AnandTech's Crossfire X review (not preview) is up.

[dennilfloss]

http://www.anandtech.com/video/showdoc.aspx?i=3256&p=1

Enjoy the article.

 

[betasub]

Cue the usual complaints about it being on an uber-platform. Totally missing the point that it's a multi-GPU scaling test, not a CPU-limited test (on some mid-range platform).

 

[nRollo]

Originally posted by: dennilfloss
http://www.anandtech.com/video/showdoc.aspx?i=3256&p=1

Enjoy the article.

Like the other reviews, to me it looks like 3870X2 + 3870 is the sweet spot for performance/scaling.

 

[waffleironhead]

Originally posted by: betasub
Cue the usual complaints about it being on an uber-platform. Totally missing the point that it's a multi-GPU scaling test, not a CPU-limited test (on some mid-range platform).

Isnt skulltrail sli compatible as well? If so then this is the ideal platform to benchmark the new 9800gx2(when it comes out) against the 3870x2.

 

[apoppin]

"bleeding edge" ... installation process with "with more potential conflicts - than any other graphics solution" "BSODs, uninstalling, reinstalling, and hacking" ... lots of headaches ... driver issues ... "anomalies"
- the last one is good in Chernobyl ... but maybe not so awesome in the real world

i want to try it



it'd be fun comparing GX2x2 against 8870x2x2

i can hardly wait till they are X4X4 .. x4
:roll:

Oops

 

[n7]

Too inconsistent, as has been seen in other reviews.

Some games we see amazing scaling, other games we see shit.

It's nice to see the long list of improvements in the 8.3 drivers though; some long overdue.

 

[nitromullet]

Originally posted by: nRollo

Originally posted by: dennilfloss
http://www.anandtech.com/video/showdoc.aspx?i=3256&p=1

Enjoy the article.

Like the other reviews, to me it looks like 3870X2 + 3870 is the sweet spot for performance/scaling.

Yeah, this is a tough decision really... My X2 hasn't sold on ebay yet. Do I cancel the auction, and add an HD 3870, or do I sell it and pick up 2x EVGA 9600GTs and a 780i board? The total cost between the two options is close.

The 9600GT SLI option is appealing because I would have option to step-up to 9800 cards should I decide to do that in the next few months.

What I'd really like to see with more of these multi-gpu tests is a closer look at min frames.

Originally posted by: n7
Too inconsistent, as has been seen in other reviews.

Some games we see amazing scaling, other games we see shit.

It's nice to see the long list of improvements in the 8.3 drivers though; some long overdue.

Well put. The scaling along with just some overall ATI driver funkiness makes me reluctant. The first time I installed the Cat 8.2 driver, I had to do a hard reboot. The 8.3s installed fine though, and did fix a really annoying issue with transparent textures and AAA in WoW and Whitcher.

 

[idiotekniQues]

so with an x38 board and XP if i buy a 3870 now i can add a 3870x2 to it later?

 

[nitromullet]

Originally posted by: idiotekniQues
so with an x38 board and XP if i buy a 3870 now i can add a 3870x2 to it later?

Hardware wise, yes, but CrossfireX isn't supported on XP.

 

[apoppin]

Originally posted by: nitromullet

Originally posted by: nRollo

Originally posted by: dennilfloss
http://www.anandtech.com/video/showdoc.aspx?i=3256&p=1

Enjoy the article.

Like the other reviews, to me it looks like 3870X2 + 3870 is the sweet spot for performance/scaling.

Yeah, this is a tough decision really... My X2 hasn't sold on ebay yet. Do I cancel the auction, and add an HD 3870, or do I sell it and pick up 2x EVGA 9600GTs and a 780i board? The total cost between the two options is close.

The 9600GT SLI option is appealing because I would have option to step-up to 9800 cards should I decide to do that in the next few months.

What I'd really like to see with more of these multi-gpu tests is a closer look at min frames.

Originally posted by: n7
Too inconsistent, as has been seen in other reviews.

Some games we see amazing scaling, other games we see shit.

It's nice to see the long list of improvements in the 8.3 drivers though; some long overdue.

Well put. The scaling along with just some overall ATI driver funkiness makes me reluctant. The first time I installed the Cat 8.2 driver, I had to do a hard reboot. The 8.3s installed fine though, and did fix a really annoying issue with transparent textures and AAA in WoW and Whitcher.

What ... you are not going to get a 2nd 3870x2?
:Q

 

[idiotekniQues]

Originally posted by: nitromullet

Originally posted by: idiotekniQues
so with an x38 board and XP if i buy a 3870 now i can add a 3870x2 to it later?

Hardware wise, yes, but CrossfireX isn't supported on XP.

ahh ok.

any word on if it will be or is this gonna be only for vista users?

 

[Extelleron]

At this point, I think you get the most bang for your buck from a 2-way SLI or Crossfire setup. Scaling is pretty good at certain times w/ Crossfire X and it'll probably be the same way with 9800GX2 Quad-SLI, but in general the performance scaling from 2->4 GPUs is not so great.

That's not to mention the only game that actually needs more than a 2-way setup can provide, Crysis, doesn't scale well at all with more than 2 GPUs.

 

[nitromullet]

Originally posted by: idiotekniQues

Originally posted by: nitromullet

Originally posted by: idiotekniQues
so with an x38 board and XP if i buy a 3870 now i can add a 3870x2 to it later?

Hardware wise, yes, but CrossfireX isn't supported on XP.

ahh ok.

any word on if it will be or is this gonna be only for vista users?

I think that it's only going to be for Vista. IIRC, DX9 only supports a maximum of triple buffering, which means that the video memory can only queue up a maximum of 3 frames. It seems that this presents a problem when trying to run more than three cards/gpus. That is the super simple version, I'm sure there is a lot more to it than that.

 

[nRollo]

Originally posted by: Extelleron
At this point, I think you get the most bang for your buck from a 2-way SLI or Crossfire setup. Scaling is pretty good at certain times w/ Crossfire X and it'll probably be the same way with 9800GX2 Quad-SLI, but in general the performance scaling from 2->4 GPUs is not so great.

That's not to mention the only game that actually needs more than a 2-way setup can provide, Crysis, doesn't scale well at all with more than 2 GPUs.

I guess that depends on how good of a monitor you have.

COH at 25X16 4X16X

I think I'm better off at 46fps average with my 3 way then I would be with 27fps with two GTSs, or 23fps with a 3870X2.

Lost Planet
Likewise, 3 way SLi is needed for this title at 19X12 4X16X, and to play it at all at 25X16 you need 3 way and have to turn the AA off.

There's definitely a need for more than 2 GPUs at some titles other than Crysis.

 

[imported_dingdong]

Edited by Moderator.

Read all of your 9 posts. 7 out of 9 are troll posts. You have your first and only warning to clean up your posting.

Anandtech Moderator - Keysplayr2003.

 

[Cookie Monster]

 

[nitromullet]

Originally posted by: apoppin
What ... you are not going to get a 2nd 3870x2?
:Q

Perhaps if I had an X38 board instead of a P35. I don't think an X2 would play too well with the PCIe x4 slot.

 

[nRollo]

NM, fixed by mods

 

[Extelleron]

Originally posted by: nRollo

Originally posted by: Extelleron
At this point, I think you get the most bang for your buck from a 2-way SLI or Crossfire setup. Scaling is pretty good at certain times w/ Crossfire X and it'll probably be the same way with 9800GX2 Quad-SLI, but in general the performance scaling from 2->4 GPUs is not so great.

That's not to mention the only game that actually needs more than a 2-way setup can provide, Crysis, doesn't scale well at all with more than 2 GPUs.

I guess that depends on how good of a monitor you have.

COH at 25X16 4X16X

I think I'm better off at 46fps average with my 3 way then I would be with 27fps with two GTSs, or 23fps with a 3870X2.

Lost Planet
Likewise, 3 way SLi is needed for this title at 19X12 4X16X, and to play it at all at 25X16 you need 3 way and have to turn the AA off.

There's definitely a need for more than 2 GPUs at some titles other than Crysis.

That's not a fair comparison; you are comparing 3x8800GTX to 2x8800GTS. You wouldn't be going from 27 FPS to 46 FPS moving from 2-way to 3-way GTX SLI.

In Lost Planet, the 3-way config may be faster, but it is still not playable. And nobody really cares about Lost Planet anyway.

If you have unlimited money or you get your cards for free, then sure, go 3-way SLI or Quad-SLI when the 9800GX2 comes out. But for people who want the best bang for their buck.... even at 1920x1200 and 2560x1600, 3-way SLI isn't a good idea. Especially with R700 not too far away.

Of course the same thing with the HD 3870 X2. IMO anyone buying 2 HD 3870 X2's for a 4-way Crossfire setup is a fool at this point (no offense). Half the time, 8800GTS 512MB SLI equals or surpasses it for half the price, and next-gen solutions aren't far off.

 

[heyheybooboo]

What I find interesting (if I'm following correctly) is the comparison between Skulltrail and AMD 790fx. The only direct comparison I found was COD4 at 2560 x 1600 / 4X / 16X

# of cards . . . . Skulltrail . . . AMD 790fx

1 x HD3870 - - - - 29.6 - - - - 25.3
1 HD3870x2 - - - - 47.5 - - - - 50.0
3 - HD3870- - - - - 64.5 - - - - 72.2
2 HD3870x2 - - - - 74.8 - - - - 93.2


Here is nVidia on Skulltrail ...

NVIDIA GeForce 9600 GT - - - - - - - 40.8
NVIDIA GeForce 8800 Ultra - - - - - - 57.5
NVIDIA GeForce 9600 GT SLI - - - - - 78.8
NVIDIA GeForce 8800 Ultra SLI - - - 102.8


I realize we are dealing with multiple 'cross platform' issues. SLI/CrossFireX, CPUs, RAM, price, etc. I also wonder how well 2 HD3870s would compare with a single HD3870x2 (or 4 HD3870s versus 2 x HD3870x2s) on the 790fx.

How much is an 8800 ultra these days?

 

[apoppin]

Originally posted by: nitromullet

Originally posted by: apoppin
What ... you are not going to get a 2nd 3870x2?
:Q

Perhaps if I had an X38 board instead of a P35. I don't think an X2 would play too well with the PCIe x4 slot.

i really don't know ... after all it is advanced AFR
-my FrankenFire scales better than it "should"