The Joys Of Crossfire

BodgeITandRun · 11 Jul 2012 at 16:41

Ok, I am confused.

I am having problems with random crashes while gaming if I open a webpage at the same time and the 2nd card running 10 degrees hotter on idle (when ULPS turned off), but the same/lower when gaming.

I have one 7970 Sapphire Dual X from a reputable shop and that worked fine on it's own and a 7970 Sapphire that I bought secondhand.

I have swapped and changed drivers, turned ULPS on and off, done a fresh windows install and none of that fixed it.Also checked the cards were in correctly, crossfire bridge connected right etc. Also removed all drivers too. So now I have the suspect card in the top slot on it's own and for 24 hours it has worked fine, benchmarks, gaming, everything. Aside from trying my other card, what could be the problem? Maybe a dodgy lower slot? I hope it is the card tbh, as it's only 3 months old and an easy fix by returning it as faulty.

Basically I am asking is there anything obvious I have missed?

Love crossfire, love it. Lol. Oh and thanks to those who read this far.

FrankJH · 11 Jul 2012 at 20:33

personally I would try the 2nd hand card on its own (in both slots)

Then try your first card in the lower slot

Besty · 11 Jul 2012 at 20:49

I have the similar problem it happens in single or cross-fire mode. Turn off the adobe flash gpu acceleration from the options. I can repeat the behaviour by loading up Battlefield 3, minimise and then load up youtube = crash.

The 2nd card can be cooler during gaming (depending on game) as the 2nd GPU can be used slightly less OR

the fan/cooler/TIM is better on the 2nd card under load.

LtMatt · 11 Jul 2012 at 21:03

Besty said:
I have the similar problem it happens in single or cross-fire mode. Turn off the adobe flash gpu acceleration from the options. I can repeat the behaviour by loading up Battlefield 3, minimise and then load up youtube = crash.

Handy tip, thanks.

I've been getting this crashing as well when i alt tab from battlefield 3.

BodgeITandRun · 11 Jul 2012 at 21:05

Besty said:
I have the similar problem it happens in single or cross-fire mode. Turn off the adobe flash gpu acceleration from the options. I can repeat the behaviour by loading up Battlefield 3, minimise and then load up youtube = crash.

The 2nd card can be cooler during gaming (depending on game) as the 2nd GPU can be used slightly less OR

the fan/cooler/TIM is better on the 2nd card under load.

I have just put that card in the lower slot an hour ago and it's fine so far.........

Besty, did turning of gpu acceleration fix it? Or does the BF3 minimised and open youtube still crash you?

s4mmy007 · 12 Jul 2012 at 02:50

The cons of crossfire : My 6870 couldnt overclock in crossfire due to the high voltages, as a solo graphics card which i now have, it overclocks like a beast, instead of 2 £100.00 graphics cards, get 1 £200.00 one

craarc · 12 Jul 2012 at 03:01

hmmmn i have variable fan speed and cooling in xfire.. and eratic card balance hence back to sli asap

never been a fan of xfire and the way it seems to share the load across cards on my system...

never had any probs with my old pair of nvidias

try a card swap as in 1 to 2 2 to 1 and mess with older drivers also latest r not always best..

use guru3d for g card tuning...

BodgeITandRun · 12 Jul 2012 at 04:56

craarc said:
hmmmn i have variable fan speed and cooling in xfire.. and eratic card balance hence back to sli asap

never been a fan of xfire and the way it seems to share the load across cards on my system...

never had any probs with my old pair of nvidias

try a card swap as in 1 to 2 2 to 1 and mess with older drivers also latest r not always best..

use guru3d for g card tuning...

Yeah I am gonna try my other card in the top slot and see if that does anything. I could use it as a very expensive doorstop if it continues to be a pain.

Marine-RX179 · 12 Jul 2012 at 08:13

Damn got trolled by the title. I honestly thought someone is actually singing praise to crossfire for a change despite the supporting drivers...

psychodil · 12 Jul 2012 at 08:59

What model is your PSU?

BodgeITandRun · 12 Jul 2012 at 15:11

psychodil said:
What model is your PSU?

Thermaltake ToughPower XT 875W. A little over a year old, maybe 18 months? Certainly should be ok in theory.

Card number 2 is in now the Dual X, let's see how that goes.

chipachap · 12 Jul 2012 at 15:54

Besty said:
I have the similar problem it happens in single or cross-fire mode. Turn off the adobe flash gpu acceleration from the options. I can repeat the behaviour by loading up Battlefield 3, minimise and then load up youtube = crash.

The 2nd card can be cooler during gaming (depending on game) as the 2nd GPU can be used slightly less OR

the fan/cooler/TIM is better on the 2nd card under load.

This.

Even after turning it off it happens sometimes, just close down the net while playing.

BodgeITandRun · 12 Jul 2012 at 16:53

chipachap said:
This.

Even after turning it off it happens sometimes, just close down the net while playing.

I will do that as a precaution then. It's just lame that my fairly high performance machine can't surf the net if gaming. Might as well got a Dell,lol.

opethdisciple · 12 Jul 2012 at 17:27

BodgeITandRun said:
Ok, I am confused.

I am having problems with random crashes while gaming if I open a webpage at the same time

Hang on a second.

Is the above the only issue you are having?

How about not gaming and surfing the web at the same time?

BodgeITandRun · 12 Jul 2012 at 18:26

opethdisciple said:
Hang on a second.

Is the above the only issue you are having?

How about not gaming and surfing the web at the same time?

The high idle when having two cards and the crash when gaming and I open a webpage. I know it seems a simple fix, but what if i want to minimise and open a youtube vid to see a tutorial, or look up some info? Is it really necessary for me to stop gaming to do this?

BTW, running one card and I can do whatever I want with no problems, which leads me to believe it's a crossfire issue of some description.

psychodil · 12 Jul 2012 at 18:29

Sounds like a PEBKAC problem to me.

BodgeITandRun · 12 Jul 2012 at 18:34

psychodil said:
Sounds like a PEBKAC problem to me.

Lol, thanks. Well this is why I am posting to help fix whatever the problem is, even if it's user error.

psychodil · 12 Jul 2012 at 18:38

Sorry, forgot to add a cheeky

BodgeITandRun · 12 Jul 2012 at 18:41

psychodil said:
Sorry, forgot to add a cheeky

It's alright mate. I am too busy being technically challenged to be offended.

BodgeITandRun · 13 Jul 2012 at 00:14

Update for those that are interested. Put my Dual X in after days of testing my secondhand card and the first time i ran a game and opened youtube, crashhhhhhh. Tried again ok, time after that crash. My other one doesn't do it, so I am gonna hope and pray the shop I bought it from take it back.