2 x 3080 cards in one PC?

Mesh Mash

Member
I see preorders of the new RTX 3080 are now available which is great! But you can only spec a single card. Is this because of limited supply at launch or because you can’t fit 2 into a single case, either due to space limitations or power supply demands?
 

ubuysa

The BSOD Doctor
I think it’s a stock issue, likely 1 per person until the initial short stocks balance out.
That reminds me of the time decades ago when I went to our stockroom for two very specific diodes, we had two units OOS both with the same failed diode. The storeman would only let me have one, even though I could see that there were two in the box. "Why can't I have them both?" I asked. "Well" the aged storeman said, "somebody else might want the other one". "Somebody else does want the other one" I said, "oh really?" he replied. "Yes", I said...."me!"
 

Scott

Behold The Ford Mondeo
Moderator
SLI is dead, just in case this is what you are considering and querying. There is no SLI link between any of the cards save for the 3090. You can plug 2 in but this is a VERY niche usage so PCS won't likely make this a standard option just in case people get the wrong idea and think they are doubling down in performance.

I've stated it for over a year now. SLI is a thing of the past.
 

Scott

Behold The Ford Mondeo
Moderator
Just out of curiosity as I was wondering this earlier: What configuration is going to allow 2x3090s? Are we talking server systems? I am not aware of any "normal" systems that would allow it given that it would need 6 PCI-E slots?

Edit: Never mind...I just saw you answer that exact question on another thread

Most systems would actually have space for 6 PCIe. The actual spacing required between the slots is only 3. The limitation would be below the lowest PCIe slot.... as there would need to be space for an additional 3. This will come down to the case as most motherboards with dual 16x PCIe slots would have a gap of 2 between them.

One solution for this is big case...... another solution for this is case with multiple mounting options (ie 1 horizontal and one vertical).
 

Scott

Behold The Ford Mondeo
Moderator
Makes sense..what I don't understand is how you mount it vertically? As the motherboard has all the PCI-E lanes horizontal...is there like a special vertical mounting kit that includes an adaptor for the PCI-E slot?

Indeed, it's generally called a PCIe riser kit.
 

Mesh Mash

Member
I'm a 3D animator so the second graphics card is for GPU rendering. I've managed to order a single 3080 card PC today. I'm also wondering: if I purchase a second 3080 but a different flavour / manufacturer, will this create driver issues? It always used to say that you need the second GPU to match the 1st in the PC Specialist configurator. But I wasn't sure if this extended to being the same OEM.
 

SpyderTracks

We love you Ukraine
I don't have specific knowledge of using SLI so would need someone with actual knowledge to confirm...however, based on what I have just read, as long as they are the same card, it is fine to use different brands. Found this quote on Gamespot from some years ago:

" nVidia has strict requirements, you need the same card. It doesn't have to be the same manufacturer, it can have different clock speeds, it can even have more or less memory than the other one, however the amount of memory usable by the SLI configuration will be equal to whatever the card with the least amount of RAM has (so if you SLI a GTX 770 2 GB with a GTX 770 4 GB, you'll still only be able to use 2 GB). "
You can't SLI 3080's, it's only the 3090 that has NVLink capabilities.
 

SpyderTracks

We love you Ukraine
Really? Wow....I know SLI isn't a thing much anymore but still figured all current GPUs would have the facility given, AFAIK, low end GPUs 5 years ago had the ability.
Yeah, they've killed it off in the gamer space.

The 3090 is not a gaming card, it's designed for content producers who game on the side so need the performance for both areas.
 

SpyderTracks

We love you Ukraine
That's why I asked as the OP would use it for rendering for 3D animations...so, in that case, a 3090 would work well yes? Of, if they aren't gaming, would a Quaddro be the better step?
If the budget allows, 3090 would be much more suitable.

I think 3090 will outperform most quaddros until they release the new gen ones, I’d stick with the 3090
 

Mesh Mash

Member
You can't SLI 3080's, it's only the 3090 that has NVLink capabilities.
I'm not particularly interested in SLI, although the NVLink was useful for increasing VRAM as if a single machine. GPU render engines, like Octane, can have driver issues when there is a GPU mismatch between multiple cards. I just wanted some info on whether different flavours of the same card would behave as such in my rendering environments and I think @Nursemorph answered that question correctly.
 

Mesh Mash

Member
Few 3D animators will opt for a 3090 because it's a poorer value proposition than 2 x 3080 cards (which for render power will handily outperform a single 3090 for the same money). As with the previous generation, almost all my colleagues fitted 2x2080Ti cards instead a single Titan RTX. 4 x 2070 Supers was also a popular choice. The 3090 looks awsome but is a bit of a show pony!
 
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