X1900 crossfire - Framerates..

[Caecus Veritas]

I tried the updated Tomb Raider Legends (demo with updated 'Next Generation' graphics) and am getting FPS in the 10's to 40's, usually averaging out around high teens and low 20's. this seems kinda low and wasn't sure if this is normal or whether something is amiss.

my computer specs are listed below (all running stock atm) and the catalyst settings are all maxed out except AA and AF (application specific and high AF). The demo was run on 1920 x 1200 with all settings maxed out (v-sync disabled).

Also, in World of Warcraft, has anyone experienced significant FPS drop when traveling through forests after updating the driver from 6.3 to 6.4/6/5? With 6.3 drivers, the FPS is usually at around 50 to 60, but with 6.4 and 6.5 the FPS drops to 10's and low 20's when traveling through forests (i.e. flying from Stormwind to Westfall).

Another thing to mention in WoW (and only this game) - after adding the CF card, I am seeing rainbowish colors just at the egde of the screen (comes and goes - tried taking a screeny but doesnt show). Just wondering if someone knows the diagnosis of this before I start taking apart the computer...

thanks.

 

[akshayt]

I ran Tomb Raider Legends on my rig( but with 1gb ram, 6600GT and 450 watts power supply), it was nice at 1024*768 MAX(next gen content off, no aa, no af, drivers on high performance), but it was smooth(not that great) even at 1280*780 or what ever.

So a 7600GT should be fine at 12X7 and a 7900GT maybe at 12X7 MAX and a 7900GTX at maybe 16X12 MAX, you may or may not be fine at those settings

Try it at 1600X1200 MAX no aa no af

 

[SynthDude2001]

Those frame rates for Tomb Raider do seem a bit low - I run a single X1900XT and I get at least that at 1680x1050. With that said, I've found that the Shadows option eats up a ridiculous amount of processing power...disabling that literally doubled my frame rates with Next Gen content on (20->40, 30->60 sometimes, etc.). I am surprised you've not getting better frames on a Crossfire setup (even if you are playing at a higher resolution), but I'd suggest just temporarily turning off Shadows and seeing if you like it...it still looks great to me, and most importantly, it's actually playable now

 

[hardwareking]

since u are running crossfire,maybe it doesn't have a profile.
Try renaming the file to "AFR-FriendlyD3D.exe"(i'm not sure of file name,can someone clarify)
That should give some performance boost.According to bit-tech,20 fps is the average of 1 card at 1920x1200 with next-gen on.
So try that.Many peoplehave done that methodand got good improvements.(need not work though,butno harm done anyways)

 

[Caecus Veritas]

thanks for the suggestion. tried renaming the file but didn't help...
and it sounds like, from the replies, that i'm not getting the fps that i should be getting... (graphics do look quite stunning at 1920 x 1200.... )

is the FEAR demo pretty comparable to the retail version in terms of the graphic engine optimazation or has there been significant updates? thinking of benchmarking using the demo version...

 

[evolucion8]

I cannot select Next Generation content I don't k now why. May be because my card is not a SM 3.0 compliant, but I can play the game up to 1024x768 with 6x FSAA and 16x Aniso with framerates between the 40 and the 120, but if I activate Super Sampling I have to turn down to 4x Anti Aliasing to get a nice frame rate (Around the 60's). I can't play the games above 1280x1024 cause the 60Hz refresh rate sucks, my monitor is limiting me.

 

[Caecus Veritas]

heh.... apparently, i'm losing like 5 to 6 FPS by turning off the next gen stuff... maybe it's just the demo...

also just tried the FEAR demo (recently did fresh install of os - and FEAR ran at 20-40 FPS on max setting with 6.4/6.5 cat before the reinstall of windows) and am getting a consistent 60 to 80 FPS with 6.3 cat, although the game stutters significantly around corners.. the settings are 1600 x 1200 at max settings.

any other CF users experiencing lower fps with the newer drivers?

 

[SynthDude2001]

Originally posted by: evolucion8
I cannot select Next Generation content I don't k now why. May be because my card is not a SM 3.0 compliant, but I can play the game up to 1024x768 with 6x FSAA and 16x Aniso with framerates between the 40 and the 120, but if I activate Super Sampling I have to turn down to 4x Anti Aliasing to get a nice frame rate (Around the 60's). I can't play the games above 1280x1024 cause the 60Hz refresh rate sucks, my monitor is limiting me.

Yes, Next Gen requires a SM3 card, at least officially. However, you can enable an advanced mode in the setup and force 2.0 shaders (I forget how at the moment). I'd kinda recommend against it though, it wasn't much more than a slideshow on my old 6800GT, and your X800XT would be of similar speed...

 

[hardwareking]

@caecus-update ur drivers to cat 6.5.Maybe that'll include the profile for tomb-raider.
Cause a crossfire rig should be able to churn out more than that.And what levels of AA and AF have u used.

 

[Caecus Veritas]

AA and AF on Cat was set for application controlled (plus HQAF) and the settings in the game were set on maximum. I was running 6.5 first and then tried the 6.3 to see if it would improve the FPS as was the case in WoW... didn't seem to make a difference in this case.

 

[LittleNemoNES]

The FEAR demo performs terribly compared to retail. BTW, get into the habit of renaming the exe to AFR-Friendlyd3d when you get performance that you didn't expect. Games I don't have to rename are: Call of Duty 2, FEAR. For Battlefield 2, I disable Catalyst AI to stop it from running in AFR since I already have 60+ fps. SO I enable 14xAAA @ 1680x1050 :: drool ::

GRAW gets a huge boost from Crossfire BUT must be renamed to AFR-Friendlyd3d

Oblivion with the chuck version Cat 6.5 doesn't need to be renamed. I don't recommend crossfire without this version cat since performance is teh craps.

 

[nichrf36]

Originally posted by: evolucion8
I cannot select Next Generation content I don't k now why. May be because my card is not a SM 3.0 compliant, but I can play the game up to 1024x768 with 6x FSAA and 16x Aniso with framerates between the 40 and the 120, but if I activate Super Sampling I have to turn down to 4x Anti Aliasing to get a nice frame rate (Around the 60's). I can't play the games above 1280x1024 cause the 60Hz refresh rate sucks, my monitor is limiting me.

The SM 3.0 cards/next gen content requires for ati an x1k series card. Interstingly, the NVIDA 6 series is compatible with the next gen option.

 

[Ackmed]

Originally posted by: nichrf36

Originally posted by: evolucion8
I cannot select Next Generation content I don't k now why. May be because my card is not a SM 3.0 compliant, but I can play the game up to 1024x768 with 6x FSAA and 16x Aniso with framerates between the 40 and the 120, but if I activate Super Sampling I have to turn down to 4x Anti Aliasing to get a nice frame rate (Around the 60's). I can't play the games above 1280x1024 cause the 60Hz refresh rate sucks, my monitor is limiting me.

The SM 3.0 cards/next gen content requires for ati an x1k series card. Interstingly, the NVIDA 6 series is compatible with the next gen option.

NV's 6 gen should be, they're SM3 capable. evolicion8's card is not, its a X800XT.

 

[imported_Crusader]

Originally posted by: gersson
The FEAR demo performs terribly compared to retail. BTW, get into the habit of renaming the exe to AFR-Friendlyd3d when you get performance that you didn't expect. Games I don't have to rename are: Call of Duty 2, FEAR. For Battlefield 2, I disable Catalyst AI to stop it from running in AFR since I already have 60+ fps. SO I enable 14xAAA @ 1680x1050 :: drool ::

GRAW gets a huge boost from Crossfire BUT must be renamed to AFR-Friendlyd3d

Oblivion with the chuck version Cat 6.5 doesn't need to be renamed. I don't recommend crossfire without this version cat since performance is teh craps.

Wow- Crossfire has come a LONG way! Now you can hack the executables to circumvent their "Catalyst AI"?! How advanced...

 

[LittleNemoNES]

Originally posted by: Crusader

Originally posted by: gersson
The FEAR demo performs terribly compared to retail. BTW, get into the habit of renaming the exe to AFR-Friendlyd3d when you get performance that you didn't expect. Games I don't have to rename are: Call of Duty 2, FEAR. For Battlefield 2, I disable Catalyst AI to stop it from running in AFR since I already have 60+ fps. SO I enable 14xAAA @ 1680x1050 :: drool ::

GRAW gets a huge boost from Crossfire BUT must be renamed to AFR-Friendlyd3d

Oblivion with the chuck version Cat 6.5 doesn't need to be renamed. I don't recommend crossfire without this version cat since performance is teh craps.

Wow- Crossfire has come a LONG way! Now you can hack the executables to circumvent their "Catalyst AI"?! How advanced...

yes crossfire is young. Renaming an exe is not a hack. The drivers for AFR for GRAW are not out yet so renaming does a great job until then. We're talking 100%+ performance gains in GRAW so who cares.

I wish ATI would get more serious about drivers but when they are out, they do a fine job.

 

[josh6079]

Originally posted by: Crusader

Originally posted by: gersson
The FEAR demo performs terribly compared to retail. BTW, get into the habit of renaming the exe to AFR-Friendlyd3d when you get performance that you didn't expect. Games I don't have to rename are: Call of Duty 2, FEAR. For Battlefield 2, I disable Catalyst AI to stop it from running in AFR since I already have 60+ fps. SO I enable 14xAAA @ 1680x1050 :: drool ::

GRAW gets a huge boost from Crossfire BUT must be renamed to AFR-Friendlyd3d

Oblivion with the chuck version Cat 6.5 doesn't need to be renamed. I don't recommend crossfire without this version cat since performance is teh craps.

Wow- Crossfire has come a LONG way! Now you can hack the executables to circumvent their "Catalyst AI"?! How advanced...

Yeah, Nvidia's drivers will let you enable those things too beca.......oh...wait....even with "supported" patches and drivers Nvidia can't do that. Not even with their more mature multi-GPU platforms.

I do agree though, ATI's Crossfire has a little bit more to go.

 

[Pantalaimon]

When I started reading this forum back during autumn of 2005 I was pretty neutral when it came to video cards. I went original Voodoo, TNT2 Ultra, first Geforce (died on me), ATI 8500, ATI 9800pro (died on me), 6600GT.

Then I started reading this forum gathering opinions as I was looking to replace my 6600 GT. Well, thanks to posters here like Rollo, beggerking, Wreckage and Crusader, I think I've permanently turned to ATI and in the same process also recommended ATI cards to my friends instead of nVidia. Their postings here have done more to market ATI cards to me than any viral marketing ATI might employ.

 

[Elfear]

Originally posted by: Pantalaimon
When I started reading this forum back during autumn of 2005 I was pretty neutral when it came to video cards. I went original Voodoo, TNT2 Ultra, first Geforce (died on me), ATI 8500, ATI 9800pro (died on me), 6600GT.

Then I started reading this forum gathering opinions as I was looking to replace my 6600 GT. Well, thanks to posters here like Rollo, beggerking, Wreckage and Crusader, I think I've permanently turned to ATI and in the same process also recommended ATI cards to my friends instead of nVidia. Their postings here have done more to market ATI cards to me than any viral marketing ATI might employ.

Lol. I guess their marketing campaign didn't work so well. In all honesty, I've found myself defending ATI (even though I've owned twice as many Nvidia cards) just to counteract those guys' often ridiculous claims and blatant propaganda. If it wouldn't violate the right of people to voice their opinions, I think adding a flashing warning to each of their posts would be great. Something like "What you are about to read has a 50% chance of being complete fiction and a 95% chance of being only half truth. You have been warned".

 

[imported_Crusader]

Originally posted by: Pantalaimon
When I started reading this forum back during autumn of 2005 I was pretty neutral when it came to video cards. I went original Voodoo, TNT2 Ultra, first Geforce (died on me), ATI 8500, ATI 9800pro (died on me), 6600GT.

Then I started reading this forum gathering opinions as I was looking to replace my 6600 GT. Well, thanks to posters here like Rollo, beggerking, Wreckage and Crusader, I think I've permanently turned to ATI and in the same process also recommended ATI cards to my friends instead of nVidia. Their postings here have done more to market ATI cards to me than any viral marketing ATI might employ.

You actually let what strangers post on forums affect decisions you make in real life?? I bet advertising works fairly well with you??

 

[rbV5]

You actually let what strangers post on forums affect decisions you make in real life??

Especially with big ticket items. I always check the photo forums prior to purchasing a digi cam, likewise with the Auto forums before a vehicle purpose.

People normally only post their dissatisfaction, rather than their likes, so a decent enthusiast forum can give you give you some realistic feedback.

Blantant Trolls such as yourself stinking up decent forums such as AT however are easily spotted and easily dismissed as useless fodder anyway, so why wouldn't a smart consumer look at user feedback in the form of internet postings prior to purchasing?

 

[imported_Crusader]

Originally posted by: rbV5

You actually let what strangers post on forums affect decisions you make in real life??

Especially with big ticket items. I always check the photo forums prior to purchasing a digi cam, likewise with the Auto forums before a vehicle purpose.

People normally only post their dissatisfaction, rather than their likes, so a decent enthusiast forum can give you give you some realistic feedback.

Blantant Trolls such as yourself stinking up decent forums such as AT however are easily spotted and easily dismissed as useless fodder anyway, so why wouldn't a smart consumer look at user feedback in the form of internet postings prior to purchasing?

The point was that there are going to be people who offend you posting on both sides of any issue, and that it's foolish to let dislike for strangers sway your opinions on purchasing a brand. Let's not turn this into a childish flamewar RBV5.

 

[AnnoyedGrunt]

I have an X800XT and get the same rainbow effect in WoW. Can't tell if it is from ALT-TAB'ing or what, but it definitely shows up intermittently.

-D'oh!

 

[AnnoyedGrunt]

I have an X800XT and get the same rainbow effect in WoW. Can't tell if it is from ALT-TAB'ing or what, but it definitely shows up intermittently.

-D'oh!

 

[Caecus Veritas]

have an X800XT and get the same rainbow effect in WoW. Can't tell if it is from ALT-TAB'ing or what, but it definitely shows up intermittently.

-D'oh!

it only happens in WoW right? I can't recall exactly but I added the CF card at about the same time the new patch came out, and that's when it started happening... I think. Can't tell whether it's a problem with the physical card, video driver or the patch to the game. Another symtom is that I can no longer alt-tab out or the game will crash or lead to a reboot - only way to alt-tab is to use the windows key.

I guess the easiest way to find out is to remove the CF card and see.... but it's such a bitch with my case... bleh~ shoulda bought a full tower case... AnnoyedGrunt, have you always had the rainbow effect?

Btw, how does renaming the exe to AFR-FriendlyD3D exactly work?

 

[Pantalaimon]

he point was that there are going to be people who offend you posting on both sides of any issue, and that it's foolish to let dislike for strangers sway your opinions on purchasing a brand.

And in this case certain posters have been obnoxious to the point that it has swayed my decision. It's no more foolish than fanatically clinging to one brand and then trolling the forums to bash the other brand.