Multiple Graphics Card Technology - bit-tech.net Forums

Tim S · 30th Jun 2004, 17:02

There's been some interesting developments in graphics technology over the last few days... take a look at what's on it's way in the coming months...

Who ever thought we'd be going back to the days of Dual Graphics cards?

RotoSequence · 30th Jun 2004, 17:30

Frankly, I dont see the need. The latest video cards, like the X800 Pro, will provide more than playable framerates at all resolutions; I personally cant even tell the difference from 34 and 98 frames per second, and I can get 40 frames per second in virtually any game at high resolution. By the time a game comes out where the SLI solution will be practical, I can just purchase a single slot solution that will be cheaper, and most likely better, than this.

On the other hand, for those who want the tech, I think Nvidia has found its edge over ATI; very few people will want to invest in a rediculously expensive alienware system when you can make your own custom desktop, probably using Nforce 4 and one of the latest Athlon 64 chips. Alienware systems are quite expensive, which is why Nvidia may just come out on top in this case. Now, Alienware has advertised that their AVA is compatible with all cards-what would happen if you ran these all together? My guess would be incompatability, but hey, its fun to dream.

EDIT: I mean using quad Nvidia video cards and SLI inside the Alienware system... Oh the droolage...

Tim S · 30th Jun 2004, 17:48

you mean running 2 6800's and 2 X800's? or one of each?

The cards need to be identical, so I don't think that two pairs would work, although, a pair of pairs would work if there's a board that supports four PCI-Express 16x slots.

eddie_dane · 30th Jun 2004, 20:03

I wonder how hot the card on top will get.. isn't nvidia breaking their own rule about having the next add-on card in the system so close to the video card?

Mixx · 30th Jun 2004, 20:37

I agree that alienware systems are waaaay too expensive, and with the addition of Dual GPU's wont help bring the cost down either. This could be big, i mean now we can actually play games at speed we have never thought we could before. Anyone wanna lend me 6 grand lol??

juzzwuzz · 30th Jun 2004, 21:31

Looks awesome just need to make some serious cash now.

Hamish · 30th Jun 2004, 21:42

i reckon ati will have some SLI business out fairly soon tbh, i doubt they'd let nvidia get an advantage like that over them
and seeing as nvidia's PCI-E system sucks (its an on-card agp/pci-e bridge) compared to ATi's native pci-e system it should be pretty awesome

Almightyrastus · 1st Jul 2004, 00:39

Guys, stuff the cost or need or practicality or noise or whatever, this is 2 cards together we are talking about here!!!

Who cares whether any of us need them, you know we all want them..........

Tim S · 1st Jul 2004, 01:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by Almightyrastus

Guys, stuff the cost or need or practicality or noise or whatever, this is 2 cards together we are talking about here!!!

Who cares whether any of us need them, you know we all want them..........

Now THAT's the spirit

B3CK · 1st Jul 2004, 06:02

I agree with the spirit there, Question,, with the pcb bridge, how much room would that leave to put in a waterblock??????

Question 2: Would it be possible to re-create the bridge on our own, but mod it to accept 3 or 4 cards at the same time????

Tim S · 1st Jul 2004, 08:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by B3CK

I agree with the spirit there, Question,, with the pcb bridge, how much room would that leave to put in a waterblock??????

Question 2: Would it be possible to re-create the bridge on our own, but mod it to accept 3 or 4 cards at the same time????

Hi B3CK,

at the present moment, I've not seen the bridge first hand - NVIDIA have only paper released the technology so far; however we will get the chance to take a look at this technology first hand as soon as there are systems available that utilise the SLI bridge.

The second question... I don't think the SLI bridge can be modded at present, besides the motherboard would have to have support for 3 or 4 PCI-Express 16x slots before it's worth considering expanding the bridge

-EVRE- · 2nd Jul 2004, 01:15

120w Gfx cards
x 2
-----
240w + oc barton 100w + 246w pelt = 586w

I think my thermochill 120.3 isnt going to be up to the job

30th Jun 2004, 17:02	#1
Tim S Pewlius Caesar bit-tech Staff Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Ascot, Berks Posts: 18,021	Multiple Graphics Card Technology There's been some interesting developments in graphics technology over the last few days... take a look at what's on it's way in the coming months... Who ever thought we'd be going back to the days of Dual Graphics cards? __________________ Tim on Twitter \| Tim's Blog \| Tim's Flickr The bit-tech Blog \| bit-tech on Twitter \| Join the bit-tech & Custom PC folding team (#35947) Last edited by Tim S; 30th Jun 2004 at 17:19.

30th Jun 2004, 17:30	#2
RotoSequence Lazy Lurker Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: 'States Posts: 4,529	Frankly, I dont see the need. The latest video cards, like the X800 Pro, will provide more than playable framerates at all resolutions; I personally cant even tell the difference from 34 and 98 frames per second, and I can get 40 frames per second in virtually any game at high resolution. By the time a game comes out where the SLI solution will be practical, I can just purchase a single slot solution that will be cheaper, and most likely better, than this. On the other hand, for those who want the tech, I think Nvidia has found its edge over ATI; very few people will want to invest in a rediculously expensive alienware system when you can make your own custom desktop, probably using Nforce 4 and one of the latest Athlon 64 chips. Alienware systems are quite expensive, which is why Nvidia may just come out on top in this case. Now, Alienware has advertised that their AVA is compatible with all cards-what would happen if you ran these all together? My guess would be incompatability, but hey, its fun to dream. EDIT: I mean using quad Nvidia video cards and SLI inside the Alienware system... Oh the droolage... __________________ Technology Schmecnology Last edited by RotoSequence; 30th Jun 2004 at 17:55.

30th Jun 2004, 17:48	#3
Tim S Pewlius Caesar bit-tech Staff Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Ascot, Berks Posts: 18,021	you mean running 2 6800's and 2 X800's? or one of each? The cards need to be identical, so I don't think that two pairs would work, although, a pair of pairs would work if there's a board that supports four PCI-Express 16x slots. __________________ Tim on Twitter \| Tim's Blog \| Tim's Flickr The bit-tech Blog \| bit-tech on Twitter \| Join the bit-tech & Custom PC folding team (#35947)

30th Jun 2004, 20:03	#4
eddie_dane below zero yáll Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: South Cackalaki, US Posts: 4,750	I wonder how hot the card on top will get.. isn't nvidia breaking their own rule about having the next add-on card in the system so close to the video card? __________________ <Linear> "poor drainage is ruining my marriage". <My Wife> "I know everything, which is why you're in trouble all the time." <KNA - aka my hero>Chris, I'm not in your signature file.. can you rectify this anomaly please. my flickr shutterdoggy.com

1st Jul 2004, 00:39	#8
Almightyrastus Heathen Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Nottingham, England Posts: 442	Guys, stuff the cost or need or practicality or noise or whatever, this is 2 cards together we are talking about here!!! Who cares whether any of us need them, you know we all want them.......... __________________ Lo there do I see my Father. Lo there do I see my Mother, and my Sisters and my Brothers. Lo there do I see the line of my people, back to the beginning. Lo they do call to me. They bid me take my place among them, in the halls of Valhalla where the brave may live forever.

30th Jun 2004, 20:37	#5
Mixx Multimodder Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 114	I agree that alienware systems are waaaay too expensive, and with the addition of Dual GPU's wont help bring the cost down either. This could be big, i mean now we can actually play games at speed we have never thought we could before. Anyone wanna lend me 6 grand lol??

30th Jun 2004, 21:31	#6
juzzwuzz Multimodder Join Date: Jan 2004 Posts: 78	Looks awesome just need to make some serious cash now.

30th Jun 2004, 21:42	#7
Hamish I Mod, Therefore I Own Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: London Posts: 3,587	i reckon ati will have some SLI business out fairly soon tbh, i doubt they'd let nvidia get an advantage like that over them and seeing as nvidia's PCI-E system sucks (its an on-card agp/pci-e bridge) compared to ATi's native pci-e system it should be pretty awesome

1st Jul 2004, 06:02	#10
B3CK Supermodder Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Dallas, Texas Posts: 355	I agree with the spirit there, Question,, with the pcb bridge, how much room would that leave to put in a waterblock?????? Question 2: Would it be possible to re-create the bridge on our own, but mod it to accept 3 or 4 cards at the same time????

2nd Jul 2004, 01:15	#12
-EVRE- Supermodder Join Date: May 2004 Location: Idaho U.S.A Posts: 343	120w Gfx cards x 2 ----- 240w + oc barton 100w + 246w pelt = 586w I think my thermochill 120.3 isnt going to be up to the job __________________ (Phenom II 940)(Foxcon A7DA)(8gb OCZ DDR2 800 )(8800gt aka hair dryer)(Big yellow case, CPU, GPU)(Enermax Liberty 500w)(lite-on DVD-RW w/LightScribe)(Seagate 300gb sata)(Seagate 320gb x2)(WD 200gb)(Dell 3007WFP 30"LCD, 19" Samsung, Acer 1280x720 projector)