Separate gpu needed for Windows? Tweet

[Rik]

Looking to build a new PC as my CPU is 12 years old now and I should probably move on

If I only have 1 GPU (may have to sell my kids to buy an RTX4090) would it handle everything or would it be slowed down by having to also do the PC stuff like Windows, 3ds Max, Chrome, Pshop etc?

If so, would should I consider a CPU with integrated graphics or another (cheap) GPU to take care of the PC stuff and leave the 4090 to focus fully on rendering?

[paride4331]

Hi Rik,
Personally I would add a low performance GPU in PCIx slot 1 by connecting the monitor/s using it exclusively with Windows, 3ds Max, Chrome, Pshop etc
Then I would use the RTX 4090 for the GPU render.
Regards
Paride

[Rik]

Hi Paride

Thanks for the reply.

So if I just dont connect the rendering card to a monitor it won't be bothered by having to do the general PC graphics? Sounds like a plan.

I use 3 monitors to guess I'd need to buy a cheap card that can connect to 3 screens.

[frankmci]

There's still that pesky Windows behavior of reserving a significant chunk of every GPU's VRAM for OS use. A few cards can run a special NVIDIA driver that supports Compute Mode Only to get around that, but not the cards most of us are likely using. It's been a while since I dived into the current state of the art. If anyone knows of a way to get all of the VRAM back from our 4090s under Windows 11, I'd sure love to hear about it.

[paride4331]

There's still that pesky Windows behavior of reserving a significant chunk of every GPU's VRAM for OS use. A few cards can run a special NVIDIA driver that supports Compute Mode Only to get around that, but not the cards most of us are likely using. It's been a while since I dived into the current state of the art. If anyone knows of a way to get all of the VRAM back from our 4090s under Windows 11, I'd sure love to hear about it.

Hi frankmci,
as far as I know at the moment the issue is still there, win 11 would seem to eat a little less VRAM than win 10.
Regards
Paride

[paride4331]

Hi Paride

Thanks for the reply.

So if I just dont connect the rendering card to a monitor it won't be bothered by having to do the general PC graphics? Sounds like a plan.

I use 3 monitors to guess I'd need to buy a cheap card that can connect to 3 screens.

Hi Rik,
Instead of buying a new GPU for monitors, you could use your old one.
You can setup your GPUs in Octane device panel.
Regards
Paride

[Rik]

good idea. Will save me tha hassle of sticking it on ebay