Two graphics cards

[Mirau]

Hi there,
I have Mac Pro 2009 with NVIDIA GeForce GT 120 512 MB. I would like to buy EVGA GeForce GTX750 Ti. What I read this graphics card should will work. I know that I will lost boot screen. Can I use both graphics cards simultaneously? Or only one of these graphics card can be plugged? I saw some Macs Pro with two graphics cards.
Could I also use both cards and would I see the boot screen or it is not possible?

Thanks for an advice.

 

[cdf]

Hi there,
I have Mac Pro 2009 with NVIDIA GeForce GT 120 512 MB. I would like to buy EVGA GeForce GTX750 Ti. What I read this graphics card should will work. I know that I will lost boot screen. Can I use both graphics cards simultaneously? Or only one of these graphics card can be plugged? I saw some Macs Pro with two graphics cards.
Could I also use both cards and would I see the boot screen or it is not possible?

Thanks for an advice.

This is exactly my configuration. Because of space restrictions and a known issue with the Mac Pro's fans, the GT 120 is in slot 1 and the GTX 750 Ti is in slot 3. I only use the GT 120 to access the boot screen when I need it. It is also possible to simultaneously use one card for one display and the other card for an other display.

 

[chriz_r]

How important is the boot screen to you? Are you using boot camp or switching over to a different OS frequently? Are you often in recovery mode or doing any pre-OS terminal work? If so then keep both cards on, you should be ok. Otherwise, just keep your gt120 out and have an extra slot for a USB3.0 card or something else more useful than a "boot screen" card. Proceed depending on your needs.

 

[h9826790]

It should work in macOS (all you need is just install and activate Nvidia web driver, it's very easy to do with the GT120 at there). However, if you use Windows, it may be not that easy to use both cards in some version like Windows 10.
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This is exactly my configuration. Because of space restrictions and a known issue with the Mac Pro's fans, the GT 120 is in slot 1 and the GTX 750 Ti is in slot 3. I only use the GT 120 to access the boot screen when I need it. It is also possible to simultaneously use one card for one display and the other card for an other display.

For better performance, may be you should install the 750 Ti in slot 1, and install the GT120 in slot 3 for better cooling.

Otherwise, the GT120 is just a single slot card, even though you install the 750Ti in slot 2, it won't affect the slot 1 GT120's cooling.

 

[orph]

yes you can have both cards in at the same time but only the primary card will so the work, so if you set the GT120 as primary you get boot screens but it will also do all the work ie if you play a game it will run on the GT120 (i think)

iv used a pc card for ages, had no boot screen dont miss it, if i ever need it i plug in my gt120 (not done that for maybe 1-2 years)

 

[slughead]

I have the GT120 in slot 4, gtx 980 in slot 1. Not the best for cooling. You can leave the HD bays empty or throw your 2.5" drives in there if you're nervous. I've had no issues except make sure your driver is updated when you update OS X.

Also don't update to an OSX version for which there is no nvidia update yet. I learned that the hard way.

 

[h9826790]

I have the GT120 in slot 4, gtx 980 in slot 1. Not the best for cooling. You can leave the HD bays empty or throw your 2.5" drives in there if you're nervous. I've had no issues except make sure your driver is updated when you update OS X.

Also don't update to an OSX version for which there is no nvidia update yet. I learned that the hard way.

Will you consider put the 980 in slot 1 and install the GT120 in slot 3? I think that's better for the GT120's cooling (if the HDD block the airflow and you care about the GT120's cooling). For the 980, that shouldn't make any difference.

 

[Mirau]

Thank you guys!

 

[JoSch]

I have my HD5770 (Mac edition) in slot 1 and the 750 Ti in slot 2.
1.) Why would I put any of the GPUs in slot 3?
2.) Would the HD5770 in slot 2 display a boot screen?

 

[h9826790]

I have my HD5770 (Mac edition) in slot 1 and the 750 Ti in slot 2.
1.) Why would I put any of the GPUs in slot 3?
2.) Would the HD5770 in slot 2 display a boot screen?

1) If no other PCIe card need a x16 slot, then it's mainly for better cooling. The card in slot 2 may limit the airflow to the card installed in slot 1 (e.g. block the fan).

2) Yes.

 

[JoSch]

1) If no other PCIe card need a x16 slot, then it's mainly for better cooling. The card in slot 2 may limit the airflow to the card installed in slot 1 (e.g. block the fan).

2) Yes.

Thanks for the clarification.