Crossfire problems....

[xmarine0311]

Before you say it yes I saw the sticky about it, I installed the same way as stated...... anyway I just got a second HIS 3870Iceq turbo http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814161217 and crossfired them. No noteable performance gain whatsoever..... I disabled ran and then enabled and ran same thing..... Anyone have this problem before or know of a post about this problem(i couldnt find one) btw I did a clean install with drivercleaner pro got the Cannot find INF file error and had to manually install display driver.

Specs: Hiper 880W Psu
2- HIS 3870s
4 GB Gskill
Vista 64 home premium
2 hdds
Auzentech X-fi
AMD 5200+ 64 x2
M3A32-MVP deluxe wi fi

[philbrown23]

thats odd... does it say enabled on gpu-z??ccc?? what o/s??

[xmarine0311]

Vista 64..... what is gpu-z? And yes I can enable in CCC.

[xmarine0311]

I think I might try a roll back to the crysis fix......

[xmarine0311]

oh and I wanted to ask.... when I click on identify GPU a one comes up and nothing else. What does that mean?

[erocker]

Ah, make sure that you have it set in the bios for two cards. I forgot the exact name, but it's in there.

[Dr. Spankenstein]

What test are you using to determine that there is no increase?

[xmarine0311]

3dmark and ARMA with fraps. 936 in 3dmark. If i remember correctly. Also I tried disabling the CF and renabling it to see the diff.

[erocker]

In the bios it's called Peer-to-Peer among GFX/GFX2. Enable it.

[xmarine0311]

I was looking in the PCI-E part of my bios. I enabled P2P and sharing. It says 25w GPP limit. I dont know what that is so I dont wanna touch it. I had it enabled before I did my last clean install too.

[xmarine0311]

oh and I forgot to say it shows both cards in DM as 3800's

[Dr. Spankenstein]

So for clarification:

You cleaned the drivers in Safe mode, first? or later?
With only one card installed, you loaded the full Catalyst package?
Powered down, installed 2nd card (no Crossfire bridge) and boot to Vista.

Did the OS recognise the card and automatically install the display drivers? You made some mention of an INF fail, but you were reffering to drivercleaner pro in the same sentence...

Did you look in the Device manager to see in there were any errors/conflicts (yellow triangles)? Fixed them with a manual driver install?

[xmarine0311]

Cleaned in safe, installed one in normal, then second then put on bridge. No exclamation points...... Only problem in installation was the INF error. But I just manually installed the first card and auto installed the second.

[xmarine0311]

does anyone know what my GPP(I think General Purpose Processor) setting in bios should be set at for crossfire??

[xmarine0311]

oh and to add to the previous question about did vista recognize it..... no, after I cleaned it showed as VGA adapter.

[xmarine0311]

found something finally

http://vip.asus.com/forum/view.aspx?id=20080313233702437&board_id=1&model=M3A32-MVP+DELUXE&page=1&SLanguage=en-us

gonna try it out will let you know

[erocker]

Keep us posted, I recently just got the board and I'm sure I'll give crossfire a shot on it sooner or later. :toast:

[Dr. Spankenstein]

This is where it get's sticky with these latest Cats. I guess it's why I always suggest starting with the Crysis Hotfix drivers. They don't do this auto driver loading crap.

I also state in the thread that if there are ANY errors at ANY step in the installation: start over. You'll get an express ticket to Frustrationville, that's about it.

Try the Crysis Hotfix drivers for Vista this time and while you're in Safe Mode cleaning out these latest drivers-do yourself a favor and select every ATI option and after the first run, run it again (just press "clean" again) and you'll see that there are always stragglers. Then do the windows "search" for anything ATI and delete any files that are signed by ATI. Delete those too.

Follow the steps (have the page up as a reference). Check for any errors at each stage and we'll have you up and running soon!

[xmarine0311]

I tried installing several times kept getting error.

[Dr. Spankenstein]

Please specify. At what stage of installation.

[xmarine0311]

Soon as installation starts.

[xmarine0311]

Packages for install
North Bridge Filter DriverFinal Status: Fail
Version of Item: 1.00.0000.1
Size: 1 Mbytes
ATI Display DriverFinal Status: Fail
Version of Item: 8.471.0.0000
Size: 90 Mbytes

[Dr. Spankenstein]

Have you updated you mobo drivers recently? Latest DirectX?

Also, it may be you Net framework is fargled. Try to only have a fresh net 2.0 installed.

[xmarine0311]

yes and I cant figure out how to uninstall .net on vista 64

[Dr. Spankenstein]

I just caught a quick whiff of what your issue might be.

I read that Omega drivers can sometimes bork your chipset drivers. Try and update your chipset drivers from the MFG's website and try the install again!

[xmarine0311]

on it will let you know.

[xmarine0311]

oh and I got the CD drivers to install clean.... Still cant get those northbridge drivers from 8.3 in so I am starting to think its the mobo. Both cards are working good also. I checked both. Asus's dl is slow as hell so gimmie a little ill get back to you. Im gonna clean and reinstall also.

[xmarine0311]

chipset drivers giving INF error...... So its definitly that now I think. Gonna try cleaning then installing them first.

[CrackerJack]

what cat ver are you using?

[xmarine0311]

8.3

[CrackerJack]

8.3

have you tried the crysis hotfix, Dr. usually says to use this first. But if that doesn't work then try 8.2


download this
http://www.techpowerup.com/downloads/1031/TechPowerUp_GPU-Z_v0.1.9.html

and post a screenshot with gpu-z and ccc open.

[xmarine0311]

Okay now this is weird.... Its bringing up cat installer when I try to install chipset drivers(downloaded and CD) and giving me INF errors. And now I cant even install video drivers from CD(INF error). God this is annoying. Any ideas??

[CrackerJack]

Okay now this is weird.... Its bringing up cat installer when I try to install chipset drivers(downloaded and CD) and giving me INF errors. And now I cant even install video drivers from CD(INF error). God this is annoying. Any ideas??

what drivers do got now, and what driver are you going to.

[xmarine0311]

not trying update.... trying to get crossfire working. And now everythings all messed up

[xmarine0311]

I need to find out about INF files..... having trouble finding the appropriate info though. I think something was messed up and the INF file cant find the hardware to install the driver correctly..... So i need to figure out what is making it not be seen.

[xmarine0311]

Nope on 8.1, oh and regards to your PM about the INF file. I dont think it has anything to do with INF file, I think it has something to do with what its looking for. Im thinking this because I can get one card running fine but I just cant get crossfire to work.

[erocker]

It's time to start over. Reinstall windows, then install chipset drivers. Then windows update (software updates), then catalysts. Then do the rest of windows update. Before Cats are installed you need all of the .NET framworks installed which you get with Windows update(software updates).

[Dr. Spankenstein]

It's time to start over. Reinstall windows, then install chipset drivers. Then windows update (software updates), then catalysts. Then do the rest of windows update. Before Cats are installed you need all of the .NET framworks installed which you get with Windows update.


I'm gonna agree with this suggestion.

There seem to be too many variables involved at this point. Something is not running smoothy with your OS/mobo. I'm afraid any attempt to try to move forward from where you are currently at will not be very effective.

erocker provided the order in which you need to proceed. Thanks are in order....;)

[erocker]

It's time to start over. Reinstall windows, then install chipset drivers. Then windows update (software updates), then catalysts. Then do the rest of windows update. Before Cats are installed you need all of the .NET framworks installed which you get with Windows update(software updates).

I forgot to mention that along with your chipset drivers, install your lan/wifi drivers as well, so you can get to Windows update.:)

[xmarine0311]

okay reformatted, installed 8.3(went fine) and I still dont think crossfire is working right. GPZ says it is disabled still.

[xmarine0311]

9913 3DMarks with 1680 x 1050 2 AA 2 AF

Is this right??? I saw somone on here getting 11000's with two 3870's that run slower than my HIS turbo ones??

[Dr. Spankenstein]

Man, you just GOTTA go against the grain don't ya!

I told you: "Crysis Hotfix drivers"

You: "Installed Cat. 8.3"

Then you test 3DM06 at a resolution that nobody can make an easy comparison with...

I'm tapped-out!

BTW, that score at those settings doesn't sound too bad...

[erocker]

AArrgh! Why man WHY?!?! 8.3's are not good, You need 8.2's!!!

[xmarine0311]

10634 in default

[xmarine0311]

so should I get 8.2 or crysis??

[erocker]

Use the 8.2's and follow the Dr.'s thread on installing crossfire. Make sure you uninstall the 8.3's properly. And OC that CPU as much as possible.

[Megasty]

Cat 8.3 is just a buggy mess. The 8.4 beta fixes the powerplay crap but is still ridiculously hard to install right. I just don't understand why would ATI make it so darn hard to install 8.3/8.4 with CFx. If you can't enable CFx in cat then you installed it in the one of the 1,235,964,129,762 wrong ways. There are only 3 ways that work & it don't work for all ppl. After drive cleaning & shutting down the ways are:

1. Install both cards, connect the CF bridge to both cards, startup PC, install cat, reboot, PRAY, let cat startup, enable CFx in cat.

2. Install both cards, DO NOT CONNECT CF BRIDGE, startup PC, install cat, reboot, let cat startup, SHUTDOWN, connect CF bridge to both cards, startup PC, PRAY, let cat startup, enable CFx in cat.

3. Install ONE card, boot up windows, install cat, reboot, let cat startup, shutdown, install the other card, connect the CF bridge to both cards, startup PC, PRAY, let cat startup, enable CFx in cat.

There is a whole lot of praying involved isn't it. I don't know what newer version of cat will install CFx right but it sure ain't these two.

[xmarine0311]

8.2 installed.... nothing. Here is a pic of my GPU-Z. http://www.inaneasylum.org/r/a883d5ca99a3004e798bec1eb75e1e02.jpg

[xmarine0311]

here is both cards on gpuz http://www.inaneasylum.org/r/9a6fd4b14ff42034e01d84a2399bdb7e.jpg

[trog100]

do u get the enable/disable option in the bottom of the CCC panel..


http://www.cavecom.com/pics/cccx.jpg

after installing the drivers u have to re-install the CCC before it picks up both cards and lets u enable C/F.. if it aint enabled in the CCC it is disabled by default..

also with an amd dual at 2.6 gig your score is not gonna be very high at the default 2006 settings.. praps 12000 at the most.. my 6000+ at 3.35 gig only managed 13000 with two 3870 cards..

trog

[xmarine0311]

yes it is enabled and I didnt have to reinstall cat to get it enabled. Usually it is enabled soon as I start with the crossfire bridge on. A couple times it wasnt though, but I never had to reinstall to get the check box to work.

[asb2106]

ok that is weird.

I use vista 64, and I have 2 3870s in xfire myself. For the first few times I followed Drs instructions and it worked fine. Just last time I decided to just install the drivers with the bridges on and everything. And i used 8.3, everything went fine. After a restart I had to enable it in CCC, then it worked perfect. No tricks, no bugs nothing. Im thinking their is some confusion with the drivers for your chipset, and the drivers for your VCs.

Hmm, Im gonna do some diggin around and see if I cant find something to help. That does not sound like fun, and I feel your pain.

Now 1 thing, when I used Vista, I did have xfire enabled, and it worked(19k 3dmark), but GPUz would say disabled. it was really weird, I could not get it to function right at all. BUT, the games and 3dmark did perform as if 2 cards were running.

I know you may hate to hear this, but this is what I would do

Start fresh,
take off the bridges
Install Vista,
Vista automatically installs my chipset and audio and lan, I leave this for now
I go straight to MS site to get the vista x64 .net 2.0
Install it, then download and install Cat drivers
Restart and verify in your Device Manager that it recognizes both cards
Shut down, install bridges
Restart and make sure crossfire is enabled.
Then go through and update all of your other drivers.....

This has been a fool-proof method for me with vista x64 and xfire 3870. If this doesnt work I think its some confusion between the chipset drivers and Cat drivers,

or something is wrong in the bios.

Im still looking though

[trog100]

yes it is enabled and I didnt have to reinstall cat to get it enabled. Usually it is enabled soon as I start with the crossfire bridge on. A couple times it wasnt though, but I never had to reinstall to get the check box to work.

i think its working and u are simply expecting to see better results.. set 2006 at a higher than default resolution.. make two runs.. one with C/F enabled in the CCC and one with it disabled..

post the two results.. if u see a noticeable difference its working.. end of story..

u wont see a high score at the default resolution because of your relatively slow amd dual core cpu.. 2006 is very cpu limited..

trog

[xmarine0311]

I knew they werent going to be huge. I had two 1650xts crossfired ahwile ago and at that time I think everyone who got the new big bad crossfire setup was like"wtf" after installing so I learned my lesson on that. But after seeing computers lesser than mine get better results is why I said I didnt think it was working right(also poor game performance). I always forget about my achilles heal though. My processor. The last thing I need to update to have a 1st class system(saving up for phenom). After looking into my 3dmark stats I think your right on the CPU call.

With CF 10673


Without CF 926

It also says its disabled in 3dmark too btw. Must be a vista thing.

[xmarine0311]

oh and I can send anyone a Excel file of my 3dmark results if they like.

[xmarine0311]

3DMark06 Results
Result 1(CFon) Result 2(CFoff)
File Name nocf.3dr
Primary Device ATI Radeon HD 3800 Series ATI Radeon HD 3800 Series
Width 1280 1280
Height 1024 1024
Anti-Aliasing None None
Anti-Aliasing Quality 0 0
Texture Filtering Optimal Optimal
Anisotropic Level 1 1
VS Profile 3_0 3_0
PS Profile 3_0 3_0
Force full precision No No
Disable HW shadow mapping No No
Disable post-processing No No
Force software vertex shader No No
Color mipmaps No No
Force software FP filtering No No
Repeat tests Off Off
Fixed framerate Off Off
Comment
3DMark Score 10673 9289 3DMarks
SM2.0 Score 4642 4261
HDR/SM3.0 Score 6 4670 K
CPU Score 1919 1904
Game Score N/A N/A
GT1 - Return To Proxycon 38.898 34.367 FPS
GT2 - Firefly Forest 38.463 36.649 FPS
CPU1 - Red Valley 0.603 0.600 FPS
CPU2 - Red Valley 0.977 0.966 FPS
HDR1 - Canyon Flight 76.642 45.580 FPS
HDR2 - Deep Freeze 48.380 47.830 FPS
Fill Rate - Single-Texturing 0.000 0.000 N/A
Fill Rate - Multi-Texturing 0.000 0.000 N/A
Pixel Shader 0.000 0.000 N/A
Vertex Shader - Simple 0.000 0.000 N/A
Vertex Shader - Complex 0.000 0.000 N/A
Shader Particles (SM3.0) 0.000 0.000 N/A
Perlin Noise (SM3.0) 0.000 0.000 N/A
8 Triangles 0.000 0.000 N/A
32 Triangles 0.000 0.000 N/A
128 Triangles 0.000 0.000 N/A
512 Triangles 0.000 0.000 N/A
2048 Triangles 0.000 0.000 N/A
32768 Triangles 0.000 0.000 N/A
Central Processing Unit AMD Athlon(tm) 64 X2 Dual Core Processor 5200+ AMD Athlon(tm) 64 X2 Dual Core Processor 5200+
Internal Clock 2600 2600 MHz
External Clock 200 200 MHz
Display Device ATI Radeon HD 3800 Series ATI Radeon HD 3800 Series
Total Local Video Memory 514 514 MB
Driver Version 8.471.0.0 8.471.0.0
VGA Memory Clock 0 0 Hz
VGA Core Clock 0 0 Hz
Total Physical Memory 3056 3056 MB
Operating System Info Windows Vista (TM) Home Premium Windows Vista (TM) Home Premium

[xmarine0311]

framerate is still worse with two cards than with one card in arma.

[CrackerJack]

here is both cards on gpuz http://www.inaneasylum.org/r/9a6fd4b14ff42034e01d84a2399bdb7e.jpg

i get the same thing with my crossfire cards. gpu-z in vista 64, shows that i don't have crossfire enable. but in ccc it does.

[asb2106]

i get the same thing with my crossfire cards. gpu-z in vista 64, shows that i don't have crossfire enable. but in ccc it does.

I get the same thing my self!

I do agree with trog, I think that your CPU is really holding you back, granted in game performance is not gonna suffer that much.

I do think that something was wrong with that run w/o crossfire, 900 3dmarks..... hmm.... did you mean 9000 something? I can get 900 3dmarks with the 2400pro grphx and 1.8ghz x2 in my laptop, infact it scores 2,400

[ShadowFold]

I think the combination of Vista and a 4x graphics lane is killing you. Tho im pretty sure ATI's are still pretty fast at 4x.

[asb2106]

I think the combination of Vista and a 4x graphics lane is killing you. Tho im pretty sure ATI's are still pretty fast at 4x.

u mean 4 my laptop??

It is just a 2400pro, the card really blows. And its only a work laptop.

My main laptop has a intel dual @ 2.2 with a 8600GT, and I get 3800. More than enough to do some mobile gaming. But I didnt buy it for that purpose. I got it for the 17.1" with a 1920x1200 rez. I need high rez, otherwise everything looks terrible.

[ShadowFold]

No im talking about the OP lol

[asb2106]

No im talking about the OP lol

that mobo has 4 PCIe 2.0 @ 16x

Its the new 790x chipset from AMD, its probably the best chipset for xfire. Which is what makes this even more troublesome!

[ShadowFold]

that mobo has 4 PCIe 2.0 @ 16x

On gpu-z it says the second card is running at 4x.

[asb2106]

On gpu-z it says the second card is running at 4x.

I think thats Vista x64 interferring there, when I load up GPUz in vista x64 it tells me that I dont even have crossfire. I think x64 and Gpuz have troubles.

[trog100]

its drivers and vista 64 and and all sorts.. C/F aint quite there yet for lots of things.. neither is vista 64..

people really shouldnt be running the buggy piece of crap.. sorry but thats about the truth.. XP simply works better..

trog

[ShadowFold]

Yea man I would get XP x64 if your gaming :ohwell:

[Megasty]

That board isn't anything but trouble. I used it with a 6400+ BE OC'd to 3.6. I only got it to work with CFx once & the 2 cards scored 14k-ish. It took me 9 installs to get it to work & that pci-e config isn't too appealing either. Its much easier to get it to work on a msi k92a.

[erocker]

To the OP, check your device manager for any missing, or non-installed drivers. Do a google search for Vista Tweak Guides, read it, and do an installation based upon the information. When installing your cards, only install one first, install video drivers, restart. Shut down, install other card, startup and let Windows install the driver automatically (which it will), shut down. Install both crossfire bridges, startup, and you should be good. Based upon your scores, crossfire isn't installed correctly.

[trog100]

To the OP, check your device manager for any missing, or non-installed drivers. Do a google search for Vista Tweak Guides, read it, and do an installation based upon the information. When installing your cards, only install one first, install video drivers, restart. Shut down, install other card, startup and let Windows install the driver automatically (which it will), shut down. Install both crossfire bridges, startup, and you should be good. Based upon your scores, crossfire isn't installed correctly.

so what do u recon he should be scoring dude..???

try this example from freaks thread..

14686 - Bytor - Athlon X2 @ 3.55ghz 3870 @ 864 Core 1359 Mem - XP

its XP.. its a dual core cpu at 3.55 gig.. the cards are clocked high..

he is at 2.6 gig.. on vista 64.. buggy 64 bit vista drivers.. dont be so sure he should be scoring higher..

trog

[asb2106]

so what do u recon he should be scoring dude..???

try this example from freaks thread..

14686 - Bytor - Athlon X2 @ 3.55ghz 3870 @ 864 Core 1359 Mem - XP

its XP.. its a dual core cpu at 3.55 gig.. the cards are clocked high..

he is at 2.6 gig.. on vista 64.. buggy 64 bit vista drivers.. dont be so sure he should be scoring higher..

trog

good point. I think he is stuck at the CPU now

[xmarine0311]

Haha sorry to make such a mess guys this is driving me nuts as it is impossible to get a clear answer on it!!! I also wonder if one of my cards is bad..... I will run one at a time through some more intensive tests when I get a chance. I think this because the first card I got had to be sent back after it kept dropping textures in Arma and not coming back...... I am also thinking the same about the processor..... Do you really think I should try vista 64??? I can get if you really think it will help.

[erocker]

he is at 2.6 gig.. on vista 64.. buggy 64 bit vista drivers.. dont be so sure he should be scoring higher..

trog

Oops!:o Stupid me didn't realize to look at his CPU clock. Though, With my 5000+ BE at 2.8ghz and a 3850 I scored almost 9000 ... In XP. So, I suppose they are correct.:cool:

[xmarine0311]

I think thats Vista x64 interferring there, when I load up GPUz in vista x64 it tells me that I dont even have crossfire. I think x64 and Gpuz have troubles.

How would I tell what speed the PCI-e slots are running at without gpu-z??

[CStylen]

Im not sure if you tried this already, but can you try crossfire with only 2Gb of ram? I've heard of problems with 4GB+ RAM and crossfire.

Im not sure about your mobo, but maybe the bios can tell you what speed the PCI-e lanes are running at...

[asb2106]

Im not sure if you tried this already, but can you try crossfire with only 2Gb of ram? I've heard of problems with 4GB+ RAM and crossfire.

Im not sure about your mobo, but maybe the bios can tell you what speed the PCI-e lanes are running at...

I run 4Gbs, but I run it in two DIMMS.

How would I tell what speed the PCI-e slots are running at without gpu-z??

I used to check it CPUz in the mobo tab with my p5b, im not sure how it works with multiple PCIe slots though.....

[xmarine0311]

Okay I think I have them both running at 2.0 now...... The second one still says x4 though?? Anyone know why or how to fix this??? BTW my graphics are stable now I can run Assasins creed at about 40 to 50 FPS with some drops to the 20's.

Heres a shot of whats going on GPU wise. http://www.inaneasylum.org/r/758df681757c35e7a6563c26799f7ffb.jpg

[xmarine0311]

oh and I ran it with and without 4 GBs same thing.