E6600 Conroe + X1900 Crossfire Benchmarks Again
Yes it's me again :D
Finally got crossfire working flawlessly after figuring out the ocassional problems I've had since day one.
The system:
- Intel Core 2 Duo E6600 QPGE Step 5/B1 /Corsair Hydrocool 200EX
- Intel D975XBX Badaxe rev304 no volt mods
- 512MB HIS X1900 Crossfire stock HSF
- 512MB Gecube X1900XTX stock HSF
- 2x 1GB Gskill F2-6400PHU2 2GB HZ 6291xxx Micron D9
- 4x 80GB Hitachi 7K80 SATAII Matrix Raid 0
- Pioneer DVD-RW + FDD
- 1KW PC Power Cooling SLI psu
WinXP Pro SP2 fully updated
6.5 Catalyst Official drivers
Guru3D Crossfire User Guide great reading for CF beginners http://forums.guru3d.com/showthread.php?t=181125
The problem:
It seems my Crossfire card was flaky and didn't really like my monitor arrangement setup. I have 20" BenQ FP2091 + 19" BenQ FP91G LCD monitors in dual monitor configuration on my main PC which uses still Gecube 9800Pro Extreme (BenQ FP2091 is on VGA/Analog connector of 9800Pro while FP91G is on DVI port of 9800Pro card).
This main pc is connected to a 4port Aten CS-84A Analog/VGA/PS2 KVM switch. Besides my main work pc, I have 3 other pcs connected to this 4port KVM switch including my 2x E6600/Badaxe rigs and DFI NF4 rig.
The 256MB BFG 7800GTX, 512MB HIS X1800XT, 512MB HIS X1900CF/Gecube X1900XTX cards use DVI-D or DVI-A to VGA adaptors to connect to my KVM switch's VGA/Analog ports.
It seems for Crossfire card in single or CF configuration in DVI-D/A to VGA adaptor mode, WinXP doesn't pick up my BenQ FP2091 monitor at all so monitor settings sometimes get 'out of range' or 'no signal detected' messages or occasionally couldn't set my resolution higher than 1280x1024 when my FP2091 default resolution is 1600x1200 (happened on Cat 6.3, 6.5, 6.6 sometimes and 6.7). Catalyst 6.6 clearly was problematic for 'no signal detected' messages, and Catalyst 6.3 for 'out of range' messages occasionally. But did not get these issues all the time only some of the times.
The solution:
I got fed up of the issue and since my BenQ FP2091 has a free DVI port, I decided to bypass my KVM switch for video signal only leaving my PS/2 mouse and keyboard still on KVM switch port, and connect my BenQ FP2091 supplied DVI-D single link cable from X1900 CF dongle to my BenQ FP2091's DVI port.
Guess what all problems fixed, now my 512MB HIS X1900CF card detects my BenQ FP2091 as a digital panel and sets the proper resolution as 1600x1200 @75mhz (i set it down to 60mhz refresh) and no more 'out of range' or 'no signal detected' messages. Overclocking on X1900CF/1900XTX crossfire is now rock solid with no issues! :cool:
Soooo what does this mean ? Time to raid the FM ORB :D
The benchmarks:
E6600 cooled by my Corsair Hydrocool 200EX unit which uses puny 1/4" OD with Big Typhoon's LGA775 mounting gear. Yes 6mm inner diameter tubing .. puny but still effective for this :D
http://i4memory.com/reviewimages/coo...rocool_007.jpg http://i4memory.com/reviewimages/coo...rocool_008.jpghttp://i4memory.com/reviewimages/coo...rocool_010.jpg
http://i4memory.com/reviewimages/coo...rocool_012.jpg http://i4memory.com/reviewimages/coo...rocool_014.jpg http://i4memory.com/reviewimages/coo...rocool_022.jpg
Anyway giving Super Pi a rest while i raid the ORB with FM approved 6.5 drivers :D
1st submission for 3dmark06 @729/859 stock hsf air for X1900CF/X1900XTX combo
http://fileshosts.com/intel/Intel975...9_12499_tn.png
Compare Url = http://service.futuremark.com/compare?3dm06=411731
Not too often will I see myself in FM Hall of Fame Top 5
All stock hsf for HIS X1900CF @732/859 + Gecube X1900XTX @729/859
Compare Url = http://service.futuremark.com/compare?3dm06=411744
http://fileshosts.com/intel/Intel975...9_12534_tn.png
http://fileshosts.com/intel/Intel975...hof_no5_tn.jpg
3dmark05 HOF #4 too now as well http://www.futuremark.com/community/halloffame/ :)
3dmark05 = 22,160
http://service.futuremark.com/compare?3dm05=2138103
http://fileshosts.com/intel/Intel975...9_22160_tn.png
More to come soon :D