14 DAY TRIAL // Advanced Micro Devices' CrossfireX technology seems to be the next best thing after Intel's 45-nanometer quad-core CPUs. However, it is folded in some sort of mystery veil, since the technology exists, but is not currently available, because it has no driver support yet.
However, as the 8.3 version of ATI's Catalyst driver pack gets closer, more details about the CrossFireX technology are leaking out, to the enthusiasts' delight. The picture is as you would have expected: four graphics processors that can be mixed in some odd kind of "GPU salad". Of course, there is a drawback, but we'll discuss about bad things later in this article.
CorssFireX will become available really soon, namely in March, as the minor version of the Catalyst shows (the .03 part). Today is an important date for AMD's graphics division, as the 8.02 version of the driver pack has just been launched. This is the last distribution that will come without quad-GPU support. Moreover, the March availability oddly coincides with the upcoming CeBIT show.
The new technology will allow users to build 2, 3 and even 4 GPU links, in order to properly scale the amount of needed graphics power. The most important part is the fact that not all the used GPUs have to be the same, as in the dual-channel memory setups. However, the fastest GPU will tune in the lowest GPU frequency available in the CrossFireX setup, but the memory speeds will be preserved. Anyway, expect some FPS bursts, given the fact that the second card will be forced to wait once in a while, because of memory disparity, but it won't be as disturbing as it might seem.
One of the most important questions targets the R680/3870X2 dual-chip configuration. Yes, the dual-chip card will also allow the user mix other GPUs in the CrossFireX setup, given the fact that the system perceives the X2 card as 2x 3870 graphics cards. Add yet another 3870 GPU and you'll have a triple-3870 link to work at three times the clock rate of a single 3870 GPU.
The bad news is that, if you are running Windows XP, you can wave goodbye to the CrossFire X technology. AMD will have to write the CrossFireX from scratch in order to port it on Windows XP, although this is doubtful, as XP will soon begin its phasing out.