Dual Monitors with 2 External GPUs

[buddy1187]

Hi all,

I am trying to run two monitors (27 inch 2560 x1440 and a 22 inch 1920 x 1200) on two dedicated GPUs (Nvidia GTX 660 and a Nvidia Quadro 2000). I want to use the Quadro for my CAD work while I use the GTX 660 for movies, gaming, etc... I have the DVI-I for the 27 incher plugged into the GTX 660 while I have the 22 inch plugged into the Quadro. The problem is when I boot my computer, I see the BIOS screen but after that the display cuts off. My guess is that the system doesn't know how to boot up 2 monitors with separate GPUs or if there is a problem with one Open GL GPU running in tandem with a DirectX GPU.

My system specs are as follows:

Gigabyte GA-X79-UP4 Motherboard
16GB RAM
Intel i7 3820 3.4 GHz CPU with HD4000 Integrated Graphics
Nvidia GTX 660 and Quadro 2000

I'd rather not use my Integrated Graphics since it can't run some of the better games on the market. Any help would be appreciated. I searched all over the place and I couldn't find any kind of troubleshooting with this specific problem.

 

[k1114]

Both gpus are opengl/cl/directx. This is an issue with primary monitor in windows and loading the driver for it and windows is set on the wrong gpu. Put in only 1 monitor install the driver for that card. Then switch the monitor to the other card and install that card's driver. If it's blank on one you have to take out 1 card and install the driver for each that way. Once both drivers are installed, both will work fine.

Fyi you don't have integrated graphics if x79 is what you really have. And also autodesk's cad is directx so the quadro might not even be helpful depending on what you do.

 

[buddy1187]

Both gpus are opengl/cl/directx. This is an issue with primary monitor in windows and loading the driver for it and windows is set on the wrong gpu. Put in only 1 monitor install the driver for that card. Then switch the monitor to the other card and install that card's driver. If it's blank on one you have to take out 1 card and install the driver for each that way. Once both drivers are installed, both will work fine.

Fyi you don't have integrated graphics if x79 is what you really have. And also autodesk's cad is directx so the quadro might not even be helpful depending on what you do.

Thanks for the quick post k1114. I installed the drivers for the GTX 660 on both monitors, but now I'm coming into conflict with the Quadro 2000. When I plugged the 27 inch monitor into the Quadro, I booted the system and it froze on the BIOS Post screen and I couldn't even access the BIOS. It did the same thing on my 22 incher.

I verified it wasn't a short on motherboard because after I had this occur, I plugged the GTX 660 back in the same PCI-E port I had my Quadro and wala, no problems, Windows comes up just fine. I have taken the CMOS battery out to put all of the BIOS settings back to the default with no success yet.

Any ideas? I'm running Solidworks and NX from my computer and I believe these OpenGL based systems.

 

[k1114]

This is on windows 7 right? You reset cmos with the quadro in? Then I have to assume an issue with the quadro. Does it work in another pc?

Btw you just install drivers once, doing it twice is redundant. On which monitor is irrelevant, the driver is for windows. But quadros use a different driver than geforce and the issue you are having is getting both of them installed.

 

[buddy1187]

This is on windows 7 right? You reset cmos with the quadro in? Then I have to assume an issue with the quadro. Does it work in another pc?

Btw you just install drivers once, doing it twice is redundant. On which monitor is irrelevant, the driver is for windows. But quadros use a different driver than geforce and the issue you are having is getting both of them installed.

Yes, this is Windows 7 and I did reset the CMOS with the Quadro in but still no luck. I haven't tried with another I think that'll be worth a try. It could be an issue with running two drivers at the same time, but I have seen other threads were this is not an issue. I'll check and see if this Quadro works on another computer.

 

[buddy1187]

This is on windows 7 right? You reset cmos with the quadro in? Then I have to assume an issue with the quadro. Does it work in another pc?

Btw you just install drivers once, doing it twice is redundant. On which monitor is irrelevant, the driver is for windows. But quadros use a different driver than geforce and the issue you are having is getting both of them installed.

OK, so I got the Nvidia Quadro 2000 to work on my computer, instead of booting the BIOS with EFI ROM Compatability, I had to boot it using Legacy ROM. I downloaded the drivers for the Quadro 2000, so I have both the GTX 660 and Quadro 2000 drivers in windows.

Now I'm coming up with the problem that I try to run both cards at the same time and there is no signal being sent to the monitors....

 

[k1114]

When exactly did it go blank, when you installed the driver for the quadro or after you plugged in the 2nd monitor.

 

[buddy1187]

When exactly did it go blank, when you installed the driver for the quadro or after you plugged in the 2nd monitor.

When I plugged in the monitor.

 

[k1114]

Legacy rom shouldn't have been necessary and it doesn't make sense to why it would go blank. Is your bios up to date? What psu do you have? Monitors were plugged in before you turned on the pc? What happens if you plug in the 2nd when in windows? Or if you unplug one when it's blank? If the 660 handles solidwork fine, then you don't really need the quadro.

 

[buddy1187]

Legacy rom shouldn't have been necessary and it doesn't make sense to why it would go blank. Is your bios up to date? What psu do you have? Monitors were plugged in before you turned on the pc? What happens if you plug in the 2nd when in windows? Or if you unplug one when it's blank? If the 660 handles solidwork fine, then you don't really need the quadro.

It's a mystery to me, I think I've done everything I could possibly do with only minor success. My bios is updated to the latest version and I have a 1000W Cooler Master PSU with 12V rail voltage which the Quadro should run on. When I insert the second GPU into the computer when Windows is on, the screen goes blank like there is some compatibility issues, plus I'd rather not do that since I could end up damaging the card with the arching that creates.

I'm going to take it to a shop and get their take on it, I don't it should be this complicated as people have done this with no issues at all. I apprreciate your help, if there are any other ideas you think I could try, please let me know.

My idea was to be able to work CAD models while having video on games up on the other monitor. If I use the 660 for both monitors, my perrformance will be severely limited that I can't do that.

 

[k1114]

Do not put the card in while the pc is on. I did not and do not ever suggest messing with internal components when the pc is on. But changing out monitors is fine and is what I said to do.