What are the names of two technologies used to install multiple video cards in the same system?

Answer 1

AMD/ATI Radeon

I.) Crossfire is the practice of using 2 ati video cards at the same time and phsically lashing them together with a cable. This can be done with 2 video cards of the exact model (if enabled) or with 2 cards of similar stats. *If 2 different speed pcie slots are used for this, the faster pcie slot will slow itself down to run at the same speed as the paired video card. (ex 2 hd4850's: 1 plugged into pcie x16 and the other (the same model card) is plugged into the pcie x4; even though they are both able to run @ x16, because one is in a slower x4 slot, they will both be forced to run at the maximum x4 speed)

II)HybridCrossfire videocard (like the HD4200/HD4000), works together with the SINGLE pcie-x16 video card plugged into your pcie slot.>

It is an alternative for budget restricted gamers who want to increase their current computers gaming output without buying 2 videocards, (or for those who have only one open pciex16 slot that want to utilize the technology.)

I don't actually have it running, I just have the option. However form what I understand the performance boost can be limited, since the on-board video cards (hd4200 & hd4000) arereally close in performance to the hd3###series. So it will only work with lower end hd4###'s and hd3###'s.

While it might not be the best option for gamers, HomeTheatrePC enthusiasts should note that by adding just a cheap radeon video card to the setup and using hybridCrossfire, you can add a 3rd and sometimes 4th tv/monitor to your set up (and also get a small boost since the new video card helps take the load off of the on-board videocard (which taps into your CPU and memory.)

Nvidia- Uses SLI technology. Very similar to Ati's "crossfire" , its just Nvidias version of it. I hear their are more issues with NVidia SLI though.

So basically, if you only have one video card slot (PCIEx16) you can only use cross fire hybrid, or (the better choice IMO) just get one really good card that has crossfire ability, and just use it by itself until it comes time to change your motherboard. That way when it comes to upgrading later, your identical videocard would be much cheaper, and your future mobo will probably have at least 2 PCIE-x16's that would allow a crossfire setup with 2 powerful cards!