After install of Catalyst 9.8 enabling Xfire crashes PC

[Soulsink]

I'll try to keep this brief:

> Upgraded GFX cards to 2 x Asus EAH4980 1GB (ATI Radeon HD4890 architecture) from BFG 8800 GTS

> Performed full format on HD and reinstalled Windows Vista X64 Home Premium as well as SP1 and SP2

> Installed chipset drivers etc.

> Installed bundled VGA drivers (8.592)

> Installed miscellaneous software/games

System was running very stable and performing well in Benchmarking tests and games. I then tried to update the VGA drivers to the latest versions, first from ATI's own website - Catalyst 9.8 with VGA driver displayed in Device Manager as 8.640 - and then from Asus' website - displayed as 8.630 in Device Manager.

No matter what drivers I update to I am met with BSOD errors or system lockups as soon as I try to run a game.

I then tried another full format; installed latest chipset drivers; then installed latest Catalyst 9.8 drivers. The same problem occurs e.g.

WoW - start panel opens fine, click play and computer freezes as soon as it reaches the login screen requiring a hard reset. Runs with crossfire disabled but with mediocre fps - at about 20-25 fps on high settings my 8800gts does better.

Age of Conan - will not load with crossfire enabled. When attempting to load with crossfire disabled I get thick flashing lines across the screen or it partially loads the login screen but doesn't respond from there.

Starcraft - loads with crossfire enabled or disabled

> Everything worked fine when I had the bundled drivers installed but they're pretty ancient.

> I've not installed any of the ASUS bundled software e.g. Smartdoctor or GamerOSD since I've read these cause issues with Catalyst.

> I know I'm a bit low on power but the published advice is 600W power and since they ran fine on the old drivers I'm not sure if this is an issue.


Any advice would be very much appreciated.

Phil



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System Info:

Asus Rampage Formula MB
Intel Q9550 45nM + Tuniq Tower CPU cooler
Nvidia 4x1Gb SLi RAM
2 x Asus EAH4890 1Gb (running in Crossfire)
Coolermaster Realpower M620W

 

[layte]

Does each card run OK with the latest drivers without the second card installed?

 

[Soulsink]

Yep, both cards work individually if they are slotted into the top or bottom pci-e slots on the board.

I've just got back from town where I picked up a Corsair HX850. It's something I could have done with upgrading regardless of any issues and it'll let me rule out the psu as a cause. I'll update in about an hour once I've finished installing it.

 

[AMG]

it may be a power issue that coolermaster 620watt is not that powerfull compared with corsiars, I m guessing a HX750WATT would do you well althrought you just got a HX850watt

 

[Soulsink]

Yep, that fixed it. The Coolermaster 620 just didn't cut it. Running everything fine now and even managing to oc the gpu's so smiles all round.