X1950XT Crossfire

[Paracelsus]

Hi folks

What would Crossfire performance be like if I bought another X1950XT?

Do they scale as well as the 8800s or 3xxx series?

 

[Durzel]

They scale very well. Impossible to give you an exact measurement but I could definitely tell when Crossfire wasn't enabled on my system (X1900s)

 

[LoadsaMoney]

If you don't have a master card, then it wont be so great, as software crossfire (through the drivers), gives a hit on performance.

 

[Paracelsus]

If you don't have a master card, then it wont be so great, as software crossfire (through the drivers), gives a hit on performance.

Yeah, TBH the whole master/slave thing confuses me, I knew you could buy master/slave 1900XTs, but I thought the 1950XT was the first card to not use this system? I can't remember seeing any master/slave descriptions of this type of card when I bought it.

 

[smyth]

Sell the X1950 and get a new gfx, 3780 or 8800gt.

May opinion.

 

[LoadsaMoney]

Yeah, TBH the whole master/slave thing confuses me, I knew you could buy master/slave 1900XTs, but I thought the 1950XT was the first card to not use this system? I can't remember seeing any master/slave descriptions of this type of card when I bought it.

x1950's used the x1900's master cards, the x1950 pro's were the first Crossfire 2 cards (where no master was required) as they had the internal bridge like SLi, and all subsequent ATi cards.

All cards before the x1950 pro's, and the x1800's (as they were EOL'd before they added crossfire into the drivers) could do the software crossfire (through the drivers, so no master was required), but there is a hit on performance when not doing it the master card way, so it was best with a master.

 

[ArcAneTSGK]

A master and slave setup in the past would be better than having say, 2x HD3870s or would 2x HD3870s with the crossfire bridge be better than the old way, i don't understand why the internal bridge is a "hit on performance" i thought it would be better as no dongle is required etc.

 

[LoadsaMoney]

The internal bridge of the Crossfire 2 is not a hit on performance, thats the new way ATi are doing Crossfire now (its now like SLi), the master card setup was Crossfire 1 (which was the old way), the old cards did not use internal bridges when not using masters, it was all done through the drivers (the cards were not connected), which is why there was a hit on performance from not using a master card.

 

[Paracelsus]

Sell the X1950 and get a new gfx, 3780 or 8800gt.

May opinion.

Have considered this. I think I could sell this card for £50 at least, which would put the cost of a 3870/8800 at £135-50 = £85. It'd cost me at least £60 for another 1950XT, so £15 more would get a card using a crapload less power, and giving a lot less noise and heat.

Yea, makes sense doesn't it

Cheers for the explanation Load$amoney

 

[LoadsaMoney]

Yeah your best of doing that, getting rid of the x1950 and getting a 3850, cracking cards for the prices those.

 

[YorkshirePadd26]

I swear you can't use software crossfire on a pair of x1950 xtx's !
You need a master card !

I've said it before !

You can only use software crossfire on the newer Pro and GT versions ! and they are pants compaired to the x1900 xt xtx and x1950 xt xtx.

If you don't have a master card, then it wont be so great, as software crossfire (through the drivers), gives a hit on performance.