Dual GPUs. must they be same? - Canadian TV, Computing and Home Theatre Forums

jerkyboy · 2012-01-30, 03:03 PM

Hello all. Help me out here if you can
Currently I have one video card (Asus/nVidia 9500GT) which I have 2 monitors hooked up to it as 'extended displays'
One monitor is dedicated purely for dvd video playback from my HTPC's hard drive and the other monitor is for the desktop.

Periodically I get some shuddering of video playback on the main monitor when I'm performing other tasks on the desktop monitor.

So I'm thinking I would like to get a 2nd video card so each monitor has its own GPU card.

I was advised today at a local computer store that I should get two new cards that are exactly the same. His reason why is for frame-rate consistency.
As with my current extended display I can move window applications from one monitor to the other. I would still like to do that. Is that even possible with 2 video cards?
And do I really need 2 new cards that are the exactly the same?

Thanks

recneps77 · 2012-01-30, 04:58 PM

The two cards will work together as if there was only one. I.e it would work exactly as it does now, just twice the computing power. They have to be the same gpu family (I.e 9000) and one will down clock to match the other.

I'd rather put $50 into a single new generation card that will likely blow your old one away and handle two monitors without a sweat.

audacity · 2012-01-30, 04:59 PM

Must be the same? No.

Should be the same? Yes.

That said, I'm not sure a 2nd video card would solve your problem.

jerkyboy · 2012-01-30, 06:16 PM

@recneps77
Ok I think I understand what you're saying. Note that I have no plans of gaming whatsoever on this machine.
Yeah I guess a single new gen GPU card would work I guess. But it would definitely have to be near the high end no? maybe?
The shuddering of playing a movie from hard drive is very noticeable when using WMC (VLC executed as external player) and when I initialize SplashTop as remote interface from my laptop. The GPU Core load shoots way up to 88-98% (as per Open Hardware Monitor)
Resolution on both monitors is 1920x1080
Thus my thought as why I may need 2 vid cards

@audacity
If you don't think a 2nd vid card will solve my issues what do you suggest?

Heres some other data of my current build
mobo: MSI
CPU: Q6600
OS: 32bit Win7
ram: 3gigs 800mhz

GPU: Asus/nVdia 9500GT
soundcard: SoundBlaster X-Fi Titanium
TV tuner: Hauppauge 950 USB stick
OS HD: WD blue 600gb

ScaryBob · 2012-01-30, 06:33 PM

The playback issues may be due to insufficient video RAM. I would upgrade to a newer card with 512GB to 1GB of RAM. Any video upgrade will impact usable system RAM with 32 bit Win7. Win7 64 bit would be a much better option with a minimum of 4GB system RAM and 1GB video RAM.

jerkyboy · 2012-01-30, 08:08 PM

Heya ScaryBob,
My current video card does indeed have 1GB video-memory
Asus/nVidia GeForce 9500GT 1GB memory

I know there was a 512mb version made from a few different manufacturers but this Asus branded one I have is 1GB v-memory

TorontoColin · 2012-01-30, 08:16 PM

I run two 1080p displays off my current computer using a mid-range Radeon 5000 series (can't remember the exact number). I regularly use the computer on one display while playing a blu-ray on the other.

I'm using a Q9550 with 4GB of DDR2 and 64 bit Windows 7. A single HD6450 should more than handle what you want to do, though as mentioned the 3GB of RAM and 32 bit OS might pose some difficulties.

jerkyboy · 2012-01-31, 11:03 PM

yes TorontoColin thats exactly what I wish to do.
the large TV monitor for watching movies and smaller PC monitor for doing PC work.
But I'm doing all that with just one video card.

And when I add any load such as opening WMC, photoshop or any other the video studders a little.

With my current set up as 'extended display' with the 2 monitors I can direct the VLC video player to open on the big screen.
I can also choose to open up WMC to open on the PC screen. and vise versa.

Im wondering if you have 2 independent video cards hooked up to 2 independent monitors are you able to direct which PC application to open them in?

If not, then the computer guy may be correct that I need 2 of the same video cards linked up as Crossfire or SLI so that both cards act as one so that I can continue to treat them as 'extended displays'

audacity · 2012-02-01, 12:16 AM

@jerkyboy,

Since you have a multi-core CPU, and the app that is displaying video (which stutters) is a separate process, I would initially look at what is being resource constrained.

Assuming the videos that you are displaying are on local storage, here are some questions to ask yourself when you see the stutter:

1. Are you I/O limited? (slow HDD? check Resource Monitor and look for a Disk Queue length when you get a stutter.)

2. Are you CPU limited?

3. Does the stutter artifact occur with all playback applications (Windows Media Player, VLC, etc), or just some?

I'm having trouble imagining a scenario where with one video card you would have that problem and two video cards you wouldn't.

redzone · 2012-02-01, 12:52 AM

the 9500 doesnt have hardware acceleration for h.264 so if hes trying to watch a movie AND work with say corel draw hes prob maxing out the cpu or running out of ram.

id get an ati 5450 or 6450 and some more ram. you should be able to get both for roughly $70(after rebates)

TorontoColin · 2012-02-01, 02:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jerkyboy

Im wondering if you have 2 independent video cards hooked up to 2 independent monitors are you able to direct which PC application to open them in?

I have a single Radeon HD 5450 connected to two separate displays. One is connected via DVI and the other via HDMI (which is also my primary audio source for the computer). Both display in 1080p, and I use extended desktop mode in Windows. I've never seen any issues related to video playback or display stutter.

If it is your video card that is the issue, a Radeon HD 6450 would more than solve your issue. That's where I'd start. If that doesn't fix it, then you might need more RAM and/or 64 bit Windows.

audacity · 2012-02-01, 10:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by redzone

the 9500 doesnt have hardware acceleration for h.264 so if hes trying to watch a movie AND work with say corel draw hes prob maxing out the cpu or running out of ram.

id get an ati 5450 or 6450 and some more ram. you should be able to get both for roughly $70(after rebates)

redzone,

NVIDIA cards post-8800GTX were able to accelerate h.264. For instance, Core AVC accelerates h.264 on NVIDIA cards, and it works on my old laptop that has a NVIDIA 8400 chip.

Here are the system requirements for DXVA and CUDA video acceleration.

Figakes · 2012-02-21, 02:01 AM

If you want to run 2 video cards, it is ideal to have the same board.

2012-01-30, 03:03 PM	#1
jerkyboy Rookie Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: GTA t.dot Posts: 16	Dual GPUs. must they be same? Hello all. Help me out here if you can Currently I have one video card (Asus/nVidia 9500GT) which I have 2 monitors hooked up to it as 'extended displays' One monitor is dedicated purely for dvd video playback from my HTPC's hard drive and the other monitor is for the desktop. Periodically I get some shuddering of video playback on the main monitor when I'm performing other tasks on the desktop monitor. So I'm thinking I would like to get a 2nd video card so each monitor has its own GPU card. I was advised today at a local computer store that I should get two new cards that are exactly the same. His reason why is for frame-rate consistency. As with my current extended display I can move window applications from one monitor to the other. I would still like to do that. Is that even possible with 2 video cards? And do I really need 2 new cards that are the exactly the same? Thanks

2012-01-30, 06:33 PM	#5
ScaryBob Veteran Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: The Dandelion City Posts: 7,133	The playback issues may be due to insufficient video RAM. I would upgrade to a newer card with 512GB to 1GB of RAM. Any video upgrade will impact usable system RAM with 32 bit Win7. Win7 64 bit would be a much better option with a minimum of 4GB system RAM and 1GB video RAM. __________________ At 20 I had a good mind. At 40 I had money. At 60 I've lost my mind and my money. Oh, to be 20 again. --Scary

2012-01-30, 08:16 PM	#7
TorontoColin Moderator Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Toronto, Wind Mobile, Rogers Cable, Teksavvy Extreme Cable Posts: 3,229	I run two 1080p displays off my current computer using a mid-range Radeon 5000 series (can't remember the exact number). I regularly use the computer on one display while playing a blu-ray on the other. I'm using a Q9550 with 4GB of DDR2 and 64 bit Windows 7. A single HD6450 should more than handle what you want to do, though as mentioned the 3GB of RAM and 32 bit OS might pose some difficulties. __________________ Rules of the Forum \| DHC Help Desk DHC now supports Tapatalk for mobile devices!

2012-02-01, 12:52 AM	#10
redzone Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 1,027	the 9500 doesnt have hardware acceleration for h.264 so if hes trying to watch a movie AND work with say corel draw hes prob maxing out the cpu or running out of ram. id get an ati 5450 or 6450 and some more ram. you should be able to get both for roughly $70(after rebates) Last edited by TorontoColin; 2012-02-01 at 02:52 AM. Reason: removed retail link

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2012-01-30, 04:58 PM	#2
recneps77 Veteran Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Whitby Posts: 2,815	The two cards will work together as if there was only one. I.e it would work exactly as it does now, just twice the computing power. They have to be the same gpu family (I.e 9000) and one will down clock to match the other. I'd rather put $50 into a single new generation card that will likely blow your old one away and handle two monitors without a sweat.

2012-01-30, 04:59 PM	#3
audacity Veteran Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: 127.0.0.1 Posts: 1,806	Must be the same? No. Should be the same? Yes. That said, I'm not sure a 2nd video card would solve your problem.

2012-01-30, 06:16 PM	#4
jerkyboy Rookie Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: GTA t.dot Posts: 16	@recneps77 Ok I think I understand what you're saying. Note that I have no plans of gaming whatsoever on this machine. Yeah I guess a single new gen GPU card would work I guess. But it would definitely have to be near the high end no? maybe? The shuddering of playing a movie from hard drive is very noticeable when using WMC (VLC executed as external player) and when I initialize SplashTop as remote interface from my laptop. The GPU Core load shoots way up to 88-98% (as per Open Hardware Monitor) Resolution on both monitors is 1920x1080 Thus my thought as why I may need 2 vid cards @audacity If you don't think a 2nd vid card will solve my issues what do you suggest? Heres some other data of my current build mobo: MSI CPU: Q6600 OS: 32bit Win7 ram: 3gigs 800mhz GPU: Asus/nVdia 9500GT soundcard: SoundBlaster X-Fi Titanium TV tuner: Hauppauge 950 USB stick OS HD: WD blue 600gb

2012-01-30, 08:08 PM	#6
jerkyboy Rookie Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: GTA t.dot Posts: 16	Heya ScaryBob, My current video card does indeed have 1GB video-memory Asus/nVidia GeForce 9500GT 1GB memory I know there was a 512mb version made from a few different manufacturers but this Asus branded one I have is 1GB v-memory

2012-01-31, 11:03 PM	#8
jerkyboy Rookie Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: GTA t.dot Posts: 16	yes TorontoColin thats exactly what I wish to do. the large TV monitor for watching movies and smaller PC monitor for doing PC work. But I'm doing all that with just one video card. And when I add any load such as opening WMC, photoshop or any other the video studders a little. With my current set up as 'extended display' with the 2 monitors I can direct the VLC video player to open on the big screen. I can also choose to open up WMC to open on the PC screen. and vise versa. Im wondering if you have 2 independent video cards hooked up to 2 independent monitors are you able to direct which PC application to open them in? If not, then the computer guy may be correct that I need 2 of the same video cards linked up as Crossfire or SLI so that both cards act as one so that I can continue to treat them as 'extended displays'

2012-02-01, 12:16 AM	#9
audacity Veteran Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: 127.0.0.1 Posts: 1,806	@jerkyboy, Since you have a multi-core CPU, and the app that is displaying video (which stutters) is a separate process, I would initially look at what is being resource constrained. Assuming the videos that you are displaying are on local storage, here are some questions to ask yourself when you see the stutter: 1. Are you I/O limited? (slow HDD? check Resource Monitor and look for a Disk Queue length when you get a stutter.) 2. Are you CPU limited? 3. Does the stutter artifact occur with all playback applications (Windows Media Player, VLC, etc), or just some? I'm having trouble imagining a scenario where with one video card you would have that problem and two video cards you wouldn't.

2012-02-21, 02:01 AM	#13
Figakes Join Date: Jan 2012 Posts: 3	If you want to run 2 video cards, it is ideal to have the same board.