Is running 2 graphics cards possible on this PC?

rosco1502 · Nov 13, 2013

Hello, I recently found a second graphics card slot in my computer, and I'm wondering if I can run two graphics cards at the same time. I looked around the site but they all mention SLI or CrossFire, but I just want to have 3 monitors.

I'm currently using a NVIDIA GeForce GT 630 graphics card, but I would want it to run with a
ATi Radeon HD3650 (The one I want) or a XFX GM210XYAF2 GeForce 210
(Don't really want to run, but I will if the other one isn't compatible ).

My Computer

Lenovo ideacentre K430 (more details upon request)

Specks

GPU: GeForce GT 630
CPU: Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-3770 CPU @ 3.40GHz
Memory: 15.96 GB
Current resolution: 1920 x 1080, (60Hz)
Driver version: 320.49
OS: Microsoft Windows 8

Note : I feel like I'm missing something, if so just ask please.

Thanks!

~ Bradley

rgd1101 · Nov 13, 2013

most of the time it need same model.

JohnPMyers · Nov 13, 2013

Yes you can run 2 GPUs at the same time. The purpose of SLI and Crossfire is it combines 2 to 4 GPUs to work on the same thing together at the same time, however you can only use SLI or Crossfire with GPUs of the same model.

If your GPUs do not need to be combined to increase game performance, etc, that will still work. The only catch is if you use a GPU from Nvidia and one from AMD, you cannot use Windows Vista as it only support 1 graphics driver at a time.

Personally, i have 1 computer with 4 GPUs, and none of the 4 are the same model. It's meant for workstation use though, not gaming.

Edit: another note, if you're not concerned with SLI or Crossfire, you can install up to 8 GPUs in a single computer, provided your motherboard has enough slots to attach them (Note that dual GPU cards, such as a 7990 or GTX 690 will count as 2 GPUs towards this total, even though it uses only 1 slot).

rosco1502 · Nov 13, 2013

JohnPMyers :

Yes you can run 2 GPUs at the same time. The purpose of SLI and Crossfire is it combines 2 to 4 GPUs to work on the same thing together at the same time, however you can only use SLI or Crossfire with GPUs of the same model.

If your GPUs do not need to be combined to increase game performance, etc, that will still work. The only catch is if you use a GPU from Nvidia and one from AMD, you cannot use Windows Vista as it only support 1 graphics driver at a time.

Personally, i have 1 computer with 4 GPUs, and none of the 4 are the same model. It's meant for workstation use though, not gaming.

Edit: another note, if you're not concerned with SLI or Crossfire, you can install up to 8 GPUs in a single computer, provided your motherboard has enough slots to attach them (Note that dual GPU cards, such as a 7990 or GTX 690 will count as 2 GPUs towards this total, even though it uses only 1 slot).

Ok, but if I use two would it decrease the gaming/speed performance of the original graphics card? Thanks for the reply!

JohnPMyers · Nov 13, 2013

If you use 2 that are not the same model, but are both Nvidia, you cannot SLI, but you can set one dedicated to PhysX processing which can help speed things up in games. Otherwise having 2 GPUs that are not in SLI or Xfire will not speed up or slow down your games.

Also i'm not sure why you'd want a GT 210 or ATI 3650, since both of those are way way way slower than a GT 630, which isn't all that fast itself, but it's your call

rosco1502 · Nov 13, 2013

JohnPMyers :

This answers my question, Thanks!!!

. Yeah those drives SUCK

but it will allow me to have up to 4 monitors.

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