AMD Llano/HD6670 Dual Graphics Performance Test Review - PAGE 4

Nice review Carl.

I am actually impressed the performance increase was so good when the two were combined

I was wondering about that. I saw a laptop in Wal-Mart with an A8 and I can't remember, but I think it said A8-6550 and had the 6550 GPU. Didn't know it had a GPU on the CPU die.

Actually I have this two items and crossfiring them didn't improved graphics at all. In fact the video quality and in-game FPS was reduced as if I was using the APU integrated graphics only. Could this be a problem of drivers? Note that I've installed latest drivers from AMD (12.8 and 12.9 cat1).

Here's my rig specs:

Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-A75-D3H
Processor: AMD A8-3850 (with integrated HD6550 graphics)
Memory: 8Gb Kingston 1600MHz
Video: Gigabyte Radeon HD6670 1GB DDR3 128-bit
HDD: WD 500Gb 7200Rpm
PSU: Inter-Tech Energon 550W

I would be very grateful for a helpful reply.

Cheers.

quote boggy_b1

Actually I have this two items and crossfiring them didn't improved graphics at all. In fact the video quality and in-game FPS was reduced as if I was using the APU integrated graphics only. Could this be a problem of drivers? Note that I've installed latest drivers from AMD (12.8 and 12.9 cat1).

Here's my rig specs:

Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-A75-D3H
Processor: AMD A8-3850 (with integrated HD6550 graphics)
Memory: 8Gb Kingston 1600MHz
Video: Gigabyte Radeon HD6670 1GB DDR3 128-bit
HDD: WD 500Gb 7200Rpm
PSU: Inter-Tech Energon 550W

I would be very grateful for a helpful reply.

Cheers.

Hi boggy,

You may have to enable it via the Catalyst Control Panel. Also, make sure your monitor is plugged in the motherboard video output.

Here's what I've done step by step:

With the 6670 not plugged in I've setup BIOS to use the primary display graphics ONBOARD
- Installed the latest AMD Catalyst (12.8)
- Plugged in the discreet card and swiched monitor cable from onbord DVI to the dedicated DVI
- Enabled in Catalys the AMD Dual Graphics option (there is no Crossfire option only this one)

After I've read some opinions I found out that monitor should be in onbord port as you also mentioned and I've changed it then disabled and re-enabled dual graphics.
Here's a printscreen:

In your article there is a chart with tests on non DX11 games, as this chart reflects exactly what is happening to my crossfire setup I've thought the game I played (Battlefiled 3, multiplayer) does not support the DX11, but it does.
Could it be that I don't have the DX11 installed or enabled somehow?

Also, someone told me that the APUs low bandwidth could slow the dedicated GPU down. That's why the dual graphics works poorly.
Is this possible?

quote boggy_b1

In your article there is a chart with tests on non DX11 games, as this chart reflects exactly what is happening to my crossfire setup I've thought the game I played (Battlefiled 3, multiplayer) does not support the DX11, but it does.
Could it be that I don't have the DX11 installed or enabled somehow?

Also, someone told me that the APUs low bandwidth could slow the dedicated GPU down. That's why the dual graphics works poorly.
Is this possible?

Have you tested with many games? As you can see in my article, some do not show performance gains. In my case, it was Street Fighter IV. I suggest you test with the Unigine Heaven benchmark to see if your scores are similar.

Even though you use slower RAM than our test setup, you should still see the benefits of dual-GPU.

What I would like to see in the future is if they used the same architecture in their IGP as they do in the entire GPU line up so it could be paired with any card (x600 to x900 series) that way anyone looking for a chip to 'augment' their performance would consider the APU as a serious gaming alternative.