Crossfire HD 5870

[Raijian]

I'm getting a second HD 5870 tonight, hoping it will increase my performance in BF3.

How do I go about cross firing it? I have the bridge, but I don't really know where to start besides the obvious of putting it into the slot.

 

[mastrdrver]

With the PC off:

1) Install the second 5870 but do not connect the bridge
2) Start up PC and let the drivers pick up the second card
3) Shutdown the PC again and connect the Crossfire bridge.
4) Start up PC again and it should enable Crossfire by default. If it doesn't just go in to the Catalyst section for Crossfire and check the box for enabling Crossfire.

I've used that method about a handful of times without ever having a problem.

 

[Raijian]

Thanks a lot!

Do you think I'll see an increase in performance in BF3? At ultra right now outside I get like 25-35 fps. Sucks bad.

 

[mastrdrver]

Yea, there will be a bit of a increase.

By the way, the highest working settings in the Beta are high. Ultra is not working currently.

 

[Zubasa]

Thanks a lot!

Do you think I'll see an increase in performance in BF3? At ultra right now outside I get like 25-35 fps. Sucks bad.

FYI, I get 47~70FPS with 5870CF, and that is with my CPU at stock right now bottlenecking.

 

[Raijian]

Yeah, well hopefully they optimize the game further and get their shit together. I'd be surprised if 2 5870's CF still don't max this out.

 

[MT Alex]

They won't max it out, but you will be happy with the outcome - I am.

 

[Raijian]

Well I would be happy with 45-60 fps, but right now it's hard on the eyes... and this isn't even in conquest so I can only imagine the entire game running like crap as of right now, but meh. I've heard this is a really early beta.. maybe it'll run a bit smoother on release

I can dream

 

[mastrdrver]

Don't worry about performance in the Beta. It will get better as the build is an Alpha build.

Also the Beta is DX10 and not DX11. Usually DX11 gives better performance over DX10 when you have the option.

Fwiw I get ~70 fps constantly being outside on Metro. Underground the get a little better. Even with explosions I don't see bad drops in fps.

 

[erocker]

As far as installing the card.. Put the 2nd card in with the machine off and install the CF bridge. Boot up and it should work. If not, then uninstall and reinstall drivers. It's that simple.

 

[Wrigleyvillain]

With the PC off:

1) Install the second 5870 but do not connect the bridge
2) Start up PC and let the drivers pick up the second card
3) Shutdown the PC again and connect the Crossfire bridge.
4) Start up PC again and it should enable Crossfire by default. If it doesn't just go in to the Catalyst section for Crossfire and check the box for enabling Crossfire.

I've used that method about a handful of times without ever having a problem.

Um ok, but all that really isn't necessary. Like erocker said just install the second card with bridge. Provided there are no other issues e.g. with the driver install then it will see it and enable crossfire (and bring up a Catalyst dialog showing you such).

 

[LordJummy]

Don't worry about performance in the Beta. It will get better as the build is an Alpha build.

Also the Beta is DX10 and not DX11. Usually DX11 gives better performance over DX10 when you have the option.

Fwiw I get ~70 fps constantly being outside on Metro. Underground the get a little better. Even with explosions I don't see bad drops in fps.

Alpha builds generally tend to precede the Beta builds. They usually don't offer open public alpha builds. Hence the beta.

They will optimize things further though before they get closer to release.

 

[Raijian]

I booted up and it said that my device is now working properly (windows said that) but when I go into CCC and go into hardware it sees my primary device as a 5870 and a "disabled adapter" as a 5870.

How do I enable crossfire? I don't see ANYTHING that even says crossfire in CCC lol

Using 11.10, most recent version of CCC

 

[Wrigleyvillain]

Bah. Go into Device Manager first and make sure Windows sees two cards. Driver uninstall and reinstall with latest 11.9 may be in order.

 

[erocker]

Uninstall your drivers.

You can do a clean install by following this guide: http://www.techpowerup.com/forums/showthread.php?t=52502

When that is done, install new drivers: http://support.amd.com/us/Pages/AMDSupportHub.aspx

 

[Raijian]

Thanks a lot erocker.

Should I just get the latest drivers once my old ones are cleaned?

Is 11.9 better than 11.10?

 

[erocker]

Get the 11.9 whql's.

 

[Raijian]

I'm sorry, what's WHQL? Gah >.< Sorry for all the questions, I googled Whql and had no luck.

 

[Dent1]

Also the Beta is DX10 and not DX11. Usually DX11 gives better performance over DX10 when you have the option.

I would think the increased level of detail in DX11 would decrease performance.

Fwiw I get ~70 fps constantly being outside on Metro. Underground the get a little better. Even with explosions I don't see bad drops in fps.

FYI, I get 47~70FPS with 5870CF, and that is with my CPU at stock right now bottlenecking.

I get about 45-80 FPS outside and about 80-150 in the metro/subway.

 

[Wrigleyvillain]

Yes 11.9 is better than 11.10 in this case as 11.10 is just a preview rushed out for BF3 beta (and consequently seems to not work as well in that game as 11.9). WHQL stand for Windows Hardware Quality Labs and it just means it's the official latest release and has been tested and certified by Microsoft. The latter, the WHQL part, doesn't really matter so much to us. It's point is to guarantee compatibility and "safety" but we already know a driver from AMD can generally be trusted.

Here's what you want (this is 64 bit; I checked your specs)

http://sites.amd.com/us/game/downloads/pages/radeon_win7-64.aspx#1

Get that CAP linked there too below as you now run crossfire.

 

[erocker]

I'm sorry, what's WHQL? Gah >.< Sorry for all the questions, I googled Whql and had no luck.

http://sites.amd.com/us/game/downloads/Pages/radeon_win7-64.aspx

 

[Raijian]

So the 11.10 they specifically made for BF3 isn't as good with BF3 as the latest official release of drivers?

 

[Raijian]

Still saying my second card is disabled.. I don't see any crossfire tab or options in CCC.


Windows Device Manager shows

ATI HD Radeon 5800 Series
ATI HD Radeon 5800 Series

under display adapters so I guess the cards are there... but it's not working.

Gotta love ati.

 

[erocker]

Uninstall your drivers.

You can do a clean install by following this guide: http://www.techpowerup.com/forums/showthread.php?t=52502

Follow the guide in the link.

Since you're on an AMD system, install SB drivers as well: http://support.amd.com/us/gpudownload/windows/Pages/raid_windows.aspx

 

[Raijian]

I followed that guide, but thanks!

I'm going to try re-seeding the card.

Still nothing showing in CCC.