Running two GPUs. (AMD and NVIDIA.)

[wyattzx]

So.. Because you laugh at me and call me dumb. I do not mean in a Crossfire or SLi sense. No, this is different. 

 

I want to know if it's possible to run two separate GPUs. One for video rendering and such, and one for gaming. I have a EVGA SSC 970, however.. Maxwell isn't supported by Vegas Pro, nor Adobe products. (As far as I am aware on the latter.) I have as well my old MSi Twin Forzr 6870. It did a fantastic job of leveraging GPU and CPU workloads. I have the ASUS M5A97 R2.0 motherboard, which does support Crossfire, which means it has another available PCI-E lane. I also have another set of two 6+2 pins available. Essentially, I have everything but known compatibility in Windows 7. (Or in general.)

 

Is it possible?

[Statik]

No.

 

it will not work.

 

EDIT: Actually it's possible it could work, but you might experience troubles with the drivers conflicting, etc.

[KRImSIN]

Ahhh...Never mind i'm not going to indulge in this thread.

[wyattzx]

Ahhh...Never mind i'm not going to indulge in this thread.

This isn't an NVIDIA vs AMD thing.. This is a card that is too new for current software.. 

[1Scotty1]

I have seen Linus do something like this - 4 GPUs in a single PC - 2 SLId Nvidias and 2 Crossfired AMDs so I think it is doable

[QueenDemetria]

Is it possible?

Yep its possible, I do it too(look at the rig on my profile). All you have to do is install the cards and the drivers for them(so CCC and the nVidia drivers) and you should be good to go. Some of the nVidia drivers act flakey with Radeon cards installed, so you might have to use older drivers. I would plug your monitor into the 970, but you might need a dummy plug for the 6870(or if you have another monitor or empty port on your monitor, just so the card doesn't go into sleep mode).

[wyattzx]

Yep its possible, I do it too(look at the rig on my profile). All you have to do is install the cards and the drivers for them(so CCC and the nVidia drivers) and you should be good to go. Some of the nVidia drivers act flakey with Radeon cards installed, so you might have to use older drivers. I would plug your monitor into the 970, but you might need a dummy plug for the 6870(or if you have another monitor or empty port on your monitor, just so the card doesn't go into sleep mode).

Thank you. I will experiment with this tomorrow. How do I determine what uses what? (In games, for example.)

[QueenDemetria]

Thank you. I will experiment with this tomorrow. How do I determine what uses what? (In games, for example.)

Whatever is your primary monitor(so under Screen Resolution in the control panel, whatever display 1 is). If you have to use a dummy plug, don't set it up as a monitor. Make it think that a monitor is plugged in but not in use.

[wyattzx]

Whatever is your primary monitor(so under Screen Resolution in the control panel, whatever display 1 is). If you have to use a dummy plug, don't set it up as a monitor. Make it think that a monitor is plugged in but not in use.

So I would install and plug in the card, and then if necessary run a DVI from it to my monitor, and then go about my day as normal..? How would Windows manage what card get started first to control display? I.E: How does it prioritize the cards? And.. to be clear, the M5A97 R2.0 WILL work for this?

[bry.yyyy]

[QueenDemetria]

So I would install and plug in the card, and then if necessary run a DVI from it to my monitor, and then go about my day as normal..? How would Windows manage what card get started first to control display? I.E: How does it prioritize the cards? And.. to be clear, the M5A97 R2.0 WILL work for this?

So, you would plug in your 970(primary card) to your monitor and that's how you will get your display. Depending on the programs you use, you might have to also plug in a cable to your monitor(or use a dummy plug so that you don't have to run a cable/use a port on the monitor), so that your 6870 isn't "inactive". Your system will prioritize cards with whatever card is in the primary video slot(usually this is the top PCI-e slot). Some motherboards let you change this, but if you cant then install your 970 in the top PCI-e slot. Your motherboard will more than likely work, I have ran this set up with many configurations and have only had problems with one board(the one on my profile, but it has 99 other problems so I am blaming the unstable bios, lol).

[Razzaa]

This isn't an NVIDIA vs AMD thing.. This is a card that is too new for current software.. 

are you talking about Maxwell not working with Vegas? 

[wyattzx]

So, you would plug in your 970(primary card) to your monitor and that's how you will get your display. Depending on the programs you use, you might have to also plug in a cable to your monitor(or use a dummy plug so that you don't have to run a cable/use a port on the monitor), so that your 6870 isn't "inactive". Your system will prioritize cards with whatever card is in the primary video slot(usually this is the top PCI-e slot). Some motherboards let you change this, but if you cant then install your 970 in the top PCI-e slot. Your motherboard will more than likely work, I have ran this set up with many configurations and have only had problems with one board(the one on my profile, but it has 99 other problems so I am blaming the unstable bios, lol).

Alright, great. Pretty much cleared up all of my questions. I could go into Vegas Pro and select the card from the drop-down list, and use it to render while the 970 is still active, right? (I understand if you don't know the program, but this is more about card usage.) I've heard people buying AMD cards, and then low-tier NVIDIA cards just to run to power PhysX, so I figured it was at least somewhat possible. If done right, my PC could even look kind of badass with the two cards! 

[wyattzx]

are you talking about Maxwell not working with Vegas? 

Right. Maxwell is not supported by Vegas, or the Adobe Suite. Wonder why LMG doesn't run Maxwell cards in their editing PCs?

[QueenDemetria]

Alright, great. Pretty much cleared up all of my questions. I could go into Vegas Pro and select the card from the drop-down list, and use it to render while the 970 is still active, right? (I understand if you don't know the program, but this is more about card usage.) I've heard people buying AMD cards, and then low-tier NVIDIA cards just to run to power PhysX, so I figured it was at least somewhat possible. If done right, my PC could even look kind of badass with the two cards! 

Yep, that's pretty much how it works. If the 6870 doesn't show up in the drop down menu though, that's when you have to plug it into a display(even if it doesn't display anything) or use a dummy plug.

[wyattzx]

Yep, that's pretty much how it works. If the 6870 doesn't show up in the drop down menu though, that's when you have to plug it into a display(even if it doesn't display anything) or use a dummy plug.

Dummy plug. Would something like a DVI to VGA work? Just so a port has something connected? 

(Adapter.)

[QueenDemetria]

Dummy plug. Would something like a DVI to VGA work? Just so a port has something connected? 

(Adapter.)

Yep, but you have to add some resistors to make it work. You might not even need one, because some programs can "wake up" the card even though they are inactive(like Folding at Home). You will just have to see if your programs can do this or not.

 

[Godlygamer23]

If you decide to use PhysX in your games, it'll be thrown on the CPU and not the 970 because of that AMD GPU sitting in there.

[wyattzx]

Yay! Plugged in the card, installed the drivers, and we're good! I don't need a dummy plug either! It cut my render times in a test video from 1:33 with CPU / CUDA (card wasn't working) to 0:39, so I know it's working! Thanks for the help!

[DosBlade]

Just to ADD.. yes it works great.. did it with my 970.. then added 7970. I test allot and have 4+ os's on my system and OS X. Older ersions (OSX) wont work with 970 yet 10.10 will. So leaving the AMD in it and since its not the primary card it will boot up black but then works great.  OR I could put the AMD as prim and still run games off just 970 in Windows.

 

I know what people post ..yet I have never had problems with drivers NV and AMD on the same system. The ONLY thing that I never liked was no Physx.. wont work with AMD in.. NV made sure of that. Use to be a way.. well still it just harder to get to work..

[wyattzx]

Just to ADD.. yes it works great.. did it with my 970.. then added 7970. I test allot and have 4+ os's on my system and OS X. Older ersions (OSX) wont work with 970 yet 10.10 will. So leaving the AMD in it and since its not the primary card it will boot up black but then works great.  OR I could put the AMD as prim and still run games off just 970 in Windows.

 

I know what people post ..yet I have never had problems with drivers NV and AMD on the same system. The ONLY thing that I never liked was no Physx.. wont work with AMD in.. NV made sure of that. Use to be a way.. well still it just harder to get to work..

Tell me. What does PhysX do that makes it worth not being able to encode videos 50% faster?

[QueenDemetria]

Yay! Plugged in the card, installed the drivers, and we're good! I don't need a dummy plug either! It cut my render times in a test video from 1:33 with CPU / CUDA (card wasn't working) to 0:39, so I know it's working! Thanks for the help!

Glad to hear that it worked Anymore now dummy plugs aren't needed, but for some random programs they are still necessary(*cough*Freemake*cough*).