 0 +

most powersupply don't...so thank god for retial GPU sets :P

althrough I m okay I have 6 O_O

------------------------------ Q9550 3.8Ghz//ramapge formular//OCZ reaper 4Gb// 3 seagate HDDs// sapphire HD4870 512 // CM HAF 932
 Reply to AMG
Ask the community Add a reply
Tom's Hardware > Forum > Graphic & Displays > Graphics Cards > Interconnect Bridge Cable needed?
Go to:

There are 155 identified and unidentified users. To see the list of identified users, Click here.

Forum map
Bestofmedia Forum ©
2000-2009 Bestofmedia Group
Page generated in 0.224 seconds
Please mind

You are about to answer a thread that has been inactive for more than 6 months.
If you still wish to proceed, please ensure that your posting is original and does not duplicate or overlap any prior responses to this thread.

Add a reply Cancel
  • Ask the community now
  • Publish
Ad
Ads
Latest best answer
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...

They won a badge
Join us in greeting them
How do I win badges?
Top experts
Become an expert The rank
Partners