780G Hybrid CrossFireX and the 2600XT

[kenji4life]

I know that it's only been out for a while, but AMD's Hybrid CrossFireX 780G chipset is just that, available. I've seen claims that the hybrid crossfirex will work with a 2400XT, and some 34xx and 36xx cards, has anyone tried it with a 2600XT?

I need a new motherboard and the Gigabyte GA-MA78GM-S2H
over on newegg seems like a good deal.

Again, I am aware that they only claim support for the other specific cards, but can anyone explain either why it's not possible with the 2600XT, or that they have tried it and it didn't work.

It's bad enough I have to shell out a hundred bucks for a new motherboard, I can't afford a new GPU and if I can get a mobo that will utilize the 2600XT in Hybrid CrossFireX, I'll take it!

For reference purposes my GPU is the GIGABYTE GV-RX26T256H Radeon HD 2600XT.

Thanks in advance to anyone with a real answer.

 

[kenji4life]

bump

 

[imported_Scoop]

Well... can't say for the 2600XT if it works or not. SPCR tested that exact motherboard and it's hydrid graphics feature with an HD 3450. Here is the last page of it http://www.silentpcreview.com/article807-page10.html. Be sure to read rest if you're interested.

I may point out that hybrid graphics only works in Vista. And after reading that article, if you don't wish to, I can say hybrid graphics isn't anything to get excited about. At least not with current drivers. I'd suggest saving some money and buy a cheaper board if you have a discrete GPU.

 

[kenji4life]

First I commend you for citing SPCR. I laud their work and frequent their site for reviews from an engineer's point of view. I must note some of the issues that are brought up in that article:

1. AM2+ Processor (like Phenom) which is recommended on the motherboard box makes a large performance difference in the IGP. Testing with an older AM2 processor (as opposed to the AM2+) will give results less than optimal.
-A valid point. I have an AM2 Athlon64 X2 4400+, which I don't plan on upgrading anytime soon. I do however see no reason not to upgrade to an AM2+ chip, once I see one that invites some enthusiasm.

2. Hybrid CrossfireX Only works in Vista
-Absolutely a valid point. But I run vista on my primary computer, so it's not a problem for me.

3. The drivers they used, Catalyst 8.2 and 8.45 were not in line with other reviewers such as Hexus who used 8.3 beta for Hybrid CrossfireX tests. ATI/AMD has recently become infamous for Johnny Come Lately drivers that save the product a little too late.

My 2600XT gets reasonable frame rates at lower settings, and suits me fine for now. I dream of a high dollar card to push my fps to the ceiling, but 'cheap' fixer cards and motherboards will have to do until I can spend some real money building a whole computer or buying a laptop (Hybrid CrossFireX = Puma anyone?)

If this board doesn't support my card than it is a bit overpriced. I do think the other features shine though, such as DVI/HDMI/D-Sub/eSata, to name a few. The future benefits of buying this board would be that when I do upgrade to a newer AM2+ processor it will double by increasing my overall graphics speed. If, however AMD never supports my card or others (which wouldn't make a lot of sense), then I probably would be out 100 dollars on a motherboard that does less than what I paid for, but well enough to keep me away from buyers remorse.

 

[panfist]

The 780g does not support hybrid crossfire with the 2600XT because the 2600XT is a much faster architecture. The 780g uses a 64bit memory interface and the 2600 uses a 128 bit memory interface. So, clock for clock the memory bandwidth on the 2600 is double that of the 780g, 2400, or 3400 series.

I believe in the near future AMD will be putting out a motherboard with integrated graphics with a 128bit memory. But that could just be in my imagination. It would be sweet.

 

[betasub]

Although there may be plenty of reasons that hybrid crossfire won't work for kenji's set-up, I'm surprised that memory interface is considered an issue, because it isn't for regular crossfire (see apoppin's 2900xt/2900pro-256bit, or 2900pro-512bit/3870).

 

[heyheybooboo]

Ars has reported the IGP on the 780g as a die-shunk hd2600xt chip

Lookee here

It will be interesting to see how AMD handles the hybrid CrossFire. They may be holding something back in anticipation of new offerings from Intel and nVidia.

And I think I read last week that nVidia has again delayed the 8200 IGP ...

 

[kenji4life]

There's always the simplest solution which is me buying this and testing it out

Of course then I'll be po'd when it really doesn't work.

Puma I'm pretty sure will have a similar setup, but I thought Puma was to support PCI-Express add-on cards up to and including the mobile 38xx. Of course I can't remember where I read that so I could be simply full of it.

 

[kenji4life]

heyheybooboo the link you provided says it's a die-shrunk 2400XT not 2600XT. Like panfist says, the 2600XT is 128 bit

 

[heyheybooboo]

Originally posted by: kenji4life
heyheybooboo the link you provided says it's a die-shrunk 2400XT not 2600XT. Like panfist says, the 2600XT is 128 bit

Sorry for mah brain farhht!

 

[kenji4life]

Perhaps this is what I wanted to look at: http://game.amd.com/us-en/cont..._combo_chart_Dec07.jpg

 

[kenji4life]

If that chart is any indication, other chipsets (which may not ever be released) might allow configurations in similar "Grids", like the x6xx grid, 38xx grid, and so on...

Until that hypothetical situation happens, I'll start looking for a different board. Oh well.

 

[kenji4life]

Might be closer than we thought:
http://forums.techpowerup.com/showthread.php?p=694908

As you can see in the picture, it says supports dual crossfire and 3 way hybrid crossfire. YAY! On top of that it's DFI, which is a great brand imo. I'm gonna just sit it out until this board hits the shelves!

 

[newParadigm]

Was this ever firmly resolved? I have the exact configuration listed. A 2600XT 512mb GDDR3, and an ASUS M3A78-EM 780G chipset motherboard. I also have a 2400Pro 512mb GDDR2 video card.

Obviously if the Hybrid Crossfire will work with the 2600xt that would be the fastest config, however, if it won't, would the 2400Pro+3200IGP be faster than the 2600xt by itself?

The 2400+3200 is essentially two 2400's. Which only provides 66% the amount of stream processors as the 2600xt by itself (40+40=80 vs 120).

LMK what ya'll think,

~nEw