Dual Graphics card setup help
- Thread starter 72_lemans
- Start date
XanderCage
New Member
what u want..
what you would want is,
the same graphics card, made by the same manufacturer (i.e BFG )
even though ive heard rummors of ati cards ( same chipset ) working from different manufacturers. ( i.e Saphire + ATI )
what you would want is,
the same graphics card, made by the same manufacturer (i.e BFG )
even though ive heard rummors of ati cards ( same chipset ) working from different manufacturers. ( i.e Saphire + ATI )
The_Beast
New Member
no you can SLI an EVGA 7950GT and a XFX 7950GT, they have to be the same card and have the same amount of memory 512mb with 512mb, 256mb with 256mb, but can have different manufacturer
Last edited:
The_Beast
New Member
The_Other_One
VIP Member
You all are wrong
Memory can be mismatched. You're just limited to the amount of memory on the smallest card. http://www.slizone.com/page/slizone_faq.html
The_Other_One
VIP Member
Yeah, besides ATI, it's AGP
We all make mistakes.
Not that I'd recommend having such different cards. It just seems it's work much better with identical cards...Eh, does anyone know how this holds to crossfire?
kobaj
VIP Member
What motherboard do you have? Assuming you have an AGP card, I have never seen a duel AGP motherboard, so that root is gone, and Im just going to guess you dont have a PCI-E slot either. That leaves you with either, getting a new mobo that has two PCI-E slots, or you could get a PCI card.
Im not the expert on ATI's graphics cards, so I couldnt tell you which one to get, but Nvidia's 5700 I think was the last greatest card they made that was PCI.
I am a little fuzzy on this part though, are you trying to run it in SLI? ATI doesnt do SLI. Crossfire doesnt work with AGP either.
If you where trying SLI, its already been stated they need to be similar. Im not sure, but I think Crossfire has to have a special 'main card' and then a special 'secondary'.
With just a PCI card you can mix and match all you want, have as many as you have PCI slots, and they would all work fine.
Im not the expert on ATI's graphics cards, so I couldnt tell you which one to get, but Nvidia's 5700 I think was the last greatest card they made that was PCI.
I am a little fuzzy on this part though, are you trying to run it in SLI? ATI doesnt do SLI. Crossfire doesnt work with AGP either.
If you where trying SLI, its already been stated they need to be similar. Im not sure, but I think Crossfire has to have a special 'main card' and then a special 'secondary'.
With just a PCI card you can mix and match all you want, have as many as you have PCI slots, and they would all work fine.
72_lemans
New Member
I'm going to be getting a new MoBo this week. I am just looking at my options at the moment. No, I'm not thinking about SLI. But What about the PCI-E slots? What would they allow me to do, use 2 different types of graphics cards (i.e. AGP and PCI)?
kobaj
VIP Member
There are two graphics slots, PCI-E and AGP, but AGP is slowly dying since its old technology and faster speeds can be found using PCI-E. Im sure you know about plain ol' PCI though, which is just an exspansion slot for sound cards/network cards/etc, there are also graphics cards for PCI.
With your new motherboard, most now a days come with PCI-E only. Meaning your going to need a new graphics card alongside the mobo. Although there are some mobos that still have AGP. So you can make a choice, choose a mobo that has the new standard, is upgradable, but costs more because you will need a new card(PCI-E). Or get a mobo that will work with the card you have now(AGP). Either way, you can alwase get more PCI graphics cards.
If you go the PCI-E route, some of the newer mobos have two PCI-E slots, allowing you to have two cards (plus however many PCI graphics cards), and you dont have to put them in SLI/crossfire (or you could if you wanted...). Or you can get a Single PCI-E slot and card (plus however many PCI graphics cards) .
AGP mobos usualy only have one slot so only one card (plus however many PCI graphics cards).
Sounds a little confusing after rereading it, but I think you can get the gist.
With your new motherboard, most now a days come with PCI-E only. Meaning your going to need a new graphics card alongside the mobo. Although there are some mobos that still have AGP. So you can make a choice, choose a mobo that has the new standard, is upgradable, but costs more because you will need a new card(PCI-E). Or get a mobo that will work with the card you have now(AGP). Either way, you can alwase get more PCI graphics cards.
If you go the PCI-E route, some of the newer mobos have two PCI-E slots, allowing you to have two cards (plus however many PCI graphics cards), and you dont have to put them in SLI/crossfire (or you could if you wanted...). Or you can get a Single PCI-E slot and card (plus however many PCI graphics cards) .
AGP mobos usualy only have one slot so only one card (plus however many PCI graphics cards).
Sounds a little confusing after rereading it, but I think you can get the gist.
bumblebee_tuna
New Member
Well, technically you can have two differnt video cards on one mobo but it won't be in SLI/Crossfire......
72_lemans
New Member
Ok, I have another question that I'll just put here. I was talking to some people today and they don't think that I should have any problems with just the current video card, since all that I want to run is Morrowind, AOE III, and all of the C&C games. Are they correct? Because if they are, that would save me a lot of confusion and money.
kobaj
VIP Member
Ya, Ive learned in life Im horrible at explaining things . I figured I would give it a shot. Let me try again, if not, somebody else can answer.
Yes, your graphics card can run those games. Your graphics card is a little out of date, but thats perfectly fine for those games UNLESS you plan to upgrade in the future. If you do plan to stick with that card, there is no point in getting a new motherboard. Most new motherboards dont support your graphics card anyway (which is socket AGP).
I suggest you stick with the card and motherboard you have now, and just get a second PCI graphics card.
Wait untill your ready to upgrade your graphics card and motherboard AND (most likely) your processor.
. I figured I would give it a shot. Let me try again, if not, somebody else can answer.Yes, your graphics card can run those games. Your graphics card is a little out of date, but thats perfectly fine for those games UNLESS you plan to upgrade in the future. If you do plan to stick with that card, there is no point in getting a new motherboard. Most new motherboards dont support your graphics card anyway (which is socket AGP).
I suggest you stick with the card and motherboard you have now, and just get a second PCI graphics card.
Wait untill your ready to upgrade your graphics card and motherboard AND (most likely) your processor.
72_lemans
New Member
Ya, Ive learned in life Im horrible at explaining things
Yes, your graphics card can run those games. Your graphics card is a little out of date, but thats perfectly fine for those games UNLESS you plan to upgrade in the future. If you do plan to stick with that card, there is no point in getting a new motherboard. Most new motherboards dont support your graphics card anyway (which is socket AGP).
I suggest you stick with the card and motherboard you have now, and just get a second PCI graphics card.
Wait untill your ready to upgrade your graphics card and motherboard AND (most likely) your processor.
Well, I was just wondering since I have to get a new mobo anyway. I was thinking of graphics cards while I was at it, but I was kind of hoping that I could keep this one since it was brand new when my mobo fried, and it hasn't been used since.
I'm getting a new mobo installed next weekend. I'm replacing whatever can't be reused or isn't able to perform up to specs for my games. So the processor is going to be new as well as RAM etc.
fade2green514
Active Member
yea SLI you just need the same GPU (they have drivers that work with different manufacturers and even different memory sizes)
and ATI you need to have the crossfire edition and then a card of the same series (i.e. x1950 with x1950 crossfire edition or x1800 with x1800 crossfire edition) if you've got an x1900 crossfire edition, you'll want to pair that with an x1900xt x1900xtx x1900pro so on and so forth...
first and foremost though, make sure your motherboard supports crossfire or SLI!
and ATI you need to have the crossfire edition and then a card of the same series (i.e. x1950 with x1950 crossfire edition or x1800 with x1800 crossfire edition) if you've got an x1900 crossfire edition, you'll want to pair that with an x1900xt x1900xtx x1900pro so on and so forth...
first and foremost though, make sure your motherboard supports crossfire or SLI!