2 DIFFERENT Graphics Cards, 2 pci-express Slots

[imported_cinder]

What would happen if you put 2 different graphics cards into 2 different pci-express x16 slots on the same motherboard? Could the cards run independent of each other or will the system simply crash? I could not find any solid information on this subject so I apologize if it has already been posted in a different thread.

 

[bharatwaja]

2 different cards in the sense...???

1. if u mean 1 nvidia and 1 ATI, i doubt if it can be done.... U cant bridge them and NO driver support....

2. 2 ati cards of same family, for eg, 1 3870 and 1 3850, I believe this is possible and driver support is available, but confirm with others, I think its somethng called CrossfireX.... but not sure...

3. 2 nvidia cards of same family, like a 8800GT and a 8800GTX... No idea... but I guess it should be possible with driver support....

4. cant think of any more combinations....

 

[Seggybop]

It depends on which cards you're using. In any case, it shouldn't crash.

The bios will generally have a setting for which slot to use as primary, which will the the only card the system uses until drivers initialize the other.
If you've got two ATI cards, both cards will usually work well after you install the ATI drivers. With two nvidia cards, both cards will be recognized once you install the drivers, but sometimes nvidia control panel won't recognize the monitors on the second card and you have to spend some time messing with it to make it happy.
If you try an ATI and an nvidia together, it might work, but no guarantees. I was able to get all the monitors working with an ATI and nvidia together, but I couldn't get direct3d to enable on the secondary card. However, plenty of people have, so I can't say what the problem is.