4870x2 + 4870 1gig crossfirex

[OnDborder]

Anyone tried this?
Or any review links?
I've read where they did some bench's with the 512 version of 4870 and it didn't pan out too good.
Some 4870 1gig's are getting into "buying" range for my pocketbook.

[sandyduff]

hmmmm... im intrigued about this too... another x2 would require a new power supply for me!!

[OnDborder]

A 4870 single gpu card. Not another x2. Tri-fire gpu's.

[sandyduff]

Yeh i know... i was meaning that i dont want to get another x2 due to power requirements, but another 4870 1GB i can probably do... but i am as unsure as you

[Badbonji]

It would probably do as well as the HD4870X2 CrossfireX as the 4th GPU on that would not be used alot, if at all in most games.

I bet Mgoode (He has the HD4870X2+ 4870 in his setup, also with a core i7 @4.2Ghz) will help you with that question if you ask him nicely enough, seeing as he is on the benching team :P

His profile : http://www.ocforums.com/member.php?u=55321

[OnDborder]

Thanks on the mgoode info.
Pm'd him.

[mastrdrver]

I'm wondering how well this and the quad setup do in COD4 and WaW, since those are the games I spend the majority of my time playing. Since both those games max out the usage on my x2, I'd be interested to see the difference between tri and quad on those two games to see if there is a big enough difference between tri and quad to warrant quad over tri.

[DrSpanky]

Thanks on the mgoode info.
Pm'd him.

Can you post back with what info you get... thx, i need a little more grunt myself and a 4870 dont seem like a bad idea to go with me x2

[OnDborder]

Sure :thup:
I let mgoode know about this thread.

[mgoode]

I upgraded to 4870x2 and sold my 512gb 4870 but decided to run some benches with both. Because my 4870 was 512 it crippled my 4870x2 to 512gb for each core. I ran some benches anyway. Here is my Hwbot bronze cup(was silver last week) with a 4807x2 and 4870 512gb in tri-fire. Number 2 in vantage for the ocforums benchmark team. I bought a 1gb Sapphire card with Neweggs 30% off paypal deal and will have that set up this week and the gold will be mine:)
http://www.hwbot.org/result.do?resultId=801086
http://www.ocforums.com/showthread.php?t=579882

[mgoode]

Before anyone asks here is vantage run with just my 4870x2:)

[OnDborder]

What catz did you use?
Did you try the trifire on any other board/cpu setup besides that i7?

[mgoode]

Yes I had it running on my Rampage Formula x48(currently for sale in the classifieds:sn:) I find that the Cat 8.10's are still the best for me, but Tri-fire works on 8.11's and 8.12's as well. What ****es me off is that it doesn't work in XP so I can run some Aquamark and 3d01 benches:confused:

[DrSpanky]

nice scaling for vantage, was there a noticeable improvement in games? from 2 gpu to 3 gpu's.

[mgoode]

Yes in Farcry 2, but that might have also been a driver issue as I upgraded my cats at the same time I add the 4870 and that cleared up some lag I had running at 1900x 1200. Anyway Farcry 2 runs 1900 x1200 smooth as butter now.

[Duo Maxwell]

Interesting, can this be done all the way up to a 5 way cross fire, using 2 X2s and a 4870 1Gb, since the X2s only have the one bridge, while the non X2s have 2.

Sure you'd need a mobo with 3x 16x, a flexible CF cable and one monster of a PSU, but the world must know if this can be done!

[OnDborder]

I bought a 1gb Sapphire card with Neweggs 30% off paypal deal


:eek: :bang head How did I miss that one??:screwy:

[mgoode]

My bad , it was 15% off plus rebate the card ended up costing 184.00.

http://www.ocforums.com/showthread.php?t=588452

[OnDborder]

Geez,,, and thought 214 was a good deal..Maybe I should wait..:shrug:
So did you recieve the 1gig card?

[mgoode]

I am waiting on UPS which rescheduled my delivery because of bad weather to 5/1/2009???? WTF!!!!

"In Transit - Rescheduled
Rescheduled Delivery: 01/05/2009 "

[Badbonji]

Nice scores! My CPU score is a bit higher at 4Ghz, but my GPU scores are really holding me back (without PhysX). I was thinking a GTX295 with an 8800gts 512mb for PhysX, or two GTX295 with the 8800gts for PhysX, seeing as it will be spare.

[sandyduff]

hmmm... you reckon my PSU can handle a 4870x2 and a single 4870....?

[mgoode]

Nice scores! My CPU score is a bit higher at 4Ghz, but my GPU scores are really holding me back (without PhysX). I was thinking a GTX295 with an 8800gts 512mb for PhysX, or two GTX295 with the 8800gts for PhysX, seeing as it will be spare.

Fyi... all my runs are with Physx turned off, PhysX scores are not allowed on HwBot or for bench team results.

[DrSpanky]

Mgoode, any idea if there are any performance benifits for pluging a second monitor into the 3rd gpu rather then plugging both into the x2 card?

for example playing supreme commander in dual screen (one map other normal game mode)

[mgoode]

Haven't tried that yet, but zi am eyeing the refurbed 30'' they have at Dell outlet right now

[OnDborder]

Weird thing is, that my Rampage Extreme wouldn't boot with the x2 in the top slot.
I had to put the single in the top. But anyway,it looks like it's working(stock atm).
Mgoode, did you oc your cards?

http://img367.imageshack.us/img367/5929/3gpu2yr0.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

[chadrh]

This is very interesting. The only downside is dealing with the added heat of another card. My 4870x2 runs very hot by itself.

[OnDborder]

I'm using rbe to keep the fans regulated. So they don't get really warm.

[krag]

Dang man! Looks like I'll be looking for a 1g 4870 to tri-fire my rig.

Thanks for the info.

[chadrh]

I'm using rbe to keep the fans regulated. So they don't get really warm.

rbe?

[OnDborder]

rbe?

http://www.techpowerup.com/downloads/Utilities/RBE/
http://forums.techpowerup.com/showthread.php?t=54776

[DrSpanky]

Weird thing is, that my Rampage Extreme wouldn't boot with the x2 in the top slot.
I had to put the single in the top. But anyway,it looks like it's working(stock atm).
Mgoode, did you oc your cards?

http://img367.imageshack.us/img367/5929/3gpu2yr0.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

What was ur vantage results before adding the 3rd gpu?

[chadrh]

http://www.techpowerup.com/downloads/Utilities/RBE/
http://forums.techpowerup.com/showthread.php?t=54776

Thanks for the link. Very interesting.

[OnDborder]

I didn't run Vantage with the 4870x2/4870 single on this board. It was getting late and my goal was getting trifire working. Now that I can, I can do single card runs later.
Here's the 4870x2 on my x38dfi http://service.futuremark.com/compare?3dmv=574155

[mgoode]

Weird thing is, that my Rampage Extreme wouldn't boot with the x2 in the top slot.
I had to put the single in the top. But anyway,it looks like it's working(stock atm).
Mgoode, did you oc your cards?




Yes, I did oc my cards and I used the top slot for my x2 on my Rampage Formula. I finally got my 1gb 4870 and will be building a dedicated water loop for my gpus this week. I am working out the tubing since I will be using 3 MCW-60's.

[marshallladd]

This is very interesting. I was thinking of doing the same but didn't know if it would work. Could anyone who is doing this possibly post some gaming benchmarks and not just synthetics for comparison(x2 vs "Tri-fire").

[DrSpanky]

This is very interesting. I was thinking of doing the same but didn't know if it would work. Could anyone who is doing this possibly post some gaming benchmarks and not just synthetics for comparison(x2 vs "Tri-fire").

what games would u suggest for testing?

Btw vantage scores from 4870x2 to 4870x2 + 4870

http://img405.imageshack.us/img405/2669/43642571sl1.th.jpg (http://img405.imageshack.us/my.php?image=43642571sl1.jpg)

that was my first run so im gonna do some tinkering with the clocks see what else i can get, but i have a kick arse headache and my eyes hurt so im gonna sleep for a few hours first.

[OnDborder]

This is all I can squeeze out of Vista.
Question: do you have to have a game in order to bench it? Like are there just "game" bench programs?
http://img55.imageshack.us/img55/9541/490bvv8.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

[OnDborder]

Ok, I'm done with benching, atm.
Now onto the gaming/fps comparisons.
I haven't done a fps comparison before so some help is needed.
What settings would I run on? Which cat? I'm running 8.10 atm. With just the 4870x2 installed of course.
I have FEAR, halflife2, COD4, Bioshock, CS:S, Doom3, Quake3/4, Fallout3, Painkiller, and a few more for games to bench on.

[sandyduff]

Yuo could download the crysis benchmark if you have crysis installed... also maybe devil may cry 4? it also has a nice benchmark built into it...

[OnDborder]

Ya, I did a google and came up with quite a few from hardwareOC that I'm going to run.. It looks like the easy way out :)
http://www.hocbench.com/ss2.php
What resolutions/settings would be recommended?

This is all a learning experience.

[sandyduff]

1920x1200 and 1680x1050

They seem to be the most commonly used resolutions on the forum so i reckon its a good place to start. Also maybe vary settings, like increaase AA and AF in increments and maybe form fancy tables and graphs... or just post numbers, either way and im happy!!

[OnDborder]

I'll do the bench's with the 4870x2 first. It'll be "probably" be done this weekend.
I have 8.10's on now. They seem pretty stable.
After I'll do the 8.12's tri-fire.
BTW, I'm lacking in knowledge on graphic art, so numbers and screenshots will have to do.. :D

[sandyduff]

no pretty pictures?

oh well... im sure il survive!!

Have to admit i am looking forward to this... should be interesting. Are you using the E8600? what speed is it at?

[prime81]

Weird thing is, that my Rampage Extreme wouldn't boot with the x2 in the top slot.
I had to put the single in the top. But anyway,it looks like it's working(stock atm).
Mgoode, did you oc your cards?

http://img367.imageshack.us/img367/5929/3gpu2yr0.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

There is a BIOS update on ASUS site that is very recent and the change log was certain 4870x2s dont work. Just FYI :)

Actually here it is

[ 0901 ]
----------------------
Fix if use 2 pieces of HD4870X2 to build CrossfireX it may get no display from the VGA card which is inserted in the PCI-E X16_1 slot

[OnDborder]

no pretty pictures?

oh well... im sure il survive!!

Have to admit i am looking forward to this... should be interesting. Are you using the E8600? what speed is it at?

I'm going to be using a q6600@3600(400x9) on my DFI x38 with 4gig of Corsair 9260's first. I haven't finished superpi and wprime bench's on my Extreme/8600. I figured it wouldn't make to much of a difference, seeing how we just would like to see what kind of improvement there is adding another 4870.

Prime81, I used RBE to bump the mhz'z up. I couldn't find an Asus bios for the 4870 and didn't know if the Asus one would work on the 4870, so I used the original bios' and modded them with rbe.
I switched the cabling around and for some reason I got it working. I hope this dfi doesn't give me problems. It would be a slight set-back.
Thanks for the info though.
BTW, do you have a link to that bios update? And is that the oc'd bios?

[sandyduff]

Cool... looking forward to this!!

[nunez1980]

Cool... looking forward to this!!

me too !!!

sam

[prime81]

I'm going to be using a q6600@3600(400x9) on my DFI x38 with 4gig of Corsair 9260's first. I haven't finished superpi and wprime bench's on my Extreme/8600. I figured it wouldn't make to much of a difference, seeing how we just would like to see what kind of improvement there is adding another 4870.

Prime81, I used RBE to bump the mhz'z up. I couldn't find an Asus bios for the 4870 and didn't know if the Asus one would work on the 4870, so I used the original bios' and modded them with rbe.
I switched the cabling around and for some reason I got it working. I hope this dfi doesn't give me problems. It would be a slight set-back.
Thanks for the info though.
BTW, do you have a link to that bios update? And is that the oc'd bios?

That BIOS update is for the Rampage Extreme Mobo, only reason a lightbulb came on was I have a Rampage Formula and it had the same bios update. If ya want the updated bios just goto usa.asus.com and download section. I was referring to the no boot issue with the 4870x2 in the primary pci-e slot.

[exe163]

So 4870x2 + 4870 512mb works, but how much v ram do you actually have?

[OnDborder]

I had one heck of a weekend starting Fri.
Started out by setting up trifire on the dfi. Did the proper set up for the 1 gig card. Cranked it up,, oh wow,,, artifacts!! WT???:bang head
Cursed the dfi..
Pulled the Rampage Ex. from my benchr.
Oh wow,,,, my Tuniq hs/f is a PITA getting on with all hardware on the board..
Pulled some of my h2o set up off the benchr.
Got the RE all put together and did the proper set up for the 1 gig card.
Plugged in the card.. Oh wow,,,,, artifacts.. WTH???:mad:
Cards ran fine separately..
What I think it turned out to be is the 1 gig card was installing to a different resolution. When you go to install the second card, pull the first one out. Adjust the resolution to the same as the first.
Funny I didn't have this problem the first time through.:shrug:
Anyway, I finally got it goin' again.:clap:
Benchmarks taken from this site: http://www.hocbench.com/index.php
Oh ya, ya know you have to have the game installed to run the benchs?? That was a real time user..
I couldn't get hl2 or Episode to run. Maybe cuz I didn't install from a dvd, only from Steam. Crysis I couldn't get a "results". I emailed the issue to them.

Doom3
http://img206.imageshack.us/img206/9990/doom3pt6.th.jpg (http://img206.imageshack.us/my.php?image=doom3pt6.jpg)
D3 tri
http://img93.imageshack.us/img93/7191/doom3tcu3.th.jpg (http://img93.imageshack.us/my.php?image=doom3tcu3.jpg)
Farcry
http://img93.imageshack.us/img93/1627/farcryfr6.th.jpg (http://img93.imageshack.us/my.php?image=farcryfr6.jpg)
Farcry tri
http://img93.imageshack.us/img93/2139/fctbh7.th.jpg (http://img93.imageshack.us/my.php?image=fctbh7.jpg)
FEAR
http://img93.imageshack.us/img93/4701/fearrdt9.th.jpg (http://img93.imageshack.us/my.php?image=fearrdt9.jpg)
FEAR tri
http://img93.imageshack.us/img93/7886/fearsf3.th.jpg (http://img93.imageshack.us/my.php?image=fearsf3.jpg)

For some reason, FEAR doesn't seem to run well on Vista64

[OnDborder]

Specs on the board:
Rampage Extreme
e8600
4 gig Patriot Viper
HIS 4870x2 stock
Sapphire 4870 stock

I just ran the 1920x1200 resolutions. Wanted to get some results up and going.
Now that it's in my main puter I can play around with it a little more at some different settings. I'm not too familiar with video card tweaking. It's a learning experience.

Quake 4
http://img206.imageshack.us/img206/6313/quake4ds4.th.jpg (http://img206.imageshack.us/my.php?image=quake4ds4.jpg)
Quake4 tri
http://img93.imageshack.us/img93/5202/q4ttj3.th.jpg (http://img93.imageshack.us/my.php?image=q4ttj3.jpg)
ETQW
http://img105.imageshack.us/img105/8536/quakewarcz8.th.jpg (http://img105.imageshack.us/my.php?image=quakewarcz8.jpg)
EQTW tri
http://img502.imageshack.us/img502/2159/qwarstnz2.th.jpg (http://img502.imageshack.us/my.php?image=qwarstnz2.jpg)
UT3
http://img291.imageshack.us/img291/1921/ut3gc9.th.jpg (http://img291.imageshack.us/my.php?image=ut3gc9.jpg)
UT3 tri
http://img291.imageshack.us/img291/7272/ut3tkn3.th.jpg (http://img291.imageshack.us/my.php?image=ut3tkn3.jpg)

Now to play some games :)

[sandyduff]

Not much of a big performance jump really is it...? to be honest i was expecting a bigger jump...

Yeh FEAR hates vista for some reason.... or maybe its ATI... i dunno... but i can't get that game to run smooth either

Doing a good job!! :clap:

[OnDborder]

Not much of a big performance jump really is it...? to be honest i was expecting a bigger jump...

Yeh FEAR hates vista for some reason.... or maybe its ATI... i dunno... but i can't get that game to run smooth either

Doing a good job!! :clap:

Ya. Not with all the eye candy settings on, which I'm not too familiar with.
It was a big jump in the 3dmark bench though. My main reason for doing the trifirex.
It'd be cool to have someone run a same bench with a crossfired 4870x2's, with comparable equipment, at the same "eyecandy" settings, have me run the same, and then compare.

[sandyduff]

i would love to do that but unfortunatly i cant afford a 2nd x2... plus i dont think my PSU would be able to take it!!!

What were the 3dmark scores...?

[mgoode]

Nice work OnDborder!! I am awaiting an RMA from Saphire(took 1 month just to get rma #). I couldnt wait so I bought anothert 4870x2 from newegg for 369.00 on 1-day deal so hopefully in 2-4weeks :bang head I will have a 2 4870x2 and can post some numbers. Does anyone know how many GPU's Vista64 can use? I might try a 4870x2 +4870x2 + 4870 combo just for the hell of it.

[sandyduff]

4870x2 +4870x2 + 4870 combo just for the hell of it.

That would be awesome!!

[mastrdrver]

Do you have a quad around?

I know my frame rate picked up in games going from a dual to a quad on my 4870x2. When I played MP on COD4 (1920x1200 8AA/16AF) on a dual, I would get dips in the rate to mid 30s on Overgrown and Creek, others would only go to a low of mid 40s. Now with the quad it never, ever, ever moves from 60fps. I always play with vsync on and both were done at the same speed with the same multi and bus (8x400). The only change was the move from my E6420 to Q9400.

[sandyduff]

anymore results....?