HIS MIX with Lucid HydraLogix: "MIX"ing the HD6970 & GTX580

Overclockers.com · 10-26-11, 12:01 PM

Quote:

Some of you may have heard of Lucid Hydra, and it's implementation on motherboards to allow GPUs from AMD and NVIDIA to play nicely together. We have been testing this unique feature from HIS and Lucid: HIS decided to try putting one of Lucid's chips on an HD6970 to allow this AMD and NVIDIA intermingling, and they call this feature MIX.

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David · 10-26-11, 12:03 PM

Nice writeup Matt!

MattNo5ss · 10-26-11, 02:00 PM

Definitely a neat feature, especially since it's implemented through a GPU and not a motherboard. MIX/HydraLogix just needs maturing before it will become practical.

The no DP Eyefinity is nice though, saves people from buying an adapter.

Just a nickname · 10-26-11, 04:56 PM

Just wondering if I put a old sucky card with a "good" card, will the "MIX" be > than just having a good card?

MattNo5ss · 10-26-11, 05:37 PM

I haven't tested that, but it should work, technically. Of course, the hit or miss effectiveness of MIX would still be there...

HIS recommends using the high-end nVidia GPUs when using MIX with the HD6970.

SupaMonkey · 10-27-11, 02:30 AM

What happens if you use the MIX with another 6970? Does the tech improve the crossfire scaling?

SupaMonkey · 10-27-11, 04:51 AM

I have a feeling i know the result.

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MattNo5ss · 10-27-11, 08:01 AM

Good info there. That's what I would expect since SLI/CFX is much more mature than HydraLogix. Those Tom's were done with a Hydra chip on the motherboard, so there may be a difference in motherboard and GPU Hydra. Also, does that Tom's HydraLogix review say what chip was being used? Is it the same LT22102 chip as on the HD6970 MIX?

EarthDog · 10-27-11, 08:10 AM

Great job on the article... and interesting results to say the least.

SupaMonkey · 10-27-11, 09:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MattNo5ss

Good info there. That's what I would expect since SLI/CFX is much more mature than HydraLogix. Those Tom's were done with a Hydra chip on the motherboard, so there may be a difference in motherboard and GPU Hydra. Also, does that Tom's HydraLogix review say what chip was being used? Is it the same LT22102 chip as on the HD6970 MIX?

Yes it was the same chip but on the motherboard.

MattNo5ss · 10-27-11, 09:34 AM

The motherboard results were the same as mine for STALKER: MIX/HydraLogix doesn't utilize both cards in that test, and even hinders the performance of a single card.

It looks like the motherboard implementation may be better than the GPU implementation. In the Tom's chart SLI is 92% better in STALKER. In my results, SLI was 175% better. However, I'm not sure how their methodology compares to ours for STALKER, and they used different cards. Both of those can effect results, so unfortunately a cross review comparison can't really be done to see if mobo Hydra or GPU Hydra is better.

It would be neat to see how the mobo and GPU versions compare to one another with everything constant.

Hardin · 10-27-11, 03:23 PM

Thank you for the review. I remember being really excited about Hydra when it was first announced years ago, but it seems like the technology hasn't lived up to the hype. Perhaps crossfire and sli scaling has just significantly improved in the past few years, because originally hydra looked promising.

How does it look visually when the amd and nvidia cards are mixed? Because they have different gamma levels and aa levels. How exactly does it work?

MattNo5ss · 10-28-11, 09:05 AM

Hydra definitely has the potential to be good, as seen in the synthetic tests. However, people buy for results, not potential for results. If they could get results like the synthetics on the majority of games, then they would be a serious competitor to SLI/CFX.

SLI/CFX scaling has improved pretty well, especially with the 6000 and 500 series.

Personally, I can't tell a difference between an nVidia card, an AMD card, and MIX. All settings were controlled by the 3D program and not specifically set in either nVidia Control Panel or Catalyst Control Center, if that's what you mean.

10-26-11, 12:03 PM	#2
David Forums Super Moderator Overclockers.com Lead Editor Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Hiding from Americans and making pretty colours in a drybox in St Andrews	Nice writeup Matt! __________________ David J. Nelson MChem(Edin) PhD(Strath) AMRSC [Academia Profile] OC Forums Super Moderator // Overclockers.com Editor The Workhorse: [Lenovo W510] Intel Core i7-720QM / 8 GB DDR3 / nVidia Quadro FX880M / Crucial M4 256 GB SSD / Windows 7 The HTPC/Server: AMD Phenom X4 9650 / 6 GB DDR2 / nVidia 8300 / 5 TB of HDDs / Antec Solo II Case / Windows 7 The Gaming Rig: AMD Llano A6-3650 / 4 GB DDR3 / nVidia GTX260 / 2x 500 GB HDD in RAID0 / Antec Dark Fleet DF-85 Case / Windows 7 The Benchmarking Setup: Various LGA775 chips / Asus Rampage Formula / 2 GB OCZ 1066 MHz DDR2 / nVidia Quadro NVS 285 / 320 GB HDD / Windows 7 My research fellowship is eating all my time, so I may be slow to reply to emails and private messages.
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10-26-11, 02:00 PM	#3
MattNo5ss b4n4n4 dr4g0n d00m3d m0d3r4t0r Overclockers.com Editor Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: AL	Definitely a neat feature, especially since it's implemented through a GPU and not a motherboard. MIX/HydraLogix just needs maturing before it will become practical. The no DP Eyefinity is nice though, saves people from buying an adapter. __________________ i7 3770K \| Asus Maximus V Gene \| 4x2GB Dominator GT DDR3-1600 6-6-6-20 \| eVGA GTX670 SC \| 50GB OCZ Vertex 2 \| SeaSonic SS-1000XP i7 2700K \| Gigabyte G1.Sniper M3 \| 4x2GB G.Skill Eco DDR3-1600 7-8-7-24 \| eVGA GTX680 \| 256GB OCZ Vertex 4 \| SeaSonic X750 E8700/E6750/P4 631 \| Rampage Extreme & EP45T-Extreme & Commando\| Whatever I Can Find Laying Around... O/C Author Profile \| HWBot Profile \| Heatware (89-0-0) \m/ OverClockers mATX L33T Club \m/ Projects: Copper-Framed, MDF Station \| PVC-Framed, MDF Station \| Custom Cascade Cart/Case \| Untitled TJ07 Build
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10-26-11, 04:56 PM	#4
Just a nickname Member Join Date: Aug 2010	Just wondering if I put a old sucky card with a "good" card, will the "MIX" be > than just having a good card? __________________ System: i5-750 @ 4.4GHz (and beyond), 1.368v under LinX & 1.225v VTT EK supreme cooper, MCP655 with 2x360 swiftech EVGA P55 classified 200 2x2Gb ECO G.skill 1600 7-8-7-24 @ 2000MHz 7-8-7-24 1.61v / 2100MHz 8-9-8-24 1.5v XFX 5870 @ 960//1300 stock voltage CM690 II Samsung F3 spinpoint Corsair 750W
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10-26-11, 05:37 PM	#5
MattNo5ss b4n4n4 dr4g0n d00m3d m0d3r4t0r Overclockers.com Editor Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: AL	I haven't tested that, but it should work, technically. Of course, the hit or miss effectiveness of MIX would still be there... HIS recommends using the high-end nVidia GPUs when using MIX with the HD6970. __________________ i7 3770K \| Asus Maximus V Gene \| 4x2GB Dominator GT DDR3-1600 6-6-6-20 \| eVGA GTX670 SC \| 50GB OCZ Vertex 2 \| SeaSonic SS-1000XP i7 2700K \| Gigabyte G1.Sniper M3 \| 4x2GB G.Skill Eco DDR3-1600 7-8-7-24 \| eVGA GTX680 \| 256GB OCZ Vertex 4 \| SeaSonic X750 E8700/E6750/P4 631 \| Rampage Extreme & EP45T-Extreme & Commando\| Whatever I Can Find Laying Around... O/C Author Profile \| HWBot Profile \| Heatware (89-0-0) \m/ OverClockers mATX L33T Club \m/ Projects: Copper-Framed, MDF Station \| PVC-Framed, MDF Station \| Custom Cascade Cart/Case \| Untitled TJ07 Build
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10-27-11, 02:30 AM	#6
SupaMonkey Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: China	What happens if you use the MIX with another 6970? Does the tech improve the crossfire scaling? __________________ E8400 @ 4GHz w/ Noctua NH-D14 + Coolermaster R4 fans Kingston HyperX DDR2 1066 HD6950 @ 1000/1475 1.3V w/arctic extreme plus (modded bios) X-25M All on a cross flashed P5K-SE/EPU @ 445FSB HSPC Large Tech Station 3Dmark11 E6231P4909X1496 *Rosetta Multi-Millionaire*
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HIS MIX with Lucid HydraLogix: "MIX"ing the HD6970 & GTX580

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10-27-11, 04:51 AM	#7
SupaMonkey Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: China	I have a feeling i know the result. __________________ E8400 @ 4GHz w/ Noctua NH-D14 + Coolermaster R4 fans Kingston HyperX DDR2 1066 HD6950 @ 1000/1475 1.3V w/arctic extreme plus (modded bios) X-25M All on a cross flashed P5K-SE/EPU @ 445FSB HSPC Large Tech Station 3Dmark11 E6231P4909X1496 *Rosetta Multi-Millionaire*
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10-27-11, 08:01 AM	#8
MattNo5ss b4n4n4 dr4g0n d00m3d m0d3r4t0r Overclockers.com Editor Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: AL	Good info there. That's what I would expect since SLI/CFX is much more mature than HydraLogix. Those Tom's were done with a Hydra chip on the motherboard, so there may be a difference in motherboard and GPU Hydra. Also, does that Tom's HydraLogix review say what chip was being used? Is it the same LT22102 chip as on the HD6970 MIX? __________________ i7 3770K \| Asus Maximus V Gene \| 4x2GB Dominator GT DDR3-1600 6-6-6-20 \| eVGA GTX670 SC \| 50GB OCZ Vertex 2 \| SeaSonic SS-1000XP i7 2700K \| Gigabyte G1.Sniper M3 \| 4x2GB G.Skill Eco DDR3-1600 7-8-7-24 \| eVGA GTX680 \| 256GB OCZ Vertex 4 \| SeaSonic X750 E8700/E6750/P4 631 \| Rampage Extreme & EP45T-Extreme & Commando\| Whatever I Can Find Laying Around... O/C Author Profile \| HWBot Profile \| Heatware (89-0-0) \m/ OverClockers mATX L33T Club \m/ Projects: Copper-Framed, MDF Station \| PVC-Framed, MDF Station \| Custom Cascade Cart/Case \| Untitled TJ07 Build
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10-27-11, 08:10 AM	#9
EarthDog Senior PITA Member Overclockers.com Editor Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Stuck in Maryland...	Great job on the article... and interesting results to say the least. __________________ C2D/C2Q Overclocking Guide / i3/i5/i7 (s1366/1156) Overclocking Guide/Info / SandyBridge/ Ivybridge Overclocking Guide / AMD Overclocking Guide / Power Supply Guide SSD Reliability/Write Endurance / JOIN THE BENCHING TEAM! / Bulldozer Overclocking Guide / Forum Etiquette Want to see your writing featured on the overclockers.com Front Page? PM me, I can help! "We have more information and more ways of accessing it than ever, yet seem increasingly less inclined to do so."- Michael Wilbon
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10-27-11, 09:34 AM	#11
MattNo5ss b4n4n4 dr4g0n d00m3d m0d3r4t0r Overclockers.com Editor Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: AL	The motherboard results were the same as mine for STALKER: MIX/HydraLogix doesn't utilize both cards in that test, and even hinders the performance of a single card. It looks like the motherboard implementation may be better than the GPU implementation. In the Tom's chart SLI is 92% better in STALKER. In my results, SLI was 175% better. However, I'm not sure how their methodology compares to ours for STALKER, and they used different cards. Both of those can effect results, so unfortunately a cross review comparison can't really be done to see if mobo Hydra or GPU Hydra is better. It would be neat to see how the mobo and GPU versions compare to one another with everything constant. __________________ i7 3770K \| Asus Maximus V Gene \| 4x2GB Dominator GT DDR3-1600 6-6-6-20 \| eVGA GTX670 SC \| 50GB OCZ Vertex 2 \| SeaSonic SS-1000XP i7 2700K \| Gigabyte G1.Sniper M3 \| 4x2GB G.Skill Eco DDR3-1600 7-8-7-24 \| eVGA GTX680 \| 256GB OCZ Vertex 4 \| SeaSonic X750 E8700/E6750/P4 631 \| Rampage Extreme & EP45T-Extreme & Commando\| Whatever I Can Find Laying Around... O/C Author Profile \| HWBot Profile \| Heatware (89-0-0) \m/ OverClockers mATX L33T Club \m/ Projects: Copper-Framed, MDF Station \| PVC-Framed, MDF Station \| Custom Cascade Cart/Case \| Untitled TJ07 Build
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10-27-11, 03:23 PM	#12
Hardin Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Sumter, South Carolina	Thank you for the review. I remember being really excited about Hydra when it was first announced years ago, but it seems like the technology hasn't lived up to the hype. Perhaps crossfire and sli scaling has just significantly improved in the past few years, because originally hydra looked promising. How does it look visually when the amd and nvidia cards are mixed? Because they have different gamma levels and aa levels. How exactly does it work? __________________ cpu-Intel Core i7 3770k ram-G.Skill 2x4gb DDR3-1600 gpu-Radeon HD 7870 motherboard-Asus P8Z68-V LE
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10-28-11, 09:05 AM	#13
MattNo5ss b4n4n4 dr4g0n d00m3d m0d3r4t0r Overclockers.com Editor Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: AL	Hydra definitely has the potential to be good, as seen in the synthetic tests. However, people buy for results, not potential for results. If they could get results like the synthetics on the majority of games, then they would be a serious competitor to SLI/CFX. SLI/CFX scaling has improved pretty well, especially with the 6000 and 500 series. Personally, I can't tell a difference between an nVidia card, an AMD card, and MIX. All settings were controlled by the 3D program and not specifically set in either nVidia Control Panel or Catalyst Control Center, if that's what you mean. __________________ i7 3770K \| Asus Maximus V Gene \| 4x2GB Dominator GT DDR3-1600 6-6-6-20 \| eVGA GTX670 SC \| 50GB OCZ Vertex 2 \| SeaSonic SS-1000XP i7 2700K \| Gigabyte G1.Sniper M3 \| 4x2GB G.Skill Eco DDR3-1600 7-8-7-24 \| eVGA GTX680 \| 256GB OCZ Vertex 4 \| SeaSonic X750 E8700/E6750/P4 631 \| Rampage Extreme & EP45T-Extreme & Commando\| Whatever I Can Find Laying Around... O/C Author Profile \| HWBot Profile \| Heatware (89-0-0) \m/ OverClockers mATX L33T Club \m/ Projects: Copper-Framed, MDF Station \| PVC-Framed, MDF Station \| Custom Cascade Cart/Case \| Untitled TJ07 Build
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