GA-MA69G-S3H, worth it to crossfire?

[godsizesnakeyes]

Building a system with

http://www.gigabyte.us/Products/Motherboard/Products_Overview.aspx?ClassValue=Motherboard&ProductID=2527&ProductName=GA-MA69G-S3H

Wondering if its worth it to crossfire when the 2nd GPU lane is only a 4x. Getting a 3850 512mb, 64bit OS, 2 gigs of ram for now and 2 more soon. Would it be worth it to get a 2nd 3850?

 

[chechnyan]

hey
i own a GA-MA69G-S3H and i am going to crossfire soon
and as you i am planning for 2 hd 3850 ...lol how coincidence
i was almost going with GA-MA69GM-S2H but i was interesting to see how
this crossfire option works her
i am very sure that crossfire her will not make the best out of the G-cards
but there not always a bandwidth limitation issue either

if you are going to for this board because of the crossfire capability only
i would say that you should look for another motherboard something like RD790

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128074
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813130136

for some reviews about the mobo with pci-e x16*x4 crossfire
take a look at intel p35 motherboards review her

http://www.bit-tech.net/hardware/2007/10/12/crossfire_comparison_intel_x38_versus_p35/8
http://www.anandtech.com/video/showdoc.aspx?i=2990&p=6

 

[godsizesnakeyes]

hey
i own a GA-MA69G-S3H and i am going to crossfire soon
and as you i am planning for 2 hd 3850 ...lol how coincidence
i was almost going with GA-MA69GM-S2H but i was interesting to see how
this crossfire option works her

Coincidence for sure! I was even planing to go with a S2H version like you also but decided on the S3H in the end for better OCing and the crossfire. Board shows up tomorrow and I get to start on my build. Using onboard graphics to get it up and going then getting a GPU after xmas and mabey a 2nd later on.

Thanks for the links. Already purchsed the S3H board and would have liked to go with that gigabyte you linked but it woulda put me over budget anyway.

The article from bit-tech was a good explination of a x8 x4 crossfire set up. Sounds like a single good high end card is the way to go with a board like the S3H. But if the prices come down a decent amount on the 3850s as newer cards are released xfire might prove to be decent upgrade option.

 

[godsizesnakeyes]

Are you using the stock heatsink on your northbridge? People said in reviews it does run kinda hot and man were they right. I think I may set up a fan to blow on it or possibly upgrade to an aftermarket HS with a fan.

Also if you do crossfire with the 3850s on that board please post an update on if its much of an improvement or not, I would greatly apreaciate it.

 

[chechnyan]

hi.. sorry i am late to replay
i was concerned from this when first i read the newegg.com reviews about this issue
but listen i run this with AMD 5600+ with 2 gig Gskill .and Ati x1650 (current )
and the mobo barely reach 50c
,i did felt the mobo sensor maybe inaccurate
so i continuously touch the northbridge with my hand
and you know its normal not that hot

when i crossfire with 2 hd 3870 sure i am attending to make a review
but my first 3870 card may come after 10 days and it take some time for the another one
when i do crossfire sure i will replay to you

for me i like this motherboard and very happy for its great options