Dual X800 Setup

[amneziac85]

Ever since the days of the VooDoo 2's (which when linked together, matched the speed of a VooDoo 3) Ive wanted another dual hardware accelerator setup. With PCI express on the way, will this make a comeback? Predictions on why or why not.

 

[lePobz]

Yep, with multiple PCI-X slots, it will be possible to have multiple graphics cards again, but support for multiple monitor games is still a bit limited. I think it will be too extravagant to have multiple X800s anyway, definately too expensive and unless you have a very good reason I dont think you'd do it.

I think another display technology will be out before too long, that will make 2D monitors a thing of the past.


Moved to Hardware + Software.

 

[amneziac85]

Right, but look at it like this... Lots of people invest money in their graphics cards, but some people only spend about $100. So for the people that spend $100 on a card, they could come back a couple months later and spend another $100 and get double the performance.

Or one thing for the future could be that the two cards wouldnt have to be the same! Just thinking, I just like to have that option.

 

[babywax]

Yep, with multiple PCI-X slots, it will be possible to have multiple graphics cards again, but support for multiple monitor games is still a bit limited. I think it will be too extravagant to have multiple X800s anyway, definately too expensive and unless you have a very good reason I dont think you'd do it.

I think another display technology will be out before too long, that will make 2D monitors a thing of the past.


Moved to Hardware + Software.

What display technology? Where did you hear this?

 

[fizzlephox]

What display technology? Where did you hear this?

They already have 3d video technology. Problem is it makes you have a migraine after about fifteen minutes and it just doesn't look as good. More of an expensive gimmick right now.

 

[ailevation]

:O Hmm. Having a dual videocard equals performance gain?

 

[Snakebyte]

:O Hmm. Having a dual videocard equals performance gain?

No. When you put them together in the same system they fight to the death.

Of course they give a performance gain. They would (probably) alternate rendering frames.

 

[ailevation]

Hell yes. I love this dual video card crap! Even though it'll kill my bank. Okay another question, is it possible to have two different videocards @ dual or is it the same deal as 'dual ram' whereas you need 2 of the same sticks?

 

[psyno]

When ATi had a dual chip card a while back, the chips rendered alternating frames. 3dfx always used the SLI approach (Scan Line Interleaving) where the chips would render alternating scan lines. For a number of reasons, this is more efficient. It actually wasn't just the Voodoo2 that did this, but of course the Voodoo5 as well, but on the same board. I'm not positive, but I believe XGI's current dual-chip card has one chip render the top of the display and the other render the bottom.

Here's the thing: every implementation of a dual-card or dual-chip setup has been pretty inefficient. Generally, what you end up with is a whole lot of excess fill rate. Normally, you can put this to good use cranking up the resolution and applying AA, but with these cards out now that play with maximum quality settings at high FPS, I really don't think it would help much. I think that at this point in the game, it's becoming clear that a single GPU with many pipelines is the best way to increase performance. Think about this: there are very few architectural advancements in R420 from its predecessor, yet it blows it out of the water.

 

[SidewinderX]

Hmm.... well, from what I've read about PCI-X, most mobos will have
1x PCI-X 32 (or it might be 24, can't remember) slot
3x PCI-X 16 slot
1X PCI slot

generally you'd put your vid card in the 32 slot, as it'd be faster. but i haven't read too much about it, so i mcould be completely wrong.

 

[Asus]

PCI-X != PCI Express

There are 3 PCI specifications.
PCI Express, PCI-X, and PCI

 

[TVR_Fan]

Whats the point in buying 2 VGA's, I just like having 1 VGA insted of 2 bud.