How Do I set up my computer with 2 gfx cards?

Question

I just bought a new computer from cyberpower but they did not give me any instructions on where to connect the cables so I'm turning to you guys.

My computer has 2 gfx cards. I connected my monitor to the higher gfx card but I am not sure what to do now. Should I connect the two gfx cards somehow? Each gfx card has 2 ports on it. The top gfx card has one port connected to the monitor and another port empty. The bottom gfx card has 2 ports not connected to anything.

I have one extra cable that can connect the two gfx cards. Should I Connect the gfx cards?

Answer 1

A cable that connects it? Sounds like crossfire. Are your cards ATI? Ati Crossfire is the way to connect two ATI cards, except for the newest versions its ussually done with a "Y" cable that connects both cards at the outputs (or ports). If that is the case, connect the two cards through the "Y", then connect the monitor. The particular output you use on each card makes no difference, cards usually have two outputs in case you want to connect two monitors to it.

If it was Nvidia SLI you would have to connect the cards inside your PC with a special bridge connector (which, if you bought a built PC, makes more sense that it would come with that done already).

Answer 2

Any graphic card that is SLI compatiable should be connected together with an extra component. The component contains a small tiny slot like a PCI slot that goes on a upper back tip "showing similar slot pattern". I can't explain enough except it does has the area where the Connector goes on top of it. In the ASUS motherboard, there is not only the SLI connector but a dual video switch that require you to rotates the CNR slot like card. Refer to your motherboard's manual for furthur instruction.

Don't forget the SLI power connector also!

Answer 3

Definitely, if both are the same card. This is called SLI (or crossfire, depending on whether the cards are nvidia or ATI), and can show a fairly drastic boost in performance.