ATI Crossfire... for AGP as well?

[3Tripnip]

I was reading up on this ATI Crossfire stuff, and I found a link to a X850XT PE AGP card that says "Crossfire Ready". Here's the link:

X800XT PE at Newegg

I thought that Crossfire was only going to be available for PCI-E? If not, that makes me happy for sticking with my AGP based system for a while. Anyone know what's up?

-Ben

 

[Killrose]

Sorry, but you need (2) slots for (2) cards, and I don't beleive anyone makes a (2) slot AGP Motherboard, let alone a true 8x AGP with PCI-e.

 

[3Tripnip]

True, but there is nobody out there with a AGP based Crossfire board yet, correct? If there were, then there would need to be 2 AGP slots

 

[biostud]

Originally posted by: 3Tripnip
True, but there is nobody out there with a AGP based Crossfire board yet, correct? If there were, then there would need to be 2 AGP slots

which is AFAIK impossible, basically I think the "Crossfire Ready" is an error.

 

[Fenuxx]

Yeah, thats probably an error, as AGP only supports one card.

 

[HDTVMan]

Isnt ATI coming out with new motherboards too at some point? Thier own version of SLI?
Maybe it will be dual AGP instead of dual PCI-E? We all know that PCI-E is more marketing hype than required.

ATI also said you could mix and match cards too so it may be possible with 1-agp and a dare I say it PCI card non -E?

They use the external connector method instead of the bus or bridge so it could be interesting? Who knows what ATI is up to.

I recall in flight simulators ATI has a line of cards where they can use something like 8 video cards together and that was before PCI-E so some must be PCI.

Wont know until its released but good to see they are on track.

 

[imported_Kensai]

They could always do what the other companies have been doing, attaching an AGP-like connector and tagging it onto the PCI-E or PCI bus.
MSI has a rather adequate "AGR" slot tagged onto a PCI-E x2 slot. Fairly fast for most operations.

 

[3Tripnip]

Hmmmm.... it seems like there's 5 or 6 AGP X800___ cards on Newegg that say "Crossfire Ready". It'd be sweet if they went with a dual AGP setup, but I doubt they will with PCI-E getting more popular. The AGP to PCI-E connector might be what they're planning though. Have to wait and see I guess.

 

[ZobarStyl]

The only PCI-E AGP converters I've seen are for half-height cards, which makes sense because there's no real way to magically convert the slot without taking up any height. It's utter wishful thinking to imagine CrossFire on AGP. Plus, even if you converted it, you've no way to put out dual AGP boards in number, since I can't imagine there's much of a market left for 2 slots of an old standard (don't get confused, I'm on AGP, but I wouldn't think twice about getting PCI-E this time around).

 

[ryanv12]

even if it was AGP, by the time it comes out, who is going to want to buy those dinosaur non-SM3 cards? It would be a better investment to just get an R520 if they're released around the same time.

 

[3Tripnip]

Yeah. I was just thinking it'd rule cause I could hold on to my mobile 3400 A64 'Newark'... that thing is awesome. But, I'll probably go to PCI-E eventually. Crossfire definately appeals to me though. Dual water cooled VGA's.... mmmm

-Ben

 

[Killrose]

Originally posted by: HDTVMan
Isnt ATI coming out with new motherboards too at some point? Thier own version of SLI?
Maybe it will be dual AGP instead of dual PCI-E? We all know that PCI-E is more marketing hype than required.

ATI also said you could mix and match cards too so it may be possible with 1-agp and a dare I say it PCI card non -E?

They use the external connector method instead of the bus or bridge so it could be interesting? Who knows what ATI is up to.

I recall in flight simulators ATI has a line of cards where they can use something like 8 video cards together and that was before PCI-E so some must be PCI.

Wont know until its released but good to see they are on track.

True, who knows what Ati will be able to do with Crossfire? As long as they can provide at least 8xAGP support with a 16xPCI-e slot, i'd be for it. But if they are going to slow the AGP slot down to PCI speeds then forget it.

 

[Creig]

I'd be willing to bet that somebody over at Newegg did a cut/paste from a PCI-E card features description.

 

[3Tripnip]

Yeah, more than likely that's what happened. Ah well, it'd still be cool.

 

[BFG10K]

Unless ATi make a vanilla PCI version of their cards (which I doubt very much) this ain't gonna happen.

 

[gac009]

I remember I was reading an article about the new PCI-E slots and what it all meant and in it they went over the history of slots covering AGP 8x, anyway I remember they mentioned that AGP 8x can support multiple slots. So thats helps with the AGP Crossfire argument.

I personally doubt it. AGP crossfire would be cool, but I doubt it.

 

[dug777]

it would be nice...

 

[Avalon]

Originally posted by: Killrose
Sorry, but you need (2) slots for (2) cards, and I don't beleive anyone makes a (2) slot AGP Motherboard, let alone a true 8x AGP with PCI-e.

The new ULi reference board has "true" 8x AGP being on a PCI-e board

 

[Mingon]

AGP is capable of supporting 2 cards its in the spec

 

[Killrose]

Originally posted by: Avalon

Originally posted by: Killrose
Sorry, but you need (2) slots for (2) cards, and I don't beleive anyone makes a (2) slot AGP Motherboard, let alone a true 8x AGP with PCI-e.

The new ULi reference board has "true" 8x AGP being on a PCI-e board

I saw Anands preveiw of it and looks pretty nice, especially since it would extend the life of my 6800U. I am still using skt A. Will be interesting to see a reveiw when it hits the street.

 

[SynthDude2001]

Originally posted by: Killrose

Originally posted by: Avalon

Originally posted by: Killrose
Sorry, but you need (2) slots for (2) cards, and I don't beleive anyone makes a (2) slot AGP Motherboard, let alone a true 8x AGP with PCI-e.

The new ULi reference board has "true" 8x AGP being on a PCI-e board

I saw Anands preveiw of it and looks pretty nice, especially since it would extend the life of my 6800U. I am still using skt A. Will be interesting to see a reveiw when it hits the street.

Same here (Athlon XP/6800GT). Very much looking forward to see the board at retail.

 

[3Tripnip]

I'm not familiar with this, I'll have to check it out.