SLI / CrossFire FAQs

[Mousemonkey]

@12reno, Start a thread of your own and reference this thread if you need to.

 

[General_Terror]

5670 can't be fired with 6670

 

[stingstang]

I just read the sli-crossfire and micro-stuttering article, and it got me thinking. All the 2 card configuration had the first card shoot out a fast frame, and the second card would lag, which causes teh microstuttering. What would happen if the second card was overclocked? Theoretically, that would improve stuttering significantly, or even...cure it!
Quick! Someone with a crossfire-sli setup make this happen!

 

[Mousemonkey]

I just read the sli-crossfire and micro-stuttering article, and it got me thinking. All the 2 card configuration had the first card shoot out a fast frame, and the second card would lag, which causes teh microstuttering. What would happen if the second card was overclocked? Theoretically, that would improve stuttering significantly, or even...cure it!
Quick! Someone with a crossfire-sli setup make this happen!

I firmly believe that if 'microstuttering' exists/happens then it's due to a weak CPU with a lack of onboard cache that causes it.

 

[stingstang]

I firmly believe that if 'microstuttering' exists/happens then it's due to a weak CPU with a lack of onboard cache that causes it.

The article on Tom's had a hardware setup with a 2500k @5GHz (don't tell me how they got it all the way up there)
I doubt it was from the cpu not being able to handle it.
Another worthwhile test would be to see if the effect is worse when that cpu is clocked lower..

 

[vdr369]

nice job, can u provide PSU list too,

 

[Mousemonkey]

The article on Tom's had a hardware setup with a 2500k @5GHz (don't tell me how they got it all the way up there)
I doubt it was from the cpu not being able to handle it.
Another worthwhile test would be to see if the effect is worse when that cpu is clocked lower..

Increased clockspeed does not always seem to make up for lack of onboard cache from what I've seen over the years.

 

[Maziar]

nice job, can u provide PSU list too,

Thanks.
Nvidia cards
http://www.slizone.com/object/slizone_build_psu.html
AMD cards
http://sites.amd.com/us/game/products/certified/Pages/certified-power-supplies.aspx
(They were both covered in the FAQ)

 

[vdr369]

Thanks.
Nvidia cards
http://www.slizone.com/object/slizone_build_psu.html
AMD cards
http://sites.amd.com/us/game/products/certified/Pages/certified-power-supplies.aspx
(They were both covered in the FAQ)

thanks a lot,

 

[emmanuelxian07]

May I just ask a simple question.. I know I should try to read this whole thread but there are almost 20 pages here.
>,< My eyes are already sore.
I would just like to ask if I will get any improvement on performance if I do SLI with my GTX 460 even if I don't plan to use more than 1 monitor or display.
Thanks in advance!

 

[Maziar]

If you play on resolution like 1080p,then adding another 460 will give you a great boost in performance.

 

[-Fran-]

This has to be added some how to the OP, Maziar:

http://techreport.com/articles.x/21516

One of the best reads lately! Very enlightening about XFire and SLI caveats. Finally a metric for micro stuttering and jitter!

Cheers!

 

[Maziar]

Thanks for the link
Will probably add info about micro stuttering

 

[OI Steven]

Ok what would be better, GTX560 Ti Sli or a single GTX580. I am using a 24" display

 

[Maziar]

2 560's are cheaper and faster but consume more power and are noisier

 

[Steffen]

Maybe there should there be a notice that Crossfire / Sli doenst work if you play games in Window mode. And it only runs on 1 card if so. its been awhile since ive been playing around with sli / crossfire. DX11 should have fixed that problem, but it didnt fix it for me.

 

[Maziar]

Good point,I'll add it

 

[Nyorai]

Hello there guys,

I was atcualy wondering at 1 thing. I am planing to get one 6870 now , and probably add another one later. They require 2 PCIE power connectors each, so should my PSU have 4? I see some 650w models (I hope 650w should be enough) have just 2 but are marked as CF/SLI ready.

Thanks

 

[Maziar]

Your PSU has to have 2 PCI-E 6pin connectors.
I recommend a decent 700-800W PSU such as Corsair AX series.

 

[EyeSeven]

Hi masters,
I'm planning to build a rig, but I'm kinda confused with some parts. What PSU can you suggest for a rig with dual SLI GTX 580 and i7 2600k? Should I go for Corsair AX-1200? Many thanks!

 

[Mousemonkey]

Hi masters,
I'm planning to build a rig, but I'm kinda confused with some parts. What PSU can you suggest for a rig with dual SLI GTX 580 and i7 2600k? Should I go for Corsair AX-1200? Many thanks!

This is not a question and answer thread, please start your own thread for that.

 

[Djentleman]

Hi masters,
I'm planning to build a rig, but I'm kinda confused with some parts. What PSU can you suggest for a rig with dual SLI GTX 580 and i7 2600k? Should I go for Corsair AX-1200? Many thanks!

My safe bet would be a 1000watt psu. With plenty of amps on the (12v) rail...

 

[HugoStiglitz]

just saw this chart. can u really crossfire a 5770 with a 6770?

 

[mebuebu]

I really hope this question hasn't been asked, but I read through the first few pages and the last page of this forum and didn't find my answer.
I currently have a 5970 and a 5870(2GB) crossfire set up, and running 3 27 inch monitors. But here's the thing...

I am not sure if my crossfire set up is working properly. I don't have any error messages, and running everything at its default within the catalyst control Center. But I feel like I should be getting better frames per second. When running the 'Heaven DX11 benchmark' at these settings: Shaders-high tessellation-normal Anisotropy-4 Anti-Aliasing- off res 1920x1080 dx11
I average more than 60 frames per second with crossfire enabled, and noticed a decrease by about 15 frames with crossfire disabled. But the real problem I'm worried about is that when catalyst control Center is monitoring activity only the first GPU of my 5970.

Would it show activity on all GPU separately, or are all the GPU's treated and monitored as one even within CCC?
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gigabyte EX58-UD4P
Intel core i7-950 @3.06Ghz
patriot gaming series 9-9-9-24 DDR3 (1600Mhz) 12GB
diamond ATI Radeon HD 5870 Eyefinity 6 edition
X FX ATI Radeon HD 5970 Black edition
OCZ agility2 120GB solid-state X2 RAID0
Xion PSU 1000 W

 

[Maziar]

Open GPU-Z(3 of them) and set each to monitor 1)First 5970 core 2)Second 5970 core 3)5870 and then run a game or benchmark for 5-10 mins,then minimize it(don't quit) and check the GPU activity