Running workstation GPU with secondary gaming GPU

[pjc97]

Hello all,

I am very new to this and am planning on building my first pc this summer. I'm a mechanical engineering student so I need to run Inventor, AutoCAD, and other similar programs, which is the first priority of the build. However, I also plan on gaming on this laptop on high settings and so the question arises:

Can I run a workstation GPU as the primary GPU and when needed disable it and run off the gaming GPU? If not, why?

I don't have any specific GPU's in mind yet, but I know I don't plan to SLI or Crossfire the GPUs, just run them on their own. I'd also rather not dual boot (although i'm not completely opposed) and certainly don't want physically swap GPUs.

 

[genthug]

You can run as many GPUs as you want as long as they aren't xfired or SLId. You WOULD have to force certain applications through each individual GPU, which can be a pain, as you will have to do that for likely every single .exe file. I'll also put out there that what you're looking to do is $1000 in GPUs alone (if you get a low, low end workstation GPU), nevermind the rest of the machine. As for the fact that you want it to be a laptop? Good luck finding a laptop that has 2 discrete GPUs. Tower you definitely can, laptop not so much.

 

[k1114]

There is no way to force any exe except on laptops with switchable and that only works with igpus. You also won't find a laptop with a workstation and gaming gpu. On desktops, you'll need to switch monitor, easy with multiple monitors, but a few software will let you select gpu.

 

[genthug]

Surprised that doesn't also work for multiple discrete gpus, but good to know.

 

[k1114]

Where do you see laptops with multiple discrete unless they are sli/cf? Even then the option only shows for the main gpu when sli/cf is off. Optimus/enduro is only on laptop drivers.

 

[genthug]

Oh I don't, I said as much in my first post. But I do have a workstation Lenovo and I can force things through Nvidia CP to the discrete GPU or to the Intel HD graphics. I was surprised that you can't force certain programs with multiple discrete gpus that way, that's all.

 

[pjc97]

I'd be building a desktop full tower and not a laptop. The work I do is not super demanding IMO (compared to professional work), mostly just modeling parts/ coding/ some simulations. And so is there a GPU that will produce a happy medium between workstation and gaming?

**DIdn't mean to include laptop in the original post

 

[k1114]

Workstation cards will game nearly as well as their gaming counterpart. You are just paying more for a lower spec card.

 

[genthug]

Honestly, if you don't need the "omq profreshionalsm" that a Quadro or FirePro will give you, just grab any R9 or GTX 900 series and you'll be fine.
Edit: agree with ^ but keep in mind that "paying more" can range anywhere from a couple hundred more to a couple thousand dollars more, and not much more outside of that margin.

 

[k1114]

I'd say it's never about professionalism. Opengl software just does not perform as well when getting into complex stuff on geforce. But since you say it won't be super demanding, I think you'd be fine on a gaming card.

 

[Jiahong]

I have a 750 ti and a quadro k600 in my computer, and it worked out fine for me. I have my monitor plugged in to the 750 ti and the quadro is in the 2nd pci slot. I don't even need to disable or unplug anything, the quadro card kicks in when I use CAE programs (Siemens NX and Star CCM+). When I game the 750 ti takes the load and the driver allows me to use the quadro card to do PhyX. The monitor is always plugged into the 750 ti and I never have to assign graphic card to specific program. It just worked.

I remember on my old laptop I need to configure which program use the Intel integrated graphics and which one to use the discrete graphics from Nvidia, but in this case two cards are both from Nvidia and they just worked. I don't know whether you can get the same thing with AMD cards or mixing AMD and Nvidia Cards.

 

[k1114]

The quadro is running the viewports? It would have to passthrough the 750ti. How did you check? By gpu usage?

 

[Jiahong]

The quadro is running the viewports? It would have to passthrough the 750ti. How did you check? By gpu usage?

Running Siemens NX on the 750 ti is noticeable worse, I can tell the difference by just using it. I also checked the GPU uilitization through hardware monitor and my quadro is being uilitization. In addition, if I disable the quadro in device manager while running NX it will crash. I didn't believe that at first either, especially because I have a single monitor and the quadro is hooked up to nothing, I can make a video about it if you need.