Dual PCIE Graphics Card Help

[BoycottValvoline]

I bought an Asus A8R-MVP motherboard and two PCIe x16 in hopes of operating 4 monitors with them. Upon further review, the motherboard manual says that the board can either run two cards in Crossfire mode or one card and a non-vga card. Is there any way to get around this and get both cards running separately? I'm currently running XP with SP1, but I've got an SP2 disc around somewhere if that's the problem.

Assuming it can't be fixed would this board be able to do it? I'm up for any suggestions on a board that can handle the job, I'm not looking to overclock, so the cheapest board that'll give me the least amount of hassle and quality features will do.

BTW for anyone looking to suggest another board, I'm running an AMD 3800+ X2 dual core processor.

Thanks in advance

 

[ribbon13]

If monitors 3&4 aren't for gaming, a regular PCI card would work just fine.

So the manual itself is preventing you, or did you actually try it? As long as the motherboard gives the second slot any data lanes at all, the card should at least be identifiable by windows.

 

[BoycottValvoline]

I've actually installed both cards and have monnies 3+4 hooked up but the 2nd card is not being detected. Well I believe it's detected as PCI Input Device (or that's something else as I've not installed everything,) but when I try to install from the included cd it doesn't work. Also a dual DVI PCI card is non existant, and I want to use the DVI inputs on those monitors as the VGA one's are going to be used for my laptop and other comp respectively. Also I've only got one free PCI slot currently and I may want to use that for a capture card in the future.

I don't mind buying a new board if that's what has to be done, as I'm looking to build a new comp for my living room anyway and could just swap everything out of this and buy a new case and board.

 

[lyssword]

lol, maybe sounds dumb, but did u try switching those cards aroun? 😛

 

[BoycottValvoline]

Hmmmm, I'll give it a shot and let you know in a min, heh. They are exact same cards though so i dunno.

 

[BoycottValvoline]

Yea that didn't do anything, I think format/installing XP w/SP2 would be the only major difference maker as the manual states you need that at min. to utilize the Crossfire feature.

 

[BoycottValvoline]

Blah, installed XP w/SP2 over it and still a no go, I'm gonna go ahead and order a new board and case tonight unless somebody has something else to add. Gotta do a little research to make sure the board I buy will work with it.

 

[ribbon13]

You need dual x16 PCIe slots. If you can afford 4 LCDs, you can afford an Asus A8N32-SLI.