CrossfireX Help, How does it work?

[lethalshark]

So I just built my computer and it runs with no problems at all. But with all these new next gen games that are on their way, I would like to know a couple things.
1. Which has to be crossfire X ready? A Power supply a first graphics card or both?
2. (this involves graphics card) How do i know if can or am running in 4K (because i know my gpu supports it.) I have a GeForce GTX 760.This is mainly since I have preordered watch dogs and it should work in 4K

 

[clutchc]

1) The PSU does not need to say CF ready. That's basically hype. The cards have to be CF compatible. Read this: http://www.guru3d.com/articles_pages/radeon_r9_290_crossfire_review_benchmarks,2.html

2) By 4K do you mean 4K resolution? You can only run in the resolution of your monitor's capability or less. If you have a 1080p monitor, that is as high of a resolution that you will see displayed. The higher the resolution, the lower the frame rate (all else being equal).

 

[lethalshark]

1) The PSU does not need to say CF ready. That's basically hype. The cards have to be CF compatible. Read this: http://www.guru3d.com/articles_pages/radeon_r9_290_crossfire_review_benchmarks,2.html

2) By 4K do you mean 4K resolution? You can only run in the resolution of your monitor's capability or less. If you have a 1080p monitor, that is as high of a resolution that you will see displayed. The higher the resolution, the lower the frame rate (all else being equal).

So I would need a graphics card that says Crossfire Technology? Also i have an Nvidida GPU not AMD, so what is SLI mode, sorry im new with this

 

[lethalshark]

1) The PSU does not need to say CF ready. That's basically hype. The cards have to be CF compatible. Read this: http://www.guru3d.com/articles_pages/radeon_r9_290_crossfire_review_benchmarks,2.html

2) By 4K do you mean 4K resolution? You can only run in the resolution of your monitor's capability or less. If you have a 1080p monitor, that is as high of a resolution that you will see displayed. The higher the resolution, the lower the frame rate (all else being equal).

OKAY, i understand now SLI which would be for me since I have an Nvidia GPU would be for me, crossfire is only for AMD. Lucky i got a MB that's compatible with both.

 

[clutchc]

Nvidia's SLI interface is incompatible with AMD's Crossfire interface... and vice-versa. Both technologies are a way to connect 2 or more graphic cards together for increasing the performance of the graphics system. The cards have to match for pairing them up. If you have a Nvidia gfx card now, and it is SLI compatible, you would have to go SLI instead of CF. Also, the motherboard has to have SLI and/or CF capability. If you list your systems specs, it would help. Do you know the make/model of your MB?

Most games today are SLI and CF compatible. The few that are not, will simply ignore the 2nd card. SLI/CF generally adds ~80% performance improvement over a single card in best conditions.

 

[lethalshark]

Nvidia's SLI interface is incompatible with AMD's Crossfire interface... and vice-versa. Both technologies are a way to connect 2 or more graphic cards together for increasing the performance of the graphics system. The cards have to match for pairing them up. If you have a Nvidia gfx card now, and it is SLI compatible, you would have to go SLI instead of CF. Also, the motherboard has to have SLI and/or CF capability. If you list your systems specs, it would help. Do you know the make/model of your MB?

Most games today are SLI and CF compatible. The few that are not, will simply ignore the 2nd card. SLI/CF generally adds ~80% performance improvement over a single card in best conditions.

I know for a fact my MB is SLI compatible, everything else im not so sure.
List of Parts:

GPU: GeForce GTX 760 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127745
MB: ASUS SABERTOOTH http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131877
Power Supply: XFX TS Series http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817207013

 

[clutchc]

Those are all good parts. Yes, that card is SLI compatible, but your PSU is too small to add a 2nd GTX 760. Each GTX 760 is a 170W card. Nvidia recommends a 500W PSU for just the single card: http://www.geforce.com/hardware/desktop-gpus/geforce-gtx-760/specifications

I would recommend moving up to at least a 750W PSU when you decide to add a 2nd card. You may get by with a slightly smaller size PSU, but I wouldn't advise it. You need some headroom for best performance.

 

[lethalshark]

Those are all good parts. Yes, that card is SLI compatible, but your PSU is too small to add a 2nd GTX 760. Each GTX 760 is a 170W card. Nvidia recommends a 500W PSU for just the single card: http://www.geforce.com/hardware/desktop-gpus/geforce-gtx-760/specifications

I would recommend moving up to at least a 750W PSU when you decide to add a 2nd card. You may get by with a slightly smaller size PSU, but I wouldn't advise it. You need some headroom for best performance.

So you recommend i get a 750W PSU and thats it? Everything is good besides power? Since my computers pretty much brand new i haven't made many changes, but would i have to re wire everything? Could that cause issues?

 

[clutchc]

Well, you only listed your gfx card, MB, and PSU. If you have a decent processor, big enough case w/good air flow, you should be fine going SLI after upgrading the PSU. If that PC is a pre-bult, there may be some other issues to consider. But if you built the PC yourself, then you should be fine just swapping out the PSU.

 

[lethalshark]

Well, you only listed your gfx card, MB, and PSU. If you have a decent processor, big enough case w/good air flow, you should be fine going SLI after upgrading the PSU. If that PC is a pre-bult, there may be some other issues to consider. But if you built the PC yourself, then you should be fine just swapping out the PSU.

Built the Computer my Self. Here's the parts:
Case: Corsair r400 http://
CPU: AMD FX-8320 http://

I have not had any issues at all with heat, even when running modded Skyrim with multiple different ENB's loaded

 

[Outlander_04]

CrossfireX is NOT THE SAME AS CROSSFIRE

The grpphics lanes to the cpu are not split as they are in SLI and crossfire , instead a x4 pci-e slot is used and that chokes the second graphics card if it is more powerful than , say , a 7770 .

Just buy a single better graphics card for high resolution gaming .

 

[clutchc]

I believe CrossfireX is just the renamed Crossfire. CrossfireX now allows more than 2 gfx cards to be used. But for this discussion Crossfire and CrossfireX are the same.

 

[lethalshark]

I believe CrossfireX is just the renamed Crossfire. CrossfireX now allows more than 2 gfx cards to be used. But for this discussion Crossfire and CrossfireX are the same.

So about the case and CPU, i should be fine correct?

 

[Outlander_04]

I believe CrossfireX is just the renamed Crossfire. CrossfireX now allows more than 2 gfx cards to be used. But for this discussion Crossfire and CrossfireX are the same.

You are NOT CORRECT

Crossfire x is an AMD only technology that allows a x4 pci-e slot to work with the x16 graphics slot . The graphics only pci-e lanes are not split between two cards as happens ith Crossfire and SLI

So it is NOT the same as crossfire and even a Radeon 7850 will lose about 20% performance in a x4 slot . If you want to put a more powerful card in there expect even more of a performance hit
And it will NOT work with two nVidia graphics cards

 

[clutchc]

@ Outlander_04
Yes, I realize that. Crossfire is the older version of the technology with several drawbacks that were solved with CrossfireX, and several improvements. No longer need an external dongle either.
But his board is X16,X16 with 2 cards. What does the terminology have to do with this discussion? Most folks use the terms crossfire, crossfireX, CF interchangeably.

 

[lethalshark]

@ Outlander_04
Yes, I realize that. Crossfire is the older version of the technology with several drawbacks that were solved with CrossfireX, and several improvements. No longer need an external dongle either.
But his board is X16,X16 with 2 cards. What does the terminology have to do with this discussion? Most folks use the terms crossfire, crossfireX, CF interchangeably.

So I'm fine? I have a good case and CPU, all I need now is a new PSU and a new Nvidia GPU to add?

 

[clutchc]

That's right. You will probably want to OC your processor to be sure to get the most out of dual GTX 760s.

 

[lethalshark]

That's right. You will probably want to OC your processor to be sure to get the most out of dual GTX 760s.

Thanks, that's all I needed to know!

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