ATI Radeon CrossFireX Review - Benchmarking

Submitted by skipclarke on 20 July, 2010 - 20:49

Article Type: 
Review

The HD 5770 and HD 5850 contain the same connections as the original HD 5870 - 1x HDMI, 1x DisplayPort and 2x DVI. As with the HD 5870, each card was connected with a DP-DVI-DVI configuration. The 5870 E6 has six mini-DP connections. I used three mini-DP>DP cables.

Configuration of the Eyefinity group within the Catalyst Control Center works as previously outlined. Bezel Compensation continues to work in the same manner. Both of these features are software based, and not dependent on the individual card.


System Specs

For all 16:10 benchmarks I used my existing three Dell U2410 monitors. The 10.6 driver was used for all cards. The original E6 benchmarks were updated with the new driver, though there were only changes in a few places.

My testing rig remains unchanged (except for driver updates and monitor configurations). It currently stands at:

  • Windows 7
  • EVGA X58 Tri-SLI Motherboard
  • Intel i7 920 at 4x2.67GHz
  • 12GB G.Skill DDR3 RAM
  • 2x Samsung 320GB T-Series HDD (one for the OS and games; one for swap file and FRAPS)
  • LG Super Multi Blu (HD-DVD/Blu-Ray Player)
  • Onboard audio
  • Corsair HX1000
  • Antec Skeleton
  • Logitch K340 Keyboard & Performance MX Mouse
  • Ergotech Heavy Duty Triple Desk Stand

Note: I do not have two original 5870 cards. I paired an E6 card with my original 5870. This effectively produces the same results as a pair of original 5870s in CFX, as only 1GB of VRAM is used on the E6 card.


Resolutions Tested

I initially tested at 1920x1200 and 1680x1050, along with the respective 3x1-L iterations of 5760x1200 and 5040x1050. These are the most common resolutions for single screen and Eyefinity.

Setups based on 1920x1080 or 1600x900 panels are becoming popular as well. In my review of the HD 5870 Eyefinity6, I looked at any performance difference between 16:10 and 16:9 screens. The differences were minimal, if any.


Games Tested

I wanted to choose games that covered a variety of genres (action, FRP, RTS and racing), and a variety of technologies (DX9, 10 and 11). Some games are older and well known titles such as Half-Life 2 and Far Cry 2. Half-Life 2 chews through video cards at lower resolutions and even 3x1-L, but how does it scale to five and six monitors? Far Cry 2 is still tough on systems (at Ultra settings). Will it even be playable at these new configurations. I also wanted to test games that were new and demanding, so that we can begin "aging" them over time. I chose titles such as Battle Forge and the new S.T.A.L.K.E.R. demo for these reasons.

I chose games that had a built-in benchmark tool. This allows for repeatability and a relative "hands off" testing. Finally, all games must exhibit Hor+ behavior in widescreen and Eyefinity. The games I ended up testing were:

  • Batman: Arkham Asylum
  • Battle Forge
  • DiRT 2
  • Far Cry 2
  • H.A.W.X.
  • Heaven Benchmark v1
  • S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Call of Pripyat Benchmark Tool