Non-SLI Dual GPU Setup

[Neuffexx]

I recently found my old GPU again (2080), and wondered if I can actually still make use of it in my current system so I dont have to sell it or throw it away since its still completely functional.
So I wanted to ask here, because honestly I dont even know how to search for this topic without google giving me answers related to SLI.
A) Is it even possible to use a system with two missmatching GPUs at once?
B) And if so, is there a way to actually allocate tasks between them? (i.e. use the 2080 for general applications, but use the 3070 for 3D heavy applications and games)
   - Would that be managed through windows, or maybe 3rd party tools?

I thought about this because a lot of modern games actually let you choose your prefered hardware for rendering the game, plus I used to have a gaming laptop, and that had its own integrated graphics as well as an Nvidia laptop GPU, and used to be able to select either.


I currently run a system with a 3070, Ryzen 9 5900x, MSI MPG X570 (Gaming Pro Carbon Wifi).

Would be great to know if that was possible and how, especially since I alsot thought trying to try out streaming at some point and being able to record/stream on the same system you play on sounds great.

[Eigenvektor]

36 minutes ago, Neuffexx said:

A) Is it even possible to use a system with two missmatching GPUs at once?

Yes, but not for gaming (meaning games don't benefit from it).

 

36 minutes ago, Neuffexx said:

B) And if so, is there a way to actually allocate tasks between them? (i.e. use the 2080 for general applications, but use the 3070 for 3D heavy applications and games)

There's no real point. Anything the 2080 can do, the 3070 can do better and likely while using less power. And obviously using two GPUs requires more power than one.

 

The only benefit to multiple GPUs is if you can use them at the same time in productivity tasks that support multi-GPU.

[Middcore]

Use the 3070 for games and just run the 2080 on f@h until it dies. 

[Neuffexx]

27 minutes ago, Eigenvektor said:

Yes, but not for gaming (meaning games don't benefit from it).

 

There's no real point. Anything the 2080 can do, the 3070 can do better and likely while using less power. And obviously using two GPUs requires more powers than one.

 

The only benefit to multiple GPUs is if you can use them at the same time in productivity tasks that support multi-GPU.

Well I didnt want them to be running the same application on both, nor did I want to run the games on the 2080.
The point would be to free up my 3070 from rendering other stuff, while working with my main application tasks (ex. Games, Unreal Engine, Photogrametry, etc).

For example, I am not able to play overwatch and stream at the same time in a decent quality, without the stream dying in a matter of minutes, because of an error message related to the GPU that I cant remember.
Or Unreal editor lagging because I dare having the browser open playing a youtube video while working on a level.

So besides the question "Is there a point to it?", I would love to know how that would work.

[Neuffexx]

24 minutes ago, Middcore said:

Use the 3070 for games and just run the 2080 on f@h until it dies. 

Sorry I dont really understand what you mean by "f@h"?

[Eigenvektor]

Just now, Neuffexx said:

Sorry I dont really understand what you mean by "f@h"?

https://foldingathome.org/

 

1 minute ago, Neuffexx said:

So besides the question "Is there a point to it?", I would love to know how that would work.

You install both cards into the system, install drivers that support both cards (which, at this point in time, should simply be the latest Nvidia driver). Most software should hopefully allow you to select which GPU it runs on.

[Middcore]

7 minutes ago, Neuffexx said:

Sorry I dont really understand what you mean by "f@h"?

Folding @ Home is a distributed computing project where people can use the computing power of their PCs to contribute to protein-folding simulations for medical research.

 

https://foldingathome.org/

 

You can find out more on the other subforum: https://linustechtips.com/forum/37-foldinghome-boinc-and-coin-mining/

 

[Neuffexx]

4 minutes ago, Eigenvektor said:

https://foldingathome.org/

Thats cool, didnt know that was a thing. I can defenitely run that when im out of the house.

 

4 minutes ago, Eigenvektor said:

You install both cards into the system, install drivers that support both cards (which, at this point in time, should simply be the latest Nvidia driver). Most software should hopefully allow you to select which GPU it runs on.

Interesting, glad to know its that easy to actually make use of.

Additional question, in case you know.
Is there a way to ensure the system uses a specific card by default, until otherwise specified by the software?
Nvidia control panel, in which you can specify PhysX hardware and what not, but im not familar enough to know if thats something you could do in it, or anywhere in the system really.

[da na]

You can use the 2080 for mining or rendering but can't use its power simultaneously with your new card.

[da na]

Just now, Neuffexx said:

Thats cool, didnt know that was a thing. I can defenitely run that when im out of the house.

 

Interesting, glad to know its that easy to actually make use of.

Additional question, in case you know.
Is there a way to ensure the system uses a specific card by default, until otherwise specified by the software?
Nvidia control panel, in which you can specify PhysX hardware and what not, but im not familar enough to know if thats something you could do in it, or anywhere in the system really.

Windows "Graphics settings" allows you to do that. Many games also allow you to select the graphics processor within the game.

[Neuffexx]

Got it, thanks!

[BethQuentin]

On 9/19/2024 at 12:52 PM, Neuffexx said:

Or Unreal editor lagging because I dare having the browser open playing a youtube video while working on a level.

Are you certain this is not a RAM issue? This in particular sounds like a shortage of RAM is a much more likely culprit.

 

However, yes, your idea will work. You can use nvidia control panel, or windows graphics settings, or even the settings in some apps, to decide what apps run on what card or even integrated graphics if you have that.

[Neuffexx]

14 hours ago, BethQuentin said:

Are you certain this is not a RAM issue? This in particular sounds like a shortage of RAM is a much more likely culprit.

 

However, yes, your idea will work. You can use nvidia control panel, or windows graphics settings, or even the settings in some apps, to decide what apps run on what card or even integrated graphics if you have that.

Thanks for confirming.
But no, not a ram issue, got 64gb as I knew that I would be using it for rather heavy software ahead of time, as well as wanting extra headroom for some potentially intense simulation stuff.