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Newbie for Crossfire.

TheSwede

TheSwede

TheSwede

Soldato
Joined
27 May 2007
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Front of the monitor
Hi all,

In a couple of days I be getting my 2nd Sapphire R9 290 Vapor-X from OcUK with a new PSU as well. Once PSU is switched I be installing the 2nd GPU but here is the problem, of sort.

I never done a crossfire set up so no clue what to do ?? :confused:

Part from having the latest driver installed (My AMD Catalyst Software is the latest version), I am guessing I be needing to do something else then just installing the card and turn on the power but if so, what is it ?

Motherboard is a Gigabyte Z97X-UD5H and the new PSU is Superflower Leadex 850W.

Anything else I should be aware of when doing crossfire, please let me know. Sorry for asking such a noobish question but I rater ask before then after I messed it up. :o
 
Aslong as the card powers up it doesnt need anything else.
Catalyst will give you a popup notification in windows mentioning Crossfire, click through and it should be enabled.

Thats about it.
 
Ohh it was that simple ? And here me thought it would be a bit more complicated then that. :o

Thank you africanos23 ! =)
 
TheSwede said:
uhmm I was checking my present box for that bridge, all I could find was one that said SLI on it though ??



Thanks, that explains why I couldn't find it then. =)
Click to expand...

No worries, i'm sure you already noticed that the 290's don't have connections for them :)
 
To follow up on this.. card is hopefully in my hands tomorrow so be doing it all on Saturday. But got 2 more questions.

Question 1: Once I swopped out the PSU's and checked that all working (before adding 2nd card to be on safe side) should I run any program or such ? Or if all switch on and everything looks as it should then all good with the new PSU ?

Question 2: Once 2nd GFX is in and running, what program/gadgets would you guys suggest for me run to make sure both cards working properly together ?
 
One thing to note is (I have no idea if this is the case for you, but it is on my 295x2 which is very similar to 2 290xs) you might want to check if your cards are meant to be run on invidual 6 pin cables. Splitters are no good, at least for me.
 
shankly1985 said:
Msi afterburner is a great program not just for overclocking but also monitoring. Hwinfo64 is another.
Click to expand...
Ok, maybe noobish question but the MSI Afterburner works on any cards ? Will look into Hwinfo64 as well. Thank you. =)
Uncle Petey said:
Yeah and leave CCC overdrive alone :)
Click to expand...
uhmm don't even know what CCC Overdrive is. :confused::o But a quick google search tells me it has to do with overclocking so since never done that most likely wont start right now. =)
Drojman said:
One thing to note is (I have no idea if this is the case for you, but it is on my 295x2 which is very similar to 2 290xs) you might want to check if your cards are meant to be run on invidual 6 pin cables. Splitters are no good, at least for me.
Click to expand...
Not sure if I understand you. :o But my card in the PC has 2 8 pin cables connected right now, both on separate cables and unless the new PSU is different then my Corsair should have room to connect 2 more 8 pin cables to the new card.

Thank you all for taking the time to educate a noob like me when it comes to these things, greatly appreciated ! :D
 
UHmm sorry for double posting but just been looking through the new PSU box and noticed there is 2 PCI Express cables for the GFX card and then a cable called SLI ready (has 2 "end cables", one says PCI Express and then a short cable from that one to the one that says SLI Ready), considering the name can I still use that cable (for crossfire) or need to use the 2 splitter cables (thanks Drojman, understand what you were referring to now. :o ) provided with the GFX card ?? Don't really want to mess anything up so hoping someone can sheed some light on this for me. :o

If that cable can be used I guessing it suppose to go from PSU to one card and then the SLI Ready plugs into 2nd card while 1 each of the other PCI Express cables goes to separate GFX cards ?
 
Yes, a PCIE cable is a PCIE cable and doesn't care what brand it's plugged into :) Pay no mind to the SLI label and do not use the splitter cables that come with the card.

Afterburner is universal too.
 
Uncle Petey said:
Yes, a PCIE cable is a PCIE cable and doesn't care what brand it's plugged into :) Pay no mind to the SLI label and do not use the splitter cables that come with the card.

Afterburner is universal too.
Click to expand...

Ok thanks Uncle Petey ! :)

Guess SLI is easier to write on the little plug then Crossfire hence the name, and me being way to cautious worries for nothing. :o

TheSwede said:
If that cable can be used I guessing it suppose to go from PSU to one card and then the SLI Ready plugs into 2nd card while 1 each of the other PCI Express cables goes to separate GFX cards ?
Click to expand...

I guess that's the way to do it then ? (yes, double checking. :o )
 
Hmm the Superflower PSU has 3 PCIE cables.. 2 that has one 6+2pin connectors and 1 cable that has 2 6+2pin connectors (The one that says SLI Ready one). Getting ready for work so wont have time to take a picture of them now though.

Here is what it says on Superflowers website, no picture of the "SLI Ready" cable though..
One cable > 2 x 8pins (6+2pins) PCI express connector
Two cables > 8pins (6+2pins) PCI express
Click to expand...
 
Ok, I would've thought that it had at least two cables with two connectors on each. I use a Superflower myself fwiw.
Just use whatever you need to use tbh and don't worry about the SLI ready label :)
 
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