Two cards, two dx's, two operating systems?

kobaj

kobaj

VIP Member
I have a 7600gt (pci-e), but with the increase of more power hungry games out there and most being dx10 I feel I need an upgrade of sorts. I was looking at the ATI x2***. I have a motherboard with two pci-e slots. (foxconn nf4sk8aa)

Will I be able to run my 7600gt and the x2*** at the same time (in a duel monitor type setup)?

Will I be able to run dx9 on the 7600gt and dx10 on the x2*** for different games without having to restart, change jumpers, or some other long tedious process?

Will both questions above work with vista and xp?
 
Last edited:
kobaj said:
I have a 7600gt (pci-e), but with the increase of more power hungry games out there and most being dx10 I feel I need an upgrade of sorts. I was looking at the ATI x2***. I have a motherboard with two pci-e slots. (foxconn nf4sk8aa)

Will I be able to run my 7600gt and the x2*** at the same time (in a duel monitor type setup)?

Will I be able to run dx9 on the 7600gt and dx10 on the x2*** for different games without having to restart, change jumpers, or some other long tedious process?

Will both questions above work with vista and xp?
Click to expand...

No, that's no possible you either way set 2 geforce card type or 2 ati card type and both will run at the same directx unless you have xp and other os but they'll run at the same directx installed in the os even if it's directx9
 
I had DX 9 along with DX 10 on the Vista installation here since 10 comes included in Vista. The problem there is mixing ATI catalysts and ATI drivers with NVidia drivers and softwares. That would be a direct clash! Besides with either an SLI or Crosssfire setup you need two identical cards. For two ATIs in Crpssfire you would need an ATI chipset on the board itself.
 
I don't think you can have two cards, one ATi and one nvidia plugged into the motherboard and have them working at the same time. :| What is wrong with restarting?
 
There are setups made for multiple monitors using different model cards. But on those boards either a pci model is the second or both are using make(ATI/NVidia) with the SLI mode totally disabled. Direct X becomes part of Windows so you can't separate one verion from another. Another thing to mention here is that Just about all games out at this time are still DX 9.

Newer games will come with a DX 10 installer included. On the reinstall of Vista here trying some things out with multi OSing Half Life 2 and other games have no problems with DX 10. Direct X to start off with is essentially a set of drivers for 3D rendering support installed on Windows itself. It will be some time before all new games require DX 10 as a minimum since they want to be able sell them to the majority still running XP.
 
The main problem is that you cannot have the two conflicting drivers going at the same time. You could have both without drivers or one with drivers.
 
Darn, I guess Ill let my 7600gt work as long as possible until dx10 becomes the slandered, and then get a new x2***. I guess Ill have an old 7600gt lying around. :/

Thanks. :)
 
I have an ATI card and a Nvidia card going at the same time...Took a bit to set up both drivers but once thats out of the way, it works flawlessly.
 
Really? I guess its worth a try then once I get the new card. Both are pci-e? What did you have to do to get the drivers right? But even after all that, wont dx9 and 10 still not work right and defeat the purpose?
 
diduknowthat said:
nope, one is agp and the other is pci.
Click to expand...

Those are on two different busses altogether there. Running two different makes and models on the same like would seen on an SLI setup even if not in that mode would see a direct clash of drivers and softwares alike. Even if both were the same make while different models the same catalyst(ATI) or NVidia driver/software version would be needed there. SLI and Crossfire alike mandate two identical cards.
 
Ya, I figured it was too good to be true. I knew I could run them on two different buses. My old rig had a pci card and an agp card, and I had no trouble getting the drivers working, dont know your problem. >.>

like I said, Ill see if maybe someone will buy my old card, or Ill hang onto it as a spare. :)
 
Those new Radeon cards are supposed to 12" in length. "12"s? :confused: :eek: it won't fit!" That's one other thing to consider keeping the old card onhand for just in case of...?
 
Dang, I forgot about that. My hard drive sticks out just | | that much to far, I knew I should have gone with a better case. If I do ever get the x2***, Ill just have to move my hard drive :P.
 
Move your hard drive? :confused: That should be somewhere else like the front bay or cage not right by the PCI-E slot(s). But then some people may simply cut an opening in the case to have the card fit? :confused: :eek: !
 
Alright, sorry for reviving a semi-old thread, but now Im wondering, is it possible if I were to get an 8800 and my current 7600gt and have them working together? (In a duel screen setup)
 
For SLI, Crossfire, or simply running two cards together the best move there is still going to be running either two identical or close models. Those would have to be the same type since AGP and PCI-E won't mix. You would only have one AGP slot so two AGP models are out. You don't want to back pedal to PCI do you? noooooo....! PCI-E is the main road now. But some are now having complaints about the 8800GS model when dual carding with those?!
 
First of all, why would you want to?? A DX10 card can and will play DX9 games a lot better then your 7600.
 
[-0MEGA-];619186 said:
First of all, why would you want to?? A DX10 card can and will play DX9 games a lot better then your 7600.
Click to expand...

Have room in your case for 12" R600 model? How about a Crossfire setup with two Radeon X2900s? DX10 cards will require... what? :confused: DX10 found in Vista!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top