Gigabyte's Dual-GPU Graphics Card

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Gigabyte's Dual-GPU Graphics Card

Posted by CmdrTaco on Thursday December 16, 2004 @08:25AM from the two-is-one-more-than-one dept.

kamerononfire writes "Tom's Hardware has an article on a new dual-GPU graphics card, to be released Friday, by Giga-byte: "According to sources, the SLI card will lift current 3DMark2003 record revels by a significant margin while being priced lower than ATI's and Nvidia's single-GPU high-end cards.""

21 of 252 comments (clear)

Drivers? by BWJones · 2004-12-16 08:27 · Score: 5, Informative

So, the question will be: Can we get drivers for this card that will work in Linux or OS X? It is based in Nvidia technology, so presumably one could write drivers for this card unless Gigabyte is keeping their stuff proprietary.....

It looks interesting and I would certainly be more than interested in plugging one into my dual G5, but I don't have time (or the interest) to write my own drivers.

--
Visit Jonesblog and say hello.
1. Re:Drivers? by Ianoo · 2004-12-16 08:33 · Score: 5, Insightful
  It's almost certain that what Gigabyte have done is this:
  
  Take the basic single GPU nVidia 6600 PCB
  
  Lay down two on the same PCB with two GPUs
  
  Link them together with a PCI Express switch
  
  Reverse engineer the card bridge that nVidia is selling for SLI and connect whatever control signals are required as traces on the PCB.
  
  It seems they can do this for a signficantly lower price than you can build two single cards.
  
  The point is that if nVidia SLI is working under Linux, then this should too.
2. Re:Drivers? by hattig · 2004-12-16 08:56 · Score: 3, Interesting
  
  I agree, but not about a PCI-Express switch. Most likely 8 PCIe channels go to one GPU, and the other 8 to the other.
  
  What I want on the card is TWO DVI outputs though. And possibly another two available on the other GPU via a cable when not in SLI mode.
Uh oh... by koreth · 2004-12-16 08:29 · Score: 3, Funny

record revels
I guess now we know where Kim Jong Il's roach went.
Great idea by Anonymous Coward · 2004-12-16 08:30 · Score: 4, Interesting

That makes a lot more sense, store the textures once in shared memory instead of storing it twice as you would have to do in a two card solution.

Makes me wonder if Nvidia will have dual core gpus in the future.
What about 4 gpu 3dfx V5 6000? by Anonymous Coward · 2004-12-16 08:31 · Score: 3, Interesting

eom
1. Re:What about 4 gpu 3dfx V5 6000? by orthancstone · 2004-12-16 08:36 · Score: 3, Interesting
  
  Yeah, apparently the author hasn't kept up with the graphics card industry. I would say perhaps he is only considering graphics cards that are realistically retail, but this one isn't on the market yet so I hardly feel that's applicable.
Doom for Gigabyte! by millisa · 2004-12-16 08:34 · Score: 5, Insightful

I bought my dual GPU 3DFx Voodoo5 around this time 4 years ago. . . and then the company was bought, support disappeared, and my fancy video card became worthless even quicker than it should have . . . I don't recollect seeing another 'dual gpu video card that will slay the market' announcement since . . .
Deja Voodoo by PurpleFloyd · 2004-12-16 08:34 · Score: 4, Informative

As I recall, 3dfx used multi-GPU chips for its Voodoo 4 and 5 lines, and didn't do so well. Is there anything to indicate that this card will do better? After all, sticking with SLI and multicore technology after its prime was what killed 3dfx and allowed Nvidia to take its place; it'd be rather ironic to see Nvidia go down the same path.

--

That's it. I'm no longer part of Team Sanity.
1. Re:Deja Voodoo by RealErmine · 2004-12-16 08:53 · Score: 4, Interesting
  
  Is there anything to indicate that this card will do better?
  
  The Voodoo 4/5 were the most expensive cards on the market. This card is cheaper than a *SINGLE* Nv 6800 and outperforms it by a good margin.
  
  Why buy a 6800?
  
  --
  Dewey, you fool! Your decimal system has played right into my hands!
2. Re:Deja Voodoo by Ianoo · 2004-12-16 08:54 · Score: 4, Interesting
  
  The point was, I think, that the Voodoo 4 and Voodoo 5 were last ditch efforts for survival by 3DFX when faced with more competition from a fast-growing 3D acceleration industry. IIRC, the performance of those cards was nearly matched by a single GPU from nVidia, so they weren't an attractive deal (being large, expensive, power hungry beasts). This card, however, doesn't have any obvious competition, yet, and by the time it does, I'm sure nVidia will have added SLI to their latest and greatest too. Additionally, PC buyers and makers more readily accept large coolers, whereas in the days of the Voodoo 4, the cooling required for the heat generated by all the chips just seemed silly.
Article title misleading by caerwyn · 2004-12-16 08:35 · Score: 4, Informative

The article title at Tom's Hardware is a little misleading. This is certainly *not* the first graphics card with two chips on it- back in the days of the ATI Rage chips, ATI had a Rage Fury MAXX that used two chips to render alternate frames.

--
The ringing of the division bell has begun... -PF
Dubious Information by webword · 2004-12-16 08:35 · Score: 5, Interesting

Not based on actual data. Tom's Hardware has NOT run any tests yet. Take what you read with a grain of salt.

"Sources told Tom's Hardware Guide..."

"Tom's Hardware Guide's test lab staff will run the 3D1 through its benchmark track, as soon as the card becomes available."

IMHO, this is a PR coup by Gigabyte to get something into Tom's Hardware. But more importantly, why post this on Slashdot now? Let's see some data first. Let's see the results of the tests.

--
How to Download YouTube Videos
No US or Europe release. by Lethyos · 2004-12-16 08:36 · Score: 4, Funny

...the SLI card will lift current 3DMark2003 record revels by a significant margin...

Unfortunately, it's only available in Asia.

--
Why bother.
Re:Next year by tanguyr · 2004-12-16 08:37 · Score: 4, Funny

really? will it run linux?

--
#!/usr/bin/english
Please address... by Anonymous Coward · 2004-12-16 08:37 · Score: 5, Funny

... the following Slashot community concerns:

1) Does it run under Linux?
2) Even better, can I install Linux on it?
3) Does it increase Firefox's market share?
4) Does it make Bill Gates look bad?
5) Is it in any way related to Star Wars?
6) Will it make my porn look better?

Prompt reponses will be greatly appreciated.

-Slashdot
Re:Next year by LurkerXXX · 2004-12-16 08:51 · Score: 4, Funny

No. God won't open-source the drivers.
Don't worry, we are working on reverse engineering them.
Re:Need Dual AGPs.... by WIAKywbfatw · 2004-12-16 08:56 · Score: 4, Funny

Slashdot UIDs less than six digits are old and busted.

Six digits plus is the way to go now, and yes, I am taking the piss out of your comment.

--

"Accept that some days you are the pigeon, and some days you are the statue." - David Brent, Wernham Hogg
Re:Need Dual AGPs.... by Cheeze · 2004-12-16 09:16 · Score: 4, Funny

Watch your mouth, son....

darn younguns, with their crazy slashdot comments. Back in my day......blah blah blah...gosh durnit.

--
Why read the article when I can just make up a snap judgement?
Re:Need Dual AGPs.... by synaptik · 2004-12-16 13:59 · Score: 3, Funny

Oh, jeez... here we go again...

CmdrTaco will always win this UID pissing match.

--
HSJ$$*&#^!#+++ATH0
NO CARRIER
Re:Need Dual AGPs.... by Malc · 2004-12-16 17:39 · Score: 3, Funny

Shit: you're still alive? I thought I was old.