PDA

View Full Version : Will having an X1900 and 7300 affect game frame rates?



pastrychef
Nov 2, 2006, 09:13 AM
I have a Mac Pro with an ATI X1900. If I were to purchase an nVidia 7300GT to use as a second video card to drive a second monitor will it adversely affect frame rates in games?

Thanks.


hollerz
Nov 2, 2006, 09:22 AM
The X1900 can run 2 displays by itself can't it?
jroad
Nov 2, 2006, 09:30 AM
The X1900 can run 2 displays by itself can't it?

Yes.
MacRumorUser
Nov 2, 2006, 09:49 AM
But if he has a mac pro surely to god he knows this ? :confused:

After all macs have been able to drive 2 monitors for years with 32mb cards and such, why do people think a 2006, 512mb supercard wouldnt be able to display 2 monitors ?
orangezorki
Nov 2, 2006, 11:29 AM
Yes, in fact the X1900 (unlike the 7300) has two full dual-link DVI ports, letting you use two 30" screens at the same time. If that isn't enough pixels for you, then you have issues... :p

David
slughead
Nov 2, 2006, 12:55 PM
I have a Mac Pro with an ATI X1900. If I were to purchase an nVidia 7300GT to use as a second video card to drive a second monitor will it adversely affect frame rates in games?

Thanks.

No, it wont. That's my setup right now.

And btw, guys, the reason you want 2 video cards for 2 monitors is because if you plug 2 monitors into one card, the VRAM splits in half.

So, in theory (barring any software nonsense), the X1900 will be faster if it's only running 1 monitor.
pastrychef
Nov 2, 2006, 02:19 PM
Yes, I'm aware of the fact that the X1900 itself can drive two monitors. However, as slughead stated, I thought doing so would hurt performance on the primary display...
PowerMike G5
Nov 2, 2006, 03:19 PM
Pastrychef,

I'm looking to upgrade to the X1900XT and looking for someone to acquire the stock 7300GT in my MacPro now. If you are interested, let me know :)

Mike
Chone
Nov 2, 2006, 04:58 PM
Yes, I'm aware of the fact that the X1900 itself can drive two monitors. However, as slughead stated, I thought doing so would hurt performance on the primary display...

You thought well, having a card connected to 2 displays will definitely affect framerates... not that you can't disable the 2nd monitor through the control panel (in either windows or mac os) whenever you feel like playing a game.
evp
Nov 2, 2006, 06:47 PM
No, it wont. That's my setup right now.

And btw, guys, the reason you want 2 video cards for 2 monitors is because if you plug 2 monitors into one card, the VRAM splits in half.

So, in theory (barring any software nonsense), the X1900 will be faster if it's only running 1 monitor.

The only problem is that x1900xt is about, if not more than, four times as powerfull as the 7300gt. Just refer to 3dmark scores for example.