Direct X 12: Multi-GPU support with different cards? (Non Nvidia/AMD, SLI/Crossfire)

[Marshall Hurtado]

So we've heard before about using both an AMD and Nvidia GPU in tandem, and recently it was announced Microsoft is also looking into using the integrated graphics portions of APUs to give an extra boost, but how about the use of say a GTX 970 and a 760 together? Has this been announced? If not I very much hope so, I would assume it's doable considering the Nvidia/AMD fusing, and the APU boost noted above. Would be nice to tap into my 760 when I pick up a 970, and possibly additionally my i7's integrated graphics for yet another boost. Thoughts?

 

[disturbed force]

Yes you can use any cards so a 760 and 970 will work just like a 280x and a 970, but from what I understand developer's have to code it in their games, so we will have to see if they do.

 

[TheDarkOne198]

Am I understanding this right? You can have the best of both worlds at the same time? For example,I could put a 960 next to my 285 and run physx in a game that has it while using both cards to render? Thats the most amazing thing I have heard,haha. It could further boost from my APU's R7 GPU,too. I cannot imagine not seeing everyone doing this,I know I want to. If you can have both red and green together and run any game,really. Thats not even getting into the high range,like a 980ti and a 290x or the future 390x or Fury cards. But thats on the extreme end. I can see so many just getting mid to higher range cards,like the x70X and the 960 or the x80X with the 970. I think that alone will give a crap ton of performance and since I feel a lot will be doing it,game devs will start making the games evenly optimized for both sides and we will finally see an end to this optimized for one or the other nonsense so that those that stay on one side of it,pairing a 980 with a 960 or a 290X with a 280 to get a slight boost wont sacrifice FPS because the game is not optimized for their cards tech. This is an exciting thing I learn tonight,haha. I hope I am right about these thoughts.

 

[turbopixel]

I have an unused GTX 750 Ti around. This would make an ideal support card for my GTX 970. But its sad that DirectX 12 is coming for Windows 10 only and not for Win7.

Btw, does this work with older cards too or only those supporting DirectX 12 only? Is this known? I ask, because my 750 Ti supports DX11 and the 970 just a subset of DX12 (from beta version).

 

[TheDarkOne198]

I have an unused GTX 750 Ti around. This would make an ideal support card for my GTX 970. But its sad that DirectX 12 is coming for Windows 10 only and not for Win7.

Btw, does this work with older cards too or only those supporting DirectX 12 only? Is this known? I ask, because my 750 Ti supports DX11 and the 970 just a subset of DX12 (from beta version).

OS and GPU support

One of the surprise announcements at the show is that Nvidia will support DX12 on every Fermi, Kepler, and Maxwell-class GPU. That means nearly every GTX 400, 500, and 600 series card will be supported. Interestingly, AMD isn’t necessarily following suit — the company has indicated that it will support DX12 on all GCN-based hardware, but hasn’t indicated if HD 6000 or HD 5000 cards will be included in that.

http://www.extremetech.com/gaming/178904-directx-12-detailed-backwards-compatible-with-all-recent-nvidia-gpus-will-deliver-mantle-like-capabilities

It will work all the way down to Fermi GPU's and the 750ti is Maxwell. Remember,the 750ti uses the EXACT same tech as the 900 series,that is why there is not a 950,the 950 is the 750ti 😉

Edit: as for it not coming for Win7,I wouldnt be surprised,Microsoft almost always bundles new DX with new Windows,forcing you to upgrade OS in order to take advantage of it. I do miss the days where DX could be installed,I remember seeing DX4 and 5 being installed by a game that needed it,but those were the old days for me,haha.

 

[Grant_12]

I thought it would only work with cards that originally supported multi GPU set ups (crossfire, SLI)? which the 750ti does not. please tell me I'm wrong though, I have one sitting in a draw doing nothing!

 

[Mousemonkey]

Chances are that PhysX still won't work if an AMD card is in the system. Are any of the games that are getting multi - GPU support even PhysX enabled titles to begin with?

 

[disturbed force]

I thought it would only work with cards that originally supported multi GPU set ups (crossfire, SLI)? which the 750ti does not. please tell me I'm wrong though, I have one sitting in a draw doing nothing!

It will work with intels igpu's, so I would say it would work with any gpu.

So i'd pull that 750ti out of the drawer, dust it off and see what happens.

Also I saw an article about MS making it easier for devs to implement multigpu for dx12, so we will likely see the feature available more in the future.