Crossfire with one dying GPU?

[shalladise]

I have a GPU which is now artifacting with most games although it's become less noticeable with the build of windows I'm on. It's a Asus 280x with no OC, and for the holiday season I'm treating myself to a new GPU.

My question is if I upgrade my Motherboard and add another Asus 280x (Given my case can support it,) could I play all my games on the single gpu that works perfectly, and have have my second gpu for a seperate monitor for multitasking? 

[TheRandomness]

Yeah that would work but don't enable xfire with it.

[App4that]

Yes, but in some cases Crimson will pull the second GPU into crossfire. Only way to fix it is to disable crossfire in the catalyst control center. Not sure how that would effect the second monitor as I never tried that.

[thekeemo]

Since you have a 280x just dont install the bridge

[shalladise]

Yeah that would work but don't enable xfire with it.

 

 

Yes, but in some cases Crimson will pull the second GPU into crossfire. Only way to fix it is to disable crossfire in the catalyst control center. Not sure how that would effect the second monitor as I never tried that.

Would I need the same model of GPU?

[App4that]

If you want to crossfire you need the same series of GPU, if you just want to drive a second monitor then no. But you'll still have heat issues as the top card will have restricted airflow. Running two cards even with crossfire disabled raised my top cards temps by over 10c.