How do I use 2 GPU's Without Crossfire?

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harrystam

harrystam

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I run 2 large displays and use gpu demanding programs as well as doing some gaming. I'd like to dedicate one GPU to running my displays and one entirely to my programs/ games. I have no clue how to do this, though.
I know Crossfire is for essentially turning 2 GPU's into 1 for concentrated power, but I want exactly the opposite for equally distributed power.

my current GPU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150686
GPU I want to run alongside: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127884&ignorebbr=1
OR
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150733
 
Solution
jetfighter545
No, this isn't possible. Some laptop BIOS's allow this to be done with the integrated graphics and GPU, but some hefty programming has gone into it and it isn't an installable thing. You can on the other hand setup each GPU to each monitor.
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jetfighter545

jetfighter545

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No, this isn't possible. Some laptop BIOS's allow this to be done with the integrated graphics and GPU, but some hefty programming has gone into it and it isn't an installable thing. You can on the other hand setup each GPU to each monitor.
 
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megamanx00

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SLI is nvidia only. With Radeon cards it's called crossfire. Anyway if you just disable crossfire then the gpus will work independently and you can hook up different monitors to each. The game should render on whatever GPU is connected to monitor 1. What kind of setup are you thinking
 
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harrystam

harrystam

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I have 2 monitors connected to one card right now. I want and need to keep that setup.

I meant crossfire. My mistake
 
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harrystam

harrystam

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That's precisely what I want to avoid. I know crossfire dedicates both cards to a single task. I want one card for my monitors and one for my programs. I've heard of this being done before. I've just never found the instructions for it.
 
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megamanx00

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Well if you have two monitors hooked up to one GPU with crossfire enabled then both games and programs will only run off the first GPU. If you want to run something off the second GPU then you need to connect a monitor to it or enable crossfire. Otherwise all the second GPU is doing is sucking up power sitting in idle. Also you can crossfire a 370x and a 270x as they are the same GPU. The 370x is just a rebrand of the 270x which is a rebrand of the 7870
 
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harrystam

harrystam

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I'm hesitant to use crossfire because some articles say you don't get the full potential out of your new gpu. you also have to smack your cards close together causing heat issues.
I understand what you're saying, though. I have my crossfire strip in front of me and I'm just kinda curious if it's worth using.
 
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megamanx00

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It is. If you're going to buy a second 370x then using crossfire is the best way to get use out of it, otherwise there is little advantage to having those two similar cards. All I can think of is using the second to bitcoin mine while playing games on the first or running some 3d modeling or openCL program on the second card while gaming on the first which would probably generate more heat then just running in crossfire and letting you play games with higher settings.
 
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megamanx00

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If you turn on crossfire then monitors need to be connected to the first card. From my experience the second card will not output video while crossfire is enabled though I haven't tried that since I had two 3870s. It should not give you any duplicate desktop issues.
 
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madmatt30

madmatt30

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You cannuse 2 cards independently with crossfire disabled IF the monitors are plugged into both cards independantly

Monitor 1 to card 1
Monitor 2 to card 2

Whatever is displayed on each monitor will independently use that connected GPU for GPU related tasks.

You cannot connect 2 monitors to card 1 & use independent GPU processing power from GPU 2 at all with crossfire disabled.

With crossfire enabled it would share the load between 2 monitors.

I'm not convinced you can crossfire a 370 series with a 270 series - I've found no relevant info supporting this.

They are similar chipsets but not the same.

You would be 100% better off buying a 2gb 270/270x , crossfiring & limiting usage in game settings to leave more backup power for other tasks connected to the second screen


 
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harrystam

harrystam

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This was what i was hoping to read. Thank you. I guess now it boils down to what's the best GPU to crossfire with my current card.
I want to stick with the same XFX just for simplicity and the cards look awesome hahah.
Here's my search at newegg:
I'm thinking either the R9 380 or R7 370
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=Property&N=100007709%2050001402%2050001669%2050012150%20600487565%20600487564%20600565503%20600565501%204814%20600582123%20600537575%20600531760%20600473875%20600489223%20600481061%20600473876%208000%20601119284%20600100181%20600565502%20600007787&IsNodeId=1&bop=And&cm_sp=Cat_video-Cards_2-_-Visnav-_-Performance
 
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Henry_Griin

Henry_Griin

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Did you have any luck with that setup?
I tried to non-crossfire two R9 290 cards and drive dual UHD displays, one from each, but failed. It worked for about 5 minutes at a time, then system froze. It seems such setup only works if you have been kissed by a fairy godmother or something.
 
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