AMD Crossfire with R9-295X2

[Captain Orso]

I've built a new system with a Sapphire R9-295X2 graphics card. I have the latest Catalyst Control Center sw installed (15.20) and I've created a profile for DCS.exe.

 

I've tried every "AMD CrossFireX™ Mode" available, but I cannot get the 2nd GPU to run in a mission. The funny thing is that it runs in the menu, mission editor, etc. and I get the AfterBurner overlay showing the usage percentage for each GPU, but when I start a mission the Crossfire icon doesn't appear in the upper right corner, the Afterburner overlay disappears, and AfterBurner shows in hte performance recording that the 2nd GPU is being idle.

 

The 1st GPU is running at 100% nearly all of the time, so it's not an issue of it not being necessary to fire up the 2nd GPU.

 

Does anybody have a tip?

[Oldguy]

Well, I just retired my XFX R9 295X2 because of AMD driver weaknesses, so I have some experience with the card; what power supply do you have running it?

 

How does that PS compare to your overall system needs, all PC equipment included in your calculations?

 

Perhaps the system is simply throttling the second GPU when the power demand is too great.

 

I ran mine, with an FX9590, using a 1200W PCP&C PS, and I had no issues with it, neither with power or cooling.

 

But I am selling them both off, actually.

 

What frame-rate do you get with just one core running?

[BitMaster]

Well, with 1.5 in the mail I would just wait for the postman and check again with 1.5 ;)

[*Rage*]

I've built a new system with a Sapphire R9-295X2 graphics card. I have the latest Catalyst Control Center sw installed (15.20) and I've created a profile for DCS.exe.

 

I've tried every "AMD CrossFireX™ Mode" available, but I cannot get the 2nd GPU to run in a mission. The funny thing is that it runs in the menu, mission editor, etc. and I get the AfterBurner overlay showing the usage percentage for each GPU, but when I start a mission the Crossfire icon doesn't appear in the upper right corner, the Afterburner overlay disappears, and AfterBurner shows in hte performance recording that the 2nd GPU is being idle.

 

The 1st GPU is running at 100% nearly all of the time, so it's not an issue of it not being necessary to fire up the 2nd GPU.

 

Does anybody have a tip?

 

Current DCS does not support xfire. DCS 1.5 which is about to be released imminently will. You should get full utilisation then .

[Captain Orso]

Well, I just retired my XFX R9 295X2 because of AMD driver weaknesses, so I have some experience with the card; what power supply do you have running it?

 

How does that PS compare to your overall system needs, all PC equipment included in your calculations?

 

Perhaps the system is simply throttling the second GPU when the power demand is too great.

 

I ran mine, with an FX9590, using a 1200W PCP&C PS, and I had no issues with it, neither with power or cooling.

 

But I am selling them both off, actually.

 

What frame-rate do you get with just one core running?

 

Hi Oldguy, thanks for replying.

 

I've added my system specs to my signature. Short answer PS: Corsair AX860i.

 

I'm sure the PS is not the issue. While in the Launcher.exe (first page after starting DCS-World) is running, I get the Crossfire icon displayed in the upper right corner and the AfterBurner overlay is displayed showing the GPU usage for each GPU, which is how I have AfterBurner configured.

 

It's only once DCS.exe takes over--after selecting a mission and starting it (that's when display drops to the desktop and then the splash-screen with the cockpit view from some tail-burner opens)--that the icon disappears and I lose the AfterBurner overlays, but also in the AfterBurner recording I see that GPU2 usage goes to 0% at exactly that time.

 

Also, I can run Crossfire in BF4--we all have our little vices --without issue.

 

I built the system specifically with 'DCS-World 2' in mind and from all the research I managed to do it should work very well with DCS2, but only if Crossfire gets both GPU's firing :cry:.

 

At the moment GPU1 is running at 100% practically all of the time. With quality screwed back a lot in single-player I get about 20-25 FPS on the ramp and up to about 60 in the air, if I'm high enough.

 

In multiplayer on the 9./JG27 Fighting Legends server, it's generally about 25% worse. The surest I can know somebody is stalking me, and they always are :huh:, is that FPS starts to drop, and at times it's dropped to 5 FPS and even worse. Just impossible to fly let alone fight :(.

[Captain Orso]

Current DCS does not support xfire. DCS 1.5 which is about to be released imminently will. You should get full utilisation then .

 

LOL, well I've managed to get posts crossed with this.

 

Thanks for the answer Rage. I thought I saw some references to others using Crossfire, or at least SLI.

 

I guess I'll just have to wait and see how things go with DCS2 .

[Abburo]

We all will have our best use of multi GPU processing starting with 1.5 ... just hold on few more hours until its beta release :D

AMD cards will be just fine... I am sure about it ;)

[SkateZilla]

1.2.x will not use the 2nd GPU efficiently, if at all, I can force 1.2 to use it, but the scaling is spoofed.

 

wait for 1.5

[Oldguy]

I read in the notes for the upcoming 1.5 that DCS 1.2 uses two separate executables for UI and the actual game world; probably why you see the change in overlay icon when you launch.

 

ED says that 1.5 is a single executable, so if it does, indeed, use two GPUs, then you should be in good order.

 

BTW, I shifted to an aircooled EVGA GTX 970 SC, and the 1.5 open-beta gives wonderful frame-rates.

 

Have you tried it with your R9?

 

(If DCS does actually work with SLI/Crossfire, I may ressurrect that video card.)

 

AMD drivers are my problem: other game programs tap both R9 cores, but they don't like the AMD Crossfire, which results in lots of micro-stutters; all of which are gone with my Nvidia card.

[*Rage*]

LOL, well I've managed to get posts crossed with this.

 

Thanks for the answer Rage. I thought I saw some references to others using Crossfire, or at least SLI.

 

I guess I'll just have to wait and see how things go with DCS2 .

 

So how is it? Does crossfire work? Im looking to upgrade!

[geloxo]

As far as 1.5 supports directx 11 crossfire works. I own a 295x2 and it's perfect now with 1.5 and getting a massive performance and smoothness improvement. Remember to run DCS in fullscreen.

[MegOhm_SD]

Perfect huh? Please describe perfect with your settings.

I have the R9 295x2. Was not perfect 1st pass, but 1.5 OB is running really well now with the

Extreme G 15.7 drivers. All maxed.

 

Now that 1.5 OB is public, it would be nice if the testers with AMD Cards and or Crossfire would share their experiences and settings.

Edited October 17, 2015 by MegOhm_SD

[geloxo]

I run all settings maxed at 1920x1080 (single 144Hz screen). Only thing I had to turn off was motion blur as it dropped my fps to 40. Tested with latest beta drivers and DCS 1.5 OB recently. So far so good except that MP crashes after 5-10 minutes but this seems to be an issue to other players as well as far as I have read. Average 70fps stable with Vsync on. Just left default crossfire profile active and frame pacing on.

 

DCS prior to beta was unplayable for me (20 fps). DX11 usage was a lifesaver to me.

[blkspade]

I run all settings maxed at 1920x1080 (single 144Hz screen). Only thing I had to turn off was motion blur as it dropped my fps to 40. Tested with latest beta drivers and DCS 1.5 OB recently. So far so good except that MP crashes after 5-10 minutes but this seems to be an issue to other players as well as far as I have read. Average 70fps stable with Vsync on. Just left default crossfire profile active and frame pacing on.

 

DCS prior to beta was unplayable for me (20 fps). DX11 usage was a lifesaver to me.

 

Is that with or without mirrors, on or close to the ground? I have a R9-290 at 1440P 2xAA and get 70+ except with mirrors on at the airfield. Mirrors on in 1.5 performs a little bit better than mirrors off in 1.2.