Asus Crosshair IV Extreme
Lucid Hydra - An Overview
Published: 30th September 2010 | Source: Asus | Price: ~£250 |
Lucid Hydra 200 Series
Before I get started, I wanted to summarise Lucid Hydra in a few words.
At present, ATi and nVidia incorporate a similar means of implementing Multi GPU technology - Alternate Frame Rendering (AFR). As the name suggests, each graphics card is responsible for the rendering of each frame in a game. It may sound crude and in fairness it does sound a little primitive. Obviously the implementation works well but it isn't flawless either.
Lucid's implementation is a lot more complex. The Hydra processing unit is designed to link with either the northbridge or processor. While the approach requires a dedicated Lucid chip, it also requires a very clever driver. Normally, the graphics card's driver would handle Direct X and OpenGL commands, but instead Mr Lucid acts as a middle man. The software carefully considers the power required for each command, then appropriately balances the load between each graphics card. It should be mentioned that Lucid splits the same frame and recompiles it.
On paper it sounds like a solid concept and our previous experience with it reveals respectable performance gains.
So what's in it for you?
In the past, we have already worked on motherboards featuring Lucid Hydra technology. However, most implementations that we have seen are used to make the northbridge’s PCI-Express functionality redundant. Usually, this is because previous Lucid boards have utilised relatively entry level chipsets which lack in the PCI-E lane department anyway. This is where the Crosshair IV Extreme stands out.
So what exactly does Lucid Hydra bring to the table?
With the exception of “hacked” SLI drivers, the only way to go about a SLI setup on Socket AM3 was to buy into relatively unpopular nVidia 980a MCP core logic. Quite predictably, if you decide to follow that route you can forget about using ATi’s CrossfireX technology. You simply cannot win… until now.
Lucid’s Multi GPU implementation is entirely independent of the core logic and graphics cards that it must interface with. This means the technology can be deployed on most chipsets but can also leverage the power of multiple ATi, nVidia and Mixed GPU configurations.
What I have said thus far applies to all Lucid equipped motherboards. However, Asus’ design offers a greater level of flexibility.
As shown above, the Crosshair IV Extreme allows the end user to harness the 890FX’s native 16x/16x lane CrossfireX, any of Lucid’s Dual/Triple/Quad configurations…or both. As Lucid Hydra is (by comparison to SLI/Crossfire) in its infancy, it could well be the case that a particular ATi Multi GPU arrangement might perform better with Crossfire’s proven “Alternate Frame Rendering” technique. At any rate, the ability to use either technology is very useful indeed.
Also note that even with Lucid operation, the CH4E always draws one 16x lane to the primary graphics card. Meanwhile Lucid pulls another 16x lane to handle the rest of the graphics cards in the configuration. In effect, the Crosshair IV Extreme has more PCI-Express lanes to play with, compared to previously reviewed samples such as the MSI 870A FUZION Power Edition.
Note that 4 way Lucid "A" and "N" modes will be available with a driver shortly.
Upon face value, it seems clear that the Crosshair IV Extreme has an incredibly flexible Multi GPU arrangement, which should suit every enthusiast’s needs.
Most Recent Comments
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Originally Posted by tinytomlogan
At last, it's finally here. After four weeks of examining Asus' flagship AMD motherboard, what do we think of it? Continue Reading |
man i realy wished this performed better its a shame tho
I mean sure, if you are a gadget freak then it may appeal to you, but the bottom line on a board of this cost is function. Function should come over form as it does with the MSI.
Yet it wasn't even able to match the MSI's bottom line function.
So all of the stick on tat does very little if it is being compared to what I would call a budget board.
It was the same with my CHII ROG. Loads of stupid tat (The LED poster for one) that was fun for about five minutes and then got old fast. The only thing I really liked on that board that explained away the premium price was the cmos reset on the IO shield - that was bloody marvellous. But the rest? I ended up disconnecting the LED poster after about six boots never to use it again.
And then I got my M3A32 deluxe wifi which was also a very expensive board, yet doesn't have any silly bits on and has far more to offer in the way of function.
Again I suppose Asus are going to cater to many people with this board, but what with this, the Ares, the Mars II (if it ever comes along) and that add in board previewed today I just worry sometimes that they are being a bit over indulgent and started to fritter away their successes on stupid stuff.
It's all starting to seem a little... How do you say it?... EVGA.
Sorry if I sound harsh or pessimistic, I am only thinking aloud. But I think this time MSI have shown that stuff like this and EVGA boards are all rather pointless.
Thanks ever so much as ever for the reviews guys.
Great review, shame about the price. The formula looks like the best option for those needing multi GPU lanes or the MSI for rampant overclockers.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but this board has taken a LONG time to come to market, and in the previews we've actually seen various heatsink designs fitted. Why oh why did they decide that this one was the best? Looking at how it's put together, I'm almost certain a better heatsink would deal with things much more effectively anyway. Perhaps they could have bundled an add-on fan for low airflow environments (read watercooling etc) that wasn't as small any whiny and above all, not necessary for most.
The performance also seems a bit of a let down for such an expensive piece of kit. You talk about it perhaps being good for extreme overclockers, but if you look at all the features on this board, perhaps it's not aimed at them, but more at the feature nuts who want to control their board with bluetooth and run mixed cards just because they can. Some of the sentiments in this thread seem to be that the RoG boards are almost gimmicky and don't have the performance to match, especially the AMD ones. There must be an element of truth in that.
Speaking of AMD, the only massive advantage this board has is SLI I would think. You could change to a hex core and run your 460 SLI etc if you wanted to. It does seem AMD have made some headway to Intel on the CPU front, but they're still not there yet. I think you may be right that they're not extracting everything from the multi-gpu setup, but the reason is unclear. Hopefully it is just drivers as you say. I guess we'll see as the Lucid chips mature. You can't ignore the major selling point for AMD kit though. You get most of the performance and all the high end features you want for a fraction of the price. It's nice to have a top end board to play with (I have the Crosshair III Forumula) rather than a run of the mill. Still, I understand that's not everybody's cup of tea, but it makes extreme overclocking with all the bells and whistles (and bluetooth overclocking!) a bit more accessible.
Disappointed that after a massive wait this board is a bit of a flop? Yes. Would I still like to play with it and clock the nuts off my AM3 chip with my phone? Almost certainly!
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Originally Posted by alexhull24
Speaking of AMD, the only massive advantage this board has is SLI I would think. |
I've not tried it (obviously) but there are videos doing the rounds on Youtube ETC.
Just in the process of watching your video Tom..
I think the difference with the results over the P55 and the AMD set is the bios. Well, not strictly the bioses but the drivers communicating with the ports.
The P55 (IIRC) already allows SLI and Crossfire.. Let me check that... Yes it would seem it does. And maybe this has made it easier to integrate the Lucid chip into those boards?
Moving onto your MSI comment about how it was faster? Well, MSI have more experience with the Lucid IMO. Thus they know how to integrate it better and how to work their bios possibly? Where as Asus have never tried it before?
Things could well improve with bios updates....
I do really appreciate your honesty over it all. Most would get all excited and say how wonderful it was, but this is very misleading and can cause people to waste money. What I really respect from you guys is the fact that Asus are good to OC3D and supply us with some of the most droolworthy items, yet, there is no favoritism when reviewing their products.
I also really appreciate how you have demonstrated just how much bum that fan sucks. Most wouldn't give a crap about that noise, but times are a changing and that noise is just not acceptable any more. I know a good few people who bought the EVGA 790i board and that too had a woefully loud and obnoxious northbridge fan. The workaround was to cable tie a 92mm fan on to quieten it down, yet, not a single review mentioned this. It seems that some people think that just because a product is expensive and top of the range that it can be loud and no one should care. Olbocks !
*Hi Emma !*
Once again I appreciate your videos, your honesty and this site's integrity on being truthful and honest !
I mean, it is obviously down to the drivers, as it could be that the drivers need to be completely and utterly different to do what they do on an ATI/AMD set. Communciation between the lanes is handled by the bios at a low level IIRC via the northbridge so it may take Lucid/Hydra time to sort this out. Or, it could even be the actual bios itself?
But yes, those scores look utterly cack.
I don't see the difference in price between the formula and extreme though. With all the extras I could understand £50, but £100 is excessive really.
It greatly leaves me questioning the worthiness of even the Formula as it has overheating problems on the north bridge. With all the hype everything has now come to a grinding halt and fallen flat on it's face.
Why on earth did they not stick with some of the early passive heatsinKS which looked far better and were dead silent to boot.
Oh The decisions!
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Originally Posted by AMD_PBz
I officially feel cheated and let down greatly by ASUS It greatly leaves me questioning the worthiness of even the Formula as it has overheating problems on the north bridge. With all the hype everything has now come to a grinding halt and fallen flat on it's face. Why on earth did they not stick with some of the early passive heatsinKS which looked far better and were dead silent to boot. Oh The decisions! |
And what the heck is the deal with lucid working better with intel, jesus...
Long story short, the fan is not a necessity. While previous ROG packages offered an optional bolt on fan, the Extreme has one prefitted on the grounds of space saving. The fan is orientated towards those who run their systems under conditions with minimal case airflow (i.e.- open test bench and/or watercooled). It is only fair that we mention the reasoning behind the fan implementation, but our personal opinions remain unchanged.
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