2 x PCIe graphics in a non-SLI motherboard

[Mirza]

Hi,

I am trying to find all the parts for my new computer. It is important for me to be able to have two graphic cards.

As I see, many non-SLI motherboards have 1x PCIe x16 and 1x PCIe x4 ...

If I buy 2 PCIe cards, can I put 1st card in the x16 slot and the 2nd in x4 slot?
How does a graphic card perform in this x4 slot? or even in x1?

Thanks a lot

M.

 

[Job]

Not a chance

IF you don't have an sli motherboard there's no way for the two cards to communicate properly with each other so you are stuck with one card on that board I'm afraid. Besides, I don't think PCIe cards will even physically fit in a x4 or x1 slot.

The only thing I can recommend is that you get the 7950GX2 which was designed as an Sli solution for those without an Sli motherboard. Either that, or get a new motherboard

Sorry

 

[Mirza]

I think, you don't understand me. I don't want SLI ... I want to have 2 cards which are running in a single mode.

Explaination: I have at the moment 2 cards: one AGP and one PCI. two displays are connected to one AGP card. 2nd card is being used fo the 2dn user (Linux system) or for my projector. I can work on my monitors while my girlfriend is watching movie thru projector and it's working really great.

I want to have the same combination with PCIe. That's why I asked this:

If I buy 2 PCIe cards, can I put 1st card in the x16 slot and the 2nd in x4 slot?
Can x4 of x1 slot be used for the graphic card?
How does a graphic card perform in this x4 slot? or even in x1?

Thanks one more time

 

[Job]

You've got 2 cards working within the same mobo at the moment?

 

[sisq0kidd]

Originally posted by: Mirza
I want to have the same combination with PCIe. That's why I asked this:

If I buy 2 PCIe cards, can I put 1st card in the x16 slot and the 2nd in x4 slot?
Can x4 of x1 slot be used for the graphic card?
How does a graphic card perform in this x4 slot? or even in x1?

Thanks one more time

Yes, you can put the first card in the x16 slot and another card in the 2nd x4 slot, if the motherboard physically permits it.

Yes, the x4 and x1 can be used for a graphics card.

x4 should handle the bandwidth with almost no performance loss. x1, you might see your card slow down during games, etc.

 

[Mirza]

Originally posted by: Job

You've got 2 cards working within the same mobo at the moment?

Yes. and under Linux two users can be logged in at the same time. But most of the time, one person is working with two displays on the 1st card (AGP at the moment) and 2nd card is connected to projector. and (because of Linux) everything can work at the same time.

Yes, you can put the first card in the x16 slot and another card in the 2nd x4 slot, if the motherboard physically permits it.
Yes, the x4 and x1 can be used for a graphics card.
x4 should handle the bandwidth with almost no performance loss. x1, you might see your card slow down during games, etc.

That is what I asked for . Thanks.

One more question. As I saw, x16, x4 and x1 slots have different sizes. And the graphic cards are (probably) made for x16 and they are too big for x4 slots? or are there any for x4? are am I totaly wrong about this

M.

 

[MDE]

Your best bet is probably to get an SLI or Crossfire capable board (or any board with two physical PCIe x16 slots) and just not use the SLI bridge or Crossfire dongle.

 

[Mirza]

I was also thinking about it, but I wanted to avoid giving money for SLI if I will not use it

 

[sisq0kidd]

Some boards come with 2 full 2x16 slots without having SLI. Such as the DFI Ultra-D.

Also, if you are unsure about whether or not a full pci-e card will fit in the other pci-e slots, just buy a x1 pci-e card.

I believe ATI has come out with an x1300 x1 card.

 

[Lonyo]

Why not use a PCI card?

 

[Mirza]

because there are usually 2-3 PCI slots and I have a few PCI cards already ... 1x SoundCard, 1xPVR, 1xSomething ...

I hate this new motherboards with place for 2-3 (max for) card and thats it ... my old Epox board has 1xAgp and 6-7xPCI ... When I first heard about PCIe, I thought that's great because I could use every slot for every card. No luck with it.

Look at this picture below. How to put 2-3 PCI cards in this board (M2N32-SLI Deluxe):
http://pics.computerbase.de/1/1/7/4/0/1.jpg

M.

 

[Torghn]

My MB will run a PCIe and AGP card at the same time.

 

[Mirza]

I need a MB with +6 SATA II connectors ... And as I saw, Asus M2N32-SLI Deluxe is the best deal.
And if am buying new hardware, I would go with PCIe, because AGP is slowly dying as I can see.

M.

 

[Mirza]

I will check this. I dont' like ATI because of poor Linux support, but it might be a solution.

Thanks ... Hopefully everything will fit on the motherboard ...


I also thought about waiting a litle bit for a new card, until some cards with HDMI-output come out. I could use it form a projector without DVI-HDMI adapter like now. There are a few cards with HDMI, but I would like to see some reviews, tests ...

M.

 

[blckgrffn]

I would seriously just get an SLI mobo. Just don't turn on SLI, simple as that, no worries, and two slots for VGA cards

Nat

 

[Mirza]

I will do that. As I saw today, that is probably the best solution.

Just to find the board with enough space fo everything ... either MSI K9N SLI Platnium or ASUS M2N32-SLI Deluxe....

MSI is even better for me, because of 3 PCI slots ... ASUS has only 2.

Thanks to all

 

[996GT2]

I have a K9N Platinum (non SLi) and it has 2 PCIe X16 type slots (second one is X1). It can support dual GFX cards for multiple monitor use (idk about modding it to SLi). The board also has 6 SATA II conectors and 3 Free PCI slots. You MAY probably lose 1 of the 2 PCIe X1 slots if you put a GFX card in the top X16 slot. Also if you put another card in the lower slot you MAY lose a PCI slot if the card is wide. Otherwise the board has been great, overclocks very well and is very stable in a well ventilated case.

Oops edit it has 3 PCI, typo

 

[Mirza]

2 PCI slots? As I can see on MSI homepage and reviews MSI has 3 PCI slots (last one is the orange one).

And I do not need some highend graphic cars but just something simple, because I do not play games. So I hope I can keeo all 3 PCI slots for my cards.

Is that possible?

 

[996GT2]

Srry, It does have 3, I'm just confused since I couldn't see the PCI slot below my Audigy II XD

But yes you should have all 3 PCI slots free

 

[Mirza]

Great. Thanks.

M.