I have an RX 9070 XT connected to a 4K gaming monitor, and I notice some lag when playing games while watching media on another display. I'm considering adding a second graphics card just to handle the other monitor. Are there affordable GPUs with at least three display outputs that draw all their power from the motherboard's PCIe slot? I already own a GTX 1050 Ti, so I could also use it if I add another compatible 6-pin cable to my power supply. I'm also wondering whether the real issue could be my CPU, power supply, browser hardware acceleration, or graphics drivers.
4 Answers
Installing a second GPU can make the motherboard’s primary slot run at x8 instead of x16, but that usually has little noticeable impact, even at high resolutions. It’s reasonable for a secondary media card, although it probably won’t solve the problem if the underlying cause is the CPU, PSU, browser, or driver configuration.
If you only need a display and media playback, look for a low-power RX 550, GT 1030, or a 1050 Ti model that has three outputs and no auxiliary power connector. Check the exact card, because output counts and power requirements vary by manufacturer. Your existing 1050 Ti may work, but don’t add a cable unless your power supply and the card’s connector are actually compatible.
Before buying another GPU, post the full system specs, especially the CPU, power supply, motherboard, RAM, and how the displays are connected. This could easily be a CPU limitation, a power-delivery issue, or a driver/software problem rather than a lack of GPU outputs.
Try disabling hardware acceleration in the browser or media app, and use integrated graphics for the second display if your processor supports it. A clean graphics-driver installation may also help. One person with a similar issue fixed it after upgrading the power supply to use two separate 8-pin cables, though the driver reinstall may have been the actual fix.
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