HD4870 CrossfireX system

~~RE III - Frankie~~ · Jul 18, 2009, 03:15 PM

Ok. They wouldn't answer me in the AMD Game forums so I'll ask here.
What do I need to know and where do I look?

Mac Daddy · Jul 18, 2009, 03:27 PM

Are you looking to setup an HD4870 CrossfireX system?

~~RE III - Frankie~~ · Jul 20, 2009, 10:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mac Daddy

Are you looking to setup an HD4870 CrossfireX system?

Sorry I didn't respond sooner, but have been sick.

Yes I want to build a HD4870 XFireX system. I recently bought a single HD4870 graphics card and my parents while away at a computer fair bought me a second one so I was fortunate for that. All I need is a MB which I plan to pick up tomorrow and I'm all set.

Mac Daddy · Jul 20, 2009, 01:38 PM

Cool what was it you needed to know or did you get it sorted Bro?

**kris23** · Jul 20, 2009, 06:52 PM

since youre using Intel, you will need an X38 or X48 for best CFX performance or a P45 board with at least dual PCI-E x8 functionality

~~RE III - Frankie~~ · Jul 21, 2009, 01:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mac Daddy

Cool what was it you needed to know or did you get it sorted Bro?

I picked up and installed the motherboard today. Still waiting on the card. The motherboard wasn't very expensive (it was the only XFire MB they had) so it only has a x16 and a x4 PCI Express lane. What kind of performance gain can I expect from adding a second card? dOES THE X4 mean 1/4 total card output?

Mac Daddy · Jul 21, 2009, 01:43 PM

It means the second slot isn't using the full bandwidth of the card. If you want to see significant performance gains with 2 of these cards you will have to move to an X38 or X48 mobo as mentioned.

Even on the P45 ( 1 x PCI-Ex16 and 1 x PCI-Ex8) running 2 x HD4870's the performance increase was marginal. That's why Chaos sold his and picked up the HD4870x2 which uses just the primary slot. Keep in mind as well as he has found the dual cards / GPU's really only shine at high resolutions.

~~RE III - Frankie~~ · Jul 21, 2009, 02:31 PM

Here's the single slot Mobo

YouTube - KaBuM! MB ASUS p/ Intel P5KPL-VM 775 Box

~~RE III - Frankie~~ · Jul 21, 2009, 02:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mac Daddy

It means the second slot isn't using the full bandwidth of the card. If you want to see significant performance gains with 2 of these cards you will have to move to an X38 or X48 mobo as mentioned.

Even on the P45 ( 1 x PCI-Ex16 and 1 x PCI-Ex8) running 2 x HD4870's the performance increase was marginal. That's why Chaos sold his and picked up the HD4870x2 which uses just the primary slot. Keep in mind as well as he has found the dual cards / GPU's really only shine at high resolutions.

I found some good mobos - x48's - PC Case Gear AU$$

By chipset: X48 : PC Case Gear, Quality case accessories and components

Mac Daddy · Jul 22, 2009, 03:55 AM

I think those would be a better choice than the P45 Bro

~~RE III - Frankie~~ · Jul 22, 2009, 05:39 AM

Agreed. When I picked up the MB I saw some Kingston Hyper X RAM. Any good?

Mac Daddy · Jul 22, 2009, 04:19 PM

I haven't used Kingston Hyper X myself Bro but others have had good luck with it as I have read. What is the exact model and specs?

(We may end up having to move this to the hardware section lol

)

~~RE III - Frankie~~ · Jul 22, 2009, 04:36 PM

I just read Kingston HyperX 1066MHz. It was priced and packaged as 2x1GB sticks at 63AU.

Mac Daddy · Jul 23, 2009, 01:24 PM

Sorry Frankie forgot to get back to you last night. I am assuming this is DDR2?

If so you might want to price out a 2 x 2G kit it's a better value. Is this the RAM?
Canada Computers - Memory > Desktop Memory > DDR2 1066 PC2-8500+ : Kingston HyperX 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 1066MHz Non-ECC CL5 (5-5-5-15) DIMM (Kit of 2) (KHX8500D2T1K2/4G).

Back to the Crossfire thing what was the second card they picked you up?

~~RE III - Frankie~~ · Jul 23, 2009, 04:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mac Daddy

Sorry Frankie forgot to get back to you last night. I am assuming this is DDR2?

If so you might want to price out a 2 x 2G kit it's a better value. Is this the RAM?
Canada Computers - Memory > Desktop Memory > DDR2 1066 PC2-8500+ : Kingston HyperX 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 1066MHz Non-ECC CL5 (5-5-5-15) DIMM (Kit of 2) (KHX8500D2T1K2/4G).

Back to the Crossfire thing what was the second card they picked you up?

Yeah that's the RAM.
I think with this system though I won't be doing any major benching until I upgrade my motherboard to one of the X48 boards and also my CPU to a Q9550 I saw also while I was looking around.
They didn't end up getting one (they didn't tell me until they got back). We found that it was 50$ cheaper to get one online, but the card I'm looking at is the Sapphire HD4870 Vaper-X 1GB. I love the whole liquid piping idea.

Jul 18, 2009, 03:15 PM	#1
~~RE III - Frankie~~ Banned Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 1,754 Rep Power: 0	HD4870 CrossfireX system Ok. They wouldn't answer me in the AMD Game forums so I'll ask here. What do I need to know and where do I look?

Jul 18, 2009, 03:27 PM	#2
Mac Daddy DriverHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 7,950 Rep Power: 78 System Specs	Re: HD4870 CrossfireX system Are you looking to setup an HD4870 CrossfireX system? __________________ "My mom said the only reason men are alive is for lawn care and vehicle maintenance." - Tim Allen

Jul 20, 2009, 01:38 PM	#4
Mac Daddy DriverHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 7,950 Rep Power: 78 System Specs	Re: HD4870 CrossfireX system Cool what was it you needed to know or did you get it sorted Bro? __________________ "My mom said the only reason men are alive is for lawn care and vehicle maintenance." - Tim Allen

Jul 20, 2009, 06:52 PM	#5
kris23 Going Insane..... Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 5,990 Rep Power: 121 System Specs	Re: HD4870 CrossfireX system since youre using Intel, you will need an X38 or X48 for best CFX performance or a P45 board with at least dual PCI-E x8 functionality __________________ Hardwareheaven Super-Moderator Building a new computer system and not sure where to start? Click Here! last updated (5/18/11) Rosewill FUTURE case replaces CM 690 II with its greater interior length. Building a PC: Step by Step Guide Written by Kristopher Pedemonte and Nathan Marks-Forder Edited by Allan Campbell Questions or Comments? feel free to post them in the forums!

Jul 21, 2009, 01:43 PM	#7
Mac Daddy DriverHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 7,950 Rep Power: 78 System Specs	Re: HD4870 CrossfireX system It means the second slot isn't using the full bandwidth of the card. If you want to see significant performance gains with 2 of these cards you will have to move to an X38 or X48 mobo as mentioned. Even on the P45 ( 1 x PCI-Ex16 and 1 x PCI-Ex8) running 2 x HD4870's the performance increase was marginal. That's why Chaos sold his and picked up the HD4870x2 which uses just the primary slot. Keep in mind as well as he has found the dual cards / GPU's really only shine at high resolutions. __________________ "My mom said the only reason men are alive is for lawn care and vehicle maintenance." - Tim Allen

Jul 21, 2009, 02:31 PM	Thread Starter #8
~~RE III - Frankie~~ Banned Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 1,754 Rep Power: 0	Re: HD4870 CrossfireX system Here's the single slot Mobo YouTube - KaBuM! MB ASUS p/ Intel P5KPL-VM 775 Box

Jul 22, 2009, 03:55 AM	#10
Mac Daddy DriverHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 7,950 Rep Power: 78 System Specs	Re: HD4870 CrossfireX system I think those would be a better choice than the P45 Bro __________________ "My mom said the only reason men are alive is for lawn care and vehicle maintenance." - Tim Allen

Jul 22, 2009, 05:39 AM	Thread Starter #11
~~RE III - Frankie~~ Banned Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 1,754 Rep Power: 0	Re: HD4870 CrossfireX system Agreed. When I picked up the MB I saw some Kingston Hyper X RAM. Any good?

Jul 22, 2009, 04:19 PM	#12
Mac Daddy DriverHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 7,950 Rep Power: 78 System Specs	Re: HD4870 CrossfireX system I haven't used Kingston Hyper X myself Bro but others have had good luck with it as I have read. What is the exact model and specs? (We may end up having to move this to the hardware section lol ) __________________ "My mom said the only reason men are alive is for lawn care and vehicle maintenance." - Tim Allen

Jul 22, 2009, 04:36 PM	Thread Starter #13
~~RE III - Frankie~~ Banned Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 1,754 Rep Power: 0	Re: HD4870 CrossfireX system I just read Kingston HyperX 1066MHz. It was priced and packaged as 2x1GB sticks at 63AU.

Jul 23, 2009, 01:24 PM	#14
Mac Daddy DriverHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 7,950 Rep Power: 78 System Specs	Re: HD4870 CrossfireX system Sorry Frankie forgot to get back to you last night. I am assuming this is DDR2? If so you might want to price out a 2 x 2G kit it's a better value. Is this the RAM? Canada Computers - Memory > Desktop Memory > DDR2 1066 PC2-8500+ : Kingston HyperX 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 1066MHz Non-ECC CL5 (5-5-5-15) DIMM (Kit of 2) (KHX8500D2T1K2/4G). Back to the Crossfire thing what was the second card they picked you up? __________________ "My mom said the only reason men are alive is for lawn care and vehicle maintenance." - Tim Allen