X1950 PRO - Crossfire problem

[bundlebr]

Hi,

Couple days ago I got second Sapphire X1950 Pro card, and installed it in crossfire configuration. Tested it initially in single mode - everything worked fine, was able to overclock it to 621/756 with ATITool (GPU hit 75 C with stock cooler), ran 3DMarks.
After I've enabled Crossfire - everything fine, but all 3DMarks show double pictures (shifted horizontally) with horizontal strips of distorted image running up and down the screen. If I hit "escape", the monitor shows perfect still pic for a moment, then the program exits.
If I disable crossfire, everything runs fine.

BUT, if I keep the marks running, they give me the scores: ~5500 3DMark06 disabled, ~9100 - enabled!
MS flight simulator X works fine - still have to verify any gains.

Changed versions of Catalyst (6.9 - 7.1 - 7.2), fully removed, cleaned registry, reinstalled - same.
Killed Windows, formatted, reinstalled all clean - same.
Reshuffled video cards - same.

Sapphire tech suspectes crossfire bridges - still waiting for something clearer from them.

[Zalmann]

Have you installed both of the crossfire bridges, as you will need 2 for crossfire to work properly.

[tkpenalty]

lol... imagine he didnt. 9100 is normal isnt it? What sorta cooling you got anyway?

[bundlebr]

Yeah, installed both bridges. Then swapped bridges, cards, etc.

Cooling - second card still has stock cooler, and goes up to 75 C with ATITool artifactscan in single installation. First card got Thermalright HR-03 cooler + added HS's everywhere. Heats up to low 50-s. Don't think that it's related to overheating, 'cause there is no any time lag, the screen is screwed instantly...

Still trying to make it work...
What do you think?

[Pinchy]

Sounds like the bridges are stuffed

[bundlebr]

Originally Posted by Pinchy

Sounds like the bridges are stuffed

What's that?

[Zalmann]

Originally Posted by bundlebr

Yeah, installed both bridges. Then swapped bridges, cards, etc.

Cooling - second card still has stock cooler, and goes up to 75 C with ATITool artifactscan in single installation. First card got Thermalright HR-03 cooler + added HS's everywhere. Heats up to low 50-s. Don't think that it's related to overheating, 'cause there is no any time lag, the screen is screwed instantly...

Still trying to make it work...
What do you think?

If I were you, i'd make sure they both have the same or similar cooling, in that way they both work evenly.

I assume they are both clocked the same?

[freeboy]

cooling could not hurt, but crossfire is SUPPOSED, not verified by myself, to work with ANY two crossfire cards.. so two different speeds should make no difference.

[Zalmann]

That's two X1950 pro's, your right there. I'm not saying that the thermal problem is the cause of the issues, but 1 hot GPU (not both) is a bit suspect don't you think?

[freeboy]

erhaps the thermal issue is the indication of a different issue?
I was told by HIS tech support to have my card not above 55c for more than one hour.
no issue as it runs really cool ice3 cooler

[tkpenalty]

Yes, heat does and will create bottlenecks...

[freeboy]

If you had a third card you could play russian rullette with the problem and see if it is the HOT card

[bundlebr]

Originally Posted by freeboy

If you had a third card you could play russian rullette with the problem and see if it is the HOT card

Third card - I'm not there, yet. Will buy couple new bridges in Fry's tomorrow, and try again.

[bundlebr]

Originally Posted by Pinchy

Sounds like the bridges are stuffed

Yeah, realized that. Went to Frys, but they don't sell bridges w/o cards
OK, an associate advised me to buy another card, replace its bridge with the faulty one, then return the card to the store Not in the mood to screw them that way

Anyway, here is Sapphire response:

> If that is the case then I would have to suspect it
> could be the CF
> interconnected bridge. Please provide me a copy of
> the purchase receipt and
> I will try and located 2 extra connecter for you to
> test out.
>
> Tech
> Sapphire Technology
> Tech Support Center



Waiting for the connectors now

[cjoyce1980]

if you cant get hold of any then contact these people
http://www.connectorpeople.com/
they are able to get hold of the crossfire connector, the part number is 79609500

[bundlebr]

Thanks, will wait for Sapphire for now. Newegg also sells them thou...

[Darius00]

hello, the two cards was the same?, i have the same problem and, one card is new design (Cooler, VRM...) the other is old, and two cards are shappire x1950pro 256Mb...

another friend has the same problem and the same cards ¿?¿?¿?

Sorry by my bad english....

[bundlebr]

Originally Posted by Darius00

hello, the two cards was the same?, i have the same problem and, one card is new design (Cooler, VRM...) the other is old, and two cards are shappire x1950pro 256Mb...

another friend has the same problem and the same cards ¿?¿?¿?

Sorry by my bad english....

Yeah, right on the nose! I bought those cards ~three months one after another - and they ARE different: the newer one got analog VRM instead of digital, thus the fan and heatsing were reversed to blow air at the new VRM...
Newer card's core overclock a little better than the older one's (621 vs 608 MHz), while it's memory is worse in overclocking (756 MHz vs 790 MHz)...
According to ATI, there should not be any problem, but apparently, there IS a problem
OK, there is small chance that the problem is not in the cards proper, but in the faulty bridge (supposedly, from the first card). So, I'm still waiting for the bridges promised by Sapphire tech

[Darius00]

Ok! that the problem is the firmware of the cards, is diferent. You can use ATITOOL to check it.
I think that save the Bios of the new card and update in old card. This procedure work only in DOS mode, not DOS windows, you can boot in DOS mode... and force the new bios in old card with ATIflash3.25

If I can I will do a manual this weekend, and post here.

I wait to have explained OK
Please, send feedback if have any problem, this procedure I have verified it, and it works OK!

[tkpenalty]

Originally Posted by Darius00

Ok! that the problem is the firmware of the cards, is diferent. You can use ATITOOL to check it.
I think that save the Bios of the new card and update in old card. This procedure work only in DOS mode, not DOS windows, you can boot in DOS mode... and force the new bios in old card with ATIflash3.25

If I can I will do a manual this weekend, and post here.

I wait to have explained OK
Please, send feedback if have any problem, this procedure I have verified it, and it works OK!

You mean bios. Apart from that if they were different they wouldnt work at all >_>. Thankfully powercolor has not done this though....

[bundlebr]

Originally Posted by Darius00

Ok! that the problem is the firmware of the cards, is diferent. You can use ATITOOL to check it.
I think that save the Bios of the new card and update in old card. This procedure work only in DOS mode, not DOS windows, you can boot in DOS mode... and force the new bios in old card with ATIflash3.25

If I can I will do a manual this weekend, and post here.

I wait to have explained OK
Please, send feedback if have any problem, this procedure I have verified it, and it works OK!

Yeah, great idea, how I didn't think about that?

Actually, here is reply from ATI guy that points to the same direction, but wrt mobo:

Please ensure that your motherboard's latest bios has been updated first.

Ensure that the chipset for the motherboard is downloaded from here:
http://downloadcenter.intel.com/scri...Name=&lang=eng

Are you using the most up to date version of 3dMark06? Are there any improvements in the games that you play?

Actually, no improvements in the games, but 3DMark scores go up as expected...

Anyway, just got in mail couple of new bridges from Sapphire, will try them + your idea regarding the BIOS tonight

[Darius00]

3dmark 05: 16.550 in 1024x768
3dmark 06: 10.106 in 1024x768

No problems COH, COD2, Blazing Angels and FEAR
All the games at 1680x1050 in 22" TFT

Regards

[tkpenalty]

Originally Posted by Darius00

3dmark 05: 16.550 in 1024x768
3dmark 06: 10.106 in 1024x768

No problems COH, COD2, Blazing Angels and FEAR
All the games at 1680x1050 in 22" TFT

Regards

... That is crazy. Thats almost is 100% performance increase.

[bundlebr]

Originally Posted by Darius00

3dmark 05: 16.550 in 1024x768
3dmark 06: 10.106 in 1024x768

No problems COH, COD2, Blazing Angels and FEAR
All the games at 1680x1050 in 22" TFT

Regards

Huh, that's funny!

My 3DMarks06 is lower than yours - 9100,
while 3DMark05 is higher - 18322...

Of course, given that I cannot see any good stuff during the runs

[tkpenalty]

Drivers are at fault.