Install 2 Video Cards for 3 Monitor Display Problem

[Nikaosky]

Hello all,

Well I stumbled upon Yeldarbs thread about having three monitors hooked up and I figured I'd give it a go seeing as I have an extra monitor and an extra video card at hand.

Anyways, I'm getting a red light from the motherboard when I power up with the two GPUs installed and then I get 'error Ez-plug unplugged'

My motherboard is an Asus A8N-SLI Premium and my video cards are nividia geforces 1. 6800Gt 2. 6200TC

What should I do?

Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

[grimdeath]

I think in order to have dual vga cards they both have to be the same brand and model im not 100% sure but I read an article which I cant find now where they used 2 pci-e sli cards.

Heres some more info and yes they both have to be the same brand and model :-/

http://www.gen-x-pc.com/pci_Express_SLI.htm

[Nikaosky]

Oops! Forgot to mention they're both PCI-E cards

I thought there was a difference between having two SLI enabled GPUs and having just two GPUs but I didn't know what it was. I came across this thread at another forum where it seems as though they're having success using different GPU models and brands for multiple monitors. Have a look if here if you're interested (http://episteme.arstechnica.com/groupee/forums/a/tpc/f/67909965/m/259003096731/r/561004096731)

If I could just get the dang computer to boot with both cards I think I'd be sailing but what do I do in the bios to achieve this?

Also, Thanks Grim. I knew you'd chime in with some answers.

[Yeldarb]

You don't need to have the same cards. I just installed an FX 5200 in addition to my FX 5500. And I know you could have different models as well.

I'm not sure about your problem, but I'm almost positive that having different model cards isn't it.

[Nikaosky]

Thanks Bradley

are you using AGP or PCI cards?

edit: Okay, I'm throwing caution to the wind and I'm probably going to mess up my BIOS. If you don't hear from me again, tell kirupa I went down in a blaze of glory. (preferably I'd like you to sing it to him like Bon Jovi) :lol:

[grimdeath]

Well let us know if your successfull if you are Im gonna get a 4 monitor setup at work :crazy:

[Yeldarb]

I have 1 AGP and one PCI

I love my setup now =)
I have a windows box w/ 2 monitors sitting next to my linux box w/ 3 :D

[Nikaosky]

Still no success but I have gotten the computer to boot with both GPUs but the display only shows up on one monitor (which is the secondary GPU, the 6200tc). When it does boot up though all of the monitors 'click' like they are turning on but only the one shows a display.

I'm beginning to think that both cards have to be SLI for my motherboard.

[Yeldarb]

When you go to display properties and then "Settings" how many monitors show up? Just the one?

[simplistik]

edit: Okay, I'm throwing caution to the wind and I'm probably going to mess up my BIOS. If you don't hear from me again, tell kirupa I went down in a blaze of glory. (preferably I'd like you to sing it to him like Bon Jovi) :lol:
:lol: that's funny... you just might want to figure out what jumper on your Mobo resets your BIOS :lol:

[Nikaosky]

:lol: I'm glad I gave someone a chuckle.

Okay now I have both GPUs in and the computer boots fine but the third display won't show anything and it's not visible under the display settings and I still have a red light on the MB. I'm clueless?

[Jolly_Fat_Man]

Low battery?

[grimdeath]

Low battery?

Its a desktop not a laptop :lol: and if it would be his CMOS battery it would make a few beeping sounds ;)

[Nikaosky]

Okay Windows is now recognizing the new GPU and asks me to install some stuff (drivers I assume) but if I install those drivers for the other GPU won't that screw up my main GPU?

[Jolly_Fat_Man]

I said low battery not extinguished!

Beeping only occurs when the battery has gone dead!
That and the visual warning!


Also I believe on a number of other warnings does this red light which was previsouly green show up.
Google is still your friend! Maybe the maker of the motherboard has a site with this explanation.

[Nikaosky]

:lol: Jolly Fat Man. I'm not dealing with a laptop but thanks.

There's a four pin connector to my MB beside the red light. Should I plug some power in there? What are the risks I'm going to fry something? :lol:

[prstudio]

usually the four pin connector on a motherboard next to the light, which should inadvertently be next to your graphics card, is to supply extra power to the motherboard to help run the advanced graphics, and chipset etc.

usually you run a power connector from the power supply to this port.

check your motherboard manual before you do anything though.

and this might help you:

http://www.mediachance.com/free/multimon.htm

[Nikaosky]

:lol: actually there isn't an extra plug. When I noticed the empty plug my GPU wasn't connected.

Thanks for the link PR.

[Nikaosky]

Yay! I finally got it working!

Okay, I'll let you all know what I did and what problems I ran into trying to get this setup as it was a pain in the arse even though the actual steps are quite simple.

1. Install second GPU - I have two nvidia PCI-E cards which get along fine but I've heard that Nvidia and ATI combos can be troublesome. Cards don't have to be identical

As stated previously, my MB is an ASUS A8N-SLI Premium

I had to go into the BIOS and under the SLI Configuration option I disabled the Ez-Plug (if you don't do this then it won't boot) and set the GPU to Dual Cards (leave the aperture at auto)

2. Windows should recognize the new GPU so go ahead and install the drivers necessary (note: I was worried that installing new drivers would screw up the drivers for my other GPU but even though the GPUs were different generations they used the same drivers)

3. Go into your display settings (right click on desktop and select properties> settings) and you should see the new GPU in the drop down menu.

That's it! I'm amazed at how much trouble these three steps gave me, but it was worth it. :lol: