X38 boards are corssfireX??

[bharatwaja]

I read somewhere that CorssFireX is what they call CF of 2 different cards of same series... like 3870 and 3850 together.... is this true?

Also, will it be possible to CrossFire HD3870 with HD3870X2 whenever that releases??

Could help a lot if you could explain what the difference between CrossFire and CrossFireX is...

 

[BoboKatt]

Hum thought CrossfireX was actually just using more than 2 cards... so like 3 or even 4 based on the connectors the cards have on them. This would be on what? an AMD 790FX chipset.

I know you could almost always use different cards to do Crossfire (2 cards). I have been using an X1900XT and X1950XTX in Crossfire now for over a year and works beautifully. I would only surmise that you will most definitely be able to use a 3850 and 3870 together if need be in any Crossfire mobo as it stands, and not have to go to an AMD 790FX board. I am using this configuration btw on an Asus P5K-E Wifi (intel p35 chipset).

 

[heyheybooboo]

Originally posted by: bharatwaja
I read somewhere that CorssFireX is what they call CF of 2 different cards of same series... like 3870 and 3850 together.... is this true?

Also, will it be possible to CrossFire HD3870 with HD3870X2 whenever that releases??

Could help a lot if you could explain what the difference between CrossFire and CrossFireX is...

CrossfireX is the new label given Crossfire this past Fall. I think the intent of AMD was to put some of the original Crossfire problems behind them and promote new hardware, multi-monitors, multiple cards/GPUs and new AMD chipsets.

The original Crossfire was software-enabled, and evolved with 'dongles', identical cards and then 'master-slave' requirements for video cards. CrossfireX is now hardware-enabled and has none of those requirements. AMD has implied with the 790fx chipset and new drivers you can run 4 'x2' vid cards for 8x GPUs - possible as early as this January if the new cards/drivers come out. I'm guessing that will be in x8/x8/x8/x8 lanes but I will guess that 4x 'x16' PCIe2 mobos must be on someone's roadmap.

I'm sure you will be able to Crossfire the cards you list but you need to thoroughly check config arrangements for optimal performance. As an example - pairing a 3850/256mb with a 3870x2/512mb is probably not a good idea.

It is also my understanding that some games just plain suck in Crossfire.

 

[Junpei]

How about running 2 HD3870x2 on an X38?

Im getting a new rig soon and i want a pair of these cards as well as a q6600, but as far as im aware the only crossfireX intel mobo is the coming P45, but that only supports DDR3, which im not interested in yet.

Any ideas?

-junpei-

 

[heyheybooboo]

Originally posted by: Junpei
How about running 2 HD3870x2 on an X38?

Im getting a new rig soon and i want a pair of these cards as well as a q6600, but as far as im aware the only crossfireX intel mobo is the coming P45, but that only supports DDR3, which im not interested in yet.

Any ideas?

-junpei-

I think 'those who own' at AT would say if you are going with DDR2 X38 really has nothing to offer you over P35 - except maybe PCIe2.

If you are going to Crossfire X38 will give you 2 PCIe2 'x16' slots. Both DDR2 and DDR3 flavors are available.

Seems that folks around here are jumping on the Asus Maximus Formula X38s with DDR2. Abit has a mobo out there, too, and I believe Gigabyte will soon be rolling out a DDR2 X38.

It will take someone much smarter than me to determine if 3870x2's in Crossfire will come close to filling the maximum theoretical bandwidth of PCIe1.1, much less PCIe2. All that bus 'traffic' gives me a headache. 'Theoretical' always seems to butt heads with 'Reality'.

As always, with new chipsets/GPUs YMMV. I prefer to let others do the beta testing and catch the next rev with mature drivers & bios.

 

[taltamir]

and its still a much better idea to go with single card solutions. maybe when the 3870x2 cards come out and drivers are out and everything is finished and working together well, but that could be in a year, or never.

 

[heyheybooboo]

Originally posted by: taltamir
and its still a much better idea to go with single card solutions. maybe when the 3870x2 cards come out and drivers are out and everything is finished and working together well, but that could be in a year, or never.

I think they'll work - in most cases very well - but still buggy enough in some games to really 'p' some people off. Hopefully AMD can go one step forward with CrossfireX without taking 2 steps back.

IMO most likely vaporware, anyway. Big launch next month with very limited volume to keep the price up for a few months. I definitely wouldn't count on the x2's driving down the price of 3870/512s to $200

 

[MegaWorks]

Originally posted by: heyheybooboo

Originally posted by: Junpei
How about running 2 HD3870x2 on an X38?

Im getting a new rig soon and i want a pair of these cards as well as a q6600, but as far as im aware the only crossfireX intel mobo is the coming P45, but that only supports DDR3, which im not interested in yet.

Any ideas?

-junpei-

I think 'those who own' at AT would say if you are going with DDR2 X38 really has nothing to offer you over P35 - except maybe PCIe2.

If you are going to Crossfire X38 will give you 2 PCIe2 'x16' slots. Both DDR2 and DDR3 flavors are available.

Seems that folks around here are jumping on the Asus Maximus Formula X38s with DDR2. Abit has a mobo out there, too, and I believe Gigabyte will soon be rolling out a DDR2 X38.

It will take someone much smarter than me to determine if 3870x2's in Crossfire will come close to filling the maximum theoretical bandwidth of PCIe1.1, much less PCIe2. All that bus 'traffic' gives me a headache. 'Theoretical' always seems to butt heads with 'Reality'.

As always, with new chipsets/GPUs YMMV. I prefer to let others do the beta testing and catch the next rev with mature drivers & bios.

Well I jumped on the ABIT and I got to tell that it's a fantastic board. I'm still testing it for stability.

 

[Heidfirst]

Originally posted by: heyheybooboo

Seems that folks around here are jumping on the Asus Maximus Formula X38s with DDR2. Abit has a mobo out there, too, and I believe Gigabyte will soon be rolling out a DDR2 X38.

the Gigabyte has been out almost as long as the Asus & longer than the abit.
So far going from the forums the Asus has the most mature BIOS atm & the abit seems better than the Gigabyte (I've seen a screenie of 625fsb on a C2D) but the BIOS still needs work.