Graphics HD5970s in crossfire. (Possible) Stupid Question.

Have just picked up a ridiculously cheap second HD5970 on ebay to crossfire with the one currently in my setup. Do I need a connector to join the the 2 cards together, like i did with a previous sli setup? If so where can i get one from?

I've checked the ATI website and the websites of my usual retailers (Scan, Overclockers, Ebuyer) but no mention of them. I didnt get one with the fist GFX card and there was only a sli connector with the mobo.

Thanks in advance for what i suspect is a blindingly obvious answer.

 

Crossfire and SLI connectors are supplied with the motherboards if they support the technology.
What motherboard do you have, does it support crossfire?
As if i recall only the x58 chipset supports both.

 

Yes, they sometimes include them with mobos and sometimes with the cards, if your motherboard didn't come with one are you sure its capable of crossfire?
click here

If you are folding or what every your doing (hopefully not just gaming), you don't always need one.

 

The mobo is a gigabyte ex58 extreme. It is crossfire capable.

Thanks for the replies and thanks for the link.

Yes, the main purpose is gaming, used to fold but it got expensive after i killed a couple of GFX cards (Still sob just thinking about them!).

 

Out of interest, what monitor resolution are you running?

I have read that crossfire 5970's doesn't really have any benefit unless running at very high resolutions but I could be out of date on this.

Edit: here is a picture of the connector you need...

 

i have to wonder in that pic where the upper cqard is drawing it's cool air from

 

that was my first thought too...

 

Especially in that mobo! I mean, it's got more than enough PCI-E slots to keep them an extra slot or two apart.

 

Technically you don't need a crossfire bridge, but the potential performance of the cards will be severely reduced IIRC. Go get one ASAP .

 

Aren't CFX bridges delivered with every 5970? =/

 

The article that picture is from (Guru3D) does say that your case MUST have very high airflow exactly because of this.

 

I have one spare if you want.

 

The 5970 pulls its air from the back of the card through two vents. Or at least, mine does. Bear in mind that the card never uses 100% of the fan when setup automatically to keep noise down, but overriding this causes the card to stay in the 30's in terms of heat output, so an override on those two plus good airflow should be fine.

 

Thanks for the response guys.

I want the second card as im running three 1920x1200 monitors with eyefinity(5884x1200 with bezel compensation), and if i'm honest, i'm a bit of a max settings freak (I know, e-peen and all that)

I definitely didn't get a bridge with the card.

murrynt. Thanks for the offer but i've already ordered one off ebay.

As for the air flow. I'b building a custom case and plan to w/c everything, my temporary case always has the side off so no airflow issues there.

 

That's interesting and a bit disconcerting, which reseller brand was it?

 

Sapphire. Could've been unlucky with mine. When i got the card i didn't look for the bridge as i wasn't planning crossfire at the time.

 

If you're really concerened about the bridges, I believe I have 2 floating about, yours for postage.

 

I have a pair that came with my motherboard, too. I don't intend on using them any time soon.

Although soon I may have a use for them when I can finally get this money together. >.>