Both NVIDIA and ATI have dual graphics card options
Traditional PC graphics cards fill one PCI or AGP slot on your motherboard and channel your entire computer's video processing through that slot. Recent releases from both ATI and NVIDIA graphics card manufacturers allow you plug two video cards into your motherboard for tandem graphics rendering and a significant improvement in your system's 3D graphical capabilities. Configure dual video cards using either NVIDIA SLI cards or ATI CrossFire cards and corresponding compatible motherboards.
Instructions
NVIDIA SLI
1. Turn off the computer and unplug the power cord.
2. Open your computer case and plug one NVIDIA SLI video card into a free slot on the SLI compatible motherboard. NVIDIA lists compatible motherboard models on its website (see References). The motherboard may come with mounting screws to attach the card more firmly.
3. Plug the monitor cable into the card's output connector and attach any necessary power supply cords. Reconnect the computer's power supply and turn it on.
4. Download the drivers for the card from the NVIDIA website (see Resources). Open the files and install the drivers on the system. Uninstall any other third-party video drivers before installation. Shut down the computer and disconnect the power.
5. Plug the second SLI NVIDA card into a neighboring slot on the motherboard and connect it to the power supply if necessary. The second card must use the same GPU as the first to operate correctly in tandem.
6. Connect the two cards using the SLI connecting bracket included with the motherboard. Leave the monitor cable attached to the original card.
7. Replace the computer's casing. Reconnect the power cable and turn the computer on.
8. Click the SLI notification attached to the NVIDIA driver's icon in the taskbar. Check the "Enable SLI Technology" box to turn on both cards. Use this properties window to change the usage settings for the cards.
ATI CrossFire
9. Shut down the computer. Unplug the power cable from the computer's power supply and open the system's casing to expose the motherboard and components.
10. Plug both ATI cards into two adjoining PCI-express slots on the motherboard. The connection only works on motherboards with compatible chipsets. The AMD website has a chart of these products (see References). If either card requires additional power cords, attach them now.
11. Connect the two cards using the included CrossFire connector if necessary. Certain card combinations require no connection.
12. Connect the monitor cable to a compatible port on either ATI card. Reconnect the power cable, replace the casing and turn on the computer.
13. Download the drivers for the ATI cards from the AMD website (see Resources). Use the downloaded files to install the drivers to your hard drive. Restart your computer to complete the setup.
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