X1900 GT question

[JPB]

Does the X 1900 GT require a master card to run two of the same card in crossfire ? Ive looked around a good bit, and cannot find any info on it. Anyone care to enlighten me on the subject ?

John

 

[hardwareking]

As of catalyst 6.8 u can run 2 x1900 gt's in crossfire.provided u have a motherboard which supports crossfire.And looking at ur sig i'm pretty sure u'll get one sooner or later.

 

[JPB]

Yea, your right. I have the A8R32 coming. Would it be better with a 1900GT or the 18XT w/256 ram ? I got the board to have crossfire option down the road. Now please no one say...just stay with your XL for now. Well, its going to my dad as his screwed up royally.

 

[hmorphone]

Single card wise -
The X1900GT only takes up a single slot, is quieter, runs hotter with it's stock cooler, and will probably beat an X1800XT 256 in some of the newer pixel shader heavy games like Oblivion. (When compared to the 256 XT - there is a notable difference in performance between the 256 and the 512 XT.)
The X1800XT takes up two slots, is louder, runs cooler with it's stock cooler, and probably beats the X1900GT in a number of other games.

Crossfired -
The X1900GT will probably run crossfire right now with current drivers and hacks without a master card or a dongle.
The X1800XT will run crossfire with a X1800XT 512 master card and dongle, I'm not sure what the performance hit is for one of the cards being 256. It doesn't look like the X1800XTs will be able to run crossfire without a dongle and mastercard the way that the X1800GTOs and X1900GTs supposedly can.

 

[atom]

A crossfire 1900GT can't even beat a single XTX in some benchies so if you want the power of crossfire 1900gt you might as well pay more up front for a xtx and save money in the long run.

 

[hmorphone]

Originally posted by: atom
A crossfire 1900GT can't even beat a single XTX in some benchies so if you want the power of crossfire 1900gt you might as well pay more up front for a xtx and save money in the long run.

Well, he said "I got the board to have crossfire option down the road." I agree that if he has the bucks now that he should get a X1900XT/XTX instead. For that matter, down the road it might be better to sell the GT and add the funds together for an XTX. But, it's always good to have options

 

[ronnn]

Originally posted by: atom
A crossfire 1900GT can't even beat a single XTX in some benchies so if you want the power of crossfire 1900gt you might as well pay more up front for a xtx and save money in the long run.

No kidding why would anyone run 2 of those in xfire, except of course if someone gave me another gt and a xfire mb - I would.

 

[JPB]

Originally posted by: atom
A crossfire 1900GT can't even beat a single XTX in some benchies so if you want the power of crossfire 1900gt you might as well pay more up front for a xtx and save money in the long run.

Now im not saying your wrong, but please show me benches that 2 X19GT can't beat a XTX sometimes.

Also, I don't plan on gaming over 1600/1200 for a good while....so 2 XTX's may never be needed.

 

[hardwareking]

or u could get the x1950 pro which is round the corner.
And there are rumours of a hack which allows u to run to x1800 xt's in crossfire without master card.U gotta flash ur cards x1800 xl bioses(for xt's with 512mb there should be x1800 xl 512mb bios available at techpowerup)
Then u put them together in ur crossfire mobo and voila....
u have x1800 xt in crossfire without dongle.
But i don't remember where i read it.So please don't try it.(or if u do,do so at ur own risk)
P.S
U'll be very lucky to find an x1800 master card nowadays.

 

[tvdang7]

any update on this? i see theres a new x1900 gt out that can it it forsure. but what about the old one.

 

[JPB]

Well, not really an update...But I got the IceQ3 X1900GT. Didnt need nor had the funds for the XTX since my monitor ( for now ) only goes to 1280. But the HIS card overclocks really well. Got the core to 710 and the memory to 1500. Played FarCry for about 2 hours with the clocks like that, completely stable and the temp at load NEVER exceded 55 celcius with fan at 100%. I see Newegg don't have the IceQ3 version now, but I am going to get another one and Crossfire it soon.

Edit: I dont think the new GT is anything more than a old GT with more mhz on the ram and less on the core. In other words, the card I have now will more than likely outrun it at stock pretty easy.

Edit: Yes, the GT I have now ( old model ) will run Crossfire fine without a mastercard. I have links bookmarked with benches. The test compares Cabled Crossfire vs. Cableless Crossfire. Cableless is a few frames slower on each bench.

 

[hmorphone]

I see you've prob been following the techpowerup GT threads. I'd be cautious about the idea of pairing a rev 1 GT with a rev 2 GT. They dropped core speed (same core) and core volts, apparently to drop temps, and upped mem speed (I believe possibly using newer and/or faster memory.) But, most importantly, along with the new heatsink/fan I believe it's on a whole new PCB with less voltage regs to boot. I don't think ATItool, latest builds, even recognizes half of the card now. Something about digital voltage control is mentioned too? I would consider setting aside some funds for one of those $199 Sapphires, rev 1, if you're going to go for it. I was surprised they didn't put some of those new SLI style pcb crossfire connectors on the new PCB, but I guess they're saving that for the X1950 pro and X1650XT. I also feel, for the time being anyway, that our rev 1's are better OCers.

 

[JPB]

Yea, I would agree with that. About ours being better overclockers. When the time comes for another card, the only one im going to use is one identical to the one im using now. Although Newegg dont have them now, I saw some on ebay, overpriced nonetheless, but would rather pay the extra then try a card that is different in alot of ways like you said. Nah, I didnt even know about the techpowerup GT threads. Ill check em out though.

 

[tvdang7]

can u post the link to the cabless crossfire . i would like to see my self.

 

[potato28]

U have a HIS card? You can unlock that for the XT/X pipes and oc it to the stock speeds!

 

[hmorphone]

Originally posted by: potato28
U have a HIS card? You can unlock that for the XT/X pipes and oc it to the stock speeds!

Would be nice, but unless he got one of the early engineering sample chips that snuck thru, it's not gonna happen... unless someone discovers a way in the near future to disable whatever it is that locks the extra quad out

Folks have even tried the new X1900XT 256meg bios plus a lot of other things, still no luck...
I think you may be thinking of the HIS X1800GTO instead.

 

[JPB]

Yes, Ill post the link in a few minutes, Yea, I have the HIS version, it was one of the first release. ALthough I know nothing about unlocking it. But in ATITool, there is something that says GB_PIPE_SELECT 0x12BB4

 

[hmorphone]

X80064, you gotta checkout some of these threads.

Crossfire Jack Beta

The ORIGINAL X1900GT unlock thread

New X1900GT version

 

[JPB]

Here is the review.... http://www.neoseeker.com/Articles/Hardware/Reviews/powercolorx1900gtcf/3.html

 

[JPB]

Ill upload a screenshot to photobucket real quick to make sure im reading it right to show you.

 

[JPB]

Ok, here is the screenshot via photobucket .... http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v518/...=atitool.jpg&refPage=&imgAnch=imgAnch1

 

[hmorphone]

You'll want to check that GB_PIPE_SELECT value in the second thread I posted, but I think the R580LE cores are generally not considered unlockable, if it said R580pro I would say you have a chance. Thanks for the Neoseeker article link.

 

[JPB]

Well, to be honest, even if it would unlock, I seriously doubt I would even do it. First reason is, I dont really know the process, and don't want to screw up the card. Much rather get another one and run them in Crossfire. Looks like with a dongle, you need the 16 pipe master card, but with cableless crossfire, just another matching card like I have now. If this is true, that is the route I will take here shortly.