Crossfire question

[Ashfield]

Got 2 6950s that to replace my 4870, do I need to do a clean install of windows or can I run some tool to remove all graphics drivers then stick the cards in?

Cheers,

 

[paradisiac]

driver removal will suffice, clean install is OTT, but still, i did when i swapped my gfx cards just coz i dont have a lot on my drive.

 

[twist3d0n3]

uninstall graphics drivers (no driver sweeper needed), power down, take out 4870, stick in new cards with xfire bridge, install new drivers, good to go

i'd be tempted to do a clean install from a backup if i was going from green to red (or visa versa), but not in your case.

 

[Ashfield]

cheers lads, here goes...

 

[Ashfield]

all appears fine

Got 2 monitors, plugged both DVI cables into 1 card as it didnt seem to like it with one in each, is this correct or are they supposed to go one in each card and ive just not set it up right?

One last thing, having not delved into the catalyst control panel for some time, what should I have set up in there for gaming etc?

Cheers,
Ash

 

[tommybhoy]

You can only use a cable in each card with xfire disabled.

You don't really need to set up ccc for any games unless AA is not supported in game, eg Batman Arkham and Dead Space 2 which you would either use 'Morphological filtering' (with a smaller hit on fps) or force AA.

Other than that the other settings are to force higher iq settings(usefull for older games).

 

[Ashfield]

Nice one, thanks mate

One last thing, am I playing with fire here as my case is rather cramped...

There is a soundcard inbetween the 2 gfx cards and below them 4 hard drives (next to the psu). Do I need to get a new case with more room/airflow?

http://img822.imageshack.us/i/pcinside.jpg

 

[tommybhoy]

am I playing with fire here as my case is rather cramped...

There is a soundcard inbetween the 2 gfx cards and below them 4 hard drives (next to the psu). Do I need to get a new case with more room/airflow

Good old P182 just like my setup .
If anything the soundcard inbetween the gfx cards is helping keep your temps down. If the 2 gfx cards were on top of each other, they would be much hotter under load.

The 4 hardrives are in the separate compartment at the bottom and the psu will be pulling some air from the front of the case and dumping it out the back. I used to have a fan on the metal bracket between the hd's and the psu but I took it out as it wasn't reducing hd temps.

What I would recomend though is to get a 120mm fan to suck air into the case.

My setup is similar to yours with 2 120 mm Akasa Apache's, 1 in the front pulling air in, 1 at the back venting air out, and a Thermalright TY-140mm on the roof pushing air out.
They can all adjusted manually with a fan controller in the front bay on their lowest setting unless playing games.

 

[Ashfield]

I had to remove the fan where the PSU/Drive bay is as it didnt fit any more when I got the corsair PSU so ive got that sat doing nothing, will stick it where you suggested mate thanks

 

[Ashfield]

Looking at the temps in the CCC and they are 44 and 57 degrees (in the overdrive section, not turned on). Is that normal? Played an hour of Crysis 2 previously if that makes any difference. Just in windows at the moment with browser open

 

[postmanfw]

Use msi afterburner to get on screen temps during games

 

[Ashfield]

thanks mate, what is generally accepted as normal/safe?

 

[paradisiac]

Use msi afterburner to get on screen temps during games

how do you get MSI AB to show the FPS and Temps etc in game? i have seen a lot of screenshots with these on but havent worked out how to do it.

 

[postmanfw]

Its in the monitor tab. Just click on the relevent item ie gpu temp then tick the osd box to enable on screen display etc.

I keep mine at around 60c when gaming but others on here say up to 90c is ok and not to worry.