Nvidia Corp. not only plans to refresh its lineup of performance graphics accelerators this year, but also intends to introduce its 3-way SLI multi-GPU technology aiming extreme performance enthusiasts. But will the new triple SLI technology truly become a high-performance solution, or will share the destiny of Nvidia quad SLI?
According to a slide published by Expreview web-site, which is presumably from Nvidia Corp.’s roadmap, 3-way SLI is Nvidia’s new “ultimate gaming platform”, which will offer ultimate performance in three-dimensional games. ATI, graphics product group of Advanced Micro Devices, also plans to offer 3-way CrossFire multi-GPU technology, however, one of the graphics processing units (CPUs) in such configuration will be able to compute physics effects in case the game supports this capability.
Initially Nvidia plans to enable triple SLI support for the top-of-the-range GeForce 8800 GTX and Ultra graphics cards, however, eventually it may support 3-way configurations of other GPUs as well. Systems with three graphics cores will be powered by Nvidia nForce 680i as well as nForce 780i platforms with the former supporting PCI Express 1.1/1.0a, whereas the latter featuring PCI Express 2.0 along with a special “BR04” switch for more efficient multi-GPU operation.
Image by Expreview
Exact capabilities of 3-way SLI platforms were unclear at press time. However, the exact feature set will mostly depend on driver support. Besides, performance boosts over single- or dual-GPU configurations will also depend on drivers. Back in 2006, when Nvidia unveiled its 4-way SLI technology, actual systems featuring four GPUs could not offer leading performance in all games due to poor drivers. Currently quad SLI technology is not supported for Windows Vista and customers who paid over $1000 for graphics cards alone have to take advantage of only two GPUs instead of four.
Nvidia did not comment on the news-story.
Comments currently:
23
Discussion started: 09/28/07 06:03:58 PM
Latest comment: 10/02/07 01:51:57 PM
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[1-16]
1.
What a waste. Spend time on drivers and better single card solutions.
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Posted by: Stix
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Date: 09/28/07 06:03:58 PM]
+ expand thread (1 answer)
- collapse thread
"What a waste. Spend time on drivers and better single card solutions"
I'm going to have to agree with you
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Posted by: Raistlin
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Date: 09/29/07 08:04:15 PM]
2.
It's a horrid waste, and worse the support for even regular SLI is pathetic. Quad SLI was a waste of money, and now this? Single cards can drive a 30" monitor. The next gen single cards will potentially as much as double those speeds again.
Why would anyone bother? Worse, you have to suffer a Nvidia chipset to do this on the Intel side of things. So no X38 or X48 for anyone wanting to do this. Why?
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Posted by: FXi
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Date: 09/28/07 06:38:39 PM]
3.
Perhaps 4 is too much. Nvidia failed to optimized Geforce 7950 GX 2. And now I thing Three (3) is beeing tren. Starting with 3 VGA, 3 Core, 3 Must have high end card (X-FI, Ageia, Lan card for gaming), DDR 3, etc.
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Posted by: Hok
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Date: 09/28/07 07:46:59 PM]
4.
So this time AMD is the leader ?
Take a look here, you will understand...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A3jpG3rv4zI
Phenom + 790FX + QuadFire = ???
a. Halluziniert !
b. Amazing !
c. Incroyable !
d. Sugoi !
e. Big hole in my pocket...
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Posted by: Wirmish
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Date: 09/28/07 09:40:51 PM]
5.
I think Nvidia have come to realize that their current card are no match for directx 10 even dual setup, hence this. How many of us want a dual card setup, much more a triple setup. They should optimize their cards and give us better drivers. A card like the 7950 gx2 would rather be appreciated
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Posted by: dmitrice
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Date: 09/29/07 12:54:35 AM]
6.
Why dont they build a system with another set of processor and motherboard for graphics only? Then we can easily upgrade our graphics performance by changing the cpu and rams. Just a thought.
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Posted by: tiny
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Date: 09/29/07 07:30:50 AM]
+ expand thread (1 answer)
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MSI did this but did not get much a big hit.
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Posted by: linuxnerd
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Date: 10/02/07 12:28:50 AM]
7.
And will this be just as good as the quad-SLI? If NV's current drivers are any indication, Triple-SLI will probably be a flop. But no matter, I guess they'll find plenty of people willing to pay $2600 or more for three Ultras, it's the "ultimate gaming technology" after all...
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Posted by: fastpunk
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Date: 09/29/07 12:05:05 PM]
8.
why not get support for 2 di on a single board first, then purpose the 3 way sli.
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Posted by: that\'s pretty dumb.
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Date: 09/29/07 12:14:27 PM]
9.
waste is correct! Enough with the foolish marketing pi$$ing contests. They really need to cut this stupidity out and put more resources into making the cards cooler and quieter.
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Posted by: realitycheck
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Date: 09/29/07 10:35:45 PM]
10.
Fuck nVIDIA and ATI. What the shit is this? How about multi cored GPUs so we can actually use our PCI slots dipshits!
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Posted by: god...
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Date: 09/30/07 03:19:47 PM]
+ expand thread (4 answers)
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It's simple...
Do not get dual slot cards.
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Posted by: asdf
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Date: 09/30/07 06:00:30 PM]
True, but for those who want high performance, the only cards they have are dual slots. Obviously, a sinlge dual slot GPU will still allow PCI usage, but the point I'm making is that instead of making the consumer buy 3 individual GFX cards, why not make one with 3 cores and charge the same price?
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Posted by: god...
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Date: 10/01/07 05:35:42 PM]
Because it will require additional cooling and that means a bigger fan.
In that case it will be one card with 3 gpus but a huge fan that covers
5 pci slots! :P
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Posted by: asdf
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Date: 10/01/07 06:42:06 PM]
:D That'll suck
[
Posted by: god...
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Date: 10/02/07 10:59:38 AM]
11.
Perhaps arcade machines could use this.. ive still yet to see any really good looking games avalible.. ive installed the Quake Wars demo its so so.. nothing to get excited over.. bring on the realizm (:
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Posted by: Silver
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Date: 10/01/07 01:07:52 AM]
12.
I know I'm in the minority here, but I love if nVidia would work on their multiple monitor support with SLI (and hold off on this triple and quad sli silliness).
I have two cards - an 8600GTS and a 6600GT - pushing two monitors, a projector, and a TV. If switching SLI on and off was transparent to the user, I probably would have grabbed a second 8600GTS. But if I have to manually turn off SLI after gaming to use my second card, then it's not worth it to me. Not when I go in and out of games several times a day.
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Posted by: Jizzler
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Date: 10/01/07 11:35:01 AM]
13.
they are all a bunch of nazi conformist chearleeders
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Posted by: conformists...
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Date: 10/01/07 11:44:46 AM]
14.
....better idea for you [nvidia]
8800GS
---------
64 Shaders
256-bit, GDDR3 256MB or 512MB
500 Core Clock, 1700 Memory Clock, 1300 Shader Clock
think about that... maybe sell it for oh .. say ... .$140-$170 and finaly get those old X1K and 7 series outa the fucking market. (7900GS/GT 1950Pro/GT)
But no, now they want TRI_SLI! TO GO ALONG WITH YOUR TRI-CORE AND DDR-TRI RAM AND EVEN YOUR TRI MONITORS AND ALL THE OTHER DAMED TRI[THREE] THAT KEEP POPPING UP.
BUT NO!!!!!
DISO: more money spent on making better/faster SSD's. and cheaper LCD's
[
Posted by: Joz
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Date: 10/01/07 09:09:50 PM]
+ expand thread (1 answer)
- collapse thread
Dude take a deep breath. I too think that Tri-SLI is a waste of money but I am not freaking out about it. This action is just for bragging rights and I doubt most gamers will bother buying three graphics cards. I really like your suggestion and who knows perhaps Nvidia has a similar card under wraps.
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Posted by: Lion of Zion
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Date: 10/01/07 10:37:01 PM]
15.
I agree nVidia and AMD/ATI need to concentrate designing high performance GPU that produces less heat, so the card takes up one slot. If that can not be done, they should invest in optical processor design.
SLI, Tri-SLI, and Quad-SLI is for bragging rights and never did produce reliable graphics for the GUI environment. nVidia needs to get their act together to write better drivers. Also AMD/ATI needs to also do a lot better on their driver support.
I am not a hardcore gamer, but I have recently seen some bugs in nVidia's drivers while playing Sims 2 in Vista which was not there in Windows 2000.
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Posted by: linuxnerd
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Date: 10/02/07 12:44:42 AM]
16.
i absolutely despise the direction gaming graphics solutions are going.
even one 8800 is way too big.
make these things smaller.
appall.
[
Posted by: b
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Date: 10/02/07 01:51:57 PM]
[1-16]
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