Can I run 2 graphics cards?

[TxM]

I'm under the impression only certain motherboards can run 2 graphics cards on the same display for 3D games etc.

I'm trying to get a better FPS on Counter-Strike: Source; I only get about 20fps with my nVidia GeForce 6200.

I'm wanting to add an ATI Radeon 9200, these are the two most powerful graphics cards I have at my disposal. (Unfortunately)

I don't know a whole lot about the specifics of my computer as far as the MOBO goes, but here's what I'm on:

Acer Aspire T180
AMD Athlon 64 3800+
1GB RAM

I think my HD is like 7200rpm (isn't 9600rpm the higher end standard?) but I'm not for sure - everything is standard in this PC except for the graphics cards.

If anyone could offer me any help it would be much appriciated, I know a fair amount about computers but some aspects escape me, I didn't even think you could have 2 graphics cards powering the same display.

Thanks a lot!

[XMAN52373]

I'm under the impression only certain motherboards can run 2 graphics cards on the same display for 3D games etc.

I'm trying to get a better FPS on Counter-Strike: Source; I only get about 20fps with my nVidia GeForce 6200.

I'm wanting to add an ATI Radeon 9200, these are the two most powerful graphics cards I have at my disposal. (Unfortunately)

I don't know a whole lot about the specifics of my computer as far as the MOBO goes, but here's what I'm on:

Acer Aspire T180
AMD Athlon 64 3800+
1GB RAM

I think my HD is like 7200rpm (isn't 9600rpm the higher end standard?) but I'm not for sure - everything is standard in this PC except for the graphics cards.

If anyone could offer me any help it would be much appriciated, I know a fair amount about computers but some aspects escape me, I didn't even think you could have 2 graphics cards powering the same display.

Thanks a lot!

The answer to your question is no. You can not cross run two cards together to get better frame rates. You can use them to run the game on 2 monitors thou. Save up about 50-75 bucks and upgrade your video card. Now if you had a CrossFire enabled board or an SLI enabled board, you could run 2 cards together to get better frame rates. FYI, both types of boards are PCIe.

[TxM]

The answer to your question is no. You can not cross run two cards together to get better frame rates. You can use them to run the game on 2 monitors thou. Save up about 50-75 bucks and upgrade your video card. Now if you had a CrossFire enabled board or an SLI enabled board, you could run 2 cards together to get better frame rates. FYI, both types of boards are PCIe.

Thanks for your input.

My current video card cost me $95 and still costs that much... I live in a rural town and do not have a credit card so I can only buy one of the terrible video cards Wal-Mart has to offer.

I'm not really in a position to spend money, which is why I was trying to rig up two mediocre graphics cards if possible.

my PC is brand new but it's obviously not top of the line, it just amazes me I can't play a game that's released years before my PC parts were manufactured... is it possible there's like a system problem that is causing my framerate to be so slow?

Or is my PC really that bad =/

Thanks again for the response - is anyone familiar with the demands of Counter-Strike: Source on your system and what kind of framerates to expect?

EDIT: For the record, Counter-Strike 1.6 runs at 100fps for me on a lot of servers. (at 1440x900 with graphics settings on max) Getting 20fps (with 1440x900 resolution but graphics settings turned down) on CS:S just seems way too low. (and this is not even considering net lag, it's on offline play)

[ViN86]

it's probably just your video card tbh.

you should buy a video card online. here's my favorite site:

www.newegg.com

[Bman212121]

Processor and ram are okay, it's the video card that is the real problem. A 6200 was a slow card when it came out hence why it has a hard time running games made before it. A lot of the lower model number cards are cut down compared to other cards of the same series. (IE 5200, 6200, 7300, 8500)

Neither of those cards would allow you to run them together, as stated by xman. Some cards with the correct setup can be combined to work as one using SLI or crossfire technology. They have to be the same card, and have some kind of connection between them in order to share information. The first cards to do this recently were the 6800 series from Nvidia.

If you turn down your resolution in game to 1280 x 800 or lower it should run a little better.

[XMAN52373]

Thanks for your input.

My current video card cost me $95 and still costs that much... I live in a rural town and do not have a credit card so I can only buy one of the terrible video cards Wal-Mart has to offer.

I'm not really in a position to spend money, which is why I was trying to rig up two mediocre graphics cards if possible.

my PC is brand new but it's obviously not top of the line, it just amazes me I can't play a game that's released years before my PC parts were manufactured... is it possible there's like a system problem that is causing my framerate to be so slow?

Or is my PC really that bad =/

Thanks again for the response - is anyone familiar with the demands of Counter-Strike: Source on your system and what kind of framerates to expect?

EDIT: For the record, Counter-Strike 1.6 runs at 100fps for me on a lot of servers. (at 1440x900 with graphics settings on max) Getting 20fps (with 1440x900 resolution but graphics settings turned down) on CS:S just seems way too low. (and this is not even considering net lag, it's on offline play)

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814161037
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130287
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814141057
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130075
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130052
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814125072

Not sure if you have AGP or PCIe, but above are some cards that are better than yours in the 50-75 dollar range and newegg does take money orders.

[sharvin]

and do not have a credit card


use paypal.

[TxM]

use paypal.

How do you propose I transfer money into a Paypal account. You need a bank account or something.

Thanks anyway for trying guys, I like the idea of buying a new graphics card but it's really not feasible for me right now.

I was hoping for something that would atleast improve my FPS but maybe I just have to wait.

EDIT: Don't mean to sound rude, I appriciate you looking up those cards on newegg, maybe I can get someone to buy one for me on their credit card or something.

[XMAN52373]

How do you propose I transfer money into a Paypal account. You need a bank account or something.

Thanks anyway for trying guys, I like the idea of buying a new graphics card but it's really not feasible for me right now.

I was hoping for something that would atleast improve my FPS but maybe I just have to wait.

EDIT: Don't mean to sound rude, I appriciate you looking up those cards on newegg, maybe I can get someone to buy one for me on their credit card or something.


Did you miss the part where I said they take MONEY ORDERS?

[TxM]

Did you miss the part where I said they take MONEY ORDERS?

yeah actually i did X_X thanks.

this is still not the solution i had hoped for but it's a good solution none-the-less... thx for the reply. i guess i just gotta wait to get a good one, maybe after x-mas.