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I am using Windows Media Center and have come across the ridiculousness that is DRM (ala can't play DVD/Blu Ray from computer through Xbox 360 extender onto the tv).
I am looking to do something about this by upgrading my video card so that the computer will be directly hooked up to the TV over HDMI.
My PCI slot setup is:
PCI Express 2.0 x16 - 1 x PCI Express x16 slot, running at x16 (PCIEX16)
PCI Express x16 - 1 x PCI Express x16 slot, running at x4 (PCIEX4_X1)*
When the PCIEX1_2 slot is populated with an expansion card, the PCIEX4_X1 slot will operate at up to x1 mode.
I need to have both monitors connected while HDTV is connected as well.
I am considering two options:
- Add a second video card running in Crossfire that would be used for the HDTV
- Replace my existing video card with a new single card with three outputs (2 DVI & 1 HDMI)
Would it be better (no bugginess) to add a second video card to to my system in Crossfire or would it be better to scrap the card and replace it with a whole new card?
My computer setup is:
- Win7 Home Premium x64
- Gigabyte GA-P55-USB3 LGA 1156 (with Crossfire support)
- Core i7-860
- 4 GB DDR3
- XFX HD-465X-ZDF2 Radeon HD 4650 1GB 128-bit DDR2 PCI Express 2.0 x16 (Dual DVI output)
- Dual DVI (non-HDCP) monitor setup
Don't you need cards from the same chipset family to do CrossFire? Is there a 48xx that supports HDCP? – Shinrai – 2011-02-22T19:00:41.543
@Shinrai my HD 4650 does support HDCP, it's my monitor's that don't support it. As long as the setup works and there's not tons of lag with my system, I don't mind if I have to get an older card. – Patrick – 2011-02-22T19:07:43.657
Er, 46xx. yeah. I must have misread the question because I thought you meant it didn't. (I'm not too familiar with this particular family of Radeons). To my knowledge Josh's answer is good though (and I've upvoted it as such). – Shinrai – 2011-02-22T19:09:13.083
Why must it be Crossfire(X)? Why not just run 2 independent cards? – Milind R – 2014-01-02T13:31:52.570
@MilindR Windows doesn't support two independent video cards for video output, Crossfire will allow Windows to treat both cards as a single card that Crossfire manages. – Patrick – 2014-01-02T15:25:03.333
@Patrick I think windows 7 can.
– Milind R – 2014-01-03T06:00:10.437