Running 2 Different Graphics Cards

[kizza1645]

Hello, I want to update my computer graphics without taking out my old graphics card.

Can I run 2 different graphics cards.

The one i have in my computer now is, Nvidia GeForce 7600|2006 model

The one I want to add onto my computer, http://www.mwave.com.au/newAU/mwaveAU/productdetail.asp?CartID=mAU@4DFP45CIN7IV9MJCW3436VQVHQP135YHRMBYZEX1BIW6WN&sku=42022128

[xavier]

You can run 2 cards if you have a SLI board, meaning the board has 2 slots for one for each card .

[Calum]

Why do you want to run 2 different cards?

Please disregard the above advice, it is incorrect and misleading.

[xavier]

Why disregard, Im stating a fact

[Calum]

1. You do not need an SLI capable board, only a board with two expansion slots.  These could be PCI, AGP, or PCI-Express, as long as both can run together.
2. Assuming you actually meant that an SLI board is needed to run two Nvidia cards together to increase performance, you need the same model, which you did not mention.
Therefore, your advice is either (1) incorrect or (2) incomplete.

[xavier]

A SLI board will perform alot better than with a board with 1 card in a pci slot and another in a agp slot

[Calum]

I'm not talking about performance, I'm talking about actually running two different video cards.
The cards in the original post can be run in any board with two PCI-Express slots, but never in SLI mode, so why do you keep talking about SLi boards?
I still don't know what you were trying to get at, but your advice is still either incorrect or incomplete.

[kizza1645]

Why do you want to run 2 different cards?

Please disregard the above advice, it is incorrect and misleading.

Hey,
Well because I know where i can get graphics cards directly from the manufacuer(really cheap)

So, I want to keep my old graphics card while inserting a new one to improve performance.

Also, what will happen to all the drivers etc.

Like, will i have to unistall my old drivers or what?

Thanks

[homer]

So, I want to keep my old graphics card while inserting a new one to improve performance.

you will not improve performance by adding a new card, UNLESS you have an SLI OR Crossfire capable motherboard/graphics card and you plan on purchasing the exact same graphics card as the one you own right now.

*EDIT*

i just read your first post and no, you cannot add a 9400gt to your computer with a 7600 and expect a performance boost, i would actually be shocked if the computer ran at all.

[xavier]

Thank you Homer, my posts seem to be on the same page as yours. I was getting a little discouraged.

[homer]

you had the right idea, but you didnt portray it in a very clear manner.

[xavier]

i understand. Your right sometimes when i reply to a PBLM. i dont go into enough detail which is important to the patient.

[kizza1645]

So, i need an SLI board and run the same GPU for it to boost performance?

Hmmmmm. maybe buying a new Computer is the way to go.

If i bought a new computer, could i put my current hard drive in it and boot off 2 hard drives?

[xavier]

Can you give us the system specs. of your PC? OS, CPU Motherboard, how much memory, ect before you go any further

[homer]

So, i need an SLI board and run the same GPU for it to boost performance?

you do not necessarily need an SLI board nor do you need two of the same graphics cards to boost performance. modern graphics cards (such as the 280GTX, 9800GX2, HD4870, etc.) can handle games VERY well by themselves.

Hmmmmm. maybe buying a new Computer is the way to go.

we cannot advise on this until you give us a list of your current specs.

could i put my current hard drive in it and boot off 2 hard drives?

firstly, you cannot boot off of two hard drives, one HAS to be the boot drive and the other will simply be a data drive. secondly, if you did purchase a whole new computer, you would have to reformat your harddrives, meaning all the information on them would be lost.