2 x 7850's .... Can't crossfire. (Update- Found Problem, Drivers, Sending 2nd card)

[jacktesterson]

Update: June 24

Acquired a Sapphire Dual Fan Card privately

Will give it another go!

Locked on request of OP
-ViRGE

 

[notty22]

Try flipping/re-seating the crossfire bridge, and even try running without it. Sometimes they are defective.

See if this gets you past the bsod stage ?

 

[Don Karnage]

You have the latest CAPS right?

 

[Quiksilver]

Make sure the crossfire bridge is seating on correctly and isn't defective.
Also make sure you have all the PSU cables plugged in the second card.

 

[Termie]

If you've enabled crossfire in the CCC and it is reporting crossfire enabled, you can cross the following problems off your list:

(1) bad crossfire connector
(2) bad power connector

Also, you can cross off old CAPs (since even without CAPs you can run 3dMark11).

In my opinion, this is a driver problem. Now, either AMD has its head up its *ss on the 7800 series, and that's why we haven't seen a single review of 7850 crossfire, or, less likely but hopefully, it's just a bad driver installation.

I'd remove one card with the PSU power cable disconnected, restart, delete all drivers and run driver cleaner, and shut down. Install second card, connect all power/crossfire cables, and boot. You'll then have to install 12.4 (I don't think 12.3 supports the 7850, does it?). Restart. Install 12.4 AGAIN, just to make sure it catches the second card (that this helps might be an InterWebz myth, but try it anyway).

Report back.

 

[SickBeast]

OP try the 12.5 beta drivers.

 

[Kenmitch]

Have you tested 1 card in the second pci-e slot to make sure it's not a mb issue?

Have you tried running your cpu at stock speeds to eliminate a possible unstable overclock?

 

[jacktesterson]

Hey Guys,

I'm running my CPU stock during all of this.

I'm typing this right now on this computer, with only the new card plugged in... working fine on its own.

Back to both cards, new crossfire bridge, I removed 12.4, driver sweep, reboot... tried 12.5 beta... worse. As soon as crossfire enabled,I could barely open a IE Window without the system rebooting.


Removed original card from slot 2, only new card now, working fine.


Thanks for the suggestion about testing PCIE port #2.... I have a feeling its my motherboard at this point. (Which I bought Open Box Item from NCIX)

 

[Don Karnage]

Hey Guys,

I'm running my CPU stock during all of this.

I'm typing this right now on this computer, with only the new card plugged in... working fine on its own.

Back to both cards, new crossfire bridge, I removed 12.4, driver sweep, reboot... tried 12.5 beta... worse. As soon as crossfire enabled,I could barely open a IE Window without the system rebooting.


Removed original card from slot 2, only new card now, working fine.


Thanks for the suggestion about testing PCIE port #2.... I have a feeling its my motherboard at this point. (Which I bought Open Box Item from NCIX)

Send me the 2nd card so i can test

 

[Kenmitch]

If MB tests out OK then maybe it's a driver issue with the 7850's in crossfire.

Found these older beta drivers that added support for the 78xx's might be worth a try if all else fails.

http://downloads.guru3d.com/AMD-Catalyst-12.x-8.950.5-February-24-download-2885.html

 

[SickBeast]

Yep, test the card in slot #2 by itself and report back. If it works then it's probably a driver problem.

 

[jacktesterson]

Well folks...

Im on the new card on the 2nd slot. Just ran 3 full loops of 3DMARK11.

Looks like I have some driver problems.... and dont know where to go. Tried 12.3, 12.4 and 12.5 beta. Will try the old betas above and report back. Even did a Fresh windows install with 12.4.

 

[jacktesterson]

If MB tests out OK then maybe it's a driver issue with the 7850's in crossfire.

Found these older beta drivers that added support for the 78xx's might be worth a try if all else fails.

http://downloads.guru3d.com/AMD-Catalyst-12.x-8.950.5-February-24-download-2885.html

Got some Good news. These drivers work.

The oldest drivers available that support 7800 series is the only driver that will work with my Crossfire Asus 7850's. Wow. (I'm basing this soley on running 3DMark11, but also, just being able to use a web browser, etc)

I have to say Im pumped it appears to be working, but this is my first ever issue with AMD Drivers with 15 years of using there cards.

 

[Termie]

If you've enabled crossfire in the CCC and it is reporting crossfire enabled, you can cross the following problems off your list:

(1) bad crossfire connector
(2) bad power connector

Also, you can cross off old CAPs (since even without CAPs you can run 3dMark11).

In my opinion, this is a driver problem. Now, either AMD has its head up its *ss on the 7800 series, and that's why we haven't seen a single review of 7850 crossfire, or, less likely but hopefully, it's just a bad driver installation.

I'd remove one card with the PSU power cable disconnected, restart, delete all drivers and run driver cleaner, and shut down. Install second card, connect all power/crossfire cables, and boot. You'll then have to install 12.4 (I don't think 12.3 supports the 7850, does it?). Restart. Install 12.4 AGAIN, just to make sure it catches the second card (that this helps might be an InterWebz myth, but try it anyway).

Report back.

Got some Good news. These drivers work.

The oldest drivers available that support 7800 series is the only driver that will work with my Crossfire Asus 7850's. Wow. (I'm basing this soley on running 3DMark11, but also, just being able to use a web browser, etc)

I have to say Im pumped it appears to be working, but this is my first ever issue with AMD Drivers with 15 years of using there cards.

Glad you figured this out...too bad I was right about my hunch on the junk crossfire drivers for the 7800 series.

 

[Don Karnage]

Show us the scores!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Fallengod]

Didnt I just read something somewhere about 7 series cards and crossfire issues with drivers?

 

[Kenmitch]

Got some Good news. These drivers work.

The oldest drivers available that support 7800 series is the only driver that will work with my Crossfire Asus 7850's. Wow. (I'm basing this soley on running 3DMark11, but also, just being able to use a web browser, etc)

I have to say Im pumped it appears to be working, but this is my first ever issue with AMD Drivers with 15 years of using there cards.

Glad I could help

I found those drivers after looking for a 7850 crossfire review. Only found one for the 7870's and it was the driver listed. Figured it might work on the 7850's also.

AMD needs to ceast and desist unified drivers and fix the 7xxx issues. I'm sure AMD will figure out the issue with the drivers and fix it. Guess although the hardware was ready this go around the driver team wasn't.

 

[jacktesterson]

Its 12:23 here and I have to be at work @ 8:30, I'm hitting the sac.

Anyways, I never had a chance to do anything. I have nothing installed, only 3DMark11 as I did a fresh install of Windows. Kinda pissed at formating now. May have jumped the gun there.

Anyways, I have a good first asus overclocker.... so I set them both at 1225/1400 at 1.119v just to see if It'd run 3DMARK11, and it did. 2500k was @ 4.6 here.

Will do O/C'ing tomorrow after work and stability testing of both cards.

http://3dmark.com/3dm11/3384479;jsessionid=izzschpvdysp1w9wih86t9tjs

P10652 3DMarks

 

[jacktesterson]

Just checked the results....

If my drivers were approved, I'd be officially in 4th Place with that score using 2x 7850's and a 2500k. (Compared to other 2500k with 2x 7850s). Tomorrow will see how far I can push my GPU's together.

3DMARK really likes i7's

 

[blackened23]

Got some Good news. These drivers work.

The oldest drivers available that support 7800 series is the only driver that will work with my Crossfire Asus 7850's. Wow. (I'm basing this soley on running 3DMark11, but also, just being able to use a web browser, etc)

I have to say Im pumped it appears to be working, but this is my first ever issue with AMD Drivers with 15 years of using there cards.

This is dismaying to say the least. While I haven't had issues with crossfire, this is unacceptable, I hope AMD fixes this crap. Your out of box experience should be a lot better than this...

 

[Don Karnage]

Its 12:23 here and I have to be at work @ 8:30, I'm hitting the sac.

Anyways, I never had a chance to do anything. I have nothing installed, only 3DMark11 as I did a fresh install of Windows. Kinda pissed at formating now. May have jumped the gun there.

Anyways, I have a good first asus overclocker.... so I set them both at 1225/1400 at 1.119v just to see if It'd run 3DMARK11, and it did. 2500k was @ 4.6 here.

Will do O/C'ing tomorrow after work and stability testing of both cards.

http://3dmark.com/3dm11/3384479;jsessionid=izzschpvdysp1w9wih86t9tjs

P10652 3DMarks

That score sucks bro. What did you hit with 1 card. Even with 85% scaling with 2 cards on my rig the score would be expected to be 13,640 and your CPU score is only 800 points lower

 

[jacktesterson]

That score sucks bro. What did you hit with 1 card. Even with 85% scaling with 2 cards on my rig the score would be expected to be 13,640 and your CPU score is only 800 points lower

There are at least a dozen 2500k with 7850 crossfire scores on 3DMARK11.... All are within 10 to 11k. All but 1 using the "unapproved" original beta drivers upon 7850 release.

2600k's are between 12-14k. 3DMARK Really likes i7s


My single 7850 @ 1250/1400 hit just over 7000.

Drivers are probably still to blame.

 

[Don Karnage]

Thank you amd for garbage drivers

 

[blackened23]

That score sucks bro. What did you hit with 1 card. Even with 85% scaling with 2 cards on my rig the score would be expected to be 13,640 and your CPU score is only 800 points lower

He doesn't have hyperthreading so his score isn't bad. His physics score is well below what a HT cpu would get

 

[jacktesterson]

Here is my old score with One 7850 @ 1250/1400 @ 4.7 GHz (12.4 Drivers)

P7092 - http://3dmark.com/3dm11/3348565

Graphics Score - 6841


Both Cards Running Those Older Betas @ 4.6 GHz, 1225/1400

P10652 - http://3dmark.com/3dm11/3384479;jsessionid=izzschpvdysp1w9wih86t9tjs

Graphics Score when both @ 1225/1400 -11678




As you can see, my Graphics score scaled at about 70% with 3DMARK11. 3DMARK11 scores your CPU as well Don, so scaling #'s based on overall score can't be looked at.

I haven't tried any games yet, but think games will scale a little better.



I'm at work, Tonight I'll toy with it more, but until new drivers come out that work, I'm probably not going to see much improvement as I was already at 1225 core.