Can i run two graphics cards with my motherboard?

[stephenreilly27]

The motherboard im getting is a Gigabyte 970A-DS3P AM3+ AMD 970 DDR3 ATX, its specs say it has two pci-e x 16 slots and supports crossfire but ive read some things online saying one of the pci slots is electronically wired as x4. Im just wondering 1. is this true? and 2. what does this mean, can i or can i not run two graphic cards in unison?

 

[volksman]

If it can, it will be secifically marked by the manufacturer's web site as SLI or crossfire compatible. I have yet to see a motherboard not boast about one or both if they can. They will boast about all kinds of things that don't matter, I imagine they will clearly mark those features that actually do matter.

I just checked the product page: http://www.gigabyte.us/products/product-page.aspx?pid=4591#ov

They list crossfire compatibility. So with two AMD gpus - yup.

 

[chimera201]

Yes, you can still Crossfire but u will be getting a little less performance
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Intel/Ivy_Bridge_PCI-Express_Scaling/3.html

 

[stephenreilly27]

Yes, you can still Crossfire but u will be getting a little less performance
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Intel/Ivy_Bridge_PCI-Express_Scaling/3.html

Im aware that a second gpu will only give at 50% boost at best, will i be looking at an insignificant boost because of x4? i imagine even if they were both x16 the second would not be fully utilised. basically will it be worthwhile doing?

 

[stephenreilly27]

If it can, it will be secifically marked by the manufacturer's web site as SLI or crossfire compatible. I have yet to see a motherboard not boast about one or both if they can. They will boast about all kinds of things that don't matter, I imagine they will clearly mark those features that actually do matter.

I just checked the product page: http://www.gigabyte.us/products/product-page.aspx?pid=4591#ov

They list crossfire compatibility. So with two AMD gpus - yup.

Could i run two gt 640s would there be much improvement over a single gt640?

 

[sosofm]

The second slot will run at 4X speed
'' 1 x PCI Express x16 slot, running at x16 (PCIEX16)
1 x PCI Express x16 slot, running at x4 (PCIEX4)
3 x PCI Express x1 slots
2 x PCI slots "
If the second will run at X4 speed you will loose some performance from your second video card.
Buy this one ASRock 990FX Extreme3 AM3+ AMD 990FX http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157281 have PCI Express 2.0 x16 3 (x16 , x16, x4).

 

[chimera201]

If it can, it will be secifically marked by the manufacturer's web site as SLI or crossfire compatible. I have yet to see a motherboard not boast about one or both if they can. They will boast about all kinds of things that don't matter, I imagine they will clearly mark those features that actually do matter.

I just checked the product page: http://www.gigabyte.us/products/product-page.aspx?pid=4591#ov

They list crossfire compatibility. So with two AMD gpus - yup.

Could i run two gt 640s would there be much improvement over a single gt640?

lol. No one does Crossfire or SLI with those kind of cards. Just get a better single card.

 

[stephenreilly27]

If it can, it will be secifically marked by the manufacturer's web site as SLI or crossfire compatible. I have yet to see a motherboard not boast about one or both if they can. They will boast about all kinds of things that don't matter, I imagine they will clearly mark those features that actually do matter.

I just checked the product page: http://www.gigabyte.us/products/product-page.aspx?pid=4591#ov

They list crossfire compatibility. So with two AMD gpus - yup.

Could i run two gt 640s would there be much improvement over a single gt640?

lol. No one does Crossfire or SLI with those kind of cards. Just get a better single card.

thats what i was going to do i am going to get a getting a better card but was wondering whether i could still use the gt 640 alongside it or would it become obsolite

 

[chimera201]

Just get a better card