Catalyst 8.1 released..

[TTP]

go get 'em.. among the new features is Crossfire X multi-monitor support. (apparently X=2 monitors.. for now)


http://ati.amd.com/support/driver.html

[Albuquerque]

Nice, oblivion fixes for CrossFire. Downloading these puppies...

[Albuquerque]

If you go looking, there's also an 8.1 Hotfix driver which includes enhanced DX10 Crossfire performance for Crysis. It's not WHQL certified like the normal driver, but I'm downloading it anyway. Also has some fixes for AGP reportedly...

[HousERaT]

Can you link the hotfix drivers? They usually work better for benching. :)

[Wizzard005]

downloading them now. I will see if the Multi monitor works...

[Wizzard005]

Looks like Multi Monitor now works with CrossFire Enabled... Its about time! Now i gotta re-install ultra mon.

[TTP]

Can you link the hotfix drivers? They usually work better for benching. :)

Cat 8.1 Hotfix link is here:

http://support.ati.com/ics/support/default.asp?deptID=894&task=knowledge&questionID=31625

[jimmers]

Well I'm pumped now that I can have crossfire enabled and run dual display!!:attn: I didn't believe it at first so I benched my rig and couldnt believe my eyes!

[mystfied]

CCC bundle increased my 3dmark06 score on the 3850 256MB by a little over 100.

[HousERaT]

Cat 8.1 Hotfix link is here:

http://support.ati.com/ics/support/default.asp?deptID=894&task=knowledge&questionID=31625

Thank you muchly. :D

[Coreyhm1]

Outside of the little square at the top left on the desktop, these are the best drivers so far. :beer:

[Albuquerque]

Well, as good as they might be, they've somehow broken my Crossfire. I didn't notice until I fired up 3DMark06 last night to do my first round of benches, with a weak-ass score of ~11,500. Turns out that I can't get Crossfire to enable if my life depended on it, so I'm gonna go home tonight and get rough with it.

The checkmark does "check", and the screen does flicker and go dark for a second -- so it looks like it's turning on. But a quick glance at Crysis in DX10 mode tells the truth; there's definitely no CF enabled.

[TTP]

Well, as good as they might be, they've somehow broken my Crossfire. I didn't notice until I fired up 3DMark06 last night to do my first round of benches, with a weak-ass score of ~11,500. Turns out that I can't get Crossfire to enable if my life depended on it, so I'm gonna go home tonight and get rough with it.

The checkmark does "check", and the screen does flicker and go dark for a second -- so it looks like it's turning on. But a quick glance at Crysis in DX10 mode tells the truth; there's definitely no CF enabled.

Well my CF is definitely working. My initial 3DMark06 got past 16k. However, I'm seeing alot higher temp from my main card. I had to download RivaTuner 2.06 to manually set the fan profile to 70%. Looks like I need to look into alternative cooling or flashing the bios to a more aggressive fan profile.

[Albuquerque]

You've got a quad core, so your 16k score is to be expected ;) But I see you're running the 8.1 Hotfix driver instead of the WHQL; I wonder if that has anything to do with it. I downloaded both, so maybe I'll try the hotfix version instead and see if that helps.

[WonderingSoul]

Well my CF is definitely working. My initial 3DMark06 got past 16k. However, I'm seeing alot higher temp from my main card. I had to download RivaTuner 2.06 to manually set the fan profile to 70%. Looks like I need to look into alternative cooling or flashing the bios to a more aggressive fan profile.

If you have the space inbetween cards, Arctic Cooling S1 is an amazing cooler for the price.
Keeps my card nice and cool at 860/1200 idles around 40c loads at 50c in a 75f ambient. All I have on it is one Yate Loon Medium

[oakstave]

Well, as good as they might be, they've somehow broken my Crossfire. I didn't notice until I fired up 3DMark06 last night to do my first round of benches, with a weak-ass score of ~11,500. Turns out that I can't get Crossfire to enable if my life depended on it, so I'm gonna go home tonight and get rough with it.

The checkmark does "check", and the screen does flicker and go dark for a second -- so it looks like it's turning on. But a quick glance at Crysis in DX10 mode tells the truth; there's definitely no CF enabled.

Albuquerque, are you making excuses already? ;)

Will wait to see how you do before I download, since I we have similar setup...

[TTP]

If you have the space inbetween cards, Arctic Cooling S1 is an amazing cooler for the price.
Keeps my card nice and cool at 860/1200 idles around 40c loads at 50c in a 75f ambient. All I have on it is one Yate Loon Medium

Unfortunately, space between cards is very tight right now. I'll check out the S1 and see if it can work. I'm trying the HR03 in reverse configuration this weekend.

[Albuquerque]

Albuquerque, are you making excuses already? ;)

Will wait to see how you do before I download, since I we have similar setup...

LOL! :beer: Yeah I know, you've already got me shakin in my virtual boots! :bday: 11,500 is a good score for a single non-OC'd card on a dual core rig and Vista. At least compared to the results browser on FutureMark anyway...

I'll get 'er fixed up tonight one way or the other; I'll probably start with the 8.1 Hotfix and if that fails, go back to the 7.12's.

[jimmers]

Well, as good as they might be, they've somehow broken my Crossfire. I didn't notice until I fired up 3DMark06 last night to do my first round of benches, with a weak-ass score of ~11,500. Turns out that I can't get Crossfire to enable if my life depended on it, so I'm gonna go home tonight and get rough with it.

The checkmark does "check", and the screen does flicker and go dark for a second -- so it looks like it's turning on. But a quick glance at Crysis in DX10 mode tells the truth; there's definitely no CF enabled.

My crossfire is working great with the new drivers. I ran 3DMark and got around my usual score. Good luck getting it sorted out.

[TTP]

after flashing my Visiontek 3870 with the Sapphire bios, the fan issue is fixed for now. The fans ramp up much better and temps are staying steady around 70C at load. I picked up a watercooling setup from Swiftech and will eventually install that and remove the current oem heatsink.

[Albuquerque]

I did get CF working last night, did a Vista System Restore back to right before I installed them, re-did the 7.12 uninstall process, and re-installed 8.1 again. Worked fine this time :)

See the 3870 Crossfire 3Dm06 thread for my uber score ;)

[85sfarunner]

Fixed my 2900pro stutter issue in Gears of War when textures are set at "highest", very nice.