Do I need an SLI/Crossfire capable MB to run a Quadro card and a regular GPU?

[Eventorizon]

Hi All

 

Its all in the title really. I am designing my first machine with both a GTX 970 and a PNY Quadro K620 for gaming and CAD work.

Given in many MB's, when running SLI or Crossfire, the MB drops the PCIe setup from one 16x lane to two 8x lanes, do I need a board that is technically capable of dual GPU's or do I just need a board with one 16x and one 8x?

 

I cant see the Quadro using the entire 16x bandwidth in the same way dual GPUs are quite happy with 8x and don't suffer from not using a full 16x slot, but I have no idea.

 

As an example, could I use a Asus Z97-P or would I have to go with something like the new Asus Z97 PRO GAMER?

 

Thanks, Eventorizon

[Archangel1994]

Nope, SLI is only for gaming

[Pugs501]

Nope, SLI is only for gaming

Really?  I thought you could use it for 3D Modeling/Rendering?

[Archangel1994]

Really?  I thought you could use it for 3D Modeling/Rendering?

I do believe you don't need SLI to use in CUDA acceleration (That way you can have a tons of 750Ti's for cheap CUDA acceleration )

[flibberdipper]

Nope. Hell, I run the Intel iGPU for QuickSync, my R7950 for my main monitor, and then my GTX 480 for auxiliary monitors.

[soaringchicken]

I don't think you need sli/crossfire capability for that

[Oshino Shinobu]

Nope, you only need enough PCIE lanes to support the cards.

 

 

Really?  I thought you could use it for 3D Modeling/Rendering?

No, SLI is only for gaming. Things like rendering will benefit from multiple cards, but not from SLI. 

[Eventorizon]

Ok, so it seems we have an answer.

SLI and Crossfire are just the way the cards talk to each other across the PCIe bus... so its just a matter of having enough lanes to support both cards at the speed I want.

 

Thanks guys!

[Lord Gaben]

No, for starters you would not be able to SLI anyway as they are different cards.

[Sintezza]

how do you wanne Sli a quadro card with a regular GTX gpu in the first place?

I dont think thats gonne work lol.

 

If you have enough pci-e lanes, then you can use them as sepperate cards.

[Eventorizon]

I am not trying to run SLI or Crossfire with the 970 and the K620, I know that is impossible & pointless.

 

I was just interested in the number if lanes and PCIe speeds that was required and if an board that has SLI/Crossfire was necessary to get the best out of both cards when used on their own.

 

It seems that I have to get an Dual GPU capable board anyway to get the two 16x or 8x speed slots that I need. Boards that support 1 GPU don't seem to have another 8x or 16x slot even if its Gen 2 PCIe, not 3. So a dual board seems to be my only option.

[byubi]

Nope. Hell, I run the Intel iGPU for QuickSync, my R7950 for my main monitor, and then my GTX 480 for auxiliary monitors.

 

How can you do that? using a software? is there any hardware constraints?

[flibberdipper]

How can you do that? using a software? is there any hardware constraints?

I just plugged a monitor into whichever I was installing (when I was installing my 7950, I plugged a monitor into it and so on). Only real hardware constraint is that I only have a PCIe x16 slot wired at x4 left.