Possible to Build a rig with Nvidia and AMD GPU's?

[President Kush]

Can anyone tell me if this would work? I do NOT need to run them together, but to have them installed in the same machine on the same MOBO. I am going to be building a rig mainly for professional use... CAD/REVIT and most likely at some point in time, other similar type programs. However, I'd also like to be able to play the latest games on High settings with a good frame rate. According to what I've learned so far, the GPU I plan on getting for the rig's main workstation function is great for that, but not so great for gaming. Here is what I had in mind, please let me know if its possible.

I install the main "workstation" card which will be the Nvidia Quadro 4000, Also I install 1 or 2 additional "gaming" cards, probably AMD due to cost constraints [Note: if 2, they would be in crossfire]. Then I set up the rig to dual boot. Preferably I'd dual boot with Windows 7 as BOTH OS's, but if that's not possible, I'd do a Windows 7/8 dual boot. In the first OS, I'd load ONLY the Quadro drivers, and in device manager I'd disable the AMD "gaming" cards altogether, then in the second OS I'd load ONLY the AMD drivers, and in device manager disable the Quadro card altogether. So when I wanted to do work, like CAD or whatever, I'd be in OS1, and then when I wanted to game, I'd simply restart and load OS2.

Also, don't think it would make a difference but what about Quadro/GeForce cards?

The board I'm looking at is the Asus P9X79 WS, the PCIe slot configuration is as follows:
2 x PCIe 3.0/2.0 x16 (dual x16, triple x16/8/8, quad x8, black+blue)
2 x PCIe 3.0/2.0 x16 (x4 mode, white)

appreciate any help, thanks.

 

[tarmc]

its very doable and dont need to dual boot. windows 7 can handle it.
just install both nvidia and ati drivers, assuming dual display?
set which ever card youre using at the time as the primary and go unless im mistaken and you have to set which card is being used by said application / game?
the only issues might be heat with 3 cards and also assuming your psu can handle the load

 

[moonbogg]

I have done exactly this before, but with a quadro and a geforce card. I used the quadro for CAD work and the geforce for gaming and I would dual boot.
I ran a cable from each card to the monitor since the monitor had more than one input. I had to switch inputs from one video card to another depending on which one I wanted to use. I also had to disable the video card I wasn't using in the control panel so that it would not try to install the wrong drivers and to stop the cards from getting confused.
Anyway, you might have to fiddle a little with it, but it worked really well for me.

EDIT: maybe win 7 is easier. I was using Vista at the time.

 

[President Kush]

Thank you both for your replies.

its very doable and dont need to dual boot. windows 7 can handle it.
just install both nvidia and ati drivers, assuming dual display?
set which ever card youre using at the time as the primary and go unless im mistaken and you have to set which card is being used by said application / game?
the only issues might be heat with 3 cards and also assuming your psu can handle the load

At first it will only be one display. I was planning on doing what Moonbogg described. The monitors I'm considering have multiple inputs, so I'd run display port from Quadro and Dual link DVI from game card(s) to same monitor or worst case scenario, I can get a display port switch box. The PSU should be able to handle it and as far as heat goes, I'm planning on water cooling the CPU and gaming card(s)

I have done exactly this before, but with a quadro and a geforce card. I used the quadro for CAD work and the geforce for gaming and I would dual boot.
I ran a cable from each card to the monitor since the monitor had more than one input. I had to switch inputs from one video card to another depending on which one I wanted to use. I also had to disable the video card I wasn't using in the control panel so that it would not try to install the wrong drivers and to stop the cards from getting confused.
Anyway, you might have to fiddle a little with it, but it worked really well for me.

EDIT: maybe win 7 is easier. I was using Vista at the time.

Cool, great to hear. Tarmc is saying I don't have to dual boot, but also mentioned setting a primary card, and the possibility of having to set it in the program. Also like you're saying you Disabled one... I wonder if for that fact alone it might still make sense to dual boot, because it may be easier/quicker to just restart the computer, rather than go change the settings. Or it would be great if I could even do it with just 2 user accounts, but I'm not sure if the device manager settings are affected by different user accounts?

 

[SPBHM]

some people have used ATI + NV cards for physx under windows 7 without any problem I think.

 

[tarmc]

some people have used ATI + NV cards for physx under windows 7 without any problem I think.

i tried it a few days ago actually, had buddy bring his 6870 and had it bit mining while i was gaming on my 670. but i did have them on seperate monitors, switching back and forth on one display got annoying.


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