CrossFire Woes - need *Help* 2900xt/2900p

[apoppin]

Originally posted by: SlowSpyder
In the link where the 2900XT and the 3870 are running in Crossfire, only the first graph shows a 3870CF vs. the 3870/2900CF. You can see that the performance of a 2900 and 3870 running in CF is much less then two 3870's running in CF. Technically it 'works' but it doesn't look like it works well.... just like what you are experiencing.

if you really look at the benches it works a hellofalot better than my current setup

my ONLY *problem* ... a singular issue - is that i cannot OC my Pro
[period]
what we have here - in my case - is *stock* 2900Pro Crossfire vs. a *single* stock 2900xt - about 15% faster [Crossfire scaling aside] ... my 2900xt might as well BE a 2900pro.

IF i can OC it to XT speeds we will see a more significant improvement. in THIS case OC'ing will make a huge difference ... i am asking to Pro to make a leap from 500Mhz on the core to ~750Mhz ... and my XT will also come back up to near it's stock speed ... THEN we will see real improvement.
-- 256bit and 4xPCIe be damned!

. . . and at least i have some *good news* to report

i have my CPU oc'd to 3.25Ghz [edited, i wish]
-stock voltage and very good temps
-how high will it go?
:Q

my slightly mismatched RAM seems to like 870Mhz - at slightly looser timings
--so that is no longer an issue

 

[nitromullet]

Originally posted by: apoppin
now that IS a good idea ... but i am not going to buy anything else
:thumbsup:
--IF i can't get this to work, i will just *wait* for nextgen GPU ... a 3780x2 doesn't turn me on. Actually flashing the BIOS of a Videocard is about 95+% certain ... you can certainly flash it back - i have even REflashed blind and i have never lost a GPU ...

I guess that is where we disagree... The 3870X2 is about the sexiest thing ATI has put out in a long time. It's got it all:

- top level performance
- relatively decent price
- heat exhausting fan
- and the fact that it has two gpu's is just kinda cool IMO. (I liked the 7950GX2 as a single card as well)

I'm really thinking about getting one of them, but I have a mac mini coming from an ebay auction and it's either an X2 or keep my 8800GTS and upgrade the HD/RAM in the mini from 80GB/1GB to 250GB/2GB. The GTS does meet my needs right now, so it's more of a curiosity than a need. I really don't want a 780i mobo though, they don't impress me very much.

 

[apoppin]

Originally posted by: nitromullet

Originally posted by: apoppin
now that IS a good idea ... but i am not going to buy anything else
:thumbsup:
--IF i can't get this to work, i will just *wait* for nextgen GPU ... a 3780x2 doesn't turn me on. Actually flashing the BIOS of a Videocard is about 95+% certain ... you can certainly flash it back - i have even REflashed blind and i have never lost a GPU ...

I guess that is where we disagree... The 3870X2 is about the sexiest thing ATI has put out in a long time. It's got it all:

- top level performance
- relatively decent price
- heat exhausting fan
- and the fact that it has two gpu's is just kinda cool IMO. (I liked the 7950GX2 as a single card as well)

I'm really thinking about getting one of them, but I have a mac mini coming from an ebay auction and it's either an X2 or keep my 8800GTS and upgrade the HD/RAM in the mini from 80GB/1GB to 250GB/2GB. The GTS does meet my needs right now, so it's more of a curiosity than a need. I really don't want a 780i mobo though, they don't impress me very much.

the *only* thing i want to do is *fix* this setup before spending MORE money

i am *guessing* i should simply remove the 2900xt from the PCIe16x slot and move the monitor's cable to the Pro ... keeping it in the 4x slot, right -- then try to OC the heck out of it ... THEN, flash it's BIOS ...

it is probably going to be a problem to find a BIOS for a 256-bit/512MB 2900p

 

[nitromullet]

You might be able to edit a copy of the BIOS yourself with RaBiT 2.2 http://www.techpowerup.com/downloads/Tweaking/

I hear ya though about spending more cash... I'm not saying you should get one, I just kinda like the 3870X2 myself.

 

[apoppin]

Originally posted by: nitromullet
You might be able to edit a copy of the BIOS yourself with RaBiT 2.2 http://www.techpowerup.com/downloads/Tweaking/

I hear ya though about spending more cash... I'm not saying you should get one, I just kinda like the 3870X2 myself.

of course, i *could* edit it

-but if i blow it - even a little .. it really makes everything unstable not to mention possible destroying my Video card.

if i happen to find a nice BIOs that fits, OK ... if not ... i am not going to spend a lot of time with it .. i really *expected* to be able to OC my Pro.

BtW, does anyone remember how to cheat and enable OC'ing in CCC? ... i can't remember where the ground wire went

 

[BassBomb]

Have you tried putting the 256 bit card into the main slot and the 512 into the slower slot?

 

[apoppin]

Originally posted by: BassBomb
Have you tried putting the 256 bit card into the main slot and the 512 into the slower slot?

yes ... it didn't work at all ... the display was very unstable ... almost like a 'rolling' analog TV display ... the frames weren't synched although it didn't crash

Originally posted by: Sylvanas
Might aswell try it, reverse them and see what happens. If not, you could flash new speeds for the Pro via the BIOS. Use Foxconns 2900 Bios flash utility you will have to sign up to download it however its a great tool, I've used it many times (can also set voltages etc). Have you tried operating Rivatuner when Crossfire is disabled? I Don't use Rivatuner to OC my 3850's as I have Overdrive but I vaguely remember that people with SLI/Crossfire setups say that Rivatuner isn't exactly the most friendly application for OCing a multiGPU configuration, and that you need to disable Crossfire or something then set the OC'd settings then re-enable it for it to work (correct me if I'm wrong).

Nothing works ... i will try to find the Foxconn utility and a few [tentative] usable BIOSes ... before i try to OC it

the other thing i might do is "fool" CCC into OC'ing ... was it a ground wire to the top [remaining one of two] uncovered holes [uncovered by the 6-pin plug] in the PCIe connector?

EDITED

i don't see *anything* on the Foxconn site


i found the 2900p bios editor ... and also a 2900xt Crossfire overclocking utility and CrossFire BIOSes.
--looks like fun


looks like i may have what i want:

========================================
|| QUANTUM FORCE HD2900 BIOS Editor ||

========================================

Last update: 21st November 2007
Release v1.1

----------------
!! DISCLAIMER !!
Use of these freeware BIOS mods is entirely at users own risk.
Ensure you have adequate cooling before running your VGA cards are higher clock speeds.
----------------


This tool is for editing clock speeds and voltages for HD2900 series 512MB and 1GB.

USAGE INSTRUCTIONS:
1) Save your current BIOS files with ATiFlash
2) Boot into DOS and type "atiflash -s 0 original.bin"
3) Now that you have saved your orginal BIOS, open it with the Quantum Force Editor.
4) Set the 3D clocks and voltages to desired level. Save and name the file, for example "edit.bin"
5) Now boot again in DOS and type "atiflash -f -p 0 edit.bin" or Whatever filename you called it.
6) Check with ATitool, it should be running the edited 3D speeds and voltages

wish me luck ... *good* luck !

 

[kmmatney]

Something is wrong if your card can't overclock. Mine overclocked fine in Overdrive. However I ended up removing overdrive and am using Rivatuner instead. I've also given mine a new Bios that makes it run very cool and quiet in 2D, and gives a decent default overclock in 3D (although Rivatuner takes it higher).

I would try some of the Bioses at the German site first, as I know these work OK, I've tried several of them:

http://www.forumdeluxx.de/forum/showthread.php?t=438630

I'm using this one:

[Tiger83] [200,295 / 0,85V] [740,900 / 1,15V] DOWNLOAD

When I had overdrive enabled, it kept the card running at faster speeds in 2D, but everything worked as it should once I re-installed the ATI drivers and did not install CCC.

Edit: Do you have to have CCC installed for crossfire?

 

[apoppin]

i have no problem overclocking ... the OCs don't "stick" and cannot be saved

here is a similar thread and a updated Dll is needed for some of the tools

http://www.planetamd64.com/ind...9174&st=0&#entry329174

there are many many 2900p BIOSes ...
http://www.techpowerup.com/vga...=&interface=&memSize=0


but only *one* for 256 bit ... see how pathetically low the clocks are set:
http://www.techpowerup.com/vga...900Pro.512.071121.html

it looks if i can *edit* the BIOS i will be OK ... unfortunately trying to find a 64-bit tool is a problem

i do not know if i 'need' CCC for Xfire ... i think so ... the tools seem to need it



kmmatney, what are the clocks of your Pro from that BIOS ?
and the editing looks pretty critical

i see it

740/900 ... then i will need to OC my XT
:roll:



EDIT: at any rate, i better try and find my fastest stable clocks ... i think i should leave it in the 4X PXIe slot, what do you think?

 

[Sylvanas]

Originally posted by: apoppin
it looks if i can *edit* the BIOS i will be OK ... unfortunately trying to find a 64-bit tool is a problem

The Foxconn Quantum force editor works fine in Vista 64, it comes with the latest ATI flash aswell, make sure you read the instructions in the provided txt file first. The problem with using a BIOS from a different vendor is the checksum and device ID might be different to yours which is not a good start- thats why using the Foxconn editor is great because its just altering clocks/voltage.... Device ID remains the same.

Yes the Sapphire 256bit 2900pro Bios on techpowerup looks pretty feble....588mhz core :/ and if it is downclocking your XT to those speeds aswell theres a severe performance gap. I would think it would at least do XT speeds (on the core, might be different on memory) as I doubt they binned all the poor chips to the 256bit cards.

 

[apoppin]

http://www.jonnyguru.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2300

hi, I have Enermax Galaxy PSU (non DXX) and I need 8-pin PCIE connector for Overdrive to work with 2900XT. It doesn't need to be true 8-pin.

so I have been thinking, will it be OK if I connect two ground wires from 4+4 CPU +12V to missing two pins on 2900XT

It measures the +12V at the end of the connector (instead of at the PSU's PCB where there's less resistance) and adjusts accordingly.

so according to the poster it worked to get CCC .... wouldn't just 'shorting' the two uncovered pinss do the same thing? like using a paper-clip?


if i can get CCC working, i won't have to mess with the BIOS flash ... it should OC both cards ... albeit at a lower setting than if i did flash it.

anyway, i am going to start with Vista 32 ... there are some nice tools for OC'ing that are not available to Vista64 yet.

EDIT Found it
http://www.xtremesystems.org/f...howthread.php?t=155646

more ... i struck gold

http://www.tbreak.com/forums/showthread.php?t=39077

or ... for something completely different:

http://www.xtremesystems.org/f...howthread.php?t=155646

now i am getting somewhere ...
where? , i am not sure .... but somewhere

 

[Keysplayr]

Originally posted by: apoppin

Originally posted by: nitromullet

Originally posted by: apoppin
now that IS a good idea ... but i am not going to buy anything else
:thumbsup:
--IF i can't get this to work, i will just *wait* for nextgen GPU ... a 3780x2 doesn't turn me on. Actually flashing the BIOS of a Videocard is about 95+% certain ... you can certainly flash it back - i have even REflashed blind and i have never lost a GPU ...

I guess that is where we disagree... The 3870X2 is about the sexiest thing ATI has put out in a long time. It's got it all:

- top level performance
- relatively decent price
- heat exhausting fan
- and the fact that it has two gpu's is just kinda cool IMO. (I liked the 7950GX2 as a single card as well)

I'm really thinking about getting one of them, but I have a mac mini coming from an ebay auction and it's either an X2 or keep my 8800GTS and upgrade the HD/RAM in the mini from 80GB/1GB to 250GB/2GB. The GTS does meet my needs right now, so it's more of a curiosity than a need. I really don't want a 780i mobo though, they don't impress me very much.

the *only* thing i want to do is *fix* this setup before spending MORE money

i am *guessing* i should simply remove the 2900xt from the PCIe16x slot and move the monitor's cable to the Pro ... keeping it in the 4x slot, right -- then try to OC the heck out of it ... THEN, flash it's BIOS ...

it is probably going to be a problem to find a BIOS for a 256-bit/512MB 2900p

Actually, you should try both the 2900XT and the 2900pro in each individual slot (single card config) to see if there is any actual performance hit going from a 16X slot to a 4X slot.

 

[apoppin]

Originally posted by: keysplayr2003

Originally posted by: apoppin

Originally posted by: nitromullet

Originally posted by: apoppin
now that IS a good idea ... but i am not going to buy anything else
:thumbsup:
--IF i can't get this to work, i will just *wait* for nextgen GPU ... a 3780x2 doesn't turn me on. Actually flashing the BIOS of a Videocard is about 95+% certain ... you can certainly flash it back - i have even REflashed blind and i have never lost a GPU ...

I guess that is where we disagree... The 3870X2 is about the sexiest thing ATI has put out in a long time. It's got it all:

- top level performance
- relatively decent price
- heat exhausting fan
- and the fact that it has two gpu's is just kinda cool IMO. (I liked the 7950GX2 as a single card as well)

I'm really thinking about getting one of them, but I have a mac mini coming from an ebay auction and it's either an X2 or keep my 8800GTS and upgrade the HD/RAM in the mini from 80GB/1GB to 250GB/2GB. The GTS does meet my needs right now, so it's more of a curiosity than a need. I really don't want a 780i mobo though, they don't impress me very much.

the *only* thing i want to do is *fix* this setup before spending MORE money

i am *guessing* i should simply remove the 2900xt from the PCIe16x slot and move the monitor's cable to the Pro ... keeping it in the 4x slot, right -- then try to OC the heck out of it ... THEN, flash it's BIOS ...

it is probably going to be a problem to find a BIOS for a 256-bit/512MB 2900p

Actually, you should try both the 2900XT and the 2900pro in each individual slot (single card config) to see if there is any actual performance hit going from a 16X slot to a 4X slot.

there is. It has been tested many times ... about 10-15% practically for a 2900xt/GTS class card and up to 25% in absolute worst case scenarios [for a GTX, i think].

BUT ... you have to remember the 2nd card is bandwidth limited by the slot, not the first card also. And my 2nd card will be an OC'd Pro [if i can get it going]. Now my XT will be made to run at whatever core and RAM speeds i can get with my Pro - the performance hit of running a 256-bit Card with a 512MB card is unknown [to me] ... both cards are 512MB

My *goal* is to get the 2nd card up in Core and memory as high as possible - to equal my XT speeds, if possible
--right now i have a very slow stock 2900p crossfire

it *appears* i can just short both of my 2 extra pins on each card and enable OverDrive
... or OD ... whatever comers first
:Q


i am gonna try it as soon as i find something better than 2 paper clips

 

[MegaWorks]

Originally posted by: apoppin

Originally posted by: Sylvanas
Might aswell try it, reverse them and see what happens. If not, you could flash new speeds for the Pro via the BIOS. Use Foxconns 2900 Bios flash utility you will have to sign up to download it however its a great tool, I've used it many times (can also set voltages etc). Have you tried operating Rivatuner when Crossfire is disabled? I Don't use Rivatuner to OC my 3850's as I have Overdrive but I vaguely remember that people with SLI/Crossfire setups say that Rivatuner isn't exactly the most friendly application for OCing a multiGPU configuration, and that you need to disable Crossfire or something then set the OC'd settings then re-enable it for it to work (correct me if I'm wrong).

*reversing* the cards doesn't work at all ... there is instability and frames appear to to be getting "ahead" of each other

i am not so sure i want to mess with the Pros BIOS ... it *should* work ... but if it doesn't it is a $150 loss ... i need to think about that


the PROBLEM is that i simply cannot OC the Pro ... the OC cannot be "saved" it will not "apply"

========

Originally posted by: MegaWorks
No offence apoppin but I would take the Gigabyte P35-DS3P and throw it in the garbage.

Do yourself a favor and get an X38 board, this 4x thing is giving me head pain. I'll start taking drugs after this.

Edit: About your PSU, I think you only have 2 PCI-E connectors you might consider a new PSU for a stable configuration. BTW 850W is plenty of power well unless you're doing CPU overclocking.

It sounds like you were already taking drugs before you posted your 'help' ... let me find some things in your rig i would toss. - this is the kind of advice i do not need or want - sure buying a GTX ultra would *also* 'solve' my problem or a 3870x2.
--The PS is sufficient. The MB is not a problem [period] ... 4x PCIe is no bandwidth killer
--Both 2 Cards only need *three* PCIe connectors - two for the XT and one for the Pro ... two come right from each rail and i use another one as a molex to PCIe connector for the 2nd connector on the XT.

IF i had another 2900xt, then i would need another molex to PCIe connector and at that point it might be marginal indeed ... it is not the PS and it is not the MB and i am neither upgrading my MB nor my PS ... if i cannot get the Pro OC'd then it simply goes back to NewEgg for a RMA REFUND ... minimal 'loss' and much education


Help me find a way for me to OC my PRO ... preferably without flashing the BIOS ... disabling Crossfire and trying to "save" still doesn't work
---and i have tried RivaTuner/AMD GPU clock tool and ATT tool ... the OC simply doesn't "save"

i bet is is something 'simple'
--i might get so *desperate* i may even ask AMD for help
:Q

I don't know what to tell you apoppin, I didn't know you were that sensitive I wasn't trying to be mean I just wanted to help.

I do believe that the 4X pci-e slot does affect the outcome of your CrossFire setup. But I think that your problem is the 256bit memory and maybe the Catalyst drivers bug between the 2900Xt/2900 Pro for CrossFire.

I would try to overclock the card and see what happens. I do wish you luck on finding a good tool to overclock your 2900 Pro. :beer:

Out of curiosity, have you tried ATI tray tools to overclock your card?

If you have no luck return the 2900 Pro and get 3870 and try CF. :laugh:

 

[apoppin]

Originally posted by: MegaWorks

Originally posted by: apoppin

Originally posted by: Sylvanas
Might aswell try it, reverse them and see what happens. If not, you could flash new speeds for the Pro via the BIOS. Use Foxconns 2900 Bios flash utility you will have to sign up to download it however its a great tool, I've used it many times (can also set voltages etc). Have you tried operating Rivatuner when Crossfire is disabled? I Don't use Rivatuner to OC my 3850's as I have Overdrive but I vaguely remember that people with SLI/Crossfire setups say that Rivatuner isn't exactly the most friendly application for OCing a multiGPU configuration, and that you need to disable Crossfire or something then set the OC'd settings then re-enable it for it to work (correct me if I'm wrong).

*reversing* the cards doesn't work at all ... there is instability and frames appear to to be getting "ahead" of each other

i am not so sure i want to mess with the Pros BIOS ... it *should* work ... but if it doesn't it is a $150 loss ... i need to think about that


the PROBLEM is that i simply cannot OC the Pro ... the OC cannot be "saved" it will not "apply"

========

Originally posted by: MegaWorks
No offence apoppin but I would take the Gigabyte P35-DS3P and throw it in the garbage.

Do yourself a favor and get an X38 board, this 4x thing is giving me head pain. I'll start taking drugs after this.

Edit: About your PSU, I think you only have 2 PCI-E connectors you might consider a new PSU for a stable configuration. BTW 850W is plenty of power well unless you're doing CPU overclocking.

It sounds like you were already taking drugs before you posted your 'help' ... let me find some things in your rig i would toss. - this is the kind of advice i do not need or want - sure buying a GTX ultra would *also* 'solve' my problem or a 3870x2.
--The PS is sufficient. The MB is not a problem [period] ... 4x PCIe is no bandwidth killer
--Both 2 Cards only need *three* PCIe connectors - two for the XT and one for the Pro ... two come right from each rail and i use another one as a molex to PCIe connector for the 2nd connector on the XT.

IF i had another 2900xt, then i would need another molex to PCIe connector and at that point it might be marginal indeed ... it is not the PS and it is not the MB and i am neither upgrading my MB nor my PS ... if i cannot get the Pro OC'd then it simply goes back to NewEgg for a RMA REFUND ... minimal 'loss' and much education


Help me find a way for me to OC my PRO ... preferably without flashing the BIOS ... disabling Crossfire and trying to "save" still doesn't work
---and i have tried RivaTuner/AMD GPU clock tool and ATT tool ... the OC simply doesn't "save"

i bet is is something 'simple'
--i might get so *desperate* i may even ask AMD for help
:Q

I don't know what to tell you apoppin, I didn't know you were that sensitive I wasn't trying to be mean I just wanted to help.

I do believe that the 4X pci-e slot does affect the outcome of your CrossFire setup. But I think that your problem is the 256bit memory and maybe the Catalyst drivers bug between the 2900Xt/2900 Pro for CrossFire.

I would try to overclock the card and see what happens. I do wish you luck on finding a good tool to overclock your 2900 Pro. :beer:

Out of curiosity, have you tried ATI tray tools to overclock your card?

If you have no luck return the 2900 Pro and get 3870 and try CF. :laugh:

sensitive ... sensitive? ...
---you just told me to dump my MB [$150] in the trash just because it has a 4xPCIe slot for the 2nd card
... and ... showing you know how to kick a guy when he is down, you told me to buy a better PS [$200]
:roll:

what was i supposed to think?


i didn't buy my MB for Crossfire; i just spent a few bucks extra for the "option" that i am exercising right now. It is an excellent full-featured MB that is superb for OC'ing ... my e4300 is at 3.25Ghz without raising any voltages and have no idea how fast i can OC it. Best of all, i can drop in one of the new 45 nm QuadCore intel CPUs and just run with it ... remember, i am "Mr Cheap" ... or like i like to put it, bang-for-buck ... it's a $150 upgrade that has the *potential* to rival 3870x2

and i would MUCH prefer to just use CCC ... all the other tools LACK [big time] for X-fire OC'ing although they are great for single GPUs. ATI TT doesn't work with Vista64.

so ... i am about to short two Video cards' extra pins
:Q

WtH

 

[tuteja1986]

i told you this will end misery

Now send back your a 2900pro and buy a razer death adder mouse :! it will do more performance improvement in FPS lol : )

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16826153021

and buy this
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16830137004 >> protect your house via wireless cam :!

 

[apoppin]

i take it you don't know a lot about what i am looking for

my dog and patrol cats are better than any wireless cam

Trespassers will be eaten ...
Survivors will be shot !

i am still looking for another alligator clip ... the meantime i got a great [hot deal] on a Samsung A437 - Red (Refurb) - GoPhone $19.99 Shipped [no tax]
:roll:

http://forums.anandtech.com/me...=2152297&enterthread=y

awesome replacement/2nd phone for twenty dollars [i just R&R my SIM card and i'm good to go] ... and ... and ... best of all ... it might be better supported to connect thru DUN [with Vista] than my Pantech C150 via Bluetooth [which is limited to XP, so far]

 

[apoppin]

it worked

2 alligator clips solved the CCC problem ... you just 'ground' the 2 'extra' pins of each card to unlock CCC

*Now* there is a chance it may work a lot better ... CCC is currently testing one GPU at a time - very slowly - and is up to 686/845

this is fun ... the Pro is S-C-R-E-A-M-I-N-G ... it hit 100C during testing
:Q

but it *settled* on 858/900 for the XT and 686/840 for the Pro ... and i successfully adjusted it up a bit more so both are the same - the pro 'tops' at 700Mhz in CCC - i guess that means it will run at 697/843 for now ... which is a hellofalot better then 507/513



so ... i get to test it now to see it there is any difference .. i see "requested clocks" still in CCC after i saved it but "current clocks" are still 507/513 - 2D, i hope




maybe ... mission accomplished ... maybe

you will hear all about it

edit:

i wonder if it is working
:roll:

clearly ... but 3DMark06 doesn't show much ... 13090 ... up from 12300 or so

i'll run FEAR and CoJ again

and it *sucks* you now have to REGISTER to see 3DMark results :|

Main test results
3DMark Score 13090 3DMarks
SM 2.0 Score 5824 Marks
SM 3.0 Score 6736 Marks
CPU Score 2697 Marks


Test Results
Graphics Tests
1 - Return to Proxycon 46.72 FPS
2 - Firefly Forest 50.34 FPS
CPU Tests
CPU1 - Red Valley 0.85 FPS
CPU2 - Red Valley 1.36 FPS
HDR Tests
1 - Canyon Flight (SM 3.0) 69.44 FPS
2 - Deep Freeze (SM 3.0) 65.28 FPS

 

[zeroburrito]

seems a little low. i have a 2180@3ghz and a single 3870 and score almost 11k. btw, that pro core should reach the xt speeds. its the same thing. infact, it should go 800+. what is the fan speed set to on the pro?

 

[apoppin]

oh my ... it IS an improvement ... about what i was looking for - and then some ... it does add a few FPS to the bottom ... and top ... look at FEAR, HL2 and especially CoJ:



3DMark06 - 2900xt - 10500 ... Crossfire XT/Pro - 13090

-------------------------------

F.E.A.R. built-in Demo

Vista 64 - 16x10 everything maxed 0xAA/16xAF - SS on

2900xt - 25 Min/63 Avg/113 Max
2900xt/pro - 32 Min/70 Avg/113 Max
OC'dPro/xt - 35 Min/70 Avg/115 Max


===================

Call of Juarez DX10 benchmark

Vista 64 -16x10- High Shadows/Shader Map - 2048x2048

2900xt -15.9 Min/20.7 Avg/49.3 Max
2900Pro/xt - 14.3 Min/22.6 Avg/45.8 Max
OC'dPro/xt - 15.0 Min/38.5 Avg/82.8 Max !!!



==========================

HL2 Lost Coast built in benchmark

Vista64 - Min, Max, Avg
2900xt - 39, 190, 90.420
Pro/XT - 43, 214, 101.218

Originally posted by: zeroburrito
seems a little low. i have a 2180@3ghz and a single 3870 and score almost 11k. btw, that pro core should reach the xt speeds. its the same thing. infact, it should go 800+. what is the fan speed set to on the pro?

13090 isn't bad ... considering my single 2900xt is a little less than 10500
... and your 3750 scores higher than my 2900xt.


Also note - first of all, i am using Vista 64 which is probably 200-400 marks less than the Vista32 score adjust it in your mind to ~13350 according to my other benchmarking - up over my single 2900xt's best score of 10700.
Secondly, you need to remember that i am using the very *conservative* CCC .... it does not allow my Pro to go over 700Mhz on the core ... 43Mhz less than my XT ... [Which will also OC very nicely] - so my XT is also stuck at 697 [the only two settings close to 700Mhz that will match exactly]

AFTER i decide IF i will keep it [probably] THEN i will flash the Pro's BIOS and go for a MUCH higher OC on the Pro's Core and Memory and OC the XT [if necessary] to match it ... probably 5-10% more improvement still to come

that is about a 30+% improvement - translating to that few FPS at the bottom - and sometimes - quite a few more at the top. CoJ could be playable in the DX10 pathway with very few compromises now.

 

[kmmatney]

CCC seems to always come up with an overclock of 686 / 840 for the 2900 Pro. Thats exactly what I got when I tried my card. With Riva tuner, I run at 755 / 1015. I really haven't tested things out to see how high it can really go. You should be able to just set the sliders all the way to the maximum values allowed in CCC, that worked fine for me, at least.

 

[Sylvanas]

Well glad its working fine now Apoppin :thumbsup:, and yes 'current clocks' are 2D- I think overdrive rounds off the CCC pretty well, no need for me to use Rivatuner again. Those 3dmark results look fine to me. Seeing as you're running 16x and 4x you would probably see quite a benefit if you OC the PCI-E bus (It's especially prevalent in Crossfire situations) 120mhz should be fine with Sata drives etc....but I guess thats only if you want to extract every last bit of performance .

 

[apoppin]

Originally posted by: kmmatney
CCC seems to always come up with an overclock of 686 / 840 for the 2900 Pro. Thats exactly what I got when I tried my card. With Riva tuner, I run at 755 / 1015. I really haven't tested things out to see how high it can really go. You should be able to just set the sliders all the way to the maximum values allowed in CCC, that worked fine for me, at least.

i am going to let my last bench of the night speak for itself .. LP is almost playable

Lost Planet: Extreme Conditions Vista 64 - full retail game built-in demo. DX10/everything fully maxed in-game/1680x1050/4xAA-16xAF
2900xt -- Snow - 19.6 / Cave 28.1
XT/Pro - Snow -- 30.0 / Cave 29.0

the sliders ARE set as far as they will go for the Pro in CCC's OverDrive
- i just 'matched' it for the XT

what i *need* to do - IF i keep it and i probably will - is to flash my Pro's BIOS so CCC will allow it to OC further. ... i am sure i can get +10% more pretty easily from watching CCC torture test the Pro.

If i was *really smart* i would sell my 2900xt for $200[+] and get another 2900p for $150 ... but then there are situations where CrossFire is messed up and i would want to run with a single XT ... so, i'll keep the XT. Together, they appear to be fine with my PS ... each card gets a dedicated PCIe connector and the 2nd one on the XT comes from a molex>PCIe connector. Considering the XT is slightly underclocked, it should have no stability problems.
... and - unless i am mistaken - i am well into "Ultra territory" with my rig ... my old goal
[for less money]

=-============================-

Originally posted by: Sylvanas
Well glad its working fine now Apoppin :thumbsup:, and yes 'current clocks' are 2D- I think overdrive rounds off the CCC pretty well, no need for me to use Rivatuner again. Those 3dmark results look fine to me. Seeing as you're running 16x and 4x you would probably see quite a benefit if you OC the PCI-E bus (It's especially prevalent in Crossfire situations) 120mhz should be fine with Sata drives etc....but I guess thats only if you want to extract every last bit of performance .

i'll look into that ... but then it would also OC, the XT further - right?

Thank-you and thank-you all for your help ... IF i was just using Vista 32, i probably would have had no problem using a 3rd party application. BUT i am doing that damn Vista "showdown" and have to have everything "identical" [:roll:]
... will i be GLAD to RID my system of that 64-bit albatross next week!
:Q






just kidding

as it turned out, this solution was to "fool" CCC into over clocking with 2 alligator clips and some wire ... unreal

and - as far as i am concerned - it is a $150 wast... i mean, well-spent for a solid performance increase and a still further possible performance increase thru a BIOS flash ,,, i am thinking +10% more ... enough to wait out the current GPUs.
:thumbsup:

 

[apoppin]

Originally posted by: zeroburrito
seems a little low. i have a 2180@3ghz and a single 3870 and score almost 11k. btw, that pro core should reach the xt speeds. its the same thing. infact, it should go 800+. what is the fan speed set to on the pro?

not really ... check out Fudzilla's mix 'n match

http://www.fudzilla.com/index....=view&id=5641&Itemid=1


and WoW! ... i can set the clocks INDEPENDENTLY in ccc
- thanks to Sylvanas for finding that link

 

[Keysplayr]

Originally posted by: apoppin

Originally posted by: keysplayr2003


Actually, you should try both the 2900XT and the 2900pro in each individual slot (single card config) to see if there is any actual performance hit going from a 16X slot to a 4X slot.

there is. It has been tested many times ... about 10-15% practically for a 2900xt/GTS class card and up to 25% in absolute worst case scenarios [for a GTX, i think].

BUT ... you have to remember the 2nd card is bandwidth limited by the slot, not the first card also. And my 2nd card will be an OC'd Pro [if i can get it going]. Now my XT will be made to run at whatever core and RAM speeds i can get with my Pro - the performance hit of running a 256-bit Card with a 512MB card is unknown [to me] ... both cards are 512MB

My *goal* is to get the 2nd card up in Core and memory as high as possible - to equal my XT speeds, if possible
--right now i have a very slow stock 2900p crossfire

it *appears* i can just short both of my 2 extra pins on each card and enable OverDrive
... or OD ... whatever comers first
:Q


i am gonna try it as soon as i find something better than 2 paper clips

Bolded above: If the card in the 4x slot is limited, will overclocking it even help?
That's like trying to pour 2 gallons per minute of water down a drain that only allows 1 gallon per minute. And if I am correct, no amount of overclocking the pro will improve your performance? As you said, the XT will have to substantially lower it's performance to a pro that runs in a 4X slot, no matter what.

Am I on the wrong track here?