Hi Folks--I'm just about to purchase my motherboard and I'm attempting to crossfire 2 Gigabyte 4890 OC cards with factory installed Zalman coolers. No-one agrees on on the number of crossfire bridges needed and now Gigabyte says I don't need one at all???
Question:
"I purchased two of these cards for crossfire and now I am wondering if I can even use these in crossfire. If both crossfire bridges are needed then these cards are not crossfire-capable because one of the crossfire connection points is blocked by the aftermarket Zalman cooler! The Manual says to connect both crossfire bridges in the section on setting up the hardware although in the beginning of the manual it says 1 or 2 crossfire bridges needed in the section on crossfire hardware requirements. Please help--Thanks"
Response:
"No bridge should be needed, the ati software should allow for crossfire to be enable if you are using an Crossfire supported motherboard."
Are they Kidding??? I haven't purchased a motherboard, however, if Gigabyte is incorrect, I now know that I need extra long flexable crossfire bridges to clear the cooler on the top card. I know need a board with no more than two slots between the x16 slots so a 100 mm bridge (87 mm between connectors) can have enough slack to clear the cooler on the top card. There are 20 mm between slots on center. Asus Crosshair and Gigabyte boards have two slots between the x16 slots but the MSI board has three. (I'm going with an AM3, 790FX board)
Now I'm more confused than ever!
Question:
"I purchased two of these cards for crossfire and now I am wondering if I can even use these in crossfire. If both crossfire bridges are needed then these cards are not crossfire-capable because one of the crossfire connection points is blocked by the aftermarket Zalman cooler! The Manual says to connect both crossfire bridges in the section on setting up the hardware although in the beginning of the manual it says 1 or 2 crossfire bridges needed in the section on crossfire hardware requirements. Please help--Thanks"
Response:
"No bridge should be needed, the ati software should allow for crossfire to be enable if you are using an Crossfire supported motherboard."
Are they Kidding??? I haven't purchased a motherboard, however, if Gigabyte is incorrect, I now know that I need extra long flexable crossfire bridges to clear the cooler on the top card. I know need a board with no more than two slots between the x16 slots so a 100 mm bridge (87 mm between connectors) can have enough slack to clear the cooler on the top card. There are 20 mm between slots on center. Asus Crosshair and Gigabyte boards have two slots between the x16 slots but the MSI board has three. (I'm going with an AM3, 790FX board)
Now I'm more confused than ever!