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Regarding ATi's Crossfire

MobiusPizza

Platinum Member
Yes it's the same scenario with the SLI

A Master + Slave combo of say the most popular X800XL would cost no less than $500
If that's the case, even the performance increase is 100%, I don't think it would be any more attracting than waiting for the newer gen R520 which would sell near to that price point

It might be good for the users already possess a X8xx graphic card. But how many people in that group would grab a master card, new motherboard for a hassle of more power consumption, more noise and inferior technology than a newer gen card which is soon to be out of the corner?

The enthusiasts might like to put 2 R520s together. But well to the majority I don't see this solution being attractive; IT's the same footsteps of nVidia's SLI except it is a bit more compatible.
 
yeah that's the point
Nah I am not trying to start an argument or discussion or anything
Just wanna see if anyone agrees since I've been seeing people getting hyped up on crossfire like they did with SLI
 
If I read correctly, both ATI and Nvidia want to go the proprietary route and will soon include SLI and Crossfire in most of their boards. Nvidia will be cutting the price of their SLI chipset in half soon to attract mainstream users. There was even a SLI board made for the socket 754.

Point is, both companies are trying to make it more attractive.
 
Originally posted by: stardust
If I read correctly, both ATI and Nvidia want to go the proprietary route and will soon include SLI and Crossfire in most of their boards. Nvidia will be cutting the price of their SLI chipset in half soon to attract mainstream users. There was even a SLI board made for the socket 754.

Point is, both companies are trying to make it more attractive.


Yes....

that is why we have competition. I'm happy to see it's working in this rare instance.
 
Does CrossFire require a new chipset or will it work in an nForce 4 chipset just fine? Though it would be stupid, I could technically hook up an X850 XT PE Master card to an X700 PCI-E? Not that I would...
 
As it stands currently, you would need the ATi chipset, however, ATi mentioned that they would be working on drivers to allow Sli or other dual-vga platforms to be compatible with CrossFire. If you are interested, read the news and listen for any word on the matter.


In my reasoning, I see no reason why it wouldn't work. I mean pci-e lanes are pci-e lanes and havign them split into 8x and 8x by any means is irrelevant. Ati needs no pcb bridge but uses a cable, so I would imagine it is definately possible.
 
Originally posted by: IamTHEsnake
As it stands currently, you would need the ATi chipset, however, ATi mentioned that they would be working on drivers to allow Sli or other dual-vga platforms to be compatible with CrossFire. If you are interested, read the news and listen for any word on the matter.


In my reasoning, I see no reason why it wouldn't work. I mean pci-e lanes are pci-e lanes and havign them split into 8x and 8x by any means is irrelevant. Ati needs no pcb bridge but uses a cable, so I would imagine it is definately possible.


That would be rather cool.
To be honest I prefer the nForce 4 chipset for its functions.
Well don't think I will get two cards anyway
Maybe by the time I see some cheap second hand master cards
 
Originally posted by: AnnihilatorX
yeah that's the point
Nah I am not trying to start an argument or discussion or anything
Just wanna see if anyone agrees since I've been seeing people getting hyped up on crossfire like they did with SLI

its a premium product. the fsaa/msaa or whatever they do doesn't seem like it could be matched by a single card.. so i guess its easier to justify than nvidia sli was.
 
Originally posted by: Genx87
So you will have the fastest and highest quality gaming experience 🙂

Why else would you get it?
Ripping good times with my editor. Not sure SLI will benefit, but the Crossfire architecture may. The editor uses DirectX9 to do renders of certain effects (labelled as .... wait for it.... GPU effects). With 1080i HDV, 256MB is the minimum recommended memory also. More GPU memory and power, more lines of intermingled video you can play in real-time also. Fun! Of course, a 520 with 512MB may be sweetness too. An X800 Pro is just "OK" with a video with a picture in picture on the same frame for 1080i stuff from a Sony FX1. My 9600XT drops frames in preview.
 
Originally posted by: AnnihilatorX
Yes it's the same scenario with the SLI

A Master + Slave combo of say the most popular X800XL would cost no less than $500
If that's the case, even the performance increase is 100%, I don't think it would be any more attracting than waiting for the newer gen R520 which would sell near to that price point

(emphasis added, at least assuming that CrossFire becomes available relatively soon)

People don't like to wait. 😛

It might be good for the users already possess a X8xx graphic card.

Hey, you said it.

But how many people in that group would grab a master card, new motherboard for a hassle of more power consumption, more noise and inferior technology than a newer gen card which is soon to be out of the corner?

This sounds an *awful* lot like all the discussions that have happened about NVIDIA SLI. Oh wait... it's the same discussion. 😛

For someone who already owns an X800 or X850 (although the X850 Crossfire card is WAY overpriced, if they stick to the prices given in the preview articles), it's a different (and potentially quicker) upgrade path. If you don't already own one, an X800XL + X800 CrossFire setup is shaping up to be significantly cheaper than a 6800GT SLI setup (unless 6800GT PCIe cards drop about $100 in price), and should be at least in the same ballpark in terms of performance.

Any SLI-like solution is not going to be a good bang/buck... but you can get a lot of bang. Whether or not it's worth it is up to the buyer to determine.
 
I don't see the need for SLI or Crossfire, but one thing people fail to remember about SLI is that the second video card they casually say they will "add later" is nearly most certainly not going to have a matching bios, which will mean a nice little hassle getting it to function in SLI with the original card.

So if i had to take one, it'd easily be Crossfire.
 
The same reason why some users pay $250+ for DDR500+ 2-2-2-5 OCZ VX, Mushkin Redline memory....there are enthusiasts who want the best and the latest and should be given the choice. Even if 1% of the market has that, it sends a sign to the market who the leader is. Right now 2 6800Ultras give you the best gaming experience. It shows that Nvidia is more technologically advanced than ATI (given sm3.0 and SLI (or was)).

I always bring car analogies...here is one. Mercedes has the Maybach. It's very prestigious and something audi or bmw do not have. That makes mercedes a more prestigious brand name. It doesnt mean that S class is better than Audi A8 or BMW 7 series for instance, but in the many people's eyes the S class is more prestigious because they think of the whole Mercedes brand as more prestigious (and Maybach helps that).

So the average joe walks in, knowing/hearing somewhere Nvidia makes fastest cards (and that can't be disputed since they have/had SLI), and buys an Nvidia card over ATI's thinking its better at every price point. Also users on the high-end buy more 6800Ultras/GTs and it drives sales higher since potentially someone who can buy 1 6800Ultra might have wanted another, but there was no point in buying one. SLI brought a choice for that niche target market.
 
Originally posted by: AnnihilatorX
Yes it's the same scenario with the SLI

A Master + Slave combo of say the most popular X800XL would cost no less than $500
If that's the case, even the performance increase is 100%, I don't think it would be any more attracting than waiting for the newer gen R520 which would sell near to that price point

It might be good for the users already possess a X8xx graphic card. But how many people in that group would grab a master card, new motherboard for a hassle of more power consumption, more noise and inferior technology than a newer gen card which is soon to be out of the corner?

The enthusiasts might like to put 2 R520s together. But well to the majority I don't see this solution being attractive; IT's the same footsteps of nVidia's SLI except it is a bit more compatible.

Dude. You take your road, and let others take their's. Simple.

 
Originally posted by: xtknight
Does CrossFire require a new chipset or will it work in an nForce 4 chipset just fine? Though it would be stupid, I could technically hook up an X850 XT PE Master card to an X700 PCI-E? Not that I would...

Nope, the minimum card is X800, anything less than an 800 won't work, hough I heard hints that maybe others would be added later.
 

There are still unanswered questions concerning Crossfire, but I think it's a more compelling dual card setup than SLI from what we do know. The ability to buy 1 cheap X800(in this case) then the Master card to get a very powerful and easily upgradeable setup is much more attractive than SLI's need for exact matching cards. If such dual card tech becomes established and not dropped for Single card solutions again, I think ATI's Crossfire will eventually win out.
 
still much development to do,
althought I really feel that its not really something ATI needed to do,
just to respond to NVidia's SLI

They know they are making good Video Cards already
 
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