Have two 5770's and will run them in crossfire. They need Crossfire bridge?

[The_Golden_Man]

Do they need it? If they can run without it, will the performance be the same?

Just sold my MSI GTX 670 (with the installed AC Twin Turbo II on it) because I don't game on my secondary computer. I had a 5770 and got one more from the dude buying my MSI GTX 670. So Crossfire was the obvious thing.

Talk to me.

 

[GotNoRice]

If there is a connector for a bridge, then use a bridge.

The only cards that are really meant to be run in crossfire without a bridge are the ones that don't have the bridge connectors on top anyway.

 

[The_Golden_Man]

If there is a connector for a bridge, then use a bridge.

The only cards that are really meant to be run in crossfire without a bridge are the ones that don't have the bridge connectors on top anyway.

Both 5770's have crossfire connectors. However, I only have SLI bridges laying around.. And I won't bother trying to get a crossfire bridge.

So will I get reduced performance without it?

 

[Smoblikat]

It can be done, though not ideal. Just grab a bridge from newegg or ebay.

 

[jacktesterson]

Get a bridge!

If you need one, let me know. I've got like 6 of them in storage.

 

[The_Golden_Man]

Get a bridge!

If you need one, let me know. I've got like 6 of them in storage.

I live in Norway. So maybe too far away??

Anyway, If they work without a bridge I will run them like so. At least I will try. As I've said I don't game much on that computer. It's connected to the TV. But It's possible I may try a few games on it.

 

[jacktesterson]

 

[The_Golden_Man]

So this only means they recommend a bridge? Also, I will run them in a ASUS P5Q-E P45 mobo. Not listed there, but it's probably because it's so old.

 

[Termie]

I'm not sure it will even work, but if it does, performance will be sacrificed. Sounds like you're just doing it for the fun of it, so try it and let us know how it works!

 

[Jacky60]

Get a bridge that's the idea! Or maybe just pop them both in your case but don't bother inserting one into a PCIe slot and just rest it on top of the other and see if that works

 

[KingFatty]

As verification, can you try to get crossfire to work without the bridge and let us know if it's possible? I believe the drivers will treat them as two separate cards and disable the crossfire option, but it would be nice to get confirmation from you.

It would be a way to pass the time while you wait on mail delivery of the crossfire bridge.

 

[GrumpyMan]

If it didn't need the bridge, they wouldn't of designed the card to have one. What would be the point to add all that to the manufacturing costs if it wasn't needed?

 

[The_Golden_Man]

As verification, can you try to get crossfire to work without the bridge and let us know if it's possible? I believe the drivers will treat them as two separate cards and disable the crossfire option, but it would be nice to get confirmation from you.

It would be a way to pass the time while you wait on mail delivery of the crossfire bridge.

Just got home. Will test it and get back to you guys.

 

[The_Golden_Man]

Update, no go. Cannot activate crossfire without the bridge. I've just ordered one bridge. Is there some drivers or software mod to enable crossfire without the bridge?

 

[The_Golden_Man]

Say hello to my two 5770's. The Sapphire one I had laying around, the XFX one is the one I got from the dude who bought my MSI GTX 670.

So now I'm just waiting for my crossfire bridge. Guess the performance with these two in Xfire will be pretty much equal to a HD 5870 or something?

Also noticing the XFX card have one Xfire connector, while the Sapphire card has two....

 

[KingFatty]

Do you overclock? Have you tried overclocking your Sapphire and saw that the voltage was locked?

I'm not certain, but I think you can use a pencil to shade an area on the back of the PCB (it's a feedback resistor, the pencil lead will reduce the resistance) to provide more voltage. That way, you'll be able to support higher overclocks. I know how to do it on the Sapphire 5830/5870, so I think it's similar for the 5770. But if you already have unlocked voltage control, never mind. It's just a fun thing to pass the time, if you want to try increasing the voltage while waiting on the crossfire bridge, to see if you can bump up your overclocks on each card and then slap them into crossfire mode.

Maybe it's just me, but I feel more adventurous in pushing older hardware and aggressively overclocking it, more so than when I get a brand new card.

 

[The_Golden_Man]

Do you overclock? Have you tried overclocking your Sapphire and saw that the voltage was locked?

I'm not certain, but I think you can use a pencil to shade an area on the back of the PCB (it's a feedback resistor, the pencil lead will reduce the resistance) to provide more voltage. That way, you'll be able to support higher overclocks. I know how to do it on the Sapphire 5830/5870, so I think it's similar for the 5770. But if you already have unlocked voltage control, never mind. It's just a fun thing to pass the time, if you want to try increasing the voltage while waiting on the crossfire bridge, to see if you can bump up your overclocks on each card and then slap them into crossfire mode.

Maybe it's just me, but I feel more adventurous in pushing older hardware and aggressively overclocking it, more so than when I get a brand new card.

Thanks for the info! I think their Voltage locked. The Voltage slider in MSI Afterburner was greyed out, even though Voltage options are enabled in the control panel.

I know my Sapphire one overclocked fairly well. I wonder If it hit 1GHz or something. Will have to test again.

Checked some bencmarks and looks like 5770 Crossfire is pretty similar to a single 5870, which in my opinion is pretty good. If I overclock my two 5770's to 950MHz + the performance should be pretty good

 

[Jacky60]

Update, no go. Cannot activate crossfire without the bridge. I've just ordered one bridge. Is there some drivers or software mod to enable crossfire without the bridge?

Weird? Did you bother attaching power to both cards?
I'd RMA them!
Yes of course there's a way to get them running much faster without the bridge. Instead of them 'communicating' through the bridge just unplug all power and other connections and watch them work their crossfire 'magic'. Check Nvidia website for the 'hotfix' via SLI.

 

[Shmee]

Why did you sell a GTX 670? I assume this isn't on your main rig, but still :C

 

[Arkadrel]

Why did you sell a GTX 670? I assume this isn't on your main rig, but still :C

Just sold my MSI GTX 670 (with the installed AC Twin Turbo II on it) because I don't game on my secondary computer.

He probably has something faster in his main pc.
Anyways his 2nd pc will now go down to around 5870 level of performance, if he finds a crossfire bridge.

2x5770 isnt so bad even today (neither is a 5870, 480, 570, ect)

 

[cmdrdredd]

In his sig he is runing 2x Asus GTX 670 in SLI

 

[The_Golden_Man]

Why did you sell a GTX 670? I assume this isn't on your main rig, but still :C

As I've said, I don't game on my secondary rig. It's connected to my TV in my living room. Use it for movies and stuff.

But It may be I will try a few games, just for the fun of it.

Also, I helped a friend of mine, getting much better gaming performance on his gaming rig. He only had that XFX 5770. Now he has the MSI GTX 670 I sold him. Big upgrade for him.

My primary gaming rig is in my sig. ASUS GTX 670 SLI.

Anyway, as that guy above here said, 5770 Crossfire is not bad at all. Also, they are rated at only 108W under load. So Crossfire will only be a little over 200W. Not bad. Another thing is that my secondary rig is based on a P5Q-E and Q9650@4GHz. So the MSI GTX 670 was a little bit overkill for it. 5770 Crossfire is a better match for that CPU.

 

[The_Golden_Man]

My crossfire bridge has arrived Will post back 3DMark11 results and maybe a picture with the cards installed in my secondary system.

This way I will have one system with crossfire and another with 2x GTX 670 SLI. This makes me very special, since I'm both on the green and the red team. This will almost make me golden? - The_Golden_Man

 

[Arkadrel]

@The_Golden_Man

Overclock them both and see if you cant beat a stock 480, in terms of performance

 

[KingFatty]

This makes me very special, since I'm both on the green and the red team. This will almost make me golden? - The_Golden_Man

Hey, you should know that when you mix red and green you get brown

http://www.enchantedlearning.com/crafts/Colormixing.shtml