nVidia and ATI on same platform?

by **P3rv3rt B3ar** on Wed May 09, 2007 11:56 am

Anybody running two display adapters with chip by these two different manufacturers?

I bought new nVidia adapter for connecting new projector directly via HDMI, but i would like to keep old crappy ATI managing touchscreen (xlobby interface). Turns out however its far from painless to have these two competetors on same machine... anybody succeeded with that? some tips? mayby best solution is throw ATI away and replace it with low-end nVidia card...

by **Marbles_00** on Wed May 09, 2007 2:53 pm

Does the nVidia adapter have a SVGA connection as well...if so why don't you just use that one for dual monitor support?

Oh wait...HDMI...welcome to the world of DMR (Micro$oft's version :twisted:

).

If running Vista (from my understanding), most likely what will happen is that if you connect an SVGA connection to the adapter with the HDMI connection...one or the other either won't work, or you will be downscaled to 800x600 resolution. Not sure what will happen if you try and run two seperate video adapters.

Let's see if you have the same problems as Muslix64 (guy who cracked the AACS code in HD-DVD disks).

by **P3rv3rt B3ar** on Wed May 09, 2007 4:09 pm

Marbles_00 wrote:Does the nVidia adapter have a SVGA connection as well...if so why don't you just use that one for dual monitor support?

Cause im hoping to run quad: Xlobby on touchscreen, Normal desktop for projectionists terminal for configuration purposes, and video for two videozones...

Oh wait...HDMI...welcome to the world of DMR (Micro$oft's version ).

If running Vista

Im not, nor planning to.

Thanx for all advices, ill continue to troubleshoot, but im really getting frustrated with this... ATI flying out soon

by **rhinoman** on Thu May 10, 2007 6:55 am

The other option is to just use a vga splitter, I have a dual output card, 1 into the kvm, the other to a 4way splitter, currently running three touchscreens.

by **Marbles_00** on Thu May 10, 2007 12:45 pm

currently running three touchscreens

You have to update your signature...your description indicates two touchscreens :wink:

.

Seriously, John, you should setup a website that showcases your system. I, and most likely other Xlobbyenthusiast would love to see it, or read more on how you've done it (unless you have elsewhere, like on AVS?).

*EDIT 11/5/07*
I forgot about your post here: http://www.xlobby.com/forum/viewtopic.p ... highlight=

where you discuss your system. I think it's pretty impressive.

by **P3rv3rt B3ar** on Thu May 10, 2007 2:59 pm

rhinoman wrote:The other option is to just use a vga splitter, I have a dual output card, 1 into the kvm, the other to a 4way splitter, currently running three touchscreens.

unfortunately that doesnt directly work for my application... cause machinists panel's native resolution is higher than maxium resolution touchscreen accepts(1024*768), if i insert that to projectionist panel... picture gets unworkable blurry. Also i prefer to have different screens on them so machinist for example sees and can access directly the winamps which are controllable from xlobby via touchscreen, and also do other tweaks for OS while xl is running all the time.

However, i plan sooner or later to install another toucscreen(s) to wall(s), cause lets face it small touchscreen on my case has only limited usability... and for that ill be using your suggestion, to have same xlobby run on both (or all) touchscreens.

BTW problem still remains, i was working on it whole yesterday, I got picture on all 4 screens but unfortunately other cards resolution or atleast color depth always remains f?ckd up, which one depends on which drivers i installed last, seems like serb and albanian go together much better than ATI and nVidia... i also have powerstrip installed.... but i m not that familiar with the program... could it help me somehow?

by **capecodscot** on Thu May 10, 2007 3:38 pm

You could try Multires from Entech ( same people as powerstrip). I used that a while ago for the same issue and it worked pretty well. I certainly would not mix Nvidia and ATI.

by **defrag** on Thu May 10, 2007 3:50 pm

Another possible way could be to look at Ultramon for managing your screens.

On their forum one guys solution for mixed manufacturers was to remove the ATI Control Panel software but leave the ATI driver installed.

by **PiDD** on Sun May 13, 2007 5:34 pm

I have both an ATI and a Nvidia card in the HTPC ... its a little tricky to get going and do updates on tho.

by **P3rv3rt B3ar** on Mon May 14, 2007 1:21 pm

Ok after larger-than-life megahappenings tellying weekend, its time to get back on mundane problems.

Thanx guys for all the ideas... cause of your feedback i decided still to keep trying. I just downloaded multires, awesome little program, but it still doesnt allow me to change resolution on other card, if u still find that forum post, could u throw me with linky, tried to search... but its needlestack out there. Meanwhile ill check out that ultramon.

EDIT: ooops i mixed the advices, programs and forums, no wonder didnt found it

by **P3rv3rt B3ar** on Wed May 16, 2007 1:01 pm

oh i should just have bought another nVidia card immeaditly... I managed to brick my htpc with this...

I guess constant on/off and swithing configuration was too much... anyhow windows registry got badly corrupted... it wont launch even in safe mode... like that wasnt bad enough: it gives BSOD when i try to aproach that install with repair console, or when trying to reinstall, at point when setup is checking old installations...

Ofcourse i could just format discs and reinstall... but there is some data i need and i cant just put discs on other comp and copy them safe cause its 4 disc stripe pack with integrated controller

So fair guess is that my htpc is ofline for a while

Any ideas?

by **P3rv3rt B3ar** on Thu May 24, 2007 6:27 am

Ok as i mentioned on other thread im slowly putting my system backtogether. Buying new harddrive to fix the situation was not that bad idea cause i have strong indication that one of my stripe pack drives is about to break up. So now i have them backed up.

But i really dont wanna go the ATI+nVidia route again... and have decided to buy new nVidia card to accompany the other one. Its just im rather out of my own pond when it comes to graphics adapters (yeah i was gaming back then when 8bit colors were still fancy) and im sure there are experts here. Basicly i have three choices, remember that cost is an issue for me.

1. Cheapest way: another nVidia chipped card with (7300LE) around 60€
2. nVidia card with same chip (7800GT) but (possibly) different manufacturer than my other one, about 100€
3. Exactly same card as my other one (MSI Diamond Plus) about 180€

Im really tempted to go cheap with option one, but there is couple questions to determinate if those other options would be more advantageous for me:

First, anybody has 7300 and 7800 working together? Is it actually any easier to get them work together as ATI and nVidia? (common sense says it is, but after these probs, id like first hand knowledge)

Second, how about SLI? I dont know too much about it, so please dont mind if my questions are bit newbish. Ofcourse main function of my HTPC setup is get different video for displays, but i wouldnt mind from time to time have some quality gaming on main screen. I have older mobo which supports only x8 SLI mode and with one of those stupid turnaround PCB to change between single adapter and double adapter mode. So my first question is, do i need totally identical cards for SLI, or can i do it with option two? same chip, different card. Also if i can, has the board manufacturer to be same? And most importantly can i switch between 2-card-mode and SLI-mode just with software (preferably on fly) or do i have to make hardware changes with my board? If HW changes are needed SLI is ofcourse out of the picture.

Thankful for any input, but please try to give it on timely fashion, cause i wanna order new adapter already tomorrow.