4870x2 - Missing a trick?

[Type_R]

I must admit I havent upgraded my video card for a few years so when I went from a X1900XT to a 4870x2 I was in heaven!

Now the problem is this, how do I know games are using both cores? I read somewhere that changing the exe filename of the game, such as FSX, will result in both cores being used. So I did, and it did, but before I changed the name I would have been quite happy that my card was running at MAX, although it was just using 1 core?

So 3 questions:

1. How does one make sure both cores are running?
2. Depending on the game, I mainly play FSX, GTR2, Grid, GTR Evolution - how do I optomise the filenames etc to extract maximal performance.
3. Is there any way of forcing AA in games, FSX refuses to enable it eventhough its on in the game and CCC.

Thanks

 

[drunkenmaster]

cat AI, disabled, runs in single core mode, both other options should enable the second core and any game that can use it, should. One way to check if its working is run a game with Cat AI disabled so its in single core mode for sure, then check the framerate difference when you re-enable it.

 

[londonbairn]

Easiest way is to have Rivatuner running in the background showing both core activity, then Alt+tab

 

[Type_R]

I installed Rivatuner, started FSX with the filename 'Fsx.exe' and it ran in single core mode, changed the name of the exe to 'Bioshock.exe' and it started using both cores.

Hope they make some drivers to force both cores in all games soon.

 

[layte]

I would certainly welcome a way of forcing crossfire modes. I have been playing Fallout 3 since release and at 2560x1600 enabling AA makes the framerate dive to somewhere around 30fps (this is with vsync on). Doing a quick rename to good ol' Bioshock.exe brings that straight up to an almost solid 60fps.

 

[gt_junkie]

I would certainly welcome a way of forcing crossfire modes.

Completely agree - it's the one thing i always liked about SLi. Picking and choosing AFR, SFR and similar really unlocked the power of the cards for seemingly unsupported games.

ATi would be onto a winner if the same could be done easily with their cards.

gt

 

[drunkenmaster]

Easiest way is to have Rivatuner running in the background showing both core activity, then Alt+tab

Am I missing a simple option for showing stuff in Rivatuner, i can get a couple things to show up in tray but only while i keep the hardware monitoring open in rivatuner, I can't seem to just automatically make it show the stuff when the program opens, or while being able to close the monitoring window. Also I can't seem to see different gpu usage, just a single output. When you select a different option in the dropdown menu on first bit the program opens with I get the same outputs and I can't make a second gpu load show anywhere. Would be useful as a double check, but wouldn't mind being able to showtemps in tooltray easily while keeping app minimised.

 

[Type_R]

Am I missing a simple option for showing stuff in Rivatuner, i can get a couple things to show up in tray but only while i keep the hardware monitoring open in rivatuner, I can't seem to just automatically make it show the stuff when the program opens, or while being able to close the monitoring window. Also I can't seem to see different gpu usage, just a single output. When you select a different option in the dropdown menu on first bit the program opens with I get the same outputs and I can't make a second gpu load show anywhere. Would be useful as a double check, but wouldn't mind being able to showtemps in tooltray easily while keeping app minimised.

I assumed that when 1 core was being used it was maxxing out at 50% and then when both were it was at 100%. Yeah the alt+tab isnt very user friendly.

 

[fornowagain]

Open two copies of GPU-Z (select each core) and tick the 'continue refreshing' box on for both. It will give the history for both core temps if you move your mouse over the trace, you should see both core speeds change as well.

 

[drunkenmaster]

ah, yes, the gpu usage for one core goes to 50% in rivatuner, just running the autotune thing in catalyst and it tests one core at a time so I can see the gpu usage for one core. Thats one questions answered anyway, never tried to overclock it on the default cooling as that fan was painful enough as it was, and warm enough.