Use 2 GPUs at the same time

erikdude27 · Jun 16, 2014

Hi there!

Atm I don't got any mini DisplayPort->VGA adapter so I have to connect 2 of my 3 monitors to dvi and hdmi on my GPU and the last monitor using VGA to my motherboard output.

I have an Intel Core i7-4770k with Intel HD Graphics 4600. Motherboard is a Gigabyte GA-Z87-DS3H rev:1.1 mobo. GPU is an MSI Radeon R9 280x 3GB.

all the monitors work but when I use all 3 - windows graphics are slow. I suspect it uses IGFX for monitors and the GPU for gaming, etc - it automatically configures.

I can't seem to find catalyst controll center either. I'm going to use Display Driver Uninstaller and then reinstall the GPU driver with just 2 monitors installed and try to set my default GPU to my radeon.

Is this possible?

thanks!
Erik

Traciatim · Jun 16, 2014

Your BIOS should have a setting to set your primary graphics card set this to be sure it's not your integrated card. You might not actually need to set it, but it's probably best to be sure anyway. As well as ensure that your primary monitor is set to one of the monitors that are plugged in to the dedicated graphics card.

Most games that don't have a way to tell it which video card to render on will just run using whatever card is set on your primary monitor.

erikdude27 · Jun 16, 2014

Traciatim :

But I can run MSI Kombustor on the monitor connected to my motherboard (not default) with perfect graphics and a perfect FPS

BleedingEdgeTek · Jun 16, 2014

Whatever monitor you're using into the motherboard will use integrated graphics, and whatever monitors you have plugged into the GPU will use the GPU.

Do you have the latest VGA driver installed for the HD 4600 graphics?

Traciatim · Jun 16, 2014

BleedingEdgeTek :

Once you get in to windows it doesn't really work that way. For instance if you launch a game on your primary monitor and it's attached to your dedicated card and that game runs in a window... then you drag that window over to the monitor that is plugged in to the iGPU you will notice that your FPS only drops very slightly. Though technically correct, that the pixels are being driven by the card the monitor is plugged in to, those are actually generated on whatever the primary card is set to and then copied over to the video card running the monitor (hence the small performance hit, but it doesn't drop like you would expect if the game itself was being played on the integrated card).

Some games also have options (like Eve for example) where you can run multiple instances and set each one to run on a specific card.

MSI Afterburner for example, I'm pretty sure you pick which card to monitor and run tests on, so that's why even though the integrated card is running the primary monitor the software is choosing the card to run on anyway.

erikdude27 · Jun 16, 2014

Traciatim :

BleedingEdgeTek :

Once you get in to windows it doesn't really work that way. For instance if you launch a game on your primary monitor and it's attached to your dedicated card and that game runs in a window... then you drag that window over to the monitor that is plugged in to the iGPU you will notice that your FPS only drops very slightly. Though technically correct, that the pixels are being driven by the card the monitor is plugged in to, those are actually generated on whatever the primary card is set to and then copied over to the video card running the monitor (hence the small performance hit, but it doesn't drop like you would expect if the game itself was being played on the integrated card).

Some games also have options (like Eve for example) where you can run multiple instances and set each one to run on a specific card.

MSI Afterburner for example, I'm pretty sure you pick which card to monitor and run tests on, so that's why even though the integrated card is running the primary monitor the software is choosing the card to run on anyway.

But isn't it possible to set windows 7 to always use my gpu for desktop performance & aero?

Traciatim · Jun 16, 2014

erikdude27 :

Traciatim :

But isn't it possible to set windows 7 to always use my gpu for desktop performance & aero?

Yes, I explained that already. I'm not sure if you have to, but ensure your BIOS is set to use your PCI-E graphics as primary, and ensure your primary monitor in windows is plugged in to the dedicated card.

erikdude27 · Jun 16, 2014

Traciatim :

erikdude27 :

Yes, I explained that already. I'm not sure if you have to, but ensure your BIOS is set to use your PCI-E graphics as primary, and ensure your primary monitor in windows is plugged in to the dedicated card.

My UEFI BIOS says PCIe is initial graphics during POST and intel graphics is enabled. There's no other options than that. Can I jump into "normal" BIOS instead of UEFI and see more options there?

Traciatim · Jun 16, 2014

erikdude27 :

Traciatim :

erikdude27 :

Yes, I explained that already. I'm not sure if you have to, but ensure your BIOS is set to use your PCI-E graphics as primary, and ensure your primary monitor in windows is plugged in to the dedicated card.

My UEFI BIOS says PCIe is initial graphics during POST and intel graphics is enabled. There's no other options than that. Can I jump into "normal" BIOS instead of UEFI and see more options there?

Nope, the UEFI and BIOS are essentially the same thing. How are your monitors plugged in and which one is the primary in windows?

erikdude27 · Jun 16, 2014

Traciatim :

erikdude27 :

Traciatim :

My UEFI BIOS says PCIe is initial graphics during POST and intel graphics is enabled. There's no other options than that. Can I jump into "normal" BIOS instead of UEFI and see more options there?

Nope, the UEFI and BIOS are essentially the same thing. How are your monitors plugged in and which one is the primary in windows?

I have 3 monitors:

Radeon GPU mobo (IGFX)
/ \ |
/ \ |
19"HP 19"PB 19" HP

erikdude27 · Jun 16, 2014

Traciatim :

erikdude27 :

Traciatim :

My UEFI BIOS says PCIe is initial graphics during POST and intel graphics is enabled. There's no other options than that. Can I jump into "normal" BIOS instead of UEFI and see more options there?

Nope, the UEFI and BIOS are essentially the same thing. How are your monitors plugged in and which one is the primary in windows?

That didn't quite work out, lol. I have 2 monitors in my GPU, 1 of them is default. I have 1 monitor plugged into my mobo, IGFX

Traciatim · Jun 16, 2014

So if you run something like Unigen Heaven do you get frame rates that are decent, or something like 5-10fps and obviously incomplete graphics?

erikdude27 · Jun 16, 2014

Traciatim :

I don't have any games as I recently reinstalled windows 7, but MSI kombustor runs perfect on all screens. I'll just pick up an Mini DisplayPort to VGA adapter later today

Search

Use 2 GPUs at the same time

erikdude27

Honorable

Traciatim

Traciatim

Distinguished

erikdude27

Honorable

BleedingEdgeTek

Reputable

Traciatim

Distinguished

erikdude27

Honorable

Traciatim

Distinguished

erikdude27

Honorable

Traciatim

Distinguished

erikdude27

Honorable

erikdude27

Honorable

Traciatim

Distinguished

erikdude27

Honorable

TRENDING THREADS

Latest posts

Moderators online

Share this page