6950 CrossfireX performance issues

[manneblask]

Hi.
I just went from one single 6950 2gb to 2 in CF. And my performance is awful. And the gpu load doesnt even hit over 60 on the first card, and not even over 10 on my other card.
It's properly installed, 12.1 Preview drivers, 11.12 CAP 1. Did a total uninstall, driversweeped and installed everything. Still getting god awful performance. Mainly play BF3 and i get around 30-50 FPS during intense combat.

Any help here would be really useful.

This is what my GPU-Z is showing:

http://i44.tinypic.com/ere4uf.jpg

My rig:
Mobo: Asus Crosshair Formula IV
CPU: AMD Phenom II 970 BE X4 @ 3500MHz
CPU Heatsink: Arctic Cooling Freezer Xtreme Rev. 2
RAM: Corsair Dominator 8GB DDR3 @ 1333MHz
GPU: Sapphire Radeon HD 6950 2GB DDR5 @ 800/1275MHz CrossfireX
PSU: Corsair Professional Series HX850W
HDD: WD 1TB @ 7200rpm
Chipset: AMD 890FX
Case: Fractal Define R3
OS: Windows 7 Ultimate x64

[---TK---]

Its your CPU. It ok for 1 card but 2 high end cards will be bottlenecked. Your only really viable option is to get a 2500k z68 sli xfire MB. If your ram is 1.5-1.6v you can use that.

[Kinfa]

Before you go to the computer store to buy new motherboard and processor try to run GPU dependant benchmark (Unigine) and monitor gpu usage for both cards with MSI Afterburner. With my rig GPU usage is about 98% at both cards.

[IMG][/IMG]

This is my result, your should be way better, of course.

[manneblask]

Originally Posted by tommyk2005

Its your CPU. It ok for 1 card but 2 high end cards will be bottlenecked. Your only really viable option is to get a 2500k z68 sli xfire MB. If your ram is 1.5-1.6v you can use that.

My CPU is the problem? Are you joking? Can't see what that has to do with the GPU load, but still I'm not the expert here I guess.
I have a few friends who uses the 960 and the 980 with CF 6950 and 6970 without any issues that I have.
Not gonna change platform entirely, thats out of the question.

[manneblask]

Originally Posted by Kinfa

Before you go to the computer store to buy new motherboard and processor try to run GPU dependant benchmark (Unigine) and monitor gpu usage for both cards with MSI Afterburner. With my rig GPU usage is about 98% at both cards.

[IMG][/IMG]

This is my result, your should be way better, of course.

I'm gonna run some tests on Unigine too check too. Thanks for the tip.

[Saad]

Originally Posted by manneblask

Hi.
I just went from one single 6950 2gb to 2 in CF. And my performance is awful. And the gpu load doesnt even hit over 60 on the first card, and not even over 10 on my other card.
It's properly installed, 12.1 Preview drivers, 11.12 CAP 1. Did a total uninstall, driversweeped and installed everything. Still getting god awful performance. Mainly play BF3 and i get around 30-50 FPS during intense combat.

Any help here would be really useful.

This is what my GPU-Z is showing:

http://i44.tinypic.com/ere4uf.jpg

My rig:
Mobo: Asus Crosshair Formula IV
CPU: AMD Phenom II 970 BE X4 @ 3500MHz
CPU Heatsink: Arctic Cooling Freezer Xtreme Rev. 2
RAM: Corsair Dominator 8GB DDR3 @ 1333MHz
GPU: Sapphire Radeon HD 6950 2GB DDR5 @ 800/1275MHz CrossfireX
PSU: Corsair Professional Series HX850W
HDD: WD 1TB @ 7200rpm
Chipset: AMD 890FX
Case: Fractal Define R3
OS: Windows 7 Ultimate x64

while bf3 is running try minimizing the game and then returning to fullscreen..that fixes the problem for me...(yes i have an i5 2500 @ 5ghz and sometimes i get the EXACT same problem as op..its some stupid crossfire issue)

[Kinfa]

The truth is, for Crossfire two 6950's you need fast CPU for better CF scaling, but in your case it might be some other issue. If gpu load in unigine is low, then CPU is not the problem. Anyway, you should overclock CPU.

[Agent-A01]

If your cpu usage is 90%+ in task manager while playing bf3, you have a cpu bottleneck. Either upgrade or OC as much as you can

[manneblask]

Thanks for all the help, im gonna try your tips. Anyone who got any good advice in OC'ing. I've tried messing with the cpu multiplier but havn't got it stable at all.

[Kinfa]

Yes, I tried logging cpu usage in BF3 SP with Aida, cpu is about 95% at all cores during intense fight, but gpu load is not at 10%. It is about 50-60%. BF3 needs fast CPU. Try some other games. You have overclocking guide in AMD cpu section in G3D forum.

[manneblask]

My result in Unigine:



I monitored it with RadeonPro, and the gpu load seemed to be around 80-90%
So I might have to OC my cpu then?

[Agent-A01]

Yep. What cooler do you have

[manneblask]

Originally Posted by Agent-A01

Yep. What cooler do you have

Arctic Cooling Freezer Xtreme Rev. 2
Im at about 45c in full load and 33 in idle.

Really need some easy tricks for OC'ing my CPU, i've tried looking in the endlessly long OC'ing thread but its a bit much for me

[manneblask]

Just OC'd my CPU to 4Ghz, still the exact same problem. Watch this screenshot:


Should I just give up? My cpu isnt enough for CrossfireX?

[---TK---]

running heaven is fine but thats a gpu HEAVY benchmark. if you do not want to change platforms oc that cpu to at least 4ghz, 3.5ghz is a very low clockspeed and will bottleneck them cards. the other guy killed your score and you have faster video cards

[manneblask]

Originally Posted by tommyk2005

running heaven is fine but thats a gpu HEAVY benchmark. if you do not want to change platforms oc that cpu to at least 4ghz, 3.5ghz is a very low clockspeed and will bottleneck them cards. the other guy killed your score and you have faster video cards

I OC'd mine to 4GHZ too. Watch the screenshot above. Still the same low fps, this is everything on medium with no AA, HBAO, SSAO.
And no, I dont feel like getting a new mobo + cpu that MAYBE will solve my problem. That is plus the money i spent on the new 6950 + PSU.

So i will rather get rid of my 6950 and use the singe setup for now, which gave me better performance than the Crossfire setup.

[---TK---]

would definitely increase your fps going Intel 2500k. I can guarantee that as I upgraded from a sk 775 qx9650 4ghz which is about the same as a p2 at 4ghz. Oc that chip to 4ghz it will help. I can't help u with oc ur CPU as my last amd was sk 939 when they were the best. Run that bench at 1680x1050 like the other Guy. Yours was at a higher resolution. Didn't see that before

[Agent-A01]

40fps on medium? Thats pathetic. I would have 200+ fps on those settings. Do you get same fps in SP?

[manneblask]

Originally Posted by Agent-A01

40fps on medium? Thats pathetic. I would have 200+ fps on those settings. Do you get same fps in SP?

Yeah same in SP, when i use my single 6950 i would get about 50ish on that location in medium settings i think.

[Agent-A01]

Well i doubt its cpu then. Probably to do with drivers

[Matt26LFC]

Originally Posted by Agent-A01

Well i doubt its cpu then. Probably to do with drivers

Seems that way

OP try different drivers.

[manneblask]

Originally Posted by Agent-A01

Well i doubt its cpu then. Probably to do with drivers

Allright...
Im currently using 11.12 drivers, i've tested 11.12 with and without the latest CAP, 12.1 with and without CAP.

Uninstalled everything before inserting the 2nd card, even driversweeped.
Tried that like 3 times with different drivers.

What else?

[Agent-A01]

Ok unistall drivers > reboot > run ccleaner and the registry cleaner built in > run ausologics registry cleaner > driver sweeper > then install latest 12.1

When running ccleaner make sure to uncheck wipe free space, user assist history, and any relevant data regarding your internet browser. Also go to options > advanced and uncheck only delete temporary files older than 24 hours

[manneblask]

Originally Posted by Agent-A01

Ok unistall drivers > reboot > run ccleaner and the registry cleaner built in > run ausologics registry cleaner > driver sweeper > then install latest 12.1

When running ccleaner make sure to uncheck wipe free space, user assist history, and any relevant data regarding your internet browser. Also go to options > advanced and uncheck only delete temporary files older than 24 hours

Lol a lot of steps. I will try it as my last resort then.

[Agent-A01]

Nah its not, should take 5 minutes