by Anton Shilov
03/20/2006 | 08:44 AM
In a bid to offer users of notebooks leading performance, Nvidia Corp. has introduced its multi-GPU SLI technology implementation for laptops. The new technology offers extreme performance on portable computers, but also comes at very high price and means larger form-factor for laptops.
<%BANNER[article]%>“Now gaming notebooks with extreme HD resolutions of up to 1920x1200 are here, requiring more processing power so gamers can still turn up their 3D quality settings. SLI technology delivers that power – creating high-performance notebooks for gamers on the go,” said Jeff Fisher, senior vice president of the GPU business unit at Nvidia.
Laptops that will feature SLI multi-GPU technology should have two MXM ports for special add-in cards and also be based on the Nvidia nForce4 SLI core-logic. Theoretically, all Nvidia GeForce Go 6-series and 7-series (except the lower-end solutions) can support SLI technology, however, notebook designers are likely to stick to high-end boards, such as the GeForce Go 7800 GTX, in their laptops for extreme gamers.
Several makers have already introduced notebooks with two graphics processors, all of those notebooks weigh over 5 kilograms and come with large displays, which makes nearly impossible to transport them easily.
Over 20 notebook suppliers, including ABS, AJP, Alienware, BioHazard, Cybersystem, Evesham, Gericom, Hypersonic, Multirama, Olidata, Plaisio, ProStar, rockdirect, Rombus, Sager, Savrow, Vicious PC, XS2, Voodoo, Velocity Micro and Wortmann, plan to start selling laptops with SLI shortly.