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You are here: MacNN Forums > Hardware - Troubleshooting and Discussion > Mac Desktops > Does dualing the 5770 improve video performance?

Does dualing the 5770 improve video performance?
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Googer-Giger
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Sep 10, 2010, 11:49 AM
 
Hey guys, just researching Mac Pros. I want to know if dualing the ATI cards actually works like crossfire or SLI, in which the cards work together to improve video performance, or if adding another card is solely for adding another 3 displays.

If it works for video quality, I imagine the dual cards will have better performance over the single 5870, right?

Thank you, Jesse
I miss the days of the G5 and XPS Pentium 4 running side by side as high-end machines.
     
olePigeon
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Sep 10, 2010, 11:54 AM
 
Not under OS X. Neither nVidia or AMD have released SLI or Crossfire support for OS X.

However, it will work under Windows.
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Googer-Giger  (op)
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Sep 10, 2010, 11:59 AM
 
So the cards are linked via crossfire. If I use Windows 7 for all of my gaming needs, there are ATI drivers available for crossfire support, but one card is almost useless under OS X?
I miss the days of the G5 and XPS Pentium 4 running side by side as high-end machines.
     
olePigeon
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Sep 10, 2010, 12:55 PM
 
Originally Posted by Googer-Giger View Post
So the cards are linked via crossfire. If I use Windows 7 for all of my gaming needs, there are ATI drivers available for crossfire support, but one card is almost useless under OS X?
As far as I know, yes. Someone else might want to chime in.
"…I contend that we are both atheists. I just believe in one fewer god than
you do. When you understand why you dismiss all the other possible gods,
you will understand why I dismiss yours." - Stephen F. Roberts
     
Googer-Giger  (op)
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Sep 10, 2010, 02:27 PM
 
Yeah I am trying to figure out if I should go with the dual 5770's or the 5870.
I miss the days of the G5 and XPS Pentium 4 running side by side as high-end machines.
     
bdmarsh
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Sep 10, 2010, 03:22 PM
 
Go with the 5870 for performance in Mac OS X if that is a concern.

The earlier poster is correct, Crossfire or SLI has not been implemented in Mac OS X, and there hasn't been any mention of it being done in the near future.

If you won't be doing much gaming in Mac OS X then the dual 5770's for gaming in windows may be a valid option.
in Mac OS X the cards would not be working together. (it would allow you to connect up to 6 displays at once)
     
Veltliner
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Sep 11, 2010, 01:57 AM
 
What's the point of two 5770?

Three or more displays?
     
Waragainstsleep
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Sep 11, 2010, 09:40 AM
 
Does crossfire work in a Mac Pro under windows? I thought it had to be built into the motherboard as well as the cards...
I have plenty of more important things to do, if only I could bring myself to do them....
     
Googer-Giger  (op)
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Sep 11, 2010, 11:38 AM
 
Originally Posted by Veltliner View Post
What's the point of two 5770?

Three or more displays?
In Mac OS X, that is the only point.


Originally Posted by Waragainstsleep View Post
Does crossfire work in a Mac Pro under windows? I thought it had to be built into the motherboard as well as the cards...
I believe it is, the only issue is that there are simply no crossfire drivers for OS X.
I miss the days of the G5 and XPS Pentium 4 running side by side as high-end machines.
     
   
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