Graphics card question

sir-les-mp · 20 Jan 2011 at 16:44

Ok im currently aware that Nvidia cards are best when running F@H
However im looking at getting an AM3 Mobo to try and get more out of my newly aquired X6 Phenom II 1090T.
So to that end ive been looking at the 890 FX series of AMD Motherboards and have seen a few that would suit my puropose but not my wallet.
So further investigation reveals a few 890 GX motherboards that may also suit my purpose but these come with onboard video.

So what im looking to find out is if i can run my Nvidia video cards whilst also running the onboard video.
What im hoping is by using the onboard video from the mobo i can squeze out some extra performance from the nvidia cards for Folding with.
So what im looking to find out is if it is possible to run both ATi and Nvidia GPU's in the same system without instabilities.

Biffa · 20 Jan 2011 at 16:51

Yes you can run Ati and Nvidia cards in the same system. Not sure about onboard and discreet in the same system regardless of type though.

sir-les-mp · 20 Jan 2011 at 20:52

Biffa said:
Yes you can run Ati and Nvidia cards in the same system. Not sure about onboard and discreet in the same system regardless of type though.

Well looking at the specs of the board

Onboard graphics will be ATI Radeon HD 4250

As for the nvidia cards

one is a 9800 GX2 and the other is a 8800GTS 512

would that make any differrence

Biffa · 20 Jan 2011 at 22:52

Usually you have to disable onboard when you plug in discreet. I did read that you can crossfire the onboard with another AMD/ATi discreet card, but I couldn't find anything one way or the other that said it could be done the way you want to do it.

richb93 · 20 Jan 2011 at 22:57

I have a feeling that once you put a card in the onboard is disabled because it uses the same PCI-E lanes that the onboard would be using so it won't work (afaik)

Frozennova · 20 Jan 2011 at 23:01

You may be onto something there Biffa, Hybrid Xfire allows onboard and a dedicated card to run together, so there's a possibility you may be able to run the AMD SLi hack drivers and get a Hybrid Xfire/SLi setup going

Snapshot · 21 Jan 2011 at 07:50

I don't think you will need to disable the on-board graphics. Most mobo's let you select whether you want the on-board or add-on to boot first so I'd select the on-board and see what happens.