Two Graphics Cards (again)

Toggle sidebar Toggle sidebar
D

dnaman

Honorable
Jul 24, 2013
7
0
10,510
I've looked through previous questions on this topic but haven't seen one asked in quite this fashion:

I have two OS partitions (XP and Win-8). I would like to install two graphics cards on the MB but I only want to use one card in one OS and the other card in the other OS .... the redundant card in each case can either be unrecognised or recognised but unused - as long as it doesn't interfere or affect performance.

Is that possible?
 
Solution
maddogfargo
Yes, it will work just fine.

Partition your drive, install both OSs. Then in each OS simply go into device manager and disable the card you want to be ignored. Load the drivers for the other card. Done.
Sort by date Sort by votes
MC_K7

MC_K7

Distinguished
Aug 31, 2008
1,908
0
20,460
I don't think this is possible, and even so, what would be the point of doing that???

Windows XP is a very old OS and will disappear soon. It's end of life cycle is April 1st 2014 which is in less than a year. After that, no more patches and security updates, your system will be at risk when you browse the web. This is why I wouldn't put too much effort on a XP system. Stick with just one OS instead, as you already have Windows 8. If you have older applications, you can always use compatibility mode to make them work under Windows 8.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
COLGeek

COLGeek

Cybernaut
Moderator
Apr 6, 2009
54,218
3,416
179,340
Technically, it is possible to do as the OP suggests in some instances. Really a matter of installing the needed drivers in the perspective OS installs and selecting the primary video device.

Still, I don't really see the point so I am awaiting a response by dnaman to explain further,
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
MC_K7

MC_K7

Distinguished
Aug 31, 2008
1,908
0
20,460
It might be possible from a technical standpoint. Still, I don't see the point, why can't he use just one card? Take the best card and make it work in both OS. As far as I know, all card manufacturers make drivers both for XP and Win 8 so I don't see what advantage or purpose would be to have different cards for dual boot. And as I also stated Win XP end of life is coming soon, another thing to consider.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
D

dnaman

Honorable
Jul 24, 2013
7
0
10,510


I don't follow that. Why does the hard drive affect it? These are two completely separate OS's in completely separate partitions.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
D

dnaman

Honorable
Jul 24, 2013
7
0
10,510


I was trying to avoid going into the "why" to keep focused on the issue of "how" :) but since you ask:

I want to run a simulator. My second machine is probably not up to it cpu-wise even if I install an adequate graphics card. My main machine would run it for sure but the simulator won't run with the NVidia Quadro FX4800 card on that. I don't really want to replace the Quadro card since this is primarily my CAD system. I do have XP in another partition. If I can fit a second card (probably NVidia GeForce 9800) I could run the Quadro/CAD one partition and the GeForce/simulator on the other.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
D

dnaman

Honorable
Jul 24, 2013
7
0
10,510


I guess I should have given more information .... see my reply above. Sure all card manufacturers make drivers for both XP and Win8 but not all applications work with all cards. In particular, high-end CAD programs and games tend to be fussy about what cards they will work with. The simulator simply will not work with the Quadro and I can't afford to lose half my CAD performance to run with the GeForce.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
D

dnaman

Honorable
Jul 24, 2013
7
0
10,510


Ah, the answer I was hoping for. The partitions and OS's are already there ..... I have some legacy apps that will will only run in XP ..... The GeForce card is on it's way to me and when it arrives I plan to set the driver back to a basic Windows generic in each OS. Then install the second card and disable the appropriate card in each OS. Then Install the appropriate drivers.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
D

dnaman

Honorable
Jul 24, 2013
7
0
10,510


- I need XP for legacy reasons
- I'm aware that XP is approaching end of life.
- I don't use XP for browsing the web (my hardware firewall is configured to block it).
- I have never stuck to one OS. I'm running 4 versions of windows on various machines right now not to mention the odd foray into Linux and Mac.
- No, compatibility mode will not, necessarily, allow older applications to run under Win-8 (anything like actually).

Edit: Make that 5 versions of windows - I forgot the laptop
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
K

KieranDavidW123

Honorable
Apr 28, 2013
532
1
11,060


let me put this in perspective for you, a driver is a piece of software that allows *the designated piece of hardware* to speak to the OS. In this case it is a graphics card, so the driver will be used to display the objects shown on screen, if there are 2 OS's on the SAME hard drive using 2 completely different drivers and chipsets......... Where was I?, I have no clue buddy as stupid as all of this may have sounded, take a look and figure it out for yourself.......
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
D

dnaman

Honorable
Jul 24, 2013
7
0
10,510


Tried it and it works exactly as you said. The only thing you have to ensure (which is pretty obvious I guess) is that you actually do have a monitor connected to the working-card in each OS when you enable it. (I'm sharing one monitor between the two cards using my KVM).

Thanks for your encouragement.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

Latest posts

Moderators online

Share this page

COMPANY
RESOURCES
FOLLOW
Top Bottom