x1900xtx crossfire

[TimmyTime]

I was just wondering if anyone has heard anything about these cards compared to the 7900's. I normally go nvidia, but I have this huge accomidation program through work where I can get the ATI cards for 250 bucks each. its the http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6814195003 so I can get it for like 350 bucks off, and get two of the cards for the same as one of the sli 7900's.
The question is, is it easy to find motherboards that are crossfire compatible, do they run the same power supplies as the sli cards, and are they compatible with as many games as the sli cards? Also, if I get one crossfire card and a crossfire board, do I have to have a second crossfire for the board to work?
Your help is mucho appreciated.

[cuchumino81]

well from what ive read, crossfire is still a bit buggy. But the tecnology itself is supposedly much better than nvidias due to the fact that ati cards are attempting to use their video cards to aid the processors when they aren't churning at graphics. but who knows how long that will take place, and if they do live up to their promises. but i have seen friends who have a crossfire setup that works perfectly.

Nvidia sli are stable and working right now as of. IMHO, i think that ATI is sacrificing stability to get a gain on speed. I think that you can get 1 crossfire card and one crossfire board and have it run fine. Should be the same power demands as the nvidia 7800's, but i think BusyL would have last say on that.

[busylover]

Hi timmy,

Cuchu is right about stability and easy-to-use stuff about NVIDIA SLI which clearly leads in the multi GPU world...That's a fact up to now, I'll stand to that, though me usually slightly ATI-biased

making the story short :
- I think NV's choice was of the user-friendly and raw power way, loosing some ground on the IQ stadium which stays in ATI's kingdom...well ATI does have some knowledge here, (remember 1999 Rage Fury MAXX = 2x Rage 128 Pro and later, 2002, dedicated to professionnal market : the simFUSION 6000 board sporting 2x or 4x 9700 Radeons).

- However on the gamer/enthousiast market, the SLI has a lead cuz ATI was late to understand that multi-GPU was worth the hassle. Nv's solution is way more mature and multicompatible for most games without the max res issues, CRT compatibilities probs, stiff cables in the way and master/slave cards funny story. Moreover, the coupling limitation which plagued SLI up to 80 drivers (you needed to link two cards from the SAME manufacturer, which was not the case for CF) is over. For crossfire use, you need a ATI Crossfire videocard + standard ATI videocardcard (for example a 850Xt crossfire edition + a 850 pro std, crossfire does not need that both cards be of same generation)

- Don't worry about crossfire mobos nowadays,there's enough - IMO - good crossfire motherboards for a fair choice, currently . I mean one does not need 15 different offers, I'll give three which I state in humble opinion to be valuable stuff (for AMD and Intel)
> ASUS A8R32-MVP Deluxe ($173 price watch) socket 939
> MSI 975X Platinum PowerUP Edition for Intel (core 2 "conroe" compatible !) supports cross fire technology (around $200)
> SAPPHIRE pure A9RD580Adv crossfire advantage - socket 939 ($ 130).

- To make the story longer, you may read the following article
AFAIAC I'd agree with most of what's discussed and stated there

Hope it helps

greetzz

[chaoticHead]

Hi busy
I wonder if you could look through your crystal ball and tell us what you see in future for ATI . what are the consequences of ATI being under AMD banner in terms of compatability, R&D and supports from intel chipsets?

[busylover]

Hi busy
I wonder if you could look through your crystal ball and tell us what you see in future for ATI . what are the consequences of ATI being under AMD banner in terms of compatability, R&D and supports from intel chipsets?

Hi Chaotic,

really great to have you back in the playground !

back to question :
> hey YOU are the mod in news section, so you tell me !
> never used any crystal ball but I'll think that over

About the AMD/ATI merger,announced July 24th, cost : $ 5.4 BILLION

> It's pointless IMO to anticipate anything till the final ink is dry, which might occur in late 2006, IF it's finally signed up,which is not 100% sure

> Both AMD & ATI are currently standing at a critical point : it's a one way track, and choice has to be made fast enough :
- either they go at risk and make a step forward, taking a chance to get great market share and keep Intel/Nvidia under pressure (...or decline because merger are sometimes a mess of a team work). Here AMD shows (while not saying it) that it is heading towards Intel bully methods, size, and goals (integrate inhouse the most platform parts they can, knowing that the biggest chipsets/integrated graphics maker is Intel)....

- or they go on sleeping upon old tech glories, and poor marketing habits - business as usual - with some probability to end up awake with headache and their pants off

As of now, don't worry about ATI chipsets for INTEL processors :
- ATI's bus license has definitely not been revoked by Intel, and David Orton claims that ATI will deliver as many as necessary Intel chipsets to any request
- No change in the 2006 roadmaps,and RD600 will be launched as predicted
- Whatever decision could be made about the license, anyway ATI's Intel chipsets production will decline slowly, while on the other hand AMD plans to go on working with Nvidia for quite a while (they play "open").
- I'd doubt ATI using the AMD's fab facilities before 2008, taking into account ties with TSMC and AMD own needs in 2006/2007
- IMHO, don't wait new "AMTI" products before 2008 IF the merger is actually comes to its last step end of this year 2006

What's your own opinion/preview, Chaotic ??

See ya

[cuchumino81]

LOL chaotic, crystal ball. XD

nice info there busy .

[chaoticHead]

Orb would be better I guess
and yes, great info as usual.that's why I asked in the first place.

[busylover]

UPDATE

According to Dailytech, ATI Technologies, on the way to be acquired by AMD, has rescheduled the launch of its RD600 chipset supporting the Intel platform until October, probably because some makers take into account that, in their opinion, the merger is almost done (which is correct as of now IMO)....and they pull back their plans about Intel/Ati actual abilities to mid-term team-working.
A bit of a surprise, since prior to AMD and ATI's merger announcement, motherboard makers had shown mucho++ interest in supporting the RD600, which originally had been scheduled for launch in August, and previewed as a hell of an overclocking candidate...

Notice that NVIDIA too, for different reasons, had to delay launch of the nForce 590 SLI for Intel chipset , cuz it was unable to even reach the Asrock's level of FSB

AFAIK October should see both ATI & NVIDIA unveil their Core 2 Duo dedicated chipsets
> ATI RD600
> NVIDIA NfORCE 590 SLI for Intel

See ya folks