HD 4890 Crossfire

XR-17 · 03-12-2011, 06:45 AM

Hi there SPUF

So, I'm having the opportunity of getting another video card for my computer, and I'm thinking on doing a crossfire with my ATI XFX HD 4890. It is worth it?

My specs are these:

Motherboard: Intel Extreme DP55SB
Videocard: ATI Radeon HD 4890 1GB DDR5
Processor: Intel i7-860 LGA 1156 2.8GHz
Memory: 2X DDR3 2GB Kingston
Monitor: LG L1752S 17"

I'm thinking on connecting each one to an monitor, one for the 17"and another for a 32"LED TV (I made a thread about dual monitors awhile back).

I've read it's necessary to have a really powerful processor. Does the i7 handle it?

Thanks for the help.

Skruly · 03-12-2011, 06:50 AM

Borg will see this in just a sec.

imeem · 03-12-2011, 07:17 AM

Performance wise, I think it's worth it. a HD 4870x2 is faster than a GTX 470. Since ur planning to do HD 4890 in crossfirex, expect similar results. a HD 4890 is between HD 5830 and 5850 performance

HD 4870x2 Vs. GTX 470

joemtnbike · 03-12-2011, 08:30 AM

If your Power supply up to the task, CrossfireX will provide a big jump in performance.
CrossfireX will also disable the video ports on the second card.
For dual monitors you will have to hook both monitors up to the primary card.

Anlashok · 03-12-2011, 08:38 AM

Yes, it is what I am running, and the last poster is correct about having to run the monitors off the one card. In my set up its my top card i have to plug my monitors into. I have had no troubles in games or anything either. I think you will be very happy with that set up.

borg_7_of_9 · 03-12-2011, 01:14 PM

I have a pair of these sucker's (Over clocked editions) CFX has been good for me and even better on the 11.2 driver's

Crysis 2 demo 60+fps almost max setting's... (1 notch down on 1 setting iirc)

If your PSU is up to go for it..

Looking at the above 4870x2 Vs GTX470 i would put a pair of 4890's close to GTX 480 performance when CFX scales well..

It's worth It IMO

XR-17 · 03-12-2011, 08:02 PM

Thanks for the help guys. I just figured out that I don't have enough power supply cables. Each card uses 2. I'll have to buy two cables with two 6-pin output each.

borg_7_of_9 · 03-12-2011, 08:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by XR-17

Thanks for the help guys. I just figured out that I don't have enough power supply cables. Each card uses 2. I'll have to buy two cables with two 6-pin output each.

does you PSU have enough power??

I don't know what my 2 HD4890's take to run but I'm using a 850W PSU with a 130W quad core CPU and Liquid cooling..

Quote:

Originally Posted by AMD

500 Watt or greater power supply with two 75W 6-pin PCI Express® power connectors recommended (600 Watt and four 6-pin connectors for ATI CrossFireX™ technology in dual mode)

XR-17 · 03-12-2011, 08:36 PM

I have an OCZ 700W. I just don't have the cables to connect the video card.

My PSU only have two outputs for the 6-pin cables. However, I need another two to connect the other 4890. Is it worth to look for a "Y" cable, with two outputs for one input? I would need two of these.

borg_7_of_9 · 03-12-2011, 08:40 PM

IMO yes it is... As i said performance is very good. And not many CFX issues well not that I have come across..

XR-17 · 03-12-2011, 08:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by borg_7_of_9

IMO yes it is... As i said performance is very good. And not many CFX issues well not that I have come across..

Well thanks borg, and all the other guys.

The reason I asked was because I found on the nVidia forums (however on a 2007 post) that it would cause to much current:

Quote:

if you are attempting to connect two pci-e cards to one source i think it is a bad idea
they will pull too much current
thats why you cant find one
either smoke power supply or cards or both

But I' look for the cables.

borg_7_of_9 · 03-12-2011, 08:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by XR-17

The reason I asked was because I found on the nVidia forums (however on a 2007 post) that it would cause to much current:

But I' look for the cables.

since 2 only require 600W you should be able to divide the power across the left over power lead's just don't connect them all to one set...

Its worked for me in the past with a much more demanding HD2900XT..(power hog)

XR-17 · 03-12-2011, 09:13 PM

http://img822.imageshack.us/img822/6...0110313s01.jpg

On the bottom right there is my PSU. The two red cables are the 6-pin ones, that go to the first videocard. I was thinking on replacing both cables with the dual ones (on "Y"shape), obtaining 4 6-pin cables to use with both cards. Each dual would come from one of the outputs.

I hope I was clear enough

BuckALE · 03-12-2011, 09:13 PM

I was quite happy with the performance of my old 4870X2. I'd probably still have it, except that I wanted to go with a 3 screen eyefinity, so I had to upgrade to the 5000 series (2X5870's).

borg_7_of_9 · 03-12-2011, 09:28 PM

what model PSU...

looks like is has plenty of power so if you can get them connections it should work..

was thinking you may have needed 2 x 4 pin molex to 6 pin PCI-E y adapters at first..

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16812189120

03-12-2011, 06:45 AM	#1
XR-17 Join Date: May 2008 Reputation: 28 Posts: 400	HD 4890 Crossfire Hi there SPUF So, I'm having the opportunity of getting another video card for my computer, and I'm thinking on doing a crossfire with my ATI XFX HD 4890. It is worth it? My specs are these: Motherboard: Intel Extreme DP55SB Videocard: ATI Radeon HD 4890 1GB DDR5 Processor: Intel i7-860 LGA 1156 2.8GHz Memory: 2X DDR3 2GB Kingston Monitor: LG L1752S 17" I'm thinking on connecting each one to an monitor, one for the 17"and another for a 32"LED TV (I made a thread about dual monitors awhile back). I've read it's necessary to have a really powerful processor. Does the i7 handle it? Thanks for the help.

03-12-2011, 08:40 PM	#10
borg_7_of_9 Join Date: Nov 2007 Reputation: 2624 Posts: 12,708	IMO yes it is... As i said performance is very good. And not many CFX issues well not that I have come across.. Last edited by borg_7_of_9: 03-12-2011 at 08:45 PM.

03-12-2011, 09:28 PM	#15
borg_7_of_9 Join Date: Nov 2007 Reputation: 2624 Posts: 12,708	what model PSU... looks like is has plenty of power so if you can get them connections it should work.. was thinking you may have needed 2 x 4 pin molex to 6 pin PCI-E y adapters at first.. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16812189120 Last edited by borg_7_of_9: 03-12-2011 at 09:31 PM.

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03-12-2011, 06:50 AM	#2
Skruly Join Date: Jun 2010 Reputation: 127 Posts: 376	Borg will see this in just a sec.

03-12-2011, 07:17 AM	#3
imeem Join Date: Aug 2008 Reputation: 779 Posts: 2,768	Performance wise, I think it's worth it. a HD 4870x2 is faster than a GTX 470. Since ur planning to do HD 4890 in crossfirex, expect similar results. a HD 4890 is between HD 5830 and 5850 performance HD 4870x2 Vs. GTX 470

03-12-2011, 08:30 AM	#4
joemtnbike Join Date: Apr 2009 Reputation: 1062 Posts: 2,410	If your Power supply up to the task, CrossfireX will provide a big jump in performance. CrossfireX will also disable the video ports on the second card. For dual monitors you will have to hook both monitors up to the primary card.

03-12-2011, 08:38 AM	#5
Anlashok Join Date: Dec 2005 Reputation: 242 Posts: 334	Yes, it is what I am running, and the last poster is correct about having to run the monitors off the one card. In my set up its my top card i have to plug my monitors into. I have had no troubles in games or anything either. I think you will be very happy with that set up.

03-12-2011, 01:14 PM	#6
borg_7_of_9 Join Date: Nov 2007 Reputation: 2624 Posts: 12,708	I have a pair of these sucker's (Over clocked editions) CFX has been good for me and even better on the 11.2 driver's Crysis 2 demo 60+fps almost max setting's... (1 notch down on 1 setting iirc) If your PSU is up to go for it.. Looking at the above 4870x2 Vs GTX470 i would put a pair of 4890's close to GTX 480 performance when CFX scales well.. It's worth It IMO

03-12-2011, 08:02 PM	#7
XR-17 Join Date: May 2008 Reputation: 28 Posts: 400	Thanks for the help guys. I just figured out that I don't have enough power supply cables. Each card uses 2. I'll have to buy two cables with two 6-pin output each.

03-12-2011, 08:36 PM	#9
XR-17 Join Date: May 2008 Reputation: 28 Posts: 400	I have an OCZ 700W. I just don't have the cables to connect the video card. My PSU only have two outputs for the 6-pin cables. However, I need another two to connect the other 4890. Is it worth to look for a "Y" cable, with two outputs for one input? I would need two of these.

03-12-2011, 09:13 PM	#13
XR-17 Join Date: May 2008 Reputation: 28 Posts: 400	http://img822.imageshack.us/img822/6...0110313s01.jpg On the bottom right there is my PSU. The two red cables are the 6-pin ones, that go to the first videocard. I was thinking on replacing both cables with the dual ones (on "Y"shape), obtaining 4 6-pin cables to use with both cards. Each dual would come from one of the outputs. I hope I was clear enough

03-12-2011, 09:13 PM	#14
BuckALE Banned Join Date: Apr 2010 Reputation: 135 Posts: 700	I was quite happy with the performance of my old 4870X2. I'd probably still have it, except that I wanted to go with a 3 screen eyefinity, so I had to upgrade to the 5000 series (2X5870's).