AMD GPU build install an extra Nvidia Card for CUDA

[Bearmc27]

Hi guys, 

 

Recently I started learning CUDA computing and programming with C language in one of the course in university. I have a PC which its spec as follow:

• i7 4790k
• 32GB RAM
• MSI AMD R9 380 2GB
• The rest doesn't matter, I guess...

So, as you can see, my PC has a AMD GPU which is definitely not a CUDA card, and I really want to do CUDA programming outside school computer room. I have an old GIGABYTE GT440, and it makes me thinking, can i plug the Nvidia card into the computer only for CUDA computing, without removing the AMD card which is mainly for gaming? Would it be a driver disaster?

[meenmeen1103]

Yep, major potential for driver issues, best to have separate machines or change out the 380 for a similar or better nvidia card

[Jurrunio]

From my experience (old as f GTX 275 and RX470 used together), it will work fine because their drivers dont apply on the same card.

[porina]

I've not had major problems in the past mixing red and green GPUs in one system. The only minor niggle for compute uses is ensuring the software tries to run on the right card. For stuff like gaming, it isn't a problem.

 

One minor concern is I think different GPUs have different levels of CUDA support. Just make sure it is not too old for whatever you're doing with it.

[SpaceGhostC2C]

1 hour ago, Bearmc27 said:

can i plug the Nvidia card into the computer only for CUDA computing, without removing the AMD card which is mainly for gaming? Would it be a driver disaster?

Yes, you can. In fact, you may have more driver problems with GPUs from the same vendor when they don't need the exact same one (say, you have a GTX and a Quadro), because they still share some stuff. With different vendors everything is separate, just as @porina said, make sure you send the right job to the right card.

[mathijs727]

2 hours ago, Bearmc27 said:

Hi guys, 

 

Recently I started learning CUDA computing and programming with C language in one of the course in university. I have a PC which its spec as follow:

• i7 4790k
• 32GB RAM
• MSI AMD R9 380 2GB
• The rest doesn't matter, I guess...

So, as you can see, my PC has a AMD GPU which is definitely not a CUDA card, and I really want to do CUDA programming outside school computer room. I have an old GIGABYTE GT440, and it makes me thinking, can i plug the Nvidia card into the computer only for CUDA computing, without removing the AMD card which is mainly for gaming? Would it be a driver disaster?

I did the same thing when I had a RX480: install a GTX1050 for CUDA development.

Never had any issue with the drivers either.

Just make sure that your powersupply can handle it.

 

The only potential downside is that the cards have to share PCIe bandwidth (both will run at 8x).

I’m not sure if PCIe is wired up in such a way that it can control the AMD card at PCIe 3 and the Nvidia at PCIe 2 (or whether it will pick the lowest of the two and use PCIe 2 for both).

Just try and see if it impacts your FPS in any meaningful way.

[SpaceGhostC2C]

46 minutes ago, mathijs727 said:

The only potential downside is that the cards have to share PCIe bandwidth (both will run at 8x).

I’m not sure if PCIe is wired up in such a way that it can control the AMD card at PCIe 3 and the Nvidia at PCIe 2 (or whether it will pick the lowest of the two and use PCIe 2 for both).

Just try and see if it impacts your FPS in any meaningful way.

It shouldn't be a problem. If I'm not mistaken, both Haswell and the 380 have PCIe 3.0, and a 380 will work fine on PCIe 2.0 x16, which is the same bandwidth as 3.0 x8  

 

I'm assuming he's using a Z97 motherboard because of the CPU, although even if it isn't or it is otherwise limiting the GPU to x4 I believe the Nvidia card should still work for compute tasks.

[mathijs727]

13 minutes ago, SpaceGhostC2C said:

It shouldn't be a problem. If I'm not mistaken, both Haswell and the 380 have PCIe 3.0, and a 380 will work fine on PCIe 2.0 x16, which is the same bandwidth as 3.0 x8  

 

I'm assuming he's using a Z97 motherboard because of the CPU, although even if it isn't or it is otherwise limiting the GPU to x4 I believe the Nvidia card should still work for compute tasks.

Z97 (and even current gen) doesn’t have enough PCIe lanes to run 2 GPUs at 16x.

I’m wondering whether it will run at PCIe 3 8x (AMD) + PCIe 2 8x (Nvidia) or PCIe w 8x/8x.

You could also hook up the Nvidia card to the PCIe lanes from the PCH if the motherboard supports it, but it will reduce the bandwidth and latency to that card.

[SpaceGhostC2C]

1 minute ago, mathijs727 said:

Z97 (and even current gen) doesn’t have enough PCIe lanes to run 2 GPUs at 16x.

I know. I just explained how 3.0 x8 is enough for the 380. I just needed to assume it was Z97 to have additional x8 for the Nvidia card.

 

 

[Bearmc27]

WOW, thank so much for the help guys!!! Information from you guys is great. I think I will stick to the school computer, my PSU is only 550W, don't really want to risk it. (even tho GT440 is not a high consumption card, AMD 9th-series is rather high)

[porina]

33 minutes ago, Bearmc27 said:

WOW, thank so much for the help guys!!! Information from you guys is great. I think I will stick to the school computer, my PSU is only 550W, don't really want to risk it. (even tho GT440 is not a high consumption card, AMD 9th-series is rather high)

Assuming it is a quality PSU, adding a GT440 should be no problem even if you run everything under load at the same time, and without knowing how you use it, I assume that isn't likely.