Can I run two graphic cards in a computer

DRDNA · Jun 5, 2012, 03:55 PM

Can I run two graphic cards in a computer in non CF , non sli and have 4 monitors that will run on the two graphic cards simultaneously? Thank you TPU for any help that can be provided.

Jizzler · Jun 5, 2012, 04:04 PM

Yes.

1freedude · Jun 5, 2012, 04:04 PM

If you find the right cards (read: at least one that is single slot) you could get six monitors going, if not more.

DarkOCean · Jun 5, 2012, 04:31 PM

yes.

qubit · Jun 5, 2012, 04:43 PM

Technically yes from a hardware point of view. However, the drivers and operating system have to cooperate for it all to work properly.

slyfox2151 · Jun 5, 2012, 05:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by qubit

Technically yes from a hardware point of view. However, the drivers and operating system have to cooperate for it all to work properly.

iv never had any problems with this using cards from nvidia/amd. should be a breeze to setup.

insert card A... install drivers...
insert card B... install drivers...

reboot and done.

DRDNA · Jun 5, 2012, 05:10 PM

Thank you TPU as as usual you are correct!

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/libr...dware/gg487344 describes the WDDM support for multiple adapters/multiple monitors on page 55 where it states:
"Multiple Adapters and Multiple Monitors
Windows 7 considers all graphics adapters that are connected to the PC along with all display devices that are connected to these graphics cards. If users connect a new graphics adapter to multiple display devices, Windows 7 enables all display devices without user intervention. If users disconnect a display device from one adapter and connect it to another adapter, Windows 7 applies the existing display settings with the new adapter. In addition, the Projection shortcut key works with multiple adapters."

More importantly on page 87 it states:
"In a heterogeneous multi-adapter configuration, the PC has more than one graphics adapter and uses more than one graphics drivers. A common example is the use of graphics adapters from two different manufacturers, each of which requires a different graphics driver from the respective manufacturer.
Windows 7 supports heterogeneous multi-adapter configurations, whereas Windows Vista did not. In Windows 7, a system can have a heterogeneous multi-adapter configuration, with multiple GPUs that require different WDDM drivers. The WDDM model for Windows Vista required that all display adapters use the same driver."

Jun 5, 2012, 03:55 PM	#1
DRDNA Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: New York Posts: 4,122 (1.55/day) Thanks: 612 Thanked 494 Times in 424 Posts System Specs	Can I run two graphic cards in a computer Can I run two graphic cards in a computer in non CF , non sli and have 4 monitors that will run on the two graphic cards simultaneously? Thank you TPU for any help that can be provided. __________________ Asus P6T Deluxe Intel X58/ i7-920CO@4.2GHZ 24/7 <> CORSAIR DOMINATOR 6GB (3 x 2GB) DDR3 1600.<> ThermalTake ToughPower 1200 WATT PSU 2X ATI Radeon HD 4870 X2 2GB DDR5 <> Asetek Liquid CPU Cooling System 320GBx4 Perpendicular RAID-0/BLU-RAY/HD-DVD Reader / DVD±R/±RW Writer LG 50" 50PK550 1080p 600Hz Plasma/WestingHouse 37 inch @1920X1080/Windows 7 Pro/64

System Name:	http://www.heatware.com/eval.php?id=73751
Processor:	i7-920 CO@4.2GHZ
Motherboard:	Asus P6T Deluxe Intel X58
Cooling:	Asetek Liquid CPU Cooling System
Memory:	CORSAIR DOMINATOR 6GB (3 x 2GB) DDR3 1600
Video Card:	2X ATI Radeon HD 4870 X2 2GB DDR5 PCI-Express
Hard Disk:	(RAID-0) with 4 Identical Hard Drives (1.28TB (320GBx4)
Optical Drive:	LG BLU-RAY/HD-DVD Reader / DVD±R/±RW Writer
CRT/LCD Model:	LG 50" 50PK550 1080p 600Hz Plasma/37 Inch WestingHouse @1920x1080
Case:	Thermaltake M9 (I hate it its like trying to live in a 1 inch box)
PSU:	ThermalTake ToughPower 1200 Watt
Software:	Windows 7 professional 64

Processor:	AMD FX-8120
Motherboard:	ASRock Fatal1ty 990FX Professional
Cooling:	Scythe Ninja 3
Memory:	G.Skill DDR3-1866 8GB x 2
Video Card:	Gigabyte GTX 660 2GB
Hard Disk:	Crucial M4 128GB, WD 640GB x 4, 2TB Seagate
Optical Drive:	Asus SATA DVD-RW
CRT/LCD Model:	Asus 24" HD+ (1920x1200)
Case:	Lian Li PC-A17B
Sound Card:	Onboard
PSU:	OCZ GameXtreme 700w
Software:	Windows 7 Ultimate

Processor:	i7 920
Motherboard:	SABERTOOTH X58
Cooling:	Fans
Memory:	24 GB Kingston HyperX 1600
Video Card:	MSi GTX 260 Twin Frozr, MSI GTX 260 Max OC
Hard Disk:	spinners
Optical Drive:	LG Supermulti SATA
CRT/LCD Model:	Dell 2001F
Case:	Robela
Sound Card:	onboard
PSU:	X750
Software:	win 7 x64 pro
Benchmarks:	fast...

System Name:	( . Y . )
Processor:	e2160
Motherboard:	asus p5vd2-mx
Memory:	2gb ddr2 533
Video Card:	4850
Hard Disk:	maxtor 200gb
CRT/LCD Model:	17" lg
Case:	custom benchtable aka two piece of wood on a stick
Sound Card:	onboard
PSU:	something 600w(not really)
Software:	windows 7 x86 ha!
Benchmarks:	highest in the world...really !

Jun 5, 2012, 04:04 PM	#2
Jizzler Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Geneva, FL, USA Posts: 3,010 (1.42/day) Thanks: 567 Thanked 606 Times in 487 Posts System Specs	Yes.

Jun 5, 2012, 04:04 PM	#3
1freedude Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 452 (0.22/day) Thanks: 207 Thanked 120 Times in 90 Posts System Specs	If you find the right cards (read: at least one that is single slot) you could get six monitors going, if not more.

Jun 5, 2012, 04:31 PM	#4
DarkOCean Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: on top of that big mountain on mars(e Eu) Posts: 1,420 (0.90/day) Thanks: 39 Thanked 272 Times in 234 Posts System Specs	yes.

Jun 5, 2012, 04:43 PM	#5
qubit Overclocked quantum bit Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Quantumville UK Posts: 8,649 (4.33/day) Thanks: 4,178 Thanked 3,303 Times in 1,943 Posts System Specs	Technically yes from a hardware point of view. However, the drivers and operating system have to cooperate for it all to work properly. __________________ Siggie in the post.

System Name:	Quantumville™
Processor:	Intel Core i7-2700K at 4.7GHz (hits 5 gees+ easily)
Motherboard:	Asus P8Z68-V PRO/GEN3
Cooling:	Noctua NH-D14
Memory:	16GB (4 x 4GB Corsair Vengeance DDR3 PC3-12800 C9 1600MHz)
Video Card:	EVGA GTX 590 Classified
Hard Disk:	WD Caviar Black 640GB / WD Caviar Green 2TB x2 in mobo RAID 1
Optical Drive:	Whatever DVD drive I've chucked in there right now
CRT/LCD Model:	Asus VG278HE (144Hz, 3D Vision 2, 1080p, 27") & LG W2363D (120Hz 1080p 23")
Case:	Coolermaster HAF 922
Sound Card:	SoundBlaster X-Fi ExtremeMusic (You ever heard one of these? Wow!)
PSU:	Corsair HX850W
Software:	Window 7 Ultimate 64-bit
Benchmarks:	Yes

System Name:	MRCOMP!
Processor:	Amd 1090T @ 4200 mhz
Motherboard:	Gigabyte 890FX UD5
Cooling:	CNPS Extreme
Memory:	OCZ Reapers 1600mhz 6-8-6-24 1.65v
Video Card:	GTX560 TI 26% overclock
Hard Disk:	60GB OCZ vertex 3, 2x1TB Raid 0
Optical Drive:	NONE FTW LOL!
CRT/LCD Model:	30" LG lcd
Case:	No Case... just sitting on cardboard :D
Sound Card:	Nvida HDMI - Sony MU TE KE 7.2 1695Rms
PSU:	Silverstone 700watts.

Jun 5, 2012, 05:10 PM	#7
DRDNA Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: New York Posts: 4,122 (1.55/day) Thanks: 612 Thanked 494 Times in 424 Posts System Specs	Thank you TPU as as usual you are correct! http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/libr...dware/gg487344 describes the WDDM support for multiple adapters/multiple monitors on page 55 where it states: "Multiple Adapters and Multiple Monitors Windows 7 considers all graphics adapters that are connected to the PC along with all display devices that are connected to these graphics cards. If users connect a new graphics adapter to multiple display devices, Windows 7 enables all display devices without user intervention. If users disconnect a display device from one adapter and connect it to another adapter, Windows 7 applies the existing display settings with the new adapter. In addition, the Projection shortcut key works with multiple adapters." More importantly on page 87 it states: "In a heterogeneous multi-adapter configuration, the PC has more than one graphics adapter and uses more than one graphics drivers. A common example is the use of graphics adapters from two different manufacturers, each of which requires a different graphics driver from the respective manufacturer. Windows 7 supports heterogeneous multi-adapter configurations, whereas Windows Vista did not. In Windows 7, a system can have a heterogeneous multi-adapter configuration, with multiple GPUs that require different WDDM drivers. The WDDM model for Windows Vista required that all display adapters use the same driver." __________________ Asus P6T Deluxe Intel X58/ i7-920CO@4.2GHZ 24/7 <> CORSAIR DOMINATOR 6GB (3 x 2GB) DDR3 1600.<> ThermalTake ToughPower 1200 WATT PSU 2X ATI Radeon HD 4870 X2 2GB DDR5 <> Asetek Liquid CPU Cooling System 320GBx4 Perpendicular RAID-0/BLU-RAY/HD-DVD Reader / DVD±R/±RW Writer LG 50" 50PK550 1080p 600Hz Plasma/WestingHouse 37 inch @1920X1080/Windows 7 Pro/64

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