View Full Version : ATI Multi GPU up and running.
ChrisRay
03-11-05, 09:02 PM
http://www.theinquirer.net/?article=21749
Usually. I would post something like this in the hardware rumor forum. I felt it might be a good realm for discussion. But it does look like ATIS SLI could very well be around the corner. I do meet the "Different card" configurations with a certain level of aprehension though. Not sure I like the idea of the first card slowing down. It also would make wonder the possibilities of different pipelines communicating together.
Would an X850XT slow down to an X700 Pro pipeline configuration? KInda confusing. Still exciting times.
ATI multiple VPU up and running
CeBIT 2005 SLI it with two different cards
By Fuad Abazovic in Hannover
NVIDIA LIKES TO bring out the fact that it is the leader and ATI is the follower especially when it comes to using the multiple cards in one PC but we have strong reason to believe that ATI is actually adding more to the marchitecture. But yes, ATI is jumping on bandwagon and stealing some of Nvidia's thunder no question about it. We know that ATI is showing of its Multiple VPU marchitecture at its enormously big booth in hall 27 at Cebit, the one that had to cost some serious money. There is a small room where you have to sign your NDA way in to be able to see this multiple rendering stuff in action. I don't even think that everyone with NDA can get inside. Anyway ATI has its marchitecture ready and we learned that you will be able to do ATI Multiple VPU with two different cards. You will be able to plug one X800 and one X850 cards together and faster card will downscale to the slower and will work simultaiously with it. ATI is showing of its motherboard supporting ATI Multiple VPU powered with two Radeon X850 XT PE cards or should we use R480 codenames. This ough to be faster than two times 6800 Ultra than Nvidia has to offer and upcomming R520 times two might be a very fast solution. I guess ATI is readier with its Multiple VPU than many would have thought.
saturnotaku
03-11-05, 09:10 PM
What I would want to know is why exactly anyone would want to run two different GPUs in one system?
ChrisRay
03-11-05, 09:12 PM
What I would want to know is why exactly anyone would want to run two different GPUs in one system?
I could see how it would make upgrading to a second GPU easier. But if its downgrading itself to the lowest common denominator. It could very well be detrimental. Admittedly the article is quite vague. It definately IS an interesting concept.
saturnotaku
03-11-05, 09:14 PM
What I do like about this concept is that even if you have two of the same GPU chipset, they don't have to be from the same brand. So you could buy one Sapphire and one Powercolor or whatever combination you want. That is handy if you want to shop around for the lowest prices and/or whatever is in stock.
What I would want to know is why exactly anyone would want to run two different GPUs in one system?
You're missing the most profound statement of that artilce though Ed.
I guess ATI is readier with its Multiple VPU than many would have thought.When I read that sentence I developed a nervous tick for a few minutes. :D
GlowStick
03-11-05, 09:54 PM
Well its aparently a all software soltuion, so how ready could of of been? Bascily a retrofit trying to copy nvidia, however all software ; )
nice :) Strange how you can run a lower end card with it also... kinda wasted performance though.
nice :) Strange how you can run a lower end card with it also... kinda wasted performance though.
yes... but from a economic standpoint... while losing out in terms of raw performance for a 2 highend card solution... your product will still offer pretty damn good performance which should be superior to your high end card by itself...
might be considered a stop gap solution style implementation... consider someone buys an x800 now... then an r520 based high-end product in the future... in dual card config they net a little extra performance over the single card solution... and also have given themselves a little time to purchase another high end product...
I understand the apprehension @ getting one higher performance card and one lower one... but if ati's solution takes off... it'll likely make the transition easier for people with less money...
Wow, that has to be some of the worst editing EVER.
http://www.hrfc.ca/resources/images/exec/comicguy.gif
fuad no speaka da inglis...
ChrisRay
03-11-05, 10:57 PM
yes... but from a economic standpoint... while losing out in terms of raw performance for a 2 highend card solution... your product will still offer pretty damn good performance which should be superior to your high end card by itself...
might be considered a stop gap solution style implementation... consider someone buys an x800 now... then an r520 based high-end product in the future... in dual card config they net a little extra performance over the single card solution... and also have given themselves a little time to purchase another high end product...
I understand the apprehension @ getting one higher performance card and one lower one... but if ati's solution takes off... it'll likely make the transition easier for people with less money...
Yup. All assuming it works anyway. Being completely speculative. ATI's SLI still might require the same architecture. But if it doesnt. There are scenerios where SLIng a younger card with a newer card wouldnt make sense. Admittedly it's still a bit beyond me how they'd pair a X800XT with an X700 Pro. But if its possible. Its still very neat.
However if. If it requires specific cores with same pipeline configurations, ((IE No X800 Pro/X800XT combinations)) then it does lose quite a bit of its appeal. However as mentioned. Some solutions would make sense if its completely customizable. Like an X800XT running @ X700 Pro specifications just so it can double up performance. It's definately a neat idea though. Completely worth watching. ;)
bkswaney
03-11-05, 11:53 PM
Well, my take is ATI just plan out missed the boat.
Now they r playing catch up with nvidia.
No one knows how long nvidia took getting
this right.
I for one would not touch ati's sli for at least 12 months.
It's to much of a hurry up job if u ask me.
I'll pass. ;)
well here is the board boys and girls....
very uninpressive (http://www.bit-tech.net/feature/80)
ati has a history with having bad drivers (even thoe they have gotten better)... and nvidia has one of the best driver teams around. well if its taking nvidia a little while to get the drivers for sli sorted out... could you imagine what its gonna take ati to get it all worked out.. :eek:
Well, my take is ATI just plan out missed the boat.
Now they r playing catch up with nvidia.
No one knows how long nvidia took getting
this right.
I for one would not touch ati's sli for at least 12 months.
It's to much of a hurry up job if u ask me.
I'll pass. ;)
correct me if I am wrong but does ati not currently have multi-gpu platforms already in existence?
ChrisRay
03-12-05, 01:48 AM
well here is the board boys and girls....
very uninpressive (http://www.bit-tech.net/feature/80)
ati has a history with having bad drivers (even thoe they have gotten better)... and nvidia has one of the best driver teams around. well if its taking nvidia a little while to get the drivers for sli sorted out... could you imagine what its gonna take ati to get it all worked out.. :eek:
What exactly is unimpressive about the board other than its an intel setup. ;p
-=DVS=-
03-12-05, 02:01 AM
Well i lost interest in ATIs AFR thingy after i read High end card slowing down and its software based , i assume its will be tricky to make and slow on both fronts :thumbdwn:
On a side note wouldn't one X850PE be faster then two X700 to begin with ? ChrisRay , something like two 6600GT vs one 6800 Ultra argument.
ChrisRay
03-12-05, 02:05 AM
Well i lost interest in ATIs AFR thingy after i read High end card slowing down and its software based , i assume its will be tricky to make and slow on both fronts :thumbdwn:
On a side note wouldn't one X850PE be faster then two X700 to begin with ? ChrisRay , something like two 6600GT vs one 6800 Ultra argument.
Who knows for sure. I was thinking more along the lines of coupling different cards together. Like X800XT + X700 Pro. According to this article different models can be linked. But the big chip lowers itself to the rendering capabilities of the lesser chip. Personally I doubt this is the case and there's gotta be "some" restrictions.
SlyBoots
03-12-05, 02:05 AM
correct me if I am wrong but does ati not currently have multi-gpu platforms already in existence?
I know E&S has a quad 9700 simulator.....if that's what you were referring to. :)
so many assumptions :)
we waited for the sli solution even though we didnt know what it would be like...
how quickly some of us write off a product not made by our favored IHV...
might it not be more prudent to actually see it in action before making snap judgements and biased comments?
competition == lower prices/better performance for us remember>
AthlonXP1800
03-12-05, 03:06 AM
No one knows how long nvidia took getting
this right.
Many knew about it from Nvidia interview last year, Nvidia said they executed SLi plan in 2001, months after they acquired 3dfx assets and they took 3 years to developed and tested SLi. Then they launched it on 28 June 2004 and 5 months after that, over 4 millions SLi enabled boards were sold along with approx 4 millions pairs of Geforce 6600GT, 6800, 6800GT and 6800 Ultras.
Indeed ATI missed the boat by 3 and a half years. I am not very impressive with ATI plan with multi GPUs, in ATI interview last year, they claimed that using 2 different GPUs will result with no performance loss, that excited ATI fans look forward to but this time ATI failed to delivered what they expected it capable to do so maybe a match pair will double the performance. I have a very bad feeling that ATI may rush to launch multi GPU enabled boards next few months and they probably have a big miscalculation on how many chipsets they need to mass produce twice as many for SLi pairs cards and also it need to push up the price in event of shortage. It now over 4 months since ATI launched X850 XT, PE and X800 XL, all of them are still not in mass quantity as ATI promised at the end of Dec last year. ATI better started making twice as many next generation R520 cards now to meet demand for next few months. :rolleyes:
bkswaney
03-12-05, 03:48 AM
Many knew about it from Nvidia interview last year, Nvidia said they executed SLi plan in 2001, months after they acquired 3dfx assets and they took 3 years to developed and tested SLi. Then they launched it on 28 June 2004 and 5 months after that, over 4 millions SLi enabled boards were sold along with approx 4 millions pairs of Geforce 6600GT, 6800, 6800GT and 6800 Ultras.
Indeed ATI missed the boat by 3 and a half years. I am not very impressive with ATI plan with multi GPUs, in ATI interview last year, they claimed that using 2 different GPUs will result with no performance loss, that excited ATI fans look forward to but this time ATI failed to delivered what they expected it capable to do so maybe a match pair will double the performance. I have a very bad feeling that ATI may rush to launch multi GPU enabled boards next few months and they probably have a big miscalculation on how many chipsets they need to mass produce twice as many for SLi pairs cards and also it need to push up the price in event of shortage. It now over 4 months since ATI launched X850 XT, PE and X800 XL, all of them are still not in mass quantity as ATI promised at the end of Dec last year. ATI better started making twice as many next generation R520 cards now to meet demand for next few months. :rolleyes:
OK... 2001... So ATI is going to jump in 12 months and have a better sli setup than nvidia. O boy! :rolleyes:
ATI just did not see Nvidia coming with this. It's plan as day.
Nvidia knew they did not need anything any faster than the 6800u
to beat ATI. They had SLI. :)
ATI has the faster single card that's for sure. They should
the way they have had to run up clocks to try and hold
off nvidia with a 400mhz core. :rofl:
Reminds me of nvidia and the 5800ultra. :p
At any rate it's nice to see Nvidia back on top
after the FX fluck up. :o
bkswaney
03-12-05, 03:53 AM
correct me if I am wrong but does ati not currently have multi-gpu platforms already in existence?
Sure if u want a rush job platform.
I'll stay with the ones who put the most time
in there setup. Not who rushes it to market
just because they are way behind.
Just my 2 cents. ;)
any one notice the pata ports at the lower left-hand corner ....whats up with that
What exactly is unimpressive about the board other than its an intel setup. ;p heheh ya besides the intel thing ... this board does not screem enthusiet at all..just by the looks of it, it looks like something i would have pulled out of a 486...
Ratchet
03-12-05, 09:58 AM
But if say a system with a X800XT and a X950XT is faster than a system with just a X950XT, wouldn't that be good? You could for example buy a X800XT, enjoy it, then later on down the road buy a X950XT (or whatever it'll be called) stick it in with the X800XT, have better performance than a single X950XT for awhile and enjoy both cards. Then even farther down the road sell your X800XT and get a X1000 and have a X950XT/X1000XT system and keep leapfrogging like that forever. That's just added flexability is it not? I fail to see how it's worse than having to use two identical cards all the time.
Sorry if that soounds fanboyish, but that's how I see it right now (with little or no other information to go on).
Ratchet
03-12-05, 10:08 AM
And the ASUS board does look pretty boring, but that's not the point of this thread I don't think. This is about ATI mutli-rendering and all that it implies, not the ASUS board in particular.
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