multiple video cards

bendorsey

Bridge-n-trestle builder
Hi Folks:

I see in various ads computers offered with the option of 2 and even 3 video cards.

Are all of them used at the same time feeding a single monitor or does each feed a separate monitor?

What are the advantages - disadvantages (other then $$$), etc.

Thanks,

Ben
 
Multi card configurations fall under the SLI branding with Nvidia or Crossfire with AMD. These solutions are simply designed to increase performance by allowing multiple cards to perform render tasks in parallel, allowing for increased performance in theory.

In terms of value, it very much depends on the current generation of cards and each performance tiers price point. For example, at one point it was of greater value to purchase two Geforce GTX 970's as opposed to a single Geforce GTX 980. This was due to the fact that the pair of 970's would only be 10% more expensive than a single 980, but outperform the single card significantly. This varies generation by generation however.

The problem with multi card configurations is that performance does not scale linearly. Depending on the optimisation of the software in question, one may see 75% scaling, whereby they achieve 175% of the performance one one card with two identical GPUs. However one may also see reduced performance in cases where optimisation for the software in question is so poor that it has a negative impact, which is rare, but has occurred.

As for TANE, multi card configurations are not supported as N3V have not implemented the feature.

Jack
 
Besides cost 2 other drawbacks are increased power consumption and increased heat, so both you PSU and cooling system need to be up to the task. I've been doing some research in preparation of having a new machine built and from what I gather, unless you are using multiple monitors, using a high resolution display above 1080, like 4k, or doing serious, professional graphical or video editing multiple video cards are not necessary. It seems the general consensus , from non super hardware geeks is get the best single card you can afford.

This is just my general takeaway. If you want you can find plenty of articles that get into the technical details and bench marking results. Of course if you have the cash, go for it I guess. One thing to consider is that the next generation of NVidia cards are about to be released so that may change things somewhat, as well as if you plan on delving into VR and getting one of those contraptions.
 
Thanks for the replies gents:

Its not so much a matter of cost as it is "is the cost worth the increased performance".

I only use my computer for Gmaxing and Trainzing (TS2012 and T:ANE). My old one ran a little over $5000 - this one probably close to $10,000 but this is literally all I do. 8, 10, and sometimes 12 hours a day so the cost however initially steep seems worth it on a usage basis (it ain't gonna be sitting around collecting dust and dog hair, lol).

Monitor-wise its either a 34 inch (slightly) curved monitor or a 32 inch 4K monitor.

Jack - what do you mean by N3V does not support multiple video cards for T:ANE? Multiple cards feeding one monitor or multiple cards feeding multiple monitors or something else?

Thanks,

Ben
 
Jack - what do you mean by N3V does not support multiple video cards for T:ANE? Multiple cards feeding one monitor or multiple cards feeding multiple monitors or something else?

What I mean is that TANE will only utilise a single card to render each frame. It's not a case of each card working for each monitor, it's a case of each card rendering part of a single frame, which requires support from the software in question.
 
Jack:

So the software has to be written for multiple cards (and T:ANE isn't). Think N3V might add that to T:ANE in the reasonably near future? With T:ANE's load on video cards it might be worth their while.

Whitepass:

I'd be typing on the new now if my move to Tennessee hadn't cost 3 times what I expected (and the wife hadn't gone nuts in the local furniture store, lol). Any idea as to how soon the new ones will be coming out? I'm looking at 3 to 4 months before I splurge on the new one (assuming the old one holds together that long). Its 6 years old and getting shaky around the edges.

Ben

EDIT (a little while later).

Can additional cards be added to a computer designed for multiple cards by just (carefully) installing them or would software be needed to re-configure the system to use them?
 
Last edited:
Jack:

So the software has to be written for multiple cards (and T:ANE isn't). Think N3V might add that to T:ANE in the reasonably near future? With T:ANE's load on video cards it might be worth their while.

Whitepass:

I'd be typing on the new now if my move to Tennessee hadn't cost 3 times what I expected (and the wife hadn't gone nuts in the local furniture store, lol). Any idea as to how soon the new ones will be coming out? I'm looking at 3 to 4 months before I splurge on the new one (assuming the old one holds together that long). Its 6 years old and getting shaky around the edges.

Ben

EDIT (a little while later).

Can additional cards be added to a computer designed for multiple cards by just (carefully) installing them or would software be needed to re-configure the system to use them?

Hi Ben,

The SLI/Crossfire configuration, NVidia/AMD respectively, is something that N3V discussed way back in the T:ANE development, but was never done at the time. Will it happen in the future? We don't know at this time, though it's a nice expensive feature to have. Any computer can have the second video card added later and matched up to the first. They have to be the same type so if you have a GTX980Ti, you have to have the same kind to mate up to it.

John
 
I'm seeing late 3rd Quarter, early 4th Quarter for desktop release. it looks like mobile cards will be released first, some say in June.
 
So its just a matter of carefully inserting duplicate card(s). No software required because the computer itself has been designed for multiple cards. Sounds good. Will have to give serious consideration to multiple cards when the time comes. Particularly since the basic version comes with 2 cards (forget which ones).

How much better are the new ones then the NVIDIA GeForce GTX Titan X which is what I was going to get (depending on the current level of advertising hype that is, lol)?

Ben
 
So its just a matter of carefully inserting duplicate card(s). No software required because the computer itself has been designed for multiple cards. Sounds good. Will have to give serious consideration to multiple cards when the time comes. Particularly since the basic version comes with 2 cards (forget which ones).

How much better are the new ones then the NVIDIA GeForce GTX Titan X which is what I was going to get (depending on the current level of advertising hype that is, lol)?

Ben

Yup. All you need is the slot, power supply capable, and the little SLI cable which comes with the video card or computer.

http://www.tomshardware.com/answers/id-2710878/titan-gtx-980.html

http://www.tomshardware.com/answers/id-2672276/titan-superclocked-gtx-980ti-windforce.html

You're better off with a GTX980 for the price. It's an overall better card, though slightly slower, but not by much and has 1/2 the RAM at 6GB instead of 12GB.

Other than that, I can't afford either right now to try them. :)

John
 
Hi John:

If I read those two links correctly they pretty much say the Titan isn't worth the extra expense:
1. 6 extra Gb of video RAM which pretty much isn't used by current programs.
2. A slight increase in clock speed.
3. All the extra heat generated by 1 and 2 above.
4. Considerably higher cost.

I did see two quickie ads about new upcoming video cards. Will wait and see what happens (assuming my Aurora doesn't self-destruct in the meantime, lol).

Thanks for the info guys,

Ben
 
What I read was 2x faster than a Titan for the top card. I got a GTX 960 last year instead of a GTX 970 so I could get a new one maybe next year.
 
Whitepass:

Sounds worth waiting for (if the old one holds together). Was reluctant to start this morning (guess I need to feed it more then one cup of coffee, lol).

Ben
 
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