Dual Monitor - can two different cards each control a monitor

[napes22]

My motherboard has 2 PCIe x16 slots, and I have two video cards and two Monitors. I own an ATI 4830 (which is currently being RMA'd) and an older x1800XT. Since both are ATI, can I run them at the same time, and have the 4830 control my primary monitor for gaming, while the secondary monitory would run the 1800XT for all other use?

Is this possible, and if so, would having both cards running concurrently affect the performance of gaming on the 4830?

 

[ShawnD1]

I know you can do that in Windows XP, but I'm not sure about Vista. I remember doing this with a GeForce 2 and a Radeon 7200. It worked just fine.

 

[Dadofamunky]

I can't see anything being a problem for you doing that. Should be a slam-dunk. If something does happen, play around with the settings in catalyst and if that doesn't work, consider a second 4830.

 

[aka1nas]

You should have no issue doing this on Vista even as long as the Cats support both cards on the same version. Be aware that AMD just did announce that they will be dropping some older dx9 cards from the monthly Cats, and will only have new releases for those cards on a quarterly or as-needed basis.

You shouldn't need to do this for performance reasons, however. The performance hit for running two displays on a single card is practically nothing.

 

[napes22]

The reason for doing it is the ability to play a game on the 4830 and use normal windows on the other monitor. Do monitors on two different cards change the way that windows operates? Would it be any difference in functionality between two monitors on one card vs 2 on 2?

I installed the 9.3's, they should still have 1800xt support right?

 

[aka1nas]

There is no difference in functionality in either configuration. Full screen mode will still preclude you from using other windows on the other display without alt+tabbing out of the application.

 

[napes22]

The what is the advantage of using 2 cards?

My 4830 would crash when i overclocked it with two monitors connect it. Would it be less stress on the 4830 with the two cards?

 

[Qbah]

You can run 3-4 monitors with two cards or CF/SLi them if they're the same - that's it.

 

[aka1nas]

Originally posted by: napes22
The what is the advantage of using 2 cards?

My 4830 would crash when i overclocked it with two monitors connect it. Would it be less stress on the 4830 with the two cards?

I guess it's possible that the second monitor will make the GPU run a little bit hotter and/or draw slightly more wattage to the point it would make your OC'ed card unstable. Frankly, your OC wasn't stable to begin with if that was enough to push you over the edge.

 

[octopus41092]

Originally posted by: aka1nas
There is no difference in functionality in either configuration. Full screen mode will still preclude you from using other windows on the other display without alt+tabbing out of the application.

For me I'm running vista and I can run a game in full screen and only kinda use the other screen. Also, there are some limitations. I usually will use the second monitor to watch a movie while I'm playing a game. The problem is that with the second monitor you have to make sure the game supports your native resolution otherwise everything will get shifted over. If you're planning to use windows, like brows the web or something you'll have to run the game or whatever it is in windowed mode.

 

[napes22]

Originally posted by: aka1nas

I guess it's possible that the second monitor will make the GPU run a little bit hotter and/or draw slightly more wattage to the point it would make your OC'ed card unstable. Frankly, your OC wasn't stable to begin with if that was enough to push you over the edge.

I technically wasn't overclocking though when the system crashed. All I had to do was enable overdrive, and leave the clocks at their lowest setting (default) and the system would crash.

 

[napes22]

Looks like I'm going to have to use the 2nd card anyway. They replaced the model I had bought (2 DVI/1Video out) in their system with the new model (1DVI/1HMDI/1VGA). I could probably use the HDMI to DVI adaptor without issue right?

 

[aka1nas]

Originally posted by: napes22
Looks like I'm going to have to use the 2nd card anyway. They replaced the model I had bought (2 DVI/1Video out) in their system with the new model (1DVI/1HMDI/1VGA). I could probably use the HDMI to DVI adaptor without issue right?

Yep, should not be a problem.

 

[way2fast91]

Originally posted by: napes22

Originally posted by: aka1nas

I guess it's possible that the second monitor will make the GPU run a little bit hotter and/or draw slightly more wattage to the point it would make your OC'ed card unstable. Frankly, your OC wasn't stable to begin with if that was enough to push you over the edge.

I technically wasn't overclocking though when the system crashed. All I had to do was enable overdrive, and leave the clocks at their lowest setting (default) and the system would crash.

Almost sounds like a bug with overdrive. Simply enabling it at default settings, shouldn't change anything on the hardware itself, but rather the software. Although you would need to be sure that default in overdrive is the same as stock settings for your card. I have the same card napes is RMA'ing and I found that mine couldn't handle memory oc'ing. With memory at stock I have oc'ed the core to 690 and it screams right along in my gaming now, happy as can be. Just my experience though. Good Luck.

 

[napes22]

Originally posted by: aka1nas
Almost sounds like a bug with overdrive. Simply enabling it at default settings, shouldn't change anything on the hardware itself, but rather the software. Although you would need to be sure that default in overdrive is the same as stock settings for your card. I have the same card napes is RMA'ing and I found that mine couldn't handle memory oc'ing. With memory at stock I have oc'ed the core to 690 and it screams right along in my gaming now, happy as can be. Just my experience though. Good Luck.

It actually turns out that Newegg replaced their Sapphire 4830 with a new version that has an HDMI slot, 1 VGA, and 1DVI. All this means is that they refunded me rather than sending a new one.

Sapphire recently released a 1Gig 4830 for ~$120. Is the $30 increase worth it performance-wise? I did like my 4830, with the exception of the annoying screen flickering and crashes. Would the 4850 512MB be a better route for the price than the 4830 1Gig?

 

[exar333]

Originally posted by: napes22

Originally posted by: aka1nas
Almost sounds like a bug with overdrive. Simply enabling it at default settings, shouldn't change anything on the hardware itself, but rather the software. Although you would need to be sure that default in overdrive is the same as stock settings for your card. I have the same card napes is RMA'ing and I found that mine couldn't handle memory oc'ing. With memory at stock I have oc'ed the core to 690 and it screams right along in my gaming now, happy as can be. Just my experience though. Good Luck.

It actually turns out that Newegg replaced their Sapphire 4830 with a new version that has an HDMI slot, 1 VGA, and 1DVI. All this means is that they refunded me rather than sending a new one.

Sapphire recently released a 1Gig 4830 for ~$120. Is the $30 increase worth it performance-wise? I did like my 4830, with the exception of the annoying screen flickering and crashes. Would the 4850 512MB be a better route for the price than the 4830 1Gig?

Yes, get the 4850 instead of the 4830 if they are roughly the same price.

 

[napes22]

I'm sure this question is objective and there is no real answer, but which ATI 4850 is the one to get? Good reviews on the Sapphire and the HIS 512MB. Any suggestions between the two?

 

[bluemax]

Anyone remember when if you wanted dual monitors you HAD to use two PCI cards?

 

[napes22]

Originally posted by: napes22
I'm sure this question is objective and there is no real answer, but which ATI 4850 is the one to get? Good reviews on the Sapphire and the HIS 512MB. Any suggestions between the two?

Anyone with a suggestion?