Enabling another Graphics card

[imatrix]

I was going to add another graphics card to my computer I have an AMD Radeon HD 7560D integrated graphics card, which does say you can have dual graphics here http://www.amd.com/us/products/technologies/dual-graphics/Pages/dual-graphics.aspx#3
basically, I wanted to know if I got another graphics card installed, how do I enable the second one, or do I need another monitor for that, can someone help me through the steps of what I would need to do to add another graphics card to my computer, Thanks.

 

[photonboy]

You have TWO choices:

1) Buy an HD6670 and run in Dual-Graphics mode (setup in Catalyst Control Panel), or

2) Get a better card like an HD7770, GTX750Ti etc and then attach the monitor to it instead and you won't use the GPU in your APU anyway.

*I strongly recommend just using an addon card. Dual-Graphics has MAJOR problems. Plus, the performance of 2xHD6670 wouldn't be that great even if it worked fine.

Other factors are:
1) POWER SUPPLY. The new GTX750Ti for example is the most powerful card you can find that doesn't need a PCIe 6-pin input (I think most models do though).

2) 32-bit or 64-bit Windows?
If 32-bit Windows you should only get a 1GB video card.

*THIS is the card I recommend if you have 64-bit Windows AND you also have a 6-pin PCIe connector:
http://pcpartpicker.com/part/asus-video-card-gtx750tioc2gd5

 

[photonboy]

Update:
I'm not 100% certain, but I think THIS is the best card that doesn't require any additional power. I see no 6-pin connector in the pictures:
http://www.evga.com/Products/Product.aspx?pn=02G-P4-3751-KR

So the only issue there would be BUDGET and whether you have 64-bit Windows.

*And here's why Dual Graphics sucks (a few months old but still applies). Dual Graphics is similar to but NOT exactly the same as Crossfire:
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/dual-graphics-crossfire-benchmark,3583-10.html

 

[IInuyasha74]

Just wanted to say, Photonboy is right here. You can get a few different cards and run them in crossfire with the APU, but performance won't go up as much as if you just get a better graphics card. Getting a 7750 or better is best.

Also, if you are interested in doing dual monitors or multiple monitors, remember that you can use both graphics cards at once. For example, you can run games on your graphics card on one monitor, while having a webpage or something open on the other monitor controlled by the integrated graphics. That helps take a little load off the graphics cards if you did this. So there are ways that can come in handy to have this setup instead.

 

[imatrix]

My budget is around 150 and I have 64 bit windows. So it would be in my best interest to get another monitor for the second card, and also if i get another card does it have to be made by the same people, in the same series or no. and how do i enable the dual graphics in the catalyst controller. Thanks for your guys replies.

 

[IInuyasha74]

My budget is around 150 and I have 64 bit windows. So it would be in my best interest to get another monitor for the second card, and also if i get another card does it have to be made by the same people, in the same series or no. and how do i enable the dual graphics in the catalyst controller. Thanks for your guys replies.

Getting a second monitor is not necessary, but if you are just wanting to have a dual monitor set up then its a pretty cool set up. Running it as I said above with the integrated running the second monitor for other tasks works well, I have my brother's PC set up to do that using Intel integrated graphics right now. If you decide you want to run the game on both displays though you will need to connect them both to the main graphics card though.

You should be able to use a graphics card from either company. I would recommend staying with AMD though. I like AMD better is part of the reason, but I am also concerned that the separate graphics drivers might clash with each other. They might not though, I haven't read up too much on where people have done that before.

 

[imatrix]

So how would i be able to use two graphocs cards with only one monitor?

 

[IInuyasha74]

So how would i be able to use two graphocs cards with only one monitor?

You can do Crossfire or SLI, but the APU does a bad drive in crossfire. But otherwise you cannot use two GPUs on the same monitor in any practical way.

 

[imatrix]

Okay Thank you all for your answers you both helped a lot! Thanks again!