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Multiple video cards in the Precision 670
Hi,
I have 3 TFT's and am currently using an ATI based EAX800XT graphics card in the 16x PCIe slot on my Precision 670 machine which outputs to two of the displays. An Nvidia FX5200 in the 32-bit PCI slot runs the 3rd display. This PCI card is blocking airflow to the ATI card and causes the ATI card to crash when doing anything intensive gaming wise which is rather frustrating.
I have another card which is a 3D Prophet 9000, which fits in the PCI-X slots (has the suitable notch) but fails to function. It also doesn't work in the 32-bit slot (even with no other video cards present), but I have the card working fine in other machines.
Thus, I'm looking to free up the 32-bit slot to improve airflow to the PCIe card which I don't really want to replace yet. I've read on here some stuff about multiple cards using this machine but want to confirm before I buy anything.
Can video cards be used in the PCI-X slots? The BIOS states some stuff about failing back to PCIe if you try and use a card in the 64bit slots.
Can I use a video card in both PCIe slots at the same time (not intending SLI), but a seperate card that works at 4x that the bus offers?
The options I see available are a PCI based Quadro NVS 280, or a Matrox Millenium G550 (either the PCI version or the PCIe version (which runs down to 1x if necessary)) or a similar Matrox product. The Matrox cards say they run in all PCI & PCI-X slots, but will the Precision 670 support this?
Any other suggestions welcomed.
Cheers,
john
I have 3 TFT's and am currently using an ATI based EAX800XT graphics card in the 16x PCIe slot on my Precision 670 machine which outputs to two of the displays. An Nvidia FX5200 in the 32-bit PCI slot runs the 3rd display. This PCI card is blocking airflow to the ATI card and causes the ATI card to crash when doing anything intensive gaming wise which is rather frustrating.
I have another card which is a 3D Prophet 9000, which fits in the PCI-X slots (has the suitable notch) but fails to function. It also doesn't work in the 32-bit slot (even with no other video cards present), but I have the card working fine in other machines.
Thus, I'm looking to free up the 32-bit slot to improve airflow to the PCIe card which I don't really want to replace yet. I've read on here some stuff about multiple cards using this machine but want to confirm before I buy anything.
Can video cards be used in the PCI-X slots? The BIOS states some stuff about failing back to PCIe if you try and use a card in the 64bit slots.
Can I use a video card in both PCIe slots at the same time (not intending SLI), but a seperate card that works at 4x that the bus offers?
The options I see available are a PCI based Quadro NVS 280, or a Matrox Millenium G550 (either the PCI version or the PCIe version (which runs down to 1x if necessary)) or a similar Matrox product. The Matrox cards say they run in all PCI & PCI-X slots, but will the Precision 670 support this?
Any other suggestions welcomed.
Cheers,
john
speedstep
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December 11th, 2005 01:00
5V PCI cards CANNOT be used in the 64 bit SLOTS. A keyway will prevent you from putting them in.
32 BIT 33MHZ pci slots are larger than X1/X4/X8/X16 Slots so you will be able to tell that those dont work either.
Only Universal PCI cards will work in all the BIG slots.
A "universal" PCI board is compatible with both 5V and 3.3V signaling environments. Universal PCI boards detect the voltage provided on a dedicated PCI connector pin (VIO), and configure themselves automatically for the correct PCI bus logic levels. Although some confusion exists among users regarding the designation of a PCI board or slot as "3.3V," "5V" or "universal," all of these references should pertain to the PCI signaling levels (i.e.: logic levels), and not to a power requirement. Non universal products might be designated as "+5V-only" others "5V/3.3V" or "Universal," depending on their PCI logic level compatibilities. This is a universal DELL PCI card Part number 09629U
Note the 2 Cutouts in the slot sometimes called keyway.
This is a card that WILL NOT work. Its 5v only. Note only 1 cut in the slot.
ep1p
3 Posts
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December 11th, 2005 02:00
Thanks for the reply. I know about the differences in the PCI slot types and have read about the signalling levels before. What you've said doesn't really indicate why the 3D Prophet card I have doesn't work in either the 32-bit or 64-bit slots on my P670 where as it does work in a standard 33MHz 32-bit slot on another (which should be seen the same as the 32-bit slot in my Dell).
Do you know if my machine will allow graphics cards to function within the PCI-X slots?
Cheers,
john
speedstep
9 Legend
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47K Posts
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December 11th, 2005 04:00
The Hercules 3D Prophet III GeForce3 video card is AGP so I dont understand what you are saying.
You can FORCE An AGP card into an X16 slot but that doesnt mean it will work or respond in any way.
If its a 3D Prophet 4000 pci then you should have already answered your question.
Kyro technology is NOT LISTED on dual view capable cards.
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=307397
Desktop Computer Display Adapters for Use with the Multiple Monitor Feature
• 3DFX Banshee
• 3DFX Voodoo3, Voodoo4, Voodoo5
• 3DLabs Permedia2, Permedia3
• ATI Rage128, Rage128 AIW, Radeon
• Intel I810
• Matrox Millennium, Millennium II, Mystique, G100, G200, Productiva, G400, G450
• Number Nine Imagine 128, Imagine128 v2, Revolution 3D, Revolution 4
• Nvidia NV3 (Riva128)
• Nvidia NV4, NV5 (TNT, TNT2, TNT2, TNT2 Ultra, TNT2 Vanta, TNT2 M64, Geforce, Geforce3)
• SIS315
Message Edited by SpeedStep on 12-11-2005 01:46 AM
ep1p
3 Posts
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December 11th, 2005 14:00
It's a Hercules 3D Prophet 9000 PCI. Uses an ATI chipset. This french page has some details of it including a picture (the blue card on the left side about a third of the way down): http://www.tt-hardware.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=5419
I aquired it from ebay about a year ago. Perhaps it was only distributed to the European market, hence information on it is a bit more scarce. It refuses to do anything in my P670, but works happily in another machine. With that as the only graphics card in, the P670 believes there is no graphics card.
I have today discovered the fan on my main ATI PCIe card has died (the more probable cause to the overheating!), so I think I'll be buying a new heatsink for that, and getting an NVS 280 for the third DVI output to put in one of the PCI-X slots (since other people have reported success with that setup).
Cheers,
john