Nvidia SLI Question

[Tw1stedDNA]

Hey guys,

I am new to this forum. Glad to be a part of this community. Hope you guys can help answer this question:

My setup is:
Primary Display: 30" HP Zr30w Monitor at 2560x1600.
Side monitors (left and right): Dell 23" at 1920x1080.

In the past I have been using sli setup (2x gtx 680) to power my primary display and a regular graphics card (GT 610) for my side monitors.

I was thinking of eliminating my regular graphics card for the side displays, so that my second GPU can have more room to breathe (better air flow).

With my current setup I can continue to have display on the side monitors even during gaming sessions. These monitors don't black out. Its great to read PDF's when playing a game like DCS-a10c.

Is it possible to continue to run SLI only for primary monitor and also leave the side monitors on. If so, how? Which monitors need to be plugged in which GPU output port?

Thanks guys! You all are awesome!

 

[SavageCupcake]

Try using integrated graphics for the side monitors if you only want to game on one. I use it for mine and it works perfectly fine.

 

[Tw1stedDNA]

Try using integrated graphics for the side monitors if you only want to game on one. I use it for mine and it works perfectly fine.

I would love to do that...but I thought the onboard video (Z87) get's disabled when you plugin GPUs.

 

[SavageCupcake]

Works fine on my 2 computers ( z68 and z77) so i dont see why it wouldnt on z87. You'll need the driver first though.

 

[Tw1stedDNA]

Works fine on my 2 computers ( z68 and z77) so i dont see why it wouldnt on z87. You'll need the driver first though.

Awesome thanks!

So in the Bios I set first display to PCIe x16?

I have this option in my bios:
Primary Display [Auto]
Allows you to select which of the iGPU/PCIE Graphics device for Primary Display.
Configuration options: [Auto] [iGPU] [PCIE] [PCI]

Once I do that..then only the GPU's work.... In my device manager I don't see any additional devices for which I need to install the driver? I don't see the Intel iGPU anywhere?

 

[SavageCupcake]

Which mobo do you have? Both of mine are msi so i only know the options for that bios. I turned on igpu multi monitor support, booted, installed the driver from the msi website and it worked fine.

 

[Tw1stedDNA]

Which mobo do you have? Both of mine are msi so i only know the options for that bios. I turned on igpu multi monitor support, booted, installed the driver from the msi website and it worked fine.

I have the ASUS Z87-WS motherboard. I see the iGPU multi-monitor option...so I just enable that? What else? See below: (I have 32gb RAM).

Thank you so much:

______________________________________
Graphics Configuration
Allows you to select a primary display from iGPU, and PCIe graphical devices.

Primary Display [Auto]
Allows you to select which of the iGPU/PCIE Graphics device for Primary Display. Configuration options: [Auto] [iGPU] [PCIE] [PCI]

iGPU Memory [Auto]
Allows you to select the amount of system memory allocated to DVMT 5.0 used by the iGPU. Configuration options: [Auto] [32M] [64M] [96M] [128M] [160M] [192M] [224M] [256M] [288M] [320M] [352M] [384M] [416M] [448M] [480M] [512M] [1024M]

Render Standby [Auto]
Allows you to enable the Intel Graphics Render Standby support to reduce the iGPU power use when idle.Configuration options: [Auto] [Disabled] [Enabled]

iGPU Multi-Monitor [Disabled]
Allows you to enable the iGPU Multi-Monitor. The iGPU shared system memory size will be fixed at 64MB. Configuration options: [Disabled] [Enabled]

 

[SavageCupcake]

I assume so. Make sure you have the correct driver and you should be ok

 

[Tw1stedDNA]

Thank you. I will try it next week (my updated PC is not complete yet)... will keep you updated.

 

[Tw1stedDNA]

hey, so I just had a thought....does using the igpu for the side monitors affect the overclock of the cpu in anyway?

 

[SavageCupcake]

It shouldn't. Why?

 

[Tw1stedDNA]

Well, for starters... running iGPU increases CPU temperatures anyway.

Second... I was trying to make an educated guess... don't really have a reason to give you

 

[SavageCupcake]

It shoudn't incrase them by much though. Mine is maybe a degree warmer. I wasn't being blunt just asking

 

[Tw1stedDNA]

It shoudn't incrase them by much though. Mine is maybe a degree warmer. I wasn't being blunt just asking

No that's fine... its a good question... i didn't have anything to back up my hypothesis

Hopefully I get my case tomorrow...so will test it out and let you know.

The problem is I already have my dvi-d cables hooked up to my side monitors and can't really remove them...and the iGPU outputs on my motherboard are HDMI, DisplayPort and mini-DisplayPort.

I was thinking of buying a HDMI to DVI adapter and DisplayPort to DVI adapter. Hopefully they work fine.

 

[Tw1stedDNA]

What do you think about my alternate route:

I will be replacing my gtx 680 with EVGA w/ ACX Cooler GTX780s in SLI.
I could buy something like a GTX 670 or GTX770 and use for side monitors and dedicated Physx. Will it generate a lot of heat in this case - when not gaming?

Do you think this is a better option. (Ignore money for now)?

 

[iBeInspire]

What do you think about my alternate route:

I will be replacing my gtx 680 with EVGA w/ ACX Cooler GTX780s in SLI.
I could buy something like a GTX 670 or GTX770 and use for side monitors and dedicated Physx. Will it generate a lot of heat in this case - when not gaming?

Do you think this is a better option. (Ignore money for now)?

Even a 650 ti boost is powerful enough to run PhysX without any slowdown if that's the route you want to take

 

[Tw1stedDNA]

Thank you so much for your quick reply.

If money is no issue, do you still recommend:

1. iGPU for side monitors and GTX780 SLI (x16/x16) for main monitor. This way I have one slot opening between 1 and 2 gpu, and my gpu 2 can have no blocking below.

2. Dedicated Physx card for side monitors and GTX780 SLI (x16/x16/x8) for main monitor. This way I have one slot opening between 1 and 2 gpu, but my gpu 2 will have the physx card right below it.. so reduced air flow. If this is the case, then what is the best card you think I should purchase (future proof).

My manual says the following:
PCIE x16_1 auto switches to x8 when slot PCIE x16_2 is occupied;
PCIEx16_2 auto switches to x4 when slot PCIE x16_4 is occupied.

I will be using PCIE x16_1 and PCIE x16_3 for my SLI GPUs.
PCIE x16_4 for my Physx card.
PCIEX1_1 for Sound Card.

So I am guess I will still get x16/x16/x8.

 

[SavageCupcake]

You won't really need a dedicated physx card with 780's. Keep it simple. The converters should work. I think you need active adapters for displayport though. Not sure.

 

[Tw1stedDNA]

Great. So here are the adapters I was thinking:

DisplayPort to DVI Single Link Adapter
http://www.microcenter.com/product/367684/DisplayPort_to_DVI_Single_Link_Adapter

HDMI M/DVI F Video Adaptor
http://www.microcenter.com/product/203959/HDMI_M-DVI_F_Video_Adaptor

 

[SavageCupcake]

Should be fine Would check to see if the displayport one is active or not. Or check if you need it to be active.