Graphics card help

[YouAreNotFree]

I'm running a Quad monitor set-up with an ATi 4 monitor gfx card in a pcie x 16 slot.

I'm trying to go to a 6 set-up by using an extra 2 monitor ATi gfx card in a pcie x1 slot (using a x1 to x 16 adapter to enable the card to fit.)

The problem is, the 2nd card is not recognized, the drivers are installed. The motherboard is an ASUS job and i'm running XP.

Any ideas?

I'm hoping this won't be too much of a headache, otherwise i'll just go out and buy a 6 monitor card and have done with it.

Cheers.

 

[wackypete2]

Make sure the 2nd monitor card you are trying to install works by itself without the original card installed in the computer. If it doesn't then you may have a bad card or adapter.

Peter

 

[Lightning McQueen]

that should work ok.

have you tried removing the x16 card to check whether the x1 card will install and function ok on its own.

lol pete got in 1st ...again

 

[wackypete2]

lol pete got in 1st ...again

:clap::clap:

I'm always #1 in my book, but the ex wife keeps telling me I resemble #2

Peter

 

[YouAreNotFree]

That'll have to be my 'fun thing to do' this weekend.

The card is new (albeit second hand from ebay) so it should be good. I do have another 2 monitor ATi card sitting here too, so I'll test out both. What I don't have it a simple x1 card, so I'll never know if the x1 to x16 adapter is faulty.

Maybe once the card is recognised from the main x16 slot, it'll be detected from the x1. I have absolutely no idea what i'm talking about though.

 

[Lightning McQueen]

:clap::clap:

I'm always #1 in my book, but the ex wife keeps telling me I resemble #2

Peter

you wouldn't have made it if i'd not run a quick google on pcie cards and xp. although I've had success with multi monitor with xp, it was with agp and pci cards and not the current topic here of a pcie card combo, though I have had some success with pcie with a combo of pcie and pci cards, but that was on a vista machine and of no help here. my newly purchased machine has 4 outputs, so no need for me to further faff about with multiple cards. though I have to say it is fun to faff about when nothing much else on at the weekends

YouAreNotFree

only move the card to the x16 slot if it isn't seen and installed in the 1x slot with the x16 empty.

if it doesn't install, another thing to try before moving it is check that the primary video adapter is set to the correct slot within the bios setup, if it will let you choose of course. and don't forget to go back in to setup and reset the bios back to the x16 slot.

 

[YouAreNotFree]

you wouldn't have made it if i'd not run a quick google on pcie cards and xp. although I've had success with multi monitor with xp, it was with agp and pci cards and not the current topic here of a pcie card combo, though I have had some success with pcie with a combo of pcie and pci cards, but that was on a vista machine and of no help here. my newly purchased machine has 4 outputs, so no need for me to further faff about with multiple cards. though I have to say it is fun to faff about when nothing much else on at the weekends

YouAreNotFree

only move the card to the x16 slot if it isn't seen and installed in the 1x slot with the x16 empty.

if it doesn't install, another thing to try before moving it is check that the primary video adapter is set to the correct slot within the bios setup, if it will let you choose of course. and don't forget to go back in to setup and reset the bios back to the x16 slot.

Alrighty I hadn't thought to try the x1 alone, thanks

I swear oneday I will install something into a computer and it will just work.

 

[WR1]

could always try one or two of these next time or one of the many variants
cheap as chips

VTX3D 2GB RADEON HD 7870 EYEFINITY 6 - VX7870 2GBD5-6D Xosa

 

[YouAreNotFree]

could always try one or two of these next time or one of the many variants
cheap as chips

VTX3D 2GB RADEON HD 7870 EYEFINITY 6 - VX7870 2GBD5-6D Xosa

That's the one I had in mind when I referred to a 6x card. It's cheap for sure.

However that site is surely a scam? I'm sure it's not the alcohol clouding my judgement.

 

[WR1]

possibly

was nt really thinking of the site to be honest when i posted it
just an example,

nice one for noticing
nothing gets past on this website

Google shopping and the likes have many of the other variants
and probably not at scam websites

they must be bargain of the decade for Graphics card as the Matrox nr equivalent (8 head) is £1200+ plus

 

[YouAreNotFree]

Meh. Nothing doing.

Tried the x2 monitor card and the x4 card on their own in the pciex1 slot. Neither worked.

The x2 card does work in the pciex16 slot. I also tried adding the x4 card to the x1 slot whilst the x2 was in the pciex16, but only the x2 card worked.

I'm stuck.

 

[Atilla]

Meh. Nothing doing.

Tried the x2 monitor card and the x4 card on their own in the pciex1 slot. Neither worked.

The x2 card does work in the pciex16 slot. I also tried adding the x4 card to the x1 slot whilst the x2 was in the pciex16, but only the x2 card worked.

I'm stuck.

Most things are plug and pray these days but have you also checked the BIOS setup on your PC to see if you need to enable dual/multiple display support.

What model ASUS motherboard do you have? Have you checked it supports dual graphic cards?

Also, some older graphics cards don't work well with secondary graphic cards.

Graphics Cards - News on Tom's Hardware This is a great website for answers and general info on hardware.

 

[YouAreNotFree]

Most things are plug and pray these days but have you also checked the BIOS setup on your PC to see if you need to enable dual/multiple display support.

What model ASUS motherboard do you have? Have you checked it supports dual graphic cards?

Also, some older graphics cards don't work well with secondary graphic cards.

Graphics Cards - News on Tom's Hardware This is a great website for answers and general info on hardware.

In the BIOS I only have the option of PCI, PCIE and onboard if that's what you are referring to? I've tried using the PCI and onboard as the primary (just in hope) but both cards still don't work together.

The motherboard is the PN573-am, it's old. I'm actually wondering if I should not just upgrade my motherboard, CPU and memory, which will enable me to use my existing graphics cards (it'll have 3x pcie x16) whilst costing the same as a 6 monitor card. The stuff i'm running now is behind the times anyways.

 

[WR1]

sometimes or often cards of different manufacturers just wont work together
because of the drivers and assume down the same slot types

sometimes you can get different cards to work in PCI and the main card in PCIE

ive also had this problem and just gave up in the end as it was obvious it was nt going to work
and went for quad cards as really are just plug and play

unfortunately i hate fan noise so had to buy the only silent ones available - some old Matrox off ebay
but have worked flawlessly for 4 yrs - unlike XP

times money, so would just either buy the eyefinity, especially as it is a bargain
or buy an old Matrox quad card or 2 off the bay, they wont run Full HD video, or the fastest games but are the old industry standard

you could also try this site
Realtime Soft Forum

also this might be of some use
The complete guide to multiple monitors | News | TechRadar

 

[Liquid validity]

OK, from what I can gather so far:
ASUS - P5N73-AM

1. All cards work in x16 slot
2. Adapter may be faulty.
3. PCIe x1 slot may be faulty.

Easiest solution may be USB graphics card or 6 output card.

Going back to the PCIe x1 slot:
1. Onboard video disabled?
2. Card seated properly?
3. Any device manager conflicts? (right click my comp > properties > hardware > dev mngr. - any yellow exclamation marks / red crosses?)
4. x2 gfx card - all 3D and harware acceleration disabled? (may choke PCIe bus for that slot otherwise)

 

[Liquid validity]

sometimes or often cards of different manufacturers just wont work together
because of the drivers and assume down the same slot types

Very true, YANF says they are all ATI though, so that shouldn't be the problem.
Unless drivers are different builds...
Could try using the same driver.

 

[WR1]

might worth a try using the same drivers, but most cards seem to be extremely picky

also a USB - DVI adapter box will normally work ok for one extra screen possibly two - but some also have problems when you add a few more
i have some on special offer if any one wants a few

a dedicated card or two are best

the weathers far too nice to pulling cards in and out
and that may actually cause more harm than good

 

[YouAreNotFree]

Cheers for the ongoing help chaps.

I thin i'm right in saying that pcie 1 cards can be used in the x16 slot. If so, my x1-x16 adapter is junk. I stuck it in the pciex16 slot with one of the cards.....and nothing.

Liquid

I disabled hardware acceleration.....no luck. I've checked the device manager with each configuration, and all it has shown is whatever gfx card is in the x 16 slot. No exclamation marks etc. I've had PCie selected as the primary in the BIOS.

 

[YouAreNotFree]

So I wake up this morning ready for another day's work, turn on my computer, enter the password, the familar Windows XP music plays. But before it can finish I get a 'de de de de de de de de de' sound followed by an automatic restart of the system.

Oh dear.

5 mins on google with an error code, suggests it may be the video card. Sure enough, after I replace it with one of my dual cards everything is fine.

So, I wanted to go from four to six monitors, but instead not only did I not get six, I ended up with just two

I guess that's what can happen when you screw about with your hardware too much.

 

[Liquid validity]

So I wake up this morning ready for another day's work, turn on my computer, enter the password, the familar Windows XP music plays. But before it can finish I get a 'de de de de de de de de de' sound followed by an automatic restart of the system.

Oh dear.

5 mins on google with an error code, suggests it may be the video card. Sure enough, after I replace it with one of my dual cards everything is fine.

So, I wanted to go from four to six monitors, but instead not only did I not get six, I ended up with just two

Nevermind. It was an ATI 2450, £250 new, but I got mine for £40 brand new and sealed on ebay so no loss.

I guess that's what can happen when you **** about with your hardware too much.

Did you wear an anti static strap or at least have the case plugged into
wall (mains wall socket switch off...)?
Could be static fried it...