Does 2 Video Cards Double the VRAM?

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Voodoo8648

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If I install 2x GTX 980 Ti's (6gb VRAM) and run 1 monitor, then (in theory) is that the same as having 12GB of video memory or is the vram USAGE limited to the video card that the display is connected to?

If so, then is there anyway to plug 2 GPUs into one unit to combine the memory?


 
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It is assumed when using 2 graphics cards you are using SLI (crossfire for AMD) because simply having two cards plugged into your machine is useless. Only with SLI / crossfire will the cards communicate with each other for increased performance. So the answer is the same, you will still not be able to use a combined VRAM of both cards.

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getochkn

getochkn

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-2 cards not in SLI or crossfire with each have 6GB but won't work together.

-2 or more cards in SLL or crossfire will only have 6GB total, but will have roughly double the power.

-2 of more cards under DirectX games can work together and have their total RAM for 12GB available.


So yes, no, and not yet.
 
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fbondiskey

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No it does not, although it may be accomplished in the future in DirectX 12. However if you already have one 980 I'd wait until this feature has actually been implemented before buying the second card if you are only worried about having more VRAM
 
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Voodoo8648

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What about when using SLI?
 
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fbondiskey

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It is assumed when using 2 graphics cards you are using SLI (crossfire for AMD) because simply having two cards plugged into your machine is useless. Only with SLI / crossfire will the cards communicate with each other for increased performance. So the answer is the same, you will still not be able to use a combined VRAM of both cards.

 
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Voodoo8648

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Thank you for the contribution. I have decided to go with a GTX Titan X Hybrid. The reason behind this decision is that I believe in the mid term future, games will start requiring more than 6GB of Vram. Further, the additional money is an investment for double capacity for less than double the cost of two 980Ti's, which based on your answer, two 980ti's would not theoretically double performance (or equal the performance potential of a single Titan X (short of a Direct X 12 change).
 
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