Crossfire supports windowed mode, right?

[Unknown123]

Hello.

I've been a long-time Nvidia user and haven't ever tried SLI or Crossfire. However, with the recent impressive offerings from AMD, I've been thinking of switching to them for my next upgrade. Specifically, I've been strongly considering buying two 6870s and running them in Crossfire with their excellent scaling. It sounds like an awesome deal from everything I've been reading.

I was just about ready to buy them online when I heard something really bizarre -- that Crossfire doesn't work in windowed mode...? That can't be true, can it? That would be pretty ridiculous if it is, and I've not heard it anywhere else. I play all my games in windowed mode and don't know of anybody who uses fullscreen these days. Fullscreen is too inconvenient; windowed mode is essential.

I'm totally stunned and disappointed if this is true, because it means Crossfire is entirely useless, and I'd have to go with a single 580 or 6970 instead with no possibility of adding a second in later. So can somebody please put my fears to rest before I splash out on these otherwise perfect-sounding cards?

Thanks!

 

[Lonbjerg]

Hello.

I've been a long-time Nvidia user and haven't ever tried SLI or Crossfire. However, with the recent impressive offerings from AMD, I've been thinking of switching to them for my next upgrade. Specifically, I've been strongly considering buying two 6870s and running them in Crossfire with their excellent scaling. It sounds like an awesome deal from everything I've been reading.

I was just about ready to buy them online when I heard something really bizarre -- that Crossfire doesn't work in windowed mode...? That can't be true, can it? That would be pretty ridiculous if it is, and I've not heard it anywhere else. I play all my games in windowed mode and don't know of anybody who uses fullscreen these days. Fullscreen is too inconvenient; windowed mode is essential.

I'm totally stunned and disappointed if this is true, because it means Crossfire is entirely useless, and I'd have to go with a single 580 or 6970 instead with no possibility of adding a second in later. So can somebody please put my fears to rest before I splash out on these otherwise perfect-sounding cards?

Thanks!

I don't know anyone playing in windowed mode...(and I even have dual displays) you are a minority...

 

[Unknown123]

Really? That's strange. I don't see any disadvantage to running in windowed mode besides a very slight FPS decrease, and that's very worth it for the immense boost in convenience.

I can chat to people on instant messengers while I'm waiting to respawn in BFBC2, I can read guides and look up information such as weapon stats while playing things, and I never have to experience that horrendous fullscreen Alt+Tab experience. It's incredibly convenient and I'd never be able to play in fullscreen mode again, just like I can't go back to using one monitor after using two.

I mean borderless windowed mode, by the way. Games like Left 4 Dead support this in their settings, and for those that don't I force it with a simple program I wrote. This allows me to play in windowed mode with the game still covering my entire screen while it's focused. Everyone I know plays like this, and I see a lot of people praising the borderless windowed mode option on Steam forums, etc.

But obviously, every person has their own preference, and that's fine. Do you know if Crossfire works in windowed mode or not? I'd really appreciate it if somebody could let me know.

Thanks again in advance.

 

[NoQuarter]

Last I heard SLI and Crossfire don't work in windowed mode. I too play in borderless windowed in everything I can.. don't suppose you can hook me up with that program you wrote?