Crossfire question!??!

Dragon_Cooler · Post by **Dragon_Cooler** » Tue Dec 06, 2005 6:21 pm

Ok the new x1800xl and XT state that they are crossfire ready. does that mean all you need is a corssfire mobo and another x1800. or do you need to buy a specific x1800 card that has connectors like a scsi? I ask because i am getting an x1800xl and would in the future like to add a second card. i hope its as easy as SLI, just buying a second card and add it.

Kerii · Post by **Kerii** » Tue Dec 06, 2005 7:15 pm

ATi's CrossFire setups require a rather primitive (compared to SLi at any rate) master/slave card configuration, and require a rather ugly external dongle. Compatibility with current X1800 cards shouldn't be an issue, but finding a master card to go along with your normal card could be a problem if and when they ever become available.

I believe the X1300 and X1600 cards can work without master cards, but given their lackluster performance, I don't see much point to getting two of them when a single card solution would be better and cheaper.

LVCapo · Post by **LVCapo** » Tue Dec 06, 2005 8:24 pm

The only benefit to Crossfire to this point is you can use different speed/types of cards. Your graphics solution will run at the slower cards specs.....
The dongle is a pain in the ass, the performance is not very good, and the boards that support Crossfire have flaws.....wait for the technology to mature a bit before investing in it.
As to the cards....you need a master card, which the X1000 series doesn't have out yet, the X850 version is comparable to a 6800 SLI solution, so coupled with the chipset issues on the boards, I just can't recommend Crossfire to anyone right now.

Dragon_Cooler · Post by **Dragon_Cooler** » Tue Dec 06, 2005 8:37 pm

oh yeah that much about not getting it now, i understand. its later when i will want to upgrade and not have the money for the top of line GPU. This may have been a bad choice for me to go with the x1800xl.

I have a x2 3800 with 2gig ram and soon to be x1800, as of tomorrow. Think i will be able to do bf2, q4, hl2 all at high with 4xaa and af with 60+ FPS??? That is all i want. is it probable??