How to install dual GPU's for folding

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Crestwood
Posts: 7
Joined: Mon Aug 30, 2010 5:09 pm
Hardware configuration: Mobo: MSI Z97 Gaming 5 (LGA1150)
CPU: Intel i5-4690k, OC'd to 4000 mHz
Liquid CPU cooler: CoolerMaster Nepton 240m
Dual GPU's: 2x MSI GTX 970 Gaming, both OC'd to 1400 mHz.
RAM: 16 GB Kingston Hyper-X Fury 1600 Mhz DDR3 (2x8), OC'd to 1833 mHz.
Storage: WD Caviar Black 1TB HDD; Samsung 850 Pro 256 GB SSD (used mainly for OS & apps); Samsung 840 Pro 256 GB SSD (for backups).
PSU: Corsair AX860
Case: Corsair Air 540 (with 6 fans)
OS: Windows 10 64-bit

Current system is producing average 550 - 600 PPD, with max up to 650K PPD
Location: Seattle, WA

How to install dual GPU's for folding

Post by Crestwood »

I have been folding for about 4 years, and would like to add a 2nd GPU to my computer. Currently, I am running the following:
Intel i5-4690 CPU, overclocked to 1500 mHz -- CoolerMaster Necton 240 liquid cooler;
MSI GTX 970 Gaming GPU, overclocked to 4000 mHz;
MSI app's: Gaming app; Afterburner;
Seasonic 750 watt PSU.

My current rig is earning about 300,000 PPD, and I'd like to raise this daily total to around 500,000. I am considering adding a second GPU, either the MSI 970 4G Gaming graphics card, or the MSI 960 Gaming card, as my second GPU in this computer. I have the following questions:
1. Is a MSI 960 Gaming card compatible with the MSI 970 Gaming I am presently using?
2. What do I need to do to install the second GPU (other than the obvious point of inserting it into the mobo and connecting to the PSU).
3. Will the F@H client automatically configure the new GPU with what already exists, or will I need to update the configuration?

Any other advice will be much appreciated.

Thanks,
"Crestwood"
University of Washington folding team
bruce
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Joined: Thu Nov 29, 2007 10:13 pm
Location: So. Cal.

Re: How to install dual GPU's for folding

Post by bruce »

1. Yes, The GTX 970 and the GTX 960 both contain Maxwell chips.
2/3. There are two options. First, you can use FAHControl to alter the configuration by manually adding a second GPU slot.
Second, if you do a clean reinstall the FAH software, it will recognize you have two GPUs and configure two GPU slots.

(In some cases, FAH may misidentify the GPUs, interchanging their descriptions. FAH doesn't really care since they'll accept the same assignments although one is faster than the other.)
ChristianVirtual
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Location: Tokyo

Re: How to install dual GPU's for folding

Post by ChristianVirtual »

Watch on your PSU ... Adding a second 970 add around 160 W in power draw and addition heat. Do you know what current overall load is (like overclocked CPU and liquid cooler) ... Just to be on the safe side.
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7im
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Re: How to install dual GPU's for folding

Post by 7im »

Like bruce said, add the card, then reinstall the fah client. You and the hardware seem capable to handle the rest.
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