8800 GT & 8600 & 4 displays

[TheJoe]

I just bought a BFG 8800 Gt oc 512 card. my goal is to have 4 screens in vista. now would i have to buy the exact same card? or can i buy the 8600 in any version and run them both (non sli) to get my 4 screens? i read only the driver has to be the same so does anyone know if the 8 series all use the same driver? thanks guys

[nevermind1534]

If you have 2 PCI express slots, and you don't bother with the SLI, they should run fine, assuming that there's enough power for them.

[TheJoe]

how much power are we talking about? ive got a 450w right now will that be enough. is the a tool that tells you how much power your using?

[nevermind1534]

A no-name PSU usually won't preform up to the specified output. The only sure way to find out is to hook it up, and see if it works.

[TheJoe]

can any type of damage happen or things will simply not work?

[nevermind1534]

It wouldn't startup, or would not function correctly. What brand is your PSU? You will probably want to put the two cards on different rails, but it would probably work. I don't know of any damage that could occur. Don't let the PSU overheat. They usually only overheat due to fan failure, though.

[TheJoe]

cool and what about using the 84 or 8500. all i need is a cheap second card to hook the other 2 up to. if i buy a new psu and i dont game often what wattage range should i go for. and i know more is better but whats comfortable

[nevermind1534]

I'm probably not the best person to ask, but there are some PSU calculators out there.

[.Maleficus.]

It wouldn't startup, or would not function correctly. What brand is your PSU? You will probably want to put the two cards on different rails, but it would probably work. I don't know of any damage that could occur. Don't let the PSU overheat. They usually only overheat due to fan failure, though.
Not necessarily. I put a 6600GT in an old computer with a 250W PSU (didn't know that at the time) when it recommended 350W and it ran fine for 2 months. Then one day, it stopped booting. PSU just burned out.

Yes, the 8 series all use the same drivers, however with the two cards running at different speeds, using different BIOS and being generally different cards, I wouldn't advise it.

Also, 8800GTs by themselves need a 450W PSU. If you want any chance of using more than 1 card, you'll definitely need an upgrade (and to a reputable manufacture, like OCZ, Thermaltake, Antec or Corsair).


Edit: Also, there is a device called the KillAWatt that plugs into your outlet and then takes the plug for your computer. It will tell you exactly how much wattage is going through the device on a nice little display. They're around $30 I believe. MUCH more reliable than a PUS calculator.

[TheJoe]

hey man thanks alot that helps. ill def buy a new 700w psu and PUS calculator thanks

[nevermind1534]

I saw one of those kill-a-watts on newegg, I think for $14.

[Spawn-Inc]

I saw one of those kill-a-watts on newegg, I think for $14.

LMAO... that thing will die the second you plug it into the wall. even a 500 watt psu for $14 is going to be a major POS...



go with a this psu, it will easily handle a 8800GT and 8600GT.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139004


and as far as your quad monitors go as long as your not doing anything to graphics intense the 8600 and 8800 should be fine

[nevermind1534]

No, the kill-a-watt plugs into the wall, and it tells you how much power whatever device that's plugged into it is using.

[Spawn-Inc]

ooooh, i thought you meant a 1000 watt power supply for $14, my bad.




Edit: Also, there is a device called the KillAWatt that plugs into your outlet and then takes the plug for your computer. It will tell you exactly how much wattage is going through the device on a nice little display. They're around $30 I believe. MUCH more reliable than a PUS calculator.

but with the one of the newer psu technologies, i think active something protection, messes around with those killawatt things and doesn't give an accurate reading.

[TheJoe]

I bought an 8800 GT OC 512 card. i moved my 7900 down to my other pcix slot and im running 3 monitors. it worked perfectly in vista. So to answer my own original question you can use any 7,8,9 series pci express cards together in vista as long as no SLI. thanks for the input guys