CrossfireX Drivers Released

[aardwolf]

Release notes: http://game.amd.com/us-en/latest_news.aspx?id=AMD000000023

Can't wait to go home & try them. Now I get to pop in the 2nd HD3870x2.

 

[San Pedro]

I'm not sure if I'll use the new driver or not. If there is increased performance in Quake Wars then I'll get it, and maybe if there is a noticeable improvement in Crysis, so I can oh and ah at better fps then quit and go back to a game I actually enjoy.

 

[jnava121]

sweet let us know of the benchmarks with quad fire lol

 

[Guest]

Nice performance in a lot of stuff. I would recommend installing it.

 

[hannibal]

More information in here: http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/forum2.php?config=tomshardwareus.inc&cat=33&post=248856&page=1&p=1&sondage=0&owntopic=1&trash=0&trash_post=0&print=0&numreponse=0&quote_only=0&new=0&nojs=0

 

[yonef]

At last
Now, all ATI owners can enable AA in all UT3 engine games !! This is confirmed. I have just played UT3 and Frontlines with 8xAA and the image is great !

I'm waiting for benchmarks of crosfire 4xGPU(2xRADEON 3870X2) or 3xGPU(Radeon 3870+3870X2) in crysis and other games ! I'm curious if 4xGPU will smoke nvidia's 3 way SLI with 3xULTRA

 

[aardwolf]

I'm going to have to duck out early & go home and start the install fest. I want to run a "Before" crysis benchmark to know what the actual number difference is for me

 

[San Pedro]

I guess I'll give them a try next week, I have some International Law homework to do tonight, and won't be home during the weekend.

 

[Scaj]

Maybe it's my QX6850 that's bottlenecking my system or lack of driver optimizations but it's not any major improvement with the second 3870x2. My results at 3DMark06 default settings on an x38 mobo:

15747 3870x2
16875 3870x2 Xfire

 

[grieve]

Interesting, I noticed on a different thread a guy got minimal gains in 3DMark06 when he added a second GTX...

I guess the ultimate question is how much better does the two x2’s perform in games?

 

[Annisman]

crysis is all i want to hear about

 

[aardwolf]

Here we go.

3DMark06:
1x HD3870x2: 16118 :
http://service.futuremark.com/compare?3dm06=5488062
2x HD3870x2: 17312 (CrossfireX) :
http://service.futuremark.com/compare?3dm06=5608152

Crysis (1600x1200, settings hi, no AA, GPU bench avg):
1xHD3870x2: 27.1FPS
2xHD3870x2: 40.3FPS

Overall, that's a HUGE gain for me in crysis (which is great because I haven't yet beaten it!).

 

[aardwolf]

Maybe it's my QX6850 that's bottlenecking my system or lack of driver optimizations but it's not any major improvement with the second 3870x2. My results at 3DMark06 default settings on an x38 mobo:

15747 3870x2
16875 3870x2 Xfire

That's pretty much on par w/ my results. Check out the feature tests though... many of the tests doubled in FPS. Still, though -- it's the gains in crysis that are best for me personally.

 

[Iscabis]

That is definitely nice to see. Thanks for the numbers!

I have an 8800gt right now, and I am holding out for the 4000 series (more specifically, the x2 version of that series). I was going to utilize my Step-up opportunity, but I am going to miss the date, and the 9800gx2 isn't what I thought it would be. Too expensive too.

ATI seems to be back in the game, and they are showing no sign of faltering at the moment. Good for them!!!

 

[aardwolf]

Yeah, it's good to see a bit of competition that will hopefully drive the prices down a bit. It's been a 1 horse show for far too long now. I really hope the next gen cards from ATI & NVidia are neck & neck in terms of performance.

 

[grieve]

the 9800gx2 isn't what I thought it would be. Too expensive too.

Both of those comments are complete speculation... official benches and prices are not released.

I do agree this competition is great for the market; I myself might jump back to ATI....well see when official Nvidia numbers are released.

 

[teeko]

There is a very informative review of the 8.3 drivers here http://enthusiast.hardocp.com/article.html?art=MTQ3MCwxLCxoZW50aHVzaWFzdA== with Cyrisis and "dual" 3870 x 2 Radeons

 

[aardwolf]

Ugh... there are artifacts in these drivers.

Played crysis and got to a building in the icy part, and there was a GIGANTIC plane intersecting my field of view at an angle. For a second I thought the roof got blown off a building (hey, it's happened before in this game), but then I realized it was just due to new drivers.

Ah well. Looking forward to reading teeko's link now.

 

[aardwolf]

Oh, and just in case anyone's curious how to install these things (I was):

Install 1 card.
Install Catalyst drivers.
Shut Down PC
Install 2 card (no x-fire bridge)
Start Up PC
Shut Down PC (after windows detects and installs 2nd card)
Install XFire Bridge adapter
Start up PC
Right-click desktop, go to catalyst control center.
Under the CrossfireX entry in the tree control, there's a "Configure" entry. Click that.
Enable the checkbox: "Enable CrossfireX TM".
Hit Apply, Hit OK (screen WILL flicker).

 

[aardwolf]

There is a very informative review of the 8.3 drivers here http://enthusiast.hardocp.com/article.html?art=MTQ3MCwxLCxoZW50aHVzaWFzdA== with Cyrisis and "dual" 3870 x 2 Radeons

No offence teeko, but that review states under "Notes" that they are using Beta (something.... card? drivers?). Still, I'm greatful for the info; thanks for posting the link!

 

[teeko]

Ya I know. They explain why here. "For our testing we are using Catalyst 8.451.2.1-080205a provided by AMD to allow for CrossFireX (quad CrossFire.) This version of the driver we were given to test with is identical in performance to Catalyst 8.3 final build according to AMD."

 

[JAYDEEJOHN]

My problem is, they didnt use the new patch, they were surprised that AI puts strain on a card, and in the end, they said it was "a day late, dollar short" when nVidia doesnt even have a 4 card solution. And it was all about crysis. Id love to see other games, not ones that can be manhandled, and 1 that NO current config cag max out. Leaves a very blurry understanding as how well the CFX really works, let alone the 3 card setup, and the 3850 alternative