multiple cards in one system

[lespaul]

Well, this may sound stupid to some of you, but i've been wondering if its possible to have a main graphics card in your AGP slot, and a second one in a PCI to be able to switch to easily for certain applications. The reason i'd like to be able to do this is - i want to be able to put a Voodoo 3 in a PCI slot to play Diablo 2 with. That game was made for 3dfx cards, and runs *much* smoother on them with GL-glide. Everyone i know with a Nvidia card has the same choppy play as me, in many areas of the game. I think it would be nice if i could simply 'switch' to the Voodoo 3 whenever i play diablo 2, then switch back to my Geforce 2 for everything else. Is there a way to do this? And if not, is there some sort of Gl-glide emulator to use with my Geforce 2 to play diablo 2 smoothly, but not mess up other apps?

Thanks for any help,
LesPaul

 

[Crashman]

OK, you could use a VooDoo 2, this was a "3D accelerator card". You simply loop a cable from the main video card out to the VooDoo2 in, then another cable goes from the VooDoo2 to your monitor. It overlays the 3D image. Then it's a matter of configuring your games to use whichever 3D device works best.

<font color=blue>You're posting in a forum with class. It may be third class, but it's still class!</font color=blue>

 

[miahallen]

If you're running Win 2k or XP you could do this pretty easily. 1 You would need either two monitors, (you could use them both for windows applications (non games) and some newer games supporting dual displays. 2 Or a monitor with dual inputs, there's quite a few models out the with dual inputs, that would alow you to toggel back and forth between the two video card outputs. 3 Or you would have to switch the cable from one card to the other (or buy a VGA switcher) each time you wanted to change.

 

[icy_oblivion]

Depending on your system you might have to change the video device in your BIOS. That would just be a pain.

In a world without <font color=red>walls </font color=red>or <font color=green>fences </font color=green>, what use have we for <font color=red>Windows </font color=red>or <font color=green>Gates.</font color=green>

 

[lespaul]

Hmm, thanks for all the input guys. The easiest and best for my setup sounds like the VGA switcher option. I'm not sure how well my board will support 2 cards though (if at all). Its a Gigabyte GA-7ZX series board with the VIA KT133 chipset, with the original BIOS (never flashed them), its at least 2 years old. Like icy said, if i'd have to change video devices in the BIOS every time i wanted to switch, that would suck, and might consider something else.
Anyone familiar with this board think this is a plausible option?
Oh, and about how much do those VGA switchers cost?

Again.. thanks,

LesPaul