Solved Using 2 monitors with 1 GPU. OK to use different 2 GPU brands for each

[GARoss]

Using 2 monitors with 1 GPU. OK to add 2nd GPU; one for each monitor?

My video editing software renders much faster with compatible GPUs. I recently upgraded to a nVidia GTX 560 Ti which improved rendering 16%. I've like using two monitors but the second monitor drags down rendering performance of what it could be. I was wondering if using my old GIGABYTE Radeon HD 5670 as a second GPU would cause issues? This would not be a SLI setup, just one GPU for each monitor.

 

[GARoss]

Anyone know if this is OK to do?

 

[stormy13]

In theory it should be OK. In practice, won't know until you try.

 

[GARoss]

Thanks

 

[bassfisher6522]

I'm curious as well....let us know what happens....

 

[GARoss]

I'm concerned about multiple drivers, nVidia & AMD, clashing.

Any thoughts?

 

[mrdemon]

install the 2nd Card, let windows do its thing, Use the main power full card for gaming and its own drivers, should be just fine, no different too having 2 different hard drives.

 

[GARoss]

install the 2nd Card, let windows do its thing, Use the main power full card for gaming and its own drivers, should be just fine, no different too having 2 different hard drives.

You did mean 2 different graphic cards not "...different hard drives", right? I'll give it a try. Thanks!

 

[mrdemon]

Yea, I was using it as a example, Yea, install the 1st major GFX and then place the other one in and let Windows install its own drivers.

 

[bobafetthotmail]

I'm concerned about multiple drivers, nVidia & AMD, clashing.

Any thoughts?

Theoretically, they shouldn't. They get data from win 7 and output to screens. they don't talk to each other.

Still, have you tried using the integrated graphics for the secondary monitor? this thread seems to say it's worth a try. Cuts down a bit power consumption.

 

[GARoss]

I won't be able to try this until late Tuesday. Will follow up then.

 

[GARoss]

install the 2nd Card, let windows do its thing, Use the main power full card for gaming and its own drivers, should be just fine, no different too having 2 different hard drives.

Hi guys! Sorry not to post but I was awaiting hardware from Newegg that was delayed because of the holiday Monday.

It went exactly as mrdemon said. Put the old card in my other pci-e slot & Windows found what it needed. I'll do some render comparisons to see if my speeds have increased. I really hated to give up the second monitor (for the sake of increased render speeds) as it make video editing much easier on a larger screen.

I guess I can also do a separate EyeOne3 monitor setup now that I have a second card installed. EyeOne3 software has been bugging me to do so but it wasn't possible with just one graphic card, or so I read. I did try but it through my other monitor's color off. We'll see if this makes a difference.

I'm marking this as solved. Thanks everyone!

 

[mrdemon]

glad too hear that. Yay me. lol

 

[GARoss]

I guess I can also do a separate EyeOne3 monitor setup now that I have a second card installed. EyeOne3 software has been bugging me to do so but it wasn't possible with just one graphic card, or so I read. I did try but it would through my other monitor's color off. We'll see if this makes a difference.

I thought I'd followup on monitor calibration. I use EyeOne Display 2 to calibrate my monitor. I had read that I would need a second graphic card for calibration but have found that, with Windows 7 & maybe Vista, that's not true. I couldn't find any explanation in EyeOne3 help how to do this so I called the company. All they could tell me was it would work. After playing with it for awhile I got it. The trick is to move the EyeOne3 window to the monitor you wish to calibrate & go from there. Simple as that.