I'm trying to build my first desktop and I need some advice on AM4 motherboards that can support dual GPUs. I have a Ryzen 5 3600x and an RTX 2060, which only has three video output ports. I need to run four monitors: two work monitors, a low-res TV, and a VGA CRT monitor. Currently, I have a Gigabyte B550 Eagle WiFi 6 motherboard, but I recently found out that the PCIe 3.0 slots are only x1, which doesn't provide enough bandwidth. This has caused some serious screen tearing on my extra GPU, an R9 380, which I was using for additional ports and resolutions. I want to keep my setup but need a new motherboard that can effectively handle both GPUs. Any recommendations?
2 Answers
Just a heads up, the tearing you're experiencing isn't necessarily from the PCIe bandwidth. A lot of motherboards carry x16 slots that run at x4 bandwidth, so it might be worth looking at other models. Just do a little research on the specifications for any motherboard you're considering to make sure it meets your needs!
But what about the experience on the AMD GPU? I'm seeing major glitches with my display when I try using it, like splits and freezing.
Honestly, you might want to keep your current motherboard and just upgrade your GPU to one that supports four monitors. It's usually easier than swapping out motherboards!
There are some issues with this idea though:
- Upgrading the motherboard is going to be the cheapest option since I can get a refund for my old one.
- I can't afford to get a new main GPU right now.
- Plus, I really want an AMD GPU to handle custom resolutions better, but I'm stuck using Nvidia for DaVinci Resolve.
You could also use your RTX 2060 for all your monitors. It can support four displays if you get a DisplayPort MST Hub to split the outputs.