ATI Technologies Radeon CrossFire, Installation Manual

Page 1: ...Radeon CrossFire Installation Guide P N 107 40316 10 ...

Page 2: ...or system described herein to improve reliability function or design With respect to ATI products which this document relates ATI disclaims all express or implied warranties regarding such products including but not limited to the implied warranties of merchantability fitness for a particular purpose and non infringement Product Notices Dolby Laboratories Inc Manufactured under license from Dolby ...

Page 3: ...rivers 10 Installing the CrossFire Edition Master Graphics Card 13 Installing Master Graphics Cards 13 Connecting devices for CrossFire 16 Display Configurations 17 Connecting Your Monitors for Multiple Display 18 Enabling Multiple Displays 21 Installing Your Software and Drivers 23 Windows New Hardware Found 23 Installing the Catalyst Software Suite 23 24 Enabling CrossFire 25 Launching Catalyst ...

Page 4: ...iv Reference 29 Troubleshooting 29 Product Registration 34 Customer Care 34 Getting Additional Accessories 35 ...

Page 5: ...ady motherboard which contains two PCIe X16 slots More information on the requirements for each of these components can be found within this FAQ 2 What graphics cards work with CrossFire A CrossFire graphics card works with all members of the same brand family Thus a Radeon X850 CrossFire Edition can be used as the Master graphics card with any Radeon X850 product 3 What motherboards support Cross...

Page 6: ...dition card is in the correct slot connect your display directly to the DVI I connection on the Master graphics card instead of using the CrossFire DMS 59 connector with both graphics cards seated in their respective slots on the motherboard If an image appears on the screen upon boot up the card has been placed in the correct slot on the motherboard 6 Are there any software settings required for ...

Page 7: ... the one used by CrossFire will be disabled Multiple monitors displays that are disabled when CrossFire is enabled reappear after CrossFire is disabled 7 What is the difference between a CrossFire Edition graphics card and a standard graphics card from the same family CrossFire Edition graphics cards include a compositing engine a chip that takes the partially rendered image from the Slave graphic...

Page 8: ...red to make CrossFire work No CrossFire is enabled by default for all 3D games and applications 11 What happens if you pair a 12 pipeline CrossFire Edition graphics card with a CrossFire Ready 16 pipeline graphics card In this scenario both graphics cards will operate as 12 pipeline graphics cards while in CrossFire mode 12 What happens if the CrossFire Edition graphics card and the CrossFire Read...

Page 9: ...ering mode to use based on the application or game being used The default rendering mode is dependant on both the hardware configuration and the application being run typically it will be either Scissor or SuperTiling mode If Catalyst A I is not enabled any Direct 3D applications that are running on a system based on graphics cards with 16 pipeline graphics processors will use SuperTiling Mode 15 ...

Page 10: ...6 contains an integrated video connection and SurroundView is enabled more displays can be added Additional issues are covered in the Troubleshooting chapter in the User s Guide ...

Page 11: ...nual Allowable CrossFire System Components The basic requirements of a CrossFire system are a CrossFire Edition graphics card that works as the Master graphics card a CrossFire Ready graphics card from the same brand family that works as the Slave graphics card a CrossFire Ready motherboard For an up to date listing of CrossFire certified motherboards see ati com crossfire CrossFire Rendering Mode...

Page 12: ... a 3D image across multiple GPUs Only one mode can be in operation at any given time The ATI Catalyst display driver will automatically select the best of the three performance modes when a 3D application is started without requiring user intervention The user can also choose to improve image quality by selecting the new Super Anti aliasing modes in the Catalyst Control Center ...

Page 13: ...that may obscure the adjacent slot See ati com crossfire for a list of CrossFire certified motherboards Optical drive for installation software CD ROM or DVD ROM drive Specialized PCI Express 500 watt or greater power supply recommended Consult your computer system manual to ensure the power supply is designed to accommodate a high end graphics card with a peak dissipation above 75 watts Operating...

Page 14: ... The serial number and 102 part number printed on the graphics card are required for registration They are located on a sticker on the back of the card Write these numbers down before installing your new ATI product Uninstall Previous Graphics Card Drivers To ensure the successful installation of your new CrossFire Edition card you must uninstall the drivers for the existing graphics card before r...

Page 15: ...ate to the Control Panel and select Add Remove Programs 3 Select your current graphics card drivers and select Add Remove The wizard will help you remove your current display drivers Note If the previously installed graphics card has any additional software installed it should also be removed at this point 4 Restart your system after the drivers have been removed ...

Page 16: ...12 Before You Begin ...

Page 17: ...tructions assumes that the PCI Express Slave graphics card has already been successfully installed in the secondary slot slot one and that the primary slot slot zero is empty If you have not already done so see the user s guide that came with the graphics card for installation instructions L Consult your system builder or OEM to ensure that your system has an adequate power supply A 500 watt or gr...

Page 18: ... the back of your computer 3 Remove the computer cover 1 Power Supply 2 CrossFire Edition Graphics Card Master 3 CrossFire Compatible Graphics Card Slave 4 Power Cables L WARNING Wait approximately 20 seconds after unplugging the power cord before disconnecting a peripheral or removing a component from the motherboard to avoid possible damage to the motherboard ...

Page 19: ...nnect the power cable to the 6 pin Molex power connection on the graphics card 8 Screw in or fasten the graphics card securely Make sure the cables are not interfering with anything inside the computer for example a cooling fan and replace the computer cover 9 Reconnect any cables you have disconnected and plug in the computer s power cord L WARNING Discharge your body s static electricity by touc...

Page 20: ...nector for connection to a supported PCI Express graphics card for CrossFire support For supported Slave graphics cards see Allowable CrossFire System Components The following illustration shows how to connect your ATI CrossFire Edition Master graphics card to your PCI Express Slave graphics card L Your computer will beep possibly show a warning message on your display and the boot process will st...

Page 21: ...res the highest possible performance When CrossFire is active other display devices connected to 1 CrossFire Edition Graphics Card Master 2 CrossFire Compatible Graphics Card Slave 3 DMS 59 Connection and CrossFire Interconnect Cable 4 DVI I Adapter connects to Slave graphics card 5 DVI I Adapter connects to display device 6 DVI I to VGA Adapter to CRT Display optional ...

Page 22: ...card The illustration below shows possible display connections to the CrossFire Edition graphics card Display devices can also be added to the Slave graphics card For specific display support information see the user s guide that came with your Slave graphics card Note While two display connections are displayed below three is possible by attaching an additional display to the unused DVI connectio...

Page 23: ...raphics Card Master 2 CrossFire Compatible Graphics Card Slave 3 DVI I Connector 4 DMS 59 CrossFire Interconnect Cable 5 DVI I Connector 6 DVI I to VGA Adapter 7 CRT Display 8 Flat Panel Display 9 DVI I Connection can be used to add another display ...

Page 24: ...HDTV display If the HDTV display supports the connection type it can be used as a flat panel display using a DVI I connector Master Card using DVI I connector DFP display DFP digital flat panel display Digital HDTV display If the HDTV display supports the connection type it can be used as a flat panel display using a DVI I connector Analog HDTV If the HDTV display supports the connection type it c...

Page 25: ...th two DVI I connectors DFP display DFP digital flat panel display using non TMDS connector Digital HDTV If the HDTV display supports the connection type it can be used as a flat panel display using a DVI I connector CRT using DVI I to VGA adapter CRT cathode ray tube analog display Analog HDTV Not supported using a smart dongle Slave Card with one DVI I and one Honda connector VIVO VIVO functiona...

Page 26: ...y the settings view Enable a secondary display device 1 Click Displays Manager in Advanced View 2 Click the number 2 display icon in the right hand box 3 Click Yes to the Enable this display dialog Optionally right click the number 2 icon in the right hand box and click Enable in the pop up menu Note Repeat steps 2 and 3 above for each additional connected device The number on the display icon wil...

Page 27: ...roceed to Installing the Catalyst Software Suite If the Add New Hardware Wizard does not appear proceed to Installing the Catalyst Software Suite Installing the Catalyst Software Suite ATI s Catalyst Software Suite provides software required to enjoy all the features of your ATI graphics card The Catalyst Software Suite has several distinct software elements including Driver Catalyst Control Cente...

Page 28: ...ubstitute the correct drive letter 4 Click OK 5 Click Install under Software Install 6 Click Next and click Yes to the license agreement 7 Click ATI Easy Install to begin the Installation Wizard 8 Follow the Wizard s on screen instructions then choose either Express or Custom Install Not all software components are installed using the Express installation Custom installation allows you to select i...

Page 29: ...wing access points Windows Start Menu Windows System Tray Desktop Shortcuts Predefined Hotkeys Via an ATI Multimedia Center Application Launching Catalyst Control Center Using the Start Menu From the Windows task bar click Start Click to All Programs ATI Catalyst Control Center ATI Catalyst Control Center Other Quick Launch Access Points Launching Catalyst Control Center Using the System Tray 1 Ri...

Page 30: ...can define your hot key by using the Hotkey Manager Launching Catalyst Control Center from ATI Multimedia Center You can also access the Catalyst Control Center while an ATI Multimedia Center application like TV Player is running Click the Catalyst Control Center icon in the multi media application s control panel if available Enable CrossFire 1 Click CrossFire in Advanced View 2 Click Enable Cros...

Page 31: ...Launching Catalyst Control Center 27 Catalyst Control Center CrossFire is Enabled ...

Page 32: ...28 Launching Catalyst Control Center ...

Page 33: ... documentation contains helpful installation configuration tips and other valuable feature information Please contact your dealer for more advanced troubleshooting information General Troubleshooting Problem Possible Solution Computer Does Not Boot Up Properly Verify that the installation instructions were properly followed If you have problems during start up restart your computer in Safe Mode Ch...

Page 34: ...tion refresh rate and color depth settings in the Settings and Monitor tabs in your Display Properties dialog Warning Ensure that both video card and monitor support resolution and refresh rates you select Incompatible resolution refresh rate selection may result in monitor damage Refer to your monitor s documentation for recommended resolutions and refresh rates Off Center Screen Image Odd Colors...

Page 35: ... of the interconnect cable to the DVI I connection on the Slave card 3 Connect the remaining DVI I connector of the interconnect cable to your monitor On graphics cards with two DVI I connectors only one DVI I connector on the Slave card supports Transition Minimized Differential Signaling TMDS required by CrossFire If CrossFire does not appear in the Catalyst Control Center or is not available tr...

Page 36: ...lem with the software Check the graphics card are installed correctly Check the interconnect cable is installed correctly Close all running 3D applications Re install the Catalyst Control Center For information on installing the software see the Getting Started Guide that came with your graphics card The memory sizes for your CrossFire Edition and regular card are mismatched Graphics card with dif...

Page 37: ...oubleshooting Problem Possible Solution The colors on my TV display are incorrect Ensure that the connections between the Component Video Adapter and your HDTV are correct Y Green Pb Blue Pr Red There is no display on my TV Your TV will not display anything until Windows starts this may take several minutes Set your TV to YPbPr input Ensure that the HDTV Component Video Adapter is properly connect...

Page 38: ...bility Language Access Online or Mail 24 7 English French Spanish Portuguese German ati com or ATI TECHNOLOGIES INC Attention Customer Care 1 Commerce Valley Drive East Markham Ontario Canada L3T 7X6 Telephone US Canada 9 00AM 7 00PM EST Monday to Friday English 1 877 284 1566 toll free or 1 905 882 2626 International and or local toll charges to Canada will apply Telephone Europe and Other Region...

Page 39: ...e ATI is not responsible for any expense incurred accessing Customer Care It is expected that customers will review the expense associated with the available support options and will choose the method that best meets their needs and budget ATI Customer Care reserves the right to limit support options for products that are not registered or are at End of Life Getting Additional Accessories Addition...

Page 40: ...36 Customer Care ...