triple card setup questions

[Desolator]

I've seen fragments of information everywhere but couldn't find it all in a row in one place.  I'm thinking about converting my single card system into a double or triple card system.  I heard things get weird with that.

So it's a Vista SP2 32-bit PC cuz that's a spare machine I had   I have one 5830 and am trying to get another one but may end up with a different model card cuz they're kinda extinct.  So firstly, can I even use different models of cards?

I have a 4 channel 900W power supply so that's set already.

I hear something about having to use dummy plugs to force windows into recognizing the card or turning on the GPU or something.  I remember hearing that years and years ago too but I don't remember the specifics.  Is it just a pin crosser like the common green to black cross for power supplies?  I have a lot of monitors available too but not if I need them connected over the long term.  Is it a one time thing?  Is it even always needed 100% of the time?

I have some PCI-e 1x to 16x risers coming in the mail so that's covered and I'm about to build a properly grounded open frame case.

How's the driver situation go with card 2?  So I tell it to autosearch the driver or will it just work with the existing one or do I do a driver-only install with no CCC cuz it's already installed or what?

I think I can get the overclocking utilities and mining software to work properly from there base don what I've read but is there anything else I'm missing?

[1715402730]

1715402730

[teflone]

I got a 750 w Power supply

2 5830's and one 5570, windows 7.

No issues.. using dummy plugs.

it will take a couple reboots after you install the drivers for the extra diff card.. but after that it should work..

[Xephan]

So it's a Vista SP2 32-bit PC cuz that's a spare machine I had   I have one 5830 and am trying to get another one but may end up with a different model card cuz they're kinda extinct.  So firstly, can I even use different models of cards?

Running two different cards here, might get a third if I can convince a friend to sell me the card in his spare system that he doesn't use much

I have a 4 channel 900W power supply so that's set already.

I hear something about having to use dummy plugs to force windows into recognizing the card or turning on the GPU or something.  I remember hearing that years and years ago too but I don't remember the specifics.  Is it just a pin crosser like the common green to black cross for power supplies?  I have a lot of monitors available too but not if I need them connected over the long term.  Is it a one time thing?  Is it even always needed 100% of the time?

If you use the latest Catalyst 11.6B (assuming you're sensibly using AMD gpus only) drivers, you won't even need dummy plugs. The trade-off is a bug that loads up one of your CPU core constantly.

I have some PCI-e 1x to 16x risers coming in the mail so that's covered and I'm about to build a properly grounded open frame case.

How's the driver situation go with card 2?  So I tell it to autosearch the driver or will it just work with the existing one or do I do a driver-only install with no CCC cuz it's already installed or what?

I think I can get the overclocking utilities and mining software to work properly from there base don what I've read but is there anything else I'm missing?

As long as they are all recent ATI/AMD cards, you just need to install the Catalyst drivers once.