Can i use 2 Graphics cards at the same time?

[Dominic Warden]

Hi, i have got a new PC and was wondering if i could use my Nvidia Geforce GT 440 with my Nvidia Geforce gt 220 at the same time? I want this setup so i can get more fps on my games. I have a custom built gaming PC and i really want good gaming proformance.

 

[stormy13]

Can you use them together? Yes you can. Is there any benefit to do so? No there isn't unless you want to use more than 2 monitors.

What you ar asking about is SLI, and neither of those cards support it. Not only do they have to support it, they also have to be the same card; GT 220 with another GT 220 for example.

Unfortunately if you want better gaming performance you're going to have to look a bit further up the video card food chain, and not at the low-med range.

 

[Solarstarshines]

Agreed

 

[Dominic Warden]

So if i put another monitor there it would work?

 

[archer]

If you put 2 monitors together, even then you will need two similar graphic cards. Also, the cards should support SLI.

 

[Dominic Warden]

Oh Thanks anyway

 

[bobkn]

I believe that either card would support two monitors. You could use both cards if you wanted to run 3 or 4 monitors.

For SLI (combining two cards for higher performance), the cards have to be SLI capable, and use the same graphics processor. (They don't have to be from the same manufacturer, but they must be almost identical.) SLI requires a special signal connection (ribbon cable) between the cards.

Neither the 220 nor the 440 are SLI capable. The least expensive current card that supports SLI is the 450.

AMD's CrossfireX is more flexible: some configurations are possible with non-identical cards, and low-end cards may not require additional cabling. This isn't intended as praise for AMD; the practical significance is rather limited, IMHO.