Dual Monitors - Sli Enabled?

[smashedpumpkins]

Alright, I was running 3 monitors great before I switched up my PC. Here's my new PC specs.

Here's my current system ... http://www.techist.com/forums/f76/rate-my-pc-scale-1-10-comment-159462/
(I have a 500GB Seagate 7200.11 and a Corsair 620W instead)


Anyways when I disable SLI it will not allow me to run dual monitors. However even when I have it disabled I can only use 2 of my monitors. I want to enable SLI and run all 3 monitors. Any ideas on what I can do here? I can't figure out what I'm doing wrong. I obviously want SLI enabled.

Here's a screen shot of my NVIDIA Control Panel - http://img209.imageshack.us/img209/2443/picqv1.jpg

 

[veedubfreak]

Not possible. SLI disables multiple monitor support. To run 3 monitors you would need to turn off SLI and have each monitor plugged into a different port, i would assume 2 on the first card, 1 on the second card. The only way to run SLI AND multiple monitors is to use a third video card from someone other than Nvidia.

 

[smashedpumpkins]

Not possible. SLI disables multiple monitor support. To run 3 monitors you would need to turn off SLI and have each monitor plugged into a different port, i would assume 2 on the first card, 1 on the second card. The only way to run SLI AND multiple monitors is to use a third video card from someone other than Nvidia.

Hmm, alright my motherboard actually has 3 pci express 16 slots. I have my 2 8800 GT SLI in two slots. So if I stick in my ATI Radeon 512MB video card I can use all 3? Will that defeat the purpurse of having two sweet cards? Will the 2 other monitors use the 8800 GT or the Radeon? (I also have a 128MB Video Card. Which would be better to use?) I just don't want it to start using my old video card when I'd rather focus it all on the 2 hot ones. What are the pluses and minuses of disabling and enabling SLI? Let me know!

 

[veedubfreak]

I assume you are using a 680i board. What i did was enable SLI then plug in my 2nd monitor to my ati 1650pro (in the middle slot) for the extra monitor.

 

[smashedpumpkins]

I assume you are using a 680i board. What i did was enable SLI then plug in my 2nd monitor to my ati 1650pro (in the middle slot) for the extra monitor.

Yep, I use a EVGA 680i. Funny enough, that's the exact same Video Card I have too. So then you'd say it won't cause any differences? It'll just use the card for the other monitors? What about the graphics on the other two monitors? What cards does it use?

 

[veedubfreak]

Sli will use the video 1 output of the main GT while leaving both outputs enabled on the 1650. I hope you got a better 680i than i did. Mine burned up on me last weekend. Waiting in line to trade it in on a 780i.

Step 1 turn off computer
Step 2 plug in gaming monitor to GT
Step 3 plug in 2 other monitors to ATI card
Step 4 boot up and turn on SLI, reboot if necessary
Step 5 go into display properties and extend desktop to other monitors.

 

[smashedpumpkins]

Sli will use the video 1 output of the main GT while leaving both outputs enabled on the 1650. I hope you got a better 680i than i did. Mine burned up on me last weekend. Waiting in line to trade it in on a 780i.

Step 1 turn off computer
Step 2 plug in gaming monitor to GT
Step 3 plug in 2 other monitors to ATI card
Step 4 boot up and turn on SLI, reboot if necessary
Step 5 go into display properties and extend desktop to other monitors.

Alright, I did all of this. However for some reason it keeps disabling my ATI Radeon Video Card. It keeps saying the driver does now work the the VGA adapter. However when I go to the ATI drivers I have the most current driver installed.

Menus - http://img144.imageshack.us/img144/7624/picny8.jpg
Display Settings - http://img88.imageshack.us/img88/6062/picdo8.jpg - When extending 3 and 4 it does nothing. However there is only 1 monitor plugged into the GT's. Other 2 in ATI.

 

[veedubfreak]

Are you using vista? If so...heh sorry. I could only get it to work in XP vista would always disable my ATI card too.

 

[smashedpumpkins]

Are you using vista? If so...heh sorry. I could only get it to work in XP vista would always disable my ATI card too.

I see, yep I have Vista Ultimate. Ah this is gonna be a pain ha. Any buddy have any ideas? Would it be completely stupid to disable SLI?

 

[veedubfreak]

Basically what you have to do is just disable SLI unless gaming. Or just stick with XP until such time as SLI works properly in vista. I love having a copy of vista that i dont even use.