Adding a 2nd GFX card & upgrading PSU on my 3xs system

[Jaybee]

Hi

My latest Scan 3XS build is now nearly 3yrs old but running superbly!

I want to add a second (but different) nVidia graphics card to the system, purely for 3D rendering via it's CUDA cores (using Octane render) but I think I need to upgrade the PSU as well. I just want to check if my system will be able to take these two components before I order them and attempt the upgrade myself.

Current System is an i7 920 o/c to 3.04Ghz, Asus P6TD, 12Gb RAM, 160Gb Intel SSD, 4 x 1Tb HDDs in an Icy Dock bay, Corsair 550W PSU. Case is a LianLi PC-7 FNB.

I currently have an nVidia Quadro FX1800 as the gfx card and want to add a 4Gb GTX 690 (or if not a 680) in one of the second PCI-E slots which will be used just for rendering (while the Quadro still operates the display as normal etc.). nVidia say the minimum system PSU wattage for the GTX 690 is 650W so I am planning on swapping out my 550W Corsair for an ATX860W Corsair PSU.

Here's a shot of the internals! Looks like the GTX 690 card should fit but I'm no expert....





Would be grateful for any advice (or reassurance!) and/or things to watch out for on the upgrade. I'm sure I can do this myself and I've chosen a modular PSU to keep cables to a minimum.

TIA

Jaybee

[Ben @ Scan]

Hi Jaybee

Adding a 690 as far as I am aware may not be the best solution for you but it all depends on what you are doing on the system

Have a read of this link it may help determine your requirements

http://www.derivative.ca/wiki/index...._Graphic_Cards

If you can confirm what you require we can look into the best option for you for an upgrade

Regards

Ben

[Jaybee]

Hi Ben,

Thanks for the quick reply!

Read that link... must admit a lot of it was a bit beyond my level of understanding..! But just to be clear. The additional 690 (or 680) would only be used for it's CUDA processing power. It would not be connected to another monitor (or any monitor). It would be used purely for it's processing power by using it's CUDA cores to render a 3D object/scene.

The software allows a second card to be dedicated to processing ony whilst keeping the first (or slower) card as the general display output (as it is now). If only one card is used to render then as the card is processing like crazy to render the scene the display "locks up" so you can't navigate round the computer or do anything else. This is why the new GPU based 3D render engines all suggest either:

a) adding an additional card with as many CUDA cores as possible ; or

b) using an expansion box with a CUDA card in (though these cost more than a new custom build! so not really an option).

Here's a graphic from the Octane Render manual that explains what I'm trying to do better than I can(!) :



I wouldn't be using SLI or attempting to use both cards at once to drive monitors. I thought by upgrading the PSU and adding a 690 (only because it's got 3092 cores so it would be the best bang for the buck) I'd be safe....! What would you guys suggest?

Cheers!

Jaybee

[Ben @ Scan]

Hi Jaybee

The card is the best Ge force card so would give the best performance if it works as it looks like it should from your info but its hard to tell if the card would fit in your lower slot as it is quite a big card, we have a similar board at Scan for a test bench I will have a look tomorrow for you, drop me an email with your invoice and build number to systemsupport@scan.co.uk

Regards

Ben

[Jaybee]

Thanks Ben,


Yep the 690 looks pretty hefty (in price too!) and a two-slot width. I'm assuming the white and black PCI-E are both able to be used (i.e. one or the other) so perhaps the white one would give it more room to expand below (towards the PSU area). The Quadro is currently in the blue one

Thanks again for your help. Will email you the build & invoice number in a moment.

Cheers!

Jaybee

[Jaybee]

Hi Ben,

Thought I'd update you here. After a lot of research I eventually decided to go for the GTX680 and an AX860 PSU. Installed both this morning and all is well so far (touches available wood)..... I've never done a PSU swap before so this was a first...

Lucky I went for a GTX680 and not the 690 as there's no way the GTX 690 would ever fit my case (which I thought was big at the time!). The 680 is just clearing the SATA drive cage. About 1/16th" clear... Took some manoeuvring to get it in situ but got there in the end...



Of course my cabling is not up to 3XS standards but I tidied this up and added the two PCI-E aux power feeds before firing up the card.

Installed drivers and away she went. Renders uber fast now with my GPU render program and hit's the sort of benchmarks it should for a solo card. The Quadro does a separate job of being a great 2D display card which it's always done so I can work away while rendering in the background.

Thanks for all your help here and via email with suggestions.


Cheers!

Jaybee

[Ben @ Scan]

Hi Jaybee

Thats great news and if you need any further help you know where I am

Regards

Ben