Crossfire on a SLI Motherboard?

[92Sileighty]

Is it possible to run a Crossfire setup on a SLI motherboard?
And, would I lose any functionality by doing so?

I was thinking about getting a pair of the new ATI X1950 Pro Crossfire cards with the internal ribbon connectors.
I thought I saw a review here on TH where they ran the Crossfire setup on a SLI motherboard.

Thanks,
Mark

 

[SpudTECH]

Yes it will work, but there is a slight preformance decrease as nvidias chipset slows down the response time to ATI Cards when crossfired. The intresting thing is that ATI Chipsets don't do that to nvidia cards when the are sli'ed on crossfire boards. There is an entire review on it in MAXIMUM PC, but I forget which month.

 

[92Sileighty]

So, should I just go with a ATI motherboard?

 

[SpudTECH]

So, should I just go with a ATI motherboard?

Either that or instead of plunking down all that money for a new MObo and videocards keep the mobo you have (if it is PCI-E x16) and get a nvidia 8800gtx. Maximum PC and here at tom's reviewed them and compaired them with 2 x1950's in crossfire and that single nvidia card beat the pants of of the both of them.

 

[92Sileighty]

The 8800GTX is ~$600.
Where as a pair of X1950 PRO can be had for just over $400.

I'm not sure if I am prepared to spend that much for single video card.

 

[SpudTECH]

opps I ment gts!
eVGA GeForce 8800GTS 640-P2-N821- newegg.com $429.00

 

[92Sileighty]

Okay
That sounds better.

 

[CompTIA_Rep]

thats the card I am running, and what a great card. haven't come across a game that doesn't play stellar at 1680 x 1050 max graphics.

though THG did do a review and mentioned that the CPU does bottleneck this card easily. You should have a rather new CPU to take advantage of it....

 

[SpudTECH]

Not only that but you'll be Vista redy and also ready for any new DX10 Games that will come out. I heard that HALO 2 will be DX10 only when it comes out for pc. But if not, then you STILL have a kick-ass card and can enjoy all of your DX9 games in their MAXED OUT splended glory with SOFTSHADOWS ENABLED, 16x ANIALASING and MAX ANISTOPHIC FILTERING at 1600x1200 where the ati cards choke on those settings. ROOL:

Just play Oblivion once on that card and you will NEVER GO BACK!!!

or you can be an ATI FANBOY if you still wish, and not be vista or DX10 READY.

 

[92Sileighty]

OK, here is what I plan to get.

nVidia 8800GTS
ASUS Crosshair MB
AMD Athlon 64 X2 5200+ Windsor 2.6GHz 2 x 1MB L2 Cache Socket AM2 Processor - Retail
OCZ Platinum Revision 2 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400)

 

[CompTIA_Rep]

I have liked ATI cards more, especially for the render options that was available in the 9800 pro that I had.

Does anyone know if this is possible for NVIDIA (maybe a download?)
I liked to play quake 3 rendered in black and white...

 

[CompTIA_Rep]

Thanks for supporting AMD!!! They need you.

If your not biased, you might want to look at the C2D vs the X2s. Heard great things about that mobo too. Nice pick.

 

[SpudTECH]

I AM DROOLING EVEN MORE!!!!!

C2D is alot better.

But this setup Is Suficent enough for ANY NEED you could have, now or in the future. and those winsdor cores overclock realy well! It's the same core that the fx-64 uses.
Go shopping at NEWEGG and you will see!

 

[92Sileighty]

I'm not an AMD fanboy, so much as I am an Intel hater! :tongue:
I just don't like the way Intel does business.
And, you can't beat AMD's bang for the buck.

 

[SpudTECH]

Well THEN... Stick with the 5200. It won't be obsolete for about another 6 years the way things are going. and don't forget to overclock.

AND GET A GOOD NAME BRAND POWERSUPPLY THAT IS AT LEAST 500wats. 'Cause this card has a Big grunty thirst.

 

[CompTIA_Rep]

http://media1.yourdailymedia.com/files/100voices.wmv


hahaha good laugh.

 

[92Sileighty]

Any suggestions on a PSU?
I currently have an Ultra X-Connect 500W PSU.
Is it going to be good enough?

 

[CompTIA_Rep]

you can get the antec 550watt psu with 36amps on the 12volt rail for 50-70 bucks on sale... great PSU.


As long as your PSU has 26 or more amps combined on the 12volt rail then your ok.

 

[SpudTECH]

Yep those ones above will work just fine.