Dual GPUs

EVILNess · 02-22-2008, 05:12 PM

Do you have to do anything special to set up a computer to use 2 GPUs?

I got an extra nvidia 256 laying around and wanted to put it to use.

Nikose Tyris · 02-22-2008, 06:51 PM

the card has to be SLI or Crossfire compatible, I THINK, and your motherboard has to support it. check, or post the models of your junk and we'll check.

then, i dunno, we can grab a pizza while you play Oblivion or something.

Lady Cygnet · 02-22-2008, 08:12 PM

Actually, all you need is to be running windows 2000 or later and have at least 2 open PCI slots or an open PCI-E slot or open AGP slot and PCI slot.

It also depends on what you are doing, if you want to combine the two you need 2 PCI-E slots and either NVidia's SLI technology or ATI's Crossfire Technology. If you want to simply have multiple monitors, any combination of video cards will do.

NOTE : There are a few motherboards that have issues with multiple PCI Video cards. Please check with the board's maker and ensure compatibility.

Edit: This post was written by my boyfriend, The Lich/DreamLord. He's a professional computer guy, and he has yet to get his own account.

Eltargrim · 02-22-2008, 11:26 PM

By the "extra", I take it that you already have an identical card?

nVidia uses SLI, which requires the two cards to be identical. ATI's Crossfire allows for more variance, but I'm not familiar with that. Keep in mind for future upgrades that there is a strong diminishing returns effect with combining GPUs; you'll typically be better off buying one stronger card.

Lady Cygnet, get him on here! We could use a pro around

02-22-2008, 11:26 PM	#4
Eltargrim Fifty-Talents Haversham Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: FABULOUS Posts: 1,904	By the "extra", I take it that you already have an identical card? nVidia uses SLI, which requires the two cards to be identical. ATI's Crossfire allows for more variance, but I'm not familiar with that. Keep in mind for future upgrades that there is a strong diminishing returns effect with combining GPUs; you'll typically be better off buying one stronger card. Lady Cygnet, get him on here! We could use a pro around __________________ <Insert witticism here; get credit; ???; profit!>

02-22-2008, 08:12 PM	#3
Lady Cygnet Hasn't changed her avatar in years Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Beyond Thunderdome Posts: 1,234	Actually, all you need is to be running windows 2000 or later and have at least 2 open PCI slots or an open PCI-E slot or open AGP slot and PCI slot. It also depends on what you are doing, if you want to combine the two you need 2 PCI-E slots and either NVidia's SLI technology or ATI's Crossfire Technology. If you want to simply have multiple monitors, any combination of video cards will do. NOTE : There are a few motherboards that have issues with multiple PCI Video cards. Please check with the board's maker and ensure compatibility. Edit: This post was written by my boyfriend, The Lich/DreamLord. He's a professional computer guy, and he has yet to get his own account.