X1900 XTX Questions

Tit@n

I recently purchased two of these cards and it runs everything just fine. (only using one right now) However I noticed in the catalyst menu that the max memory clock setting I can put it to was 800, and I know the card can do around 1500 max. Also I noticed that both the processor and memory speed are running lower then there spec levels. Is this normal? I had to use the specific 64bit edition drivers becuase nothing else worked for my pc set-up. (using a 64 bit processor) The omega drivers would just leave me with a black screen when I went into windows.

I did get two of these in hopes of running a duel set-up however I was curious what motherboards you guys would reccomend for this.

Im also wondering about the max resolution on these. (its around 2100x1300 I belive) I have 2 Dell 30"s and thier max resolution is 2560x1600. Will I be able to run these monitors at full resolution on these cards or no?

Thanks for any help guys!

*Update, I ran Counter Strike Source at 2560x1600 and it ran fine sometimes, and other times I would get little green/red specels. This happend randomly and either the specles where there when I started the game or they never apeared at all. It happend randomly with all the other games I tried at that resolution aswell.

brutusmaximus

"I had to use the specific 64bit edition drivers becuase nothing else worked for my pc set-up."

Are you running windows X64 or windows XP? You are aware you can run a 64 bit processor in both? the max resolution of the cards will be able to support your monitors (rich arent you?).

AS for the "speckles" this sounds like an overheating issue, although you mention your cpu and memory arent running at the right speeds, could you come back with a little more detailed information on that?

Necrosis

1. It's only showing the single rate for memory speed (x) 2.
2. The speeds will be slower running in 2D mode.
3. If you're not running XP x64 there is no reason why you would need the drivers.

Tit@n

Im not using 64xp which is why I was so confused with this, but this was the ONLY way I got the drivers to fully install. ( Clicky ) I tried installing XP 3x when I first encounterd this prob, after a while I just gave up and searched the ATI site, found these drivers and bam, every thing starts working...

Well in the catalyst menu they are lower then normal however necrosis explained the reason behind this. The temp of the card stayed at a steady 55-65d while I used that max resolution, however those little dots would pop up anyway. This only happens randomly, and the dots are eaither on my screen when I start the game or they never apear at all. (played fear at max res for about 1 hour without any dots or problems, temps also stayed fine) I figured it happend only becuse it was about the cards maximum resolution.

Tit@n

I think Im gonna try and use the normal drivers again, I updated everything I could possibly think of including flashing my bios. What would you guys recommend for this particular card driver wise?

g35x

try omega's latest drivers (in the driverheaven downloads section) or cat 6.2 ati official
what version of xp are you running? if its media center you'll need those drivers.....odd that the x64 drivers worked for you if you dont have xp pro x64 edition.........
and as for running them in a dual setup,you are aware that you need
1.)crossfire motherboard
2.)1x x1900xt crossfire edition
3.)1x x1900xtx

Tit@n

I do have 1 1900c, but Im not using it now, I was hoping I could get some recomendations on a xfire mb before I purchase one.


*I tried installing omega (latest) Everything installs fine, however when I restart my pc it goes into windows, and I have a black screen. I can hear everything starting up fine however I cant see anything. Almost as if the monitor is turned off but your pc is on. After going into safemode and removing omega drivers problem goes away.

*I did manage to install the catalyst drivers, however now if I try to play HL2 or other games it goes into the game with a black screen and I can hear the game in the back round, similar to the omega problems.

Tit@n

I guess Im stuck with 6.1 drivers till they come out with 6.3?

g35x

hmmm well if 6.1 works for ya then stick with it,im useing 6.2 and it works fine for me

H3X4D3C1M4L

You have an X800XL... its totally different

@Topic poster: You realize the maximum stated resolution of the card is 2048x1536 @ 85HZ?

g35x

which is why i told him to stick to 6.1 if it works =)

Necrosis

The 6.1 drivers do not support the x1900 series. Also you may want to wait until the 580 chipset is released.

Tit@n

@Necrosis - Im just using the ones that came with the cards CD. According to Catalyst those are 6.14. After installing those everything worked fine.

What do you mean "wait untill 580 chipset is released"?

@H3X - I do, which is why I figured that resolution messes up in games (altho in desktop its fine however things become to tiny to see any way), if I go higher then that does that damage the card or just heat it up?

H3X4D3C1M4L

Why wait till the 580 chipset, the card should work in any PCI-E mobo, otherwise it's not doing what its supposed to

H3X4D3C1M4L

Tehnically its pushing the RAMDAC too hard, I don't know I've never seen a card blow up from that, just monitors getting messed.

I wouldn't do it just in case. Surprised it actually let you anyway

jiffk

u know there isnt a crossfire edition of the x1900xtx out at the moment so the crossfire x1900xt will lower the clock of your xtx to match its own ... meaning you'll loose some performance and the single version xtx you got was a bit of a waste

Necrosis

The ones that came on the CD should be 5.13.

Also that chipset is supposed to work quite a bit better than what is currently available. There seems to be quite a few issues with ATI chipsets setup for Crossfire at the moment.

Rokkk

Sorry, but what a load of crap...

From Ati's radeonx1900crossfireug.pdf :

What happens if the CrossFire™ Edition graphics card and the

CrossFire™ Ready graphics card have different clock speeds?

Both cards will continue to operate at their individual clock speeds;


neither card is “stepped down.” The compositing engine on the

CrossFire™ Edition card merges the resulting images independent of

the clock speed on either graphics card.

Tit@n

I dont agree with you here, I think right now the card is very new and needs to have the kinks worked out. New Technology useally has a bumpy start.

@Necros - Im not sure what you mean about the chipset, are you indicating that the one I have now is problematic?

I guess Im glad I held off on a crossfire mb. Maybe later on in the year something will come around, for now I got the "P5WD2 Premium" which was a bitch to get started with but once I got it up and running everything runs smooth. My only real concern now is getting a differnt cooler for the 1900, this thing runs so damn hot I get afraid sometime, its not even OC'ed.

SSXeon

The reason for the lower clocks on the CF edition is because of heat. Only adding 25Mhz on the core, and 100Mhz on the mem will not help alot. As with CF or SLi your more limited to CPU then GPU (Generally speaking).

Necrosis

I just mean if you're thinking about getting a crossfire board you should wait.

Tit@n

Ok gotcha, The board I got now is handling just fine so its all good.

Kombatant

I've changed my DFI SLI-DR motherboard for a DFI CF-DR one for a month now, and I see no difference whatsoever to be honest. Both are very stable and perform very well (although the SLI-DR is more overclocking-friendly, but that's because of that particular board's design and not because it's an nForce4 mobo); furthermore, onboard audio is definitely superior in the Crossfire motherboard.