HD 4870 CrossfireX

cupper24 · *Last edited by cupper24; 09-08-2009 at 17:59.*

Hello all,

I just installed my new system into the CM HAF932 I got in June. With that I added a XFX HD 4870 XXX 512mb to my already existing Visiontek HD 4870. The rest of my specs are up to date in my details below (or to the left, whichever view you use...).

The process I followed to install the additional card is as follows:
-I uninstalled the current CAT drivers
-Booted to Safe mode, used Driver Sweeper for ATi drivers, CCleaner, and manually deleted all the leftover folders.
-Powered down and installed the XFX card in the primary PCIE slot and removed the VTek card
-I then rebooted and installed CAT 9.8s
-Rebooted and powered down, then inserted the second card (VTek) without the bridge(s)
-Let Vista do its thing with the drivers and powered down
-Attached BOTH bridges, powered up, and 'enabled' CrossfireX in CCC
-Defragged my HDD

So, then licking my chops, I installed BF2 without issue, setting CAT AI to Advanced, tuned both cards to the same core and memory speed (765/940), and began playing (after an additional defrag). The game is ultra smooth. Could not be happier. However, this seems to be the exception to the rule. I then hurried to install COD 4, because I hear the game is supposed to scream with CrossfireX. It is a microstuttering nightmare! I tried CAT AI on both settings, enabled and disabled the Dual video card mode in-game, and even turned the all the maxed settings all the way down, but the massive stuttering remains. I have an Acer X223Wbd, so I game at 1680x1050. The exact same results occur with Brothers in Arms Hell's Highway.

I did a FRAPS benchmark, and confirmed in Excel that the time between frames will stay consistent for 2-4 cycles then jump up and/or down, and back to the normal, but it is a rather random pattern. However, it does reflect what I'm seeing on-screen.

My motherboard settings in the PCIE section are as follows (Please bear with me):
GFX0 Dual Slot Config - DISABLED (makes first card run in x8)
GFX2 Dual Slot Config - DISABLED
GFX-GFX2 Peer-to-Peer - ENABLED (Allowing BOTH cards to run @ x16
GFX Power Limit, W - 200

The Port Settings for both blue PCIE slot (2&11 for my board):
Gen2 High Speed - tried Autonomous Switch & DISABLED (No real noticeable difference)
Link ASPM - DISABLED
Link Width - x16
Slot Power Limit, W - 200

I have tried all sorts of different combinations of changes that I could think of, but haven't found the golden egg. Note, I even disabled CFx mode in CCC and it seemed to clear up some of the stuttering but not all. I realize BIA:HH may not be optimized for dual VGAs, but COD 4 was supposedly. This is why I'm left scratching my head. Any and all feedback is very appreciated. Let me know if any additional info is req'd.

BTW, I'm on a fresh install of Vista HP 64-Bit SP2, and I have installed a dedicated 650W PSU for graphics cards (Thermaltake) to supplement my my main PSU, just to rule out any power issues. I have run HD Tune, OCCT, Prime95, and memtest (both memory chips installed & each in the first slot alone for 12 hours a piece with no errors) all with success in an effort to rule out hardware failure.

Thanks,

cupper24

dudecat64 · 09-08-2009, 18:25 | posts: 3,084 | Location: nystate | User is Offline

Does your motherboard have a four pin connector above the cards? If so you will need to plug a four pin connector to it. Other then that try different drivers maybe?

cupper24

Quote:

Originally Posted by dudecat64

Does your motherboard have a four pin connector above the cards? If so you will need to plug a four pin connector to it. Other then that try different drivers maybe?

Are you referring to the 4-pin MOLEX connector that old boards like ASUS A8R-MVP used to have? If this is what you're talking about, then no, there aren't any on this board.

Thanks,

cupper24

dudecat64 · 09-08-2009, 18:47 | posts: 3,084 | Location: nystate | User is Offline

Yeah hmm no idea other then maybe driver issues with vista.

cupper24

Thanks, man, I'll give others around here a couple days to give their thoughts and I will probably begin the daunting task of finding the best driver...

Keep 'em coming everyone!

cupper24

Hardware Killer · 09-09-2009, 02:24 | posts: 38 | Location: NSW Australia | User is Offline

Here's a simple one to try, uninstall current drivers and install catalyst 9.5, it was a good all round release, wont take long, and if the problem persists you know it isn't drivers.

cupper24

Guyz,

OK I decided a fresh start was in order, so I reinstalled Windows with the intent to test each video card separately (out of Crossfire), so I started with the XFX card since I've ran the Visiontek by itself without issue for the last year and then some.

Upon the install, the first thing I did was install SP2. I got some kind of mismatch error during installation, so I rebooted and installed it without error. Next, was DirectX... no problem. Windows Updates... no problem. Graphics drivers... BSOD! The reason was "Windows Driver Foundation encountered an access violation..."

I will uninstall/reinstall (CAT 9.9 BTW) to make the determination whether this is software or hardware related. In thinking of some of the things that may be contributing factors, I have ruled out RAM (barrage of memTest with both sticks in DC mode, and each stick individually in slot 1 with no errors in 12 hours of testing each) and my main HDD (WD velociraptor 150gb) passed the error check of HD Tune and Disk Check. I will run the long acoustic test in SeaTools also to be sure. I'm thinking some easy/cheap fixes may be to change the CMOS battery and swap out SATA cables. I have installed the Tt VGA-dedicated PSU to take the load of the GPU, and have tested both under load using a digital MM. The 5V, 3.3V, and 12V rails for both held true. The max flux for the main PSU was the 5V rail @ ~1.42%, which is less than 2%, so that's good...

I'm thinking either GPU, possibly HDD, or, even worse, the damn MoBo... what do you guys think? When I feel I have discovered the issue, I will move the thread to the proper location.

thanks,

cupper24

Labyrinth · 09-15-2009, 13:27 | posts: 1,629 | Location: England | User is Offline

Did you install chipset drivers?

cupper24 · *Last edited by cupper24; 09-15-2009 at 14:02.*

Since I have an ATi SB, I thought the Full Catalyst SW Suite contained the most up-to-date chipset drivers within.

EDIT: Any thoughts as to why the installation of SP2 got messed up the first time round?

cupper24

Labyrinth · 09-15-2009, 14:27 | posts: 1,629 | Location: England | User is Offline

http://usa.asus.com/product.aspx?P_I...nrb&templete=2 Try downloading the chipset from there, far as im aware the catalyst is GPU drivers only

As for problems with windows installation sp2 how much overclocking are you doing on the cpu and RAM, i found when overclocking either that vista installs will BSOD when the cpu/ram is overclocked to a certain degree

cupper24

Quote:

Originally Posted by Labyrinth

http://usa.asus.com/product.aspx?P_I...nrb&templete=2 Try downloading the chipset from there, far as im aware the catalyst is GPU drivers only

As for problems with windows installation sp2 how much overclocking are you doing on the cpu and RAM, i found when overclocking either that vista installs will BSOD when the cpu/ram is overclocked to a certain degree

Unless running my RAM @ 1066 is considered overclocking, I'm not OCing either. My memory is pc-8500, so it's rated to run at those speeds. I've never yet attempted to OC this new system.

I usually install the ASUS chipset drivers for my MoBo, then installing the CAT SB Driver, followed by the GPU driver. I guess the over-arching question is do I need the SB Driver from ATi?

Thanks and I'll keep tinkering with this thing.

cupper24