Can I use a third videocard to enable a second monitor?

[HeXploiT]

I'm running a pair of 8800gts 640mb cards in SLI on an abit 680i mb and I want to run a second monitor but I need the SLI.
Would I be able to throw an 8800gt in the third pciex16 slot and use it for the second monitor?

 

[SolMiester]

edit - Ummm, I think this is one of the features of the big bang drivers?..............XP & Vista x86

 

[HeXploiT]

Thanks SolMiester I'll try them out.
I'm rather surprised more people haven't tried this.

 

[MalVeauX]

Heya,

As mentioned, the v180 drivers enabled multi-head support (multi-monitor) during SLI on your nVidia cards. No need to buy a 3rd card, unless you simply want to.

By the way, it would be an epic waste of an 8800gt to use just for a 2nd monitor to display more desktop space while your SLI cards on the primary display do all the rendering work. If you just happen to have it laying there, that's one thing, but otherwise, get a $30 8500gt or something instead of a $100+ 8800gt for that if you don't want to just update drivers to the v180's.

But, to answer your original question, yes you can plop in a 3rd card and go multi-monitor that way.

Very best,

 

[HeXploiT]

Originally posted by: MalVeauX
Heya,

As mentioned, the v180 drivers enabled multi-head support (multi-monitor) during SLI on your nVidia cards. No need to buy a 3rd card, unless you simply want to.

By the way, it would be an epic waste of an 8800gt to use just for a 2nd monitor to display more desktop space while your SLI cards on the primary display do all the rendering work. If you just happen to have it laying there, that's one thing, but otherwise, get a $30 8500gt or something instead of a $100+ 8800gt for that if you don't want to just update drivers to the v180's.

But, to answer your original question, yes you can plop in a 3rd card and go multi-monitor that way.

Very best,

Very true lol.

 

[HeXploiT]

Hmmm...says not compatible with my hardware.

 

[aka1nas]

It should run on all G80 and later cards. The setup you originally mentioned can also now officially be used to run 3+ monitors with SLI enabled(monitors 3+ have to be hooked up to cards no part of the SLI set).

 

[dev0lution]

What OS? Rel 180 multi-monitor SLI is Vista only.

If you're on XP, you'd need the third card or you can manually switch SLI on/off in the NVIDIA control panel to switch between dual monitor 2D and SLI 3D.

 

[exar333]

Originally posted by: Perry404

Originally posted by: MalVeauX
Heya,

As mentioned, the v180 drivers enabled multi-head support (multi-monitor) during SLI on your nVidia cards. No need to buy a 3rd card, unless you simply want to.

By the way, it would be an epic waste of an 8800gt to use just for a 2nd monitor to display more desktop space while your SLI cards on the primary display do all the rendering work. If you just happen to have it laying there, that's one thing, but otherwise, get a $30 8500gt or something instead of a $100+ 8800gt for that if you don't want to just update drivers to the v180's.

But, to answer your original question, yes you can plop in a 3rd card and go multi-monitor that way.

Very best,

Very true lol.

You could also get a cheap 8800GS for around 40-50 and use that for PhysX AND for a third monitor. Just a thought to get more use out of the card if you want a third monitor...