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Problems with dual display on 9800gx2 ??

cmsbfent

cmsbfent

cmsbfent

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Hey all...

Thinking about taking the plunge and buying either a 3870x2 or a 9800 gx2, but have read a couple of remarks about the 9800 that I cant quite get to the bottom of.. based on reviews

So hopefully someone here can help..

Basically, I've read that when the 9800 is connected to 2 monitors, it automatically switches to single card mode, resulting in half the power. My PC is permanantley hooked up to a 24" monitor for work and also a 1080p screen for some big screen antics. Does this mean that the 9800 gx2 will not suit this kind of set up. I'm sure even if true, there will be a fix for it but I cant find a definate answer anywhere.. and splashing out over £400 on something that aint gonna work too well, aint for me!

Cheers folks
 
This is a limitation of SLI. Basically when SLI is enabled, the card will only output one signal, if you want to use to screens you have to turn SLI off. It will work, but if you want to play games using the GX2 to its fullest then you will have to decide which display you're going to use and hook it up to the primary output before you turn the comp on.
 
Bah, thats a bit gash really

So maybe its back to the 3870x2 for me then.

Why oh why did I choose a single slot motherboard solution! Another 3870 seems to give a healthy boost

Ah well
 
KWJay said:
This is a limitation of SLI. Basically when SLI is enabled, the card will only output one signal, if you want to use to screens you have to turn SLI off. It will work, but if you want to play games using the GX2 to its fullest then you will have to decide which display you're going to use and hook it up to the primary output before you turn the comp on.
Click to expand...

Does crossfire suffer from this as well?
 
Hmmmmm...

From what I have read, No.

Cant guarantee though. The 3870x2 should be a definate though as it is only 1 card. At least I think I'm right assuming this..

Anyone got the same setup using two screens etc?
 
I don't know about crossfire as my only experience is with SLI. Its doesn't have anything to do with the 2 pcb design, its the 2 gpu's that cause the issue.
 
Seems pretty stupid in all honesty. Something like dual monitor support which tbh became a popular things many years ago should be incorporated in the SLI technology. I mean, if I found out that I could not run SupCom, World in Conflict and really any other game that would involve dual displays or even running a windowed game and watching a movie on the other screen. Im really finding it hard to believe that this is the case though as one would have thought that Nvidia would have solved something like this. Furthermore, if this IS the case then any one who thinks of going SLI who does have dual monitors should probably decide whether or not its worth them shelling out on that second card when they are not even going to be able to use it properly. But like I said, Im really hoping this is not the case.
 
It has been posted here there is a fix on the way but when, only nvidia knows and as far as i know crossfireX does support dual monitors with it enabled and that coming from people on this forum.
 
Seems like a major problem in my eyes..

What about if you use the HDMI port on the card to connect to a TV or capable monitor, and then use the DVI output for monitor.

Still a no no?
 
i would have though that the drivers would be intelligent enough to swith to single display mode when gaming, but anyway....



why would it be a problem? obviously having to swith the 2nd display off if the drivers dont do it would be a pain, but other than that - whats the problem? sli or crossfire will only accelerate one display, but you'd only use one display when gaming....right?
 
Thats weird, as 1 GPU can have 2 Monitors anyhow.

I need my TV-Out daily and have used it since the G-Force 2 days. (I dont have dual view on when not needed though).

I knew 2 GPU's gave you 4 Monitors but not in SLI Mode but assumed you could still use 2 Monitors or 1+TV using S-Video as I do.

Switching Monitors on/off is not PIA for me as I used TV-Tool now in Vista I use Ultramon.
 
but i think if you turn your computer on with 2 monitors connected, you cant get around it until you restart without one of the monitors connected.

Personally, I'll often be doing a bit of work or encoding or even surfing, and then I'll fancy a bit of gaming whilst the encoding/downloading is doing its thing and move to the couch i.e TV.

I suppose I cant be bothered with all the restarting, but also in these circumstances, I would have to wait until my systems finished everthings its doing before I could restart to switch to my TV.

Seems odd. Just wasnt expecting this.
 
All about using dual screen on the 9800gx2 here http://www.bit-tech.net/hardware/2008/03/18/xfx_geforce_9800_gx2_600m_1gb_graphics_card/7

[First of all, you can only boot from either the HDMI or DVI-I connectors that are next to each other – the second DVI-I connector is only activated once in Windows. Secondly, that second DVI-I connector cannot be used if the card is in performance mode (i.e. when SLI is enabled) and in order to activate it, you have to go into the driver and disable multi-GPU mode.
Click to expand...
 
Right, i've just had a quick read through the bit-tech article (cheers chaparral) and what I got from it was that in my instance, I will not be able to turn on my computer with both my TV and monitor connected and be able to use the card to its full potential. It will effectively be a 8800 GT if my TV is connected when I turn my computer on.

Is that right?

Just trying to get the answer.. thanks again
 
james.miller said:
why would it be a problem? obviously having to swith the 2nd display off if the drivers dont do it would be a pain, but other than that - whats the problem? sli or crossfire will only accelerate one display, but you'd only use one display when gaming....right?
Click to expand...

Sure, accelerating just one screen would be fine, but Id still like to have the second one on so I can watch stuff on it or have web pages open.
 
Im looking for the same anwser. Have 1 connected to my tv and 1 connected to my monitor. Play games on my tv and was thinking of getting 2x 8800gts, or 9800gx2 or a 8800gtx. 8800 gtx sounds the better choice now
 
cmsbfent said:
Hmmmmm...

From what I have read, No.

Cant guarantee though. The 3870x2 should be a definate though as it is only 1 card. At least I think I'm right assuming this..

Anyone got the same setup using two screens etc?
Click to expand...

Me, pretty much the same as your set up, I have a 3870X2, with my main monitor, 24", and my 1080p TV both plugged in most of the time and I get no problems with it, no drop in performance or anything. :)
 
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