The Performance of Explicit Multi Adapter with Different Graphics Cards

To test the performance of explicit multi adapter, we used two graphics cards that are very similar in terms of performance: the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980 Ti and the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070. Both cards were installed in a single rig, which was powered by an Intel Core i7 6700K at 4.6 gigahertz, 16 gigabytes of DDR4 RAM at 3000 megahertz, and an EVGA Supernova 700W power supply.

We were able to detect both cards using Windows and use the same driver for them since they utilize the same adapter. However, explicit multi adapter relies on DirectX 12 to function, so we had to run Ashes of the Singularity in DirectX 12 mode. This can be done by signing into Steam, right-clicking on the game within your library, and selecting "Run in DirectX 12 Mode". After loading, we selected the options tab, video, and enabled multiple GPUs. Ashes of the Singularity will now utilize DirectX 12 and both graphics cards to render images.

In our test, we compared the performance of the dual GPU setup to that of a single GTX 980 Ti running alone. We were surprised to find that the dual GPU setup received exactly a 50% frame rate increase in terms of overall average FPS from that of just a running single GTX 980 Ti. The overall average for the combo was 80.4 FPS, while our solo test showed an average of 53.6 FPS.

Another important finding was how well the combination performed during heavy batches of the benchmark when the cards were being stressed to unorthodox levels. Both the GTX 1070 and GTX 980 Ti struggled here, but when paired, they nearly doubled this average frame rate to 70.3.5 FPS versus about 43.

Inferences can be made about the current state of explicit multi adapter based on our findings. It behaves quite a bit like SLI or crossfire does in terms of performance benefits. This is great news for gamers who are looking to improve their performance with multiple GPUs. However, it's worth noting that the current state of asynchronous compute for both AMD and NVIDIA cards may impact the performance of explicit multi adapter.

In conclusion, we were pleasantly surprised by how well our pair of graphics cards performed in Ashes of the Singularity. Even though the GPUs are based on entirely different architectures, they managed to render separate titles of each passing frame without a hitch, reducing unwanted latency and boosting those good old frame rates. We expect more DirectX 12 games featuring explicit multi adapter to be released in the coming months.

As a final note, we'd like to thank our viewers for watching this video and giving us feedback on our content. If you liked what you saw, please give it a thumbs up. If you felt that the video was incomplete or had nothing to do with life, click the subscribe button. And if you're feeling generous, consider supporting us by clicking the link in the description box below.

Unfortunately, our attempt to get JJ to stay still for a filming of this YouTube video has been unsuccessful. He's about to move now, so we'll have to try again another time. Despite this setback, we hope you've enjoyed learning about explicit multi adapter and its performance with different graphics cards. We'll be back soon with more content, so stay tuned!

"WEBVTTKind: captionsLanguage: enif I say two graphics cards in one personal computer your first thought is probably something like SLI or crossfire and that's completely understandable these give either Nvidia or AMD graphics cards running identical GPUs to work in tandem the result is not a perfect two time scaling factor when it comes to frame rates but it's still acceptable 50 to 80% roughly boost when it comes to most games for Nvidia graphics cards SLI requires exact GPUs exact vram amounts and of course an sli bridge as for AMD things are a little less strict for newer cards you'll only need two cards with identical GPUs and that's pretty much it crossfire bridges aren't required for the latest series of raid on cards and vram does not have to match either meaning that you can crossfire for example two r9 380 s1 with 2 gigs of vram and the other with 4 games simply recognize the lowest vram card as specified by the current configuration but what about combining two cards with totally different architectures is that even a thing and if it is what is that called well obviously it is a thing because that's what this video is about it's called explicit multi adapter or EMA a term dubbed for the ability of DirectX 12 to recognize and utilize GPUs of different architectures theoretically you can even run both your CPUs integrated graphics alongside your discrete GPU although it is recommended that you pair GPUs of similar performance for the best results currently only ashes of the singularity has support for this feature and it's because EMA requires a complete remapping of a game's architecture for the sake of implementing SFR or split frame rendering this has the effect of splitting individual frames into multiple tiles to be rendered by separate graphics cards for instance in this particular frame of total war Warhammer if both an r9 290 say and a GTX 970 are running in an EMA fashion which Warhammer does not support currently by the way then the 290 might render these tiles and the 970 might render these this dramatically reduces latency improving frame rates and response time so what did we use to test with in our case both the gtx 980ti and gtx 1070 were thrown into the same rig do keep in mind that these cards will not sli and a few we were confused about that in the twitter post and that's understandable I didn't really explain what I was doing at the time but don't try to do SLI this she's not gonna work it's gonna be complete waste of time not compatible end of story our work is also boasting an Intel Core i7 6700 K at 4.6 gigahertz 16 gigabytes of Gil super loose ddr4 at 3000 megahertz and an EVGA supernova 700 you what power supply in case you're wondering how we power this pair of cards with both cards powered and plugged into the two uppermost PCIe 16x slots windows in a video were able to detect both cards and being that both utilize the same driver it was ready to go from the get-go now because explicit multi adapter relies on DirectX 12 to function we'll need to make sure that we run ashes of the singularity in DirectX 12 mode this can be done by signing in to Steam right clicking on the game within your library and selecting run in DirectX 12 mode simple as that after loading hop on over to the options tab select video and select enable multiple GPUs ashes of the singularity will now utilize DirectX 12 and both of your installed graphics cards to render the images you'll see when gaming remember for our test we'll be using both a gtx 980ti and a gtx 1070 two cards that are very similar when it comes to performance if you're wondering how we figured that out you can check out the video where you benchmark both of them in the card right here with that let's find out how these cards do when paired together and as you can see quite the boost in performance for ashes of the singularity no doubt but here's the funny part when we compare these results to those obtained from our solo tests our am aid pair received exactly a 50% frame rate increase for overall average FPS from that of just a running single 980ti I mean exactly 50% what a coincidence the overall average for the combo was 80 point 4 FPS while our 90 DTI alone managed only 53.6 another important find here is how well the combo did during the heavy batches of the benchmark when the cards were being stressed to unorthodox levels both the 10 70 and 90 DTI struggled here yet when paired they nearly doubled this average frame rate to 70 3.5 FPS versus about 43 so for this particular combination it appears as though the extra intensive segments of the game benefited the most which is actually great news and from this we can make inferences about the current state of explicit multi adapter it behaves quite a bit like SLI or crossfire does in terms of performance benefits 50% is a solid framerate gain for any graphics card combo and with ashes being the only game not in beta 2 currently support EMA I'm actually quite surprised by how well this games scaled also given the current state of asynchronous compute for both AMD and NVIDIA cards you'll be better off opting for an AMD graphics card as your primary display device for games like this at least until Nvidia gets there async problems figured out if they ever do come on green team in conclusion I was presently surprised but we found with our pair of cards even though the GPUs are based on entirely different architectures they managed to render separate titles of each passing frame without a hitch reducing unwanted latency and boosting those good old frame rates expect more DirectX 12 games featuring explicit multi adapter to be released in the coming months if you liked what you saw in this video be sure to give it a thumbs up let us know you think we did a good job give us a thumbs down if you feel the complete opposite or if you hate everything about life click the subscribe but if you haven't already and stay tuned for this guy right here I keep teasing it but JJ he's hitting the tripod they can't stop stop what are you doing I told you all I would try to get him to stay still for a filming of a YouTube video he's he's about to why me I know he's about to stay chill for just a few more seconds as I was saying stay tuned for this card right here I keep teasing it because well the day is vastly approaching folks what on earth are you doing whoa anyway this is science studio thanks for learning with this not going to drop it youif I say two graphics cards in one personal computer your first thought is probably something like SLI or crossfire and that's completely understandable these give either Nvidia or AMD graphics cards running identical GPUs to work in tandem the result is not a perfect two time scaling factor when it comes to frame rates but it's still acceptable 50 to 80% roughly boost when it comes to most games for Nvidia graphics cards SLI requires exact GPUs exact vram amounts and of course an sli bridge as for AMD things are a little less strict for newer cards you'll only need two cards with identical GPUs and that's pretty much it crossfire bridges aren't required for the latest series of raid on cards and vram does not have to match either meaning that you can crossfire for example two r9 380 s1 with 2 gigs of vram and the other with 4 games simply recognize the lowest vram card as specified by the current configuration but what about combining two cards with totally different architectures is that even a thing and if it is what is that called well obviously it is a thing because that's what this video is about it's called explicit multi adapter or EMA a term dubbed for the ability of DirectX 12 to recognize and utilize GPUs of different architectures theoretically you can even run both your CPUs integrated graphics alongside your discrete GPU although it is recommended that you pair GPUs of similar performance for the best results currently only ashes of the singularity has support for this feature and it's because EMA requires a complete remapping of a game's architecture for the sake of implementing SFR or split frame rendering this has the effect of splitting individual frames into multiple tiles to be rendered by separate graphics cards for instance in this particular frame of total war Warhammer if both an r9 290 say and a GTX 970 are running in an EMA fashion which Warhammer does not support currently by the way then the 290 might render these tiles and the 970 might render these this dramatically reduces latency improving frame rates and response time so what did we use to test with in our case both the gtx 980ti and gtx 1070 were thrown into the same rig do keep in mind that these cards will not sli and a few we were confused about that in the twitter post and that's understandable I didn't really explain what I was doing at the time but don't try to do SLI this she's not gonna work it's gonna be complete waste of time not compatible end of story our work is also boasting an Intel Core i7 6700 K at 4.6 gigahertz 16 gigabytes of Gil super loose ddr4 at 3000 megahertz and an EVGA supernova 700 you what power supply in case you're wondering how we power this pair of cards with both cards powered and plugged into the two uppermost PCIe 16x slots windows in a video were able to detect both cards and being that both utilize the same driver it was ready to go from the get-go now because explicit multi adapter relies on DirectX 12 to function we'll need to make sure that we run ashes of the singularity in DirectX 12 mode this can be done by signing in to Steam right clicking on the game within your library and selecting run in DirectX 12 mode simple as that after loading hop on over to the options tab select video and select enable multiple GPUs ashes of the singularity will now utilize DirectX 12 and both of your installed graphics cards to render the images you'll see when gaming remember for our test we'll be using both a gtx 980ti and a gtx 1070 two cards that are very similar when it comes to performance if you're wondering how we figured that out you can check out the video where you benchmark both of them in the card right here with that let's find out how these cards do when paired together and as you can see quite the boost in performance for ashes of the singularity no doubt but here's the funny part when we compare these results to those obtained from our solo tests our am aid pair received exactly a 50% frame rate increase for overall average FPS from that of just a running single 980ti I mean exactly 50% what a coincidence the overall average for the combo was 80 point 4 FPS while our 90 DTI alone managed only 53.6 another important find here is how well the combo did during the heavy batches of the benchmark when the cards were being stressed to unorthodox levels both the 10 70 and 90 DTI struggled here yet when paired they nearly doubled this average frame rate to 70 3.5 FPS versus about 43 so for this particular combination it appears as though the extra intensive segments of the game benefited the most which is actually great news and from this we can make inferences about the current state of explicit multi adapter it behaves quite a bit like SLI or crossfire does in terms of performance benefits 50% is a solid framerate gain for any graphics card combo and with ashes being the only game not in beta 2 currently support EMA I'm actually quite surprised by how well this games scaled also given the current state of asynchronous compute for both AMD and NVIDIA cards you'll be better off opting for an AMD graphics card as your primary display device for games like this at least until Nvidia gets there async problems figured out if they ever do come on green team in conclusion I was presently surprised but we found with our pair of cards even though the GPUs are based on entirely different architectures they managed to render separate titles of each passing frame without a hitch reducing unwanted latency and boosting those good old frame rates expect more DirectX 12 games featuring explicit multi adapter to be released in the coming months if you liked what you saw in this video be sure to give it a thumbs up let us know you think we did a good job give us a thumbs down if you feel the complete opposite or if you hate everything about life click the subscribe but if you haven't already and stay tuned for this guy right here I keep teasing it but JJ he's hitting the tripod they can't stop stop what are you doing I told you all I would try to get him to stay still for a filming of a YouTube video he's he's about to why me I know he's about to stay chill for just a few more seconds as I was saying stay tuned for this card right here I keep teasing it because well the day is vastly approaching folks what on earth are you doing whoa anyway this is science studio thanks for learning with this not going to drop it you\n"