Sapphire HD3870X2 Low performance

[gOtVoltage]

I have a quad core as well and my 3870x2 still shuttered until i fixed my bios. I also had a problem where crossfire was not enabled properly so my performance sucked because only one card was being used. Multigpu solutions are very risky because a great deal of games do not have the proper multi gpu support. Crysis is a good example of this.

Oh , if your 3870x2 reads 28.8 GB/s for band width ,, You may have a Bios issue with the Mobo...

Also GPU-Z 0.1.7 is out now









If your Mobo isnt on the List Below you CAN have a Bios Bandwidth Problem..
This is where the 3870x2 isnt reconized correctly, even though it does seem to work.The Bios runs the card as if it were (8x NOT 16x.)

http://support.ati.com/ics/support/d...asp?deptID=894

You should have 57.7 GB/s at all times even with the card at half speed...Ive contacted Biostar/HIS/Diamond/Visiontek . So it seems to be with the PCi-E link switching ,, DVI/Anolog switching and HTLink 8x,16x (bandwidth) .Some boards the Bios is correct but others it just plain crap !. Its NOW up to the Mobo Vendor to release a working Functional Bios . It Runs like 8x but it is in 16x mode....I can Set the Clocks Manually .Results show that in fact it was running at half B/W(REAL SPEED)..Using only 256mb of memory..WTF..It didnt even seem to be power play causing this ..It would only use 256mb!

Stock @GPU 825mhz and 900mhz memory Both GPU's = 28.8 GB's
Oc @ 904mhz and 2100mhz memory Both GPU's = 33.7 GB's

Ive used AMD GPU tool to raise the Clocks .. Rivatuner and AMD GPUtool Both show full( 16x and Both GPU's and memory overclocked)..

The Biostar Bios on the TA770 is actually limiting the Bandwith on this card..
So if you have a Motherboard that reports 28.8 GB's with a 3870x2 ,See about a Bios update from your Mobo manufactor for the 3870x2 .I happend to have a spare Mobo in which the card would run @ 57.7...For some of you a NEW MOBO may be in order ,That's if you cant wait for the Vendor to get out a Updated Bios.

TA770 dosnt have a updated Bios yet.. Also Ive found that the DVI(Black screen) Happens with the TA770 too..

I had to Use a Anolog/DVi adapter on My Digital LCD....The PCi-E Swicthing mode DVI/Anolog also needs to be updated by Mobo Vendor..


So Far All three cards Did the Same thing on a TA770 a per above,,HIS3870x2// Diamond3870x2// VisionTek3870x2,, im keeping this one for the Lifetime warrenty.

Clearly there is work for Vendors to do...Also My M2N32deluxe..Runs the 3870x2 @ 57.7 GB/s.....With a Phenom ! It happens to be on the supported Mobo list go figure!


Note:The 3870x2 @CPU2300mhz is suppose to do better than 12600+.

Remeber @ 256mb = 28.8 GB/s 12500+3Dmark06 is with half the Bandwidth of 512mb NOT 1024mb..Also @ 512mb = 57.7 GB/s you would see 13600/14000+ @2300x4Cpu





This is unoptimized Bios, Yes Bandwith of only Half of 512mb!
256mb = 28.8 GB/s

This is what its suppose to be @ 512mb!
512mb = 57.7 GB/s

Both Gpu's using everything.
512mb per GPU will give you a total of 1024mb =114.2 GB/s..im not saying you use 1024mb total but the Combined power of the 2xGPU+2x512mb in Crossfire..Also the card should read 57.7 while @825/900 and 28.8 while @ 300/450..If it dosnt change and your performance is like having only one 3870 ..No differance between Crossfire AI on or OFF ...

The card may be stuck in low Power switching mode..Ive sent a card back for this already...Its Normal to see 28.8 in low power mode ..CPU-Z @ Idle..But not when your clocks are set manually to 825/900 and in 3Dmode...If it dosnt change there may be a problem!

Its been a long two weeks with these cards already

P.S KOTZ ,,Crank up the AA/AF and Resolution,,It will look and play great!