Quad SLi coming soon.

[nitromullet]

I'm actually more curious about how they cool all the GPU's and not the CPU. Those fans seem really close together - doesn't look like they have much room to breath.

 

[dunno99]

Originally posted by: Cooler
The only muit GPU rig i will ever get is multy core one. This sli and crossfire stuff is not really worth it unless you want extream high end. I think multy gpu core will be the next thing and the cores would be able to work together so much faster and cheaper.

GPUs nowadays are all multi-cored. It really only depends on what you mean by "core." Like the Athlon X2s, there are no two "memory" controllers. They're joined together by the crossbar, which has access to only one memory controller and one hypertransport controller (the single core Athlon 64s have one memory controller and one hypertransport controller each). So that means, not everything has to be duplicated.

This is the same for GPUs. The only things that are really needed to be "multi-cored" are the vertex and pixel processors. And in all of today's GeForce and Radeon designs, they all have "multi-cores" in that respect. As in, if you check the different GeForce 6xxx series, they have varying numbers of pixel processors. You'll notice it ranges from 4 to 16, at increments of 4 (the increments of 4 is because they're "grouped" that way). Each each individual pixel processor (or each group, since they're manufactured that way) can be considered a "core."

As for the "multi-gpu" thing...well, that's a little different. I think the point is that current GPU cards are "balanced" now. As in, the memory and the GPU processor power is somewhat in a nice balance. The problem with adding a second GPU onto the same board has more to do with memory management and decrease in memory bandwidth (now the same memory modules have to serve two different GPUs, not just one). If the card was originally well balanced, then putting a second GPU in there would cause a bandwidth bottleneck, hence rendering the second GPU pretty much useless in the first place.

So, in order to double the processing power, one would have to double the memory bandwidth. Well, now, one would ask, why not just add more memory modules (density doesn't matter, since the number of memory lanes are the same, so unless the frequency for the memory changes, the bandwidth stays still)? Well, each memory module requires a lot of "lines" drawn on the PCB. The more modules you have, the more lines. You must've seen how the PCBs for modern graphics cards look like, they're all heavily populated with memory lines from the memory themselves to the GPU. Try doubling that, and you'll run out of PCB space, or you have to go to like 14-level PCBs, which costs wayyyyyy more to manufacture (I would think).

Therefore, the simplest way is to just add in a fast dedicated secondary "memory controller" that will ferry data back and forth between the GPUs (avoiding the slower PCIe), and hook two balanced cards together...voila, you have a nice setup with good processing power increases (of course, this still has some redundancy overhead...afterall, each vertex will have to be transformed twice...and which is why early rejection becomes so much more important) without as many bottlenecks.

 

[shabby]

Originally posted by: gi0rgi0

Originally posted by: shabby

Originally posted by: KeepItRed
Waste of money.

Is a porsche a waste of money? Is a 2million home waste of money?
If you have the money, then ytf not?

Your comparing video card to a Porsche and a 2 million dollar house ?
Your a numbnut :roll:

Im not comparing a video card to a porsche, im just saying that you gotta be rolling in dough to be able to afford one, just like a porsche or a expensive house. Who are you to tell me its a waste of money to buy a quad sli setup or an expensive car, if i have the money i will buy it because i have a tree that grows money on it and you dont.

 

[DAPUNISHER]

Originally posted by: shabby

Originally posted by: gi0rgi0

Originally posted by: shabby

Originally posted by: KeepItRed
Waste of money.

Is a porsche a waste of money? Is a 2million home waste of money?
If you have the money, then ytf not?

Your comparing video card to a Porsche and a 2 million dollar house ?
Your a numbnut :roll:

Im not comparing a video card to a porsche, im just saying that you gotta be rolling in dough to be able to afford one, just like a porsche or a expensive house.

You still don't get it brudda $200-2500 for quad SLI does not require you be "rolling in dough" a new Porsche or 2 million dollar home, on the other hand, are quite difficult to obtain and especially retain if you aren't

Your argument is solely priority based, not finacially constrained, is what he is attempting to impart, albeit in a rude and unilluminating manner. I even see the occassional "starving college student" demographic here sometimes post about putting more than $2500 into tricking their car out, or a sweet MTB, or HDTV, so if their hobby priority places a bleeding edge PC above the ones I listed, for instance, there is no reason they couldn't obtain it :light: A new Porsche or McMansion on the other hand, the average person will find much harder to swing.

 

[Enigmatic]

I think this is just Dell trying to gain respect in the enthusiast market, the only market they really haven't been able to take total control of. Now that they are using a decent Intel processor which is overclocked (with a warranty no less) really shows that they are serious, not to mention the insane setup in that machine. No doubt, having the most powerful personal computer on the market even for a limited period of time will garner my respect, though I would never ever buy one of these things (my 19" monitor just wouldn't do it justice, and its not like I could afford a Renegade anyways).

 

[Crescent13]

lemme process this...

2560x1600 + 32xFSTSAA + 16xAF + 4 Dual 7800GT cards = Teh WIN!!!!

 

[ArchAngel777]

Remember those pictures from the chinese website that had 4 video cards on one motherboard? Well, if nVidia is doing dual core, or rather, dual CPU video cards, that would potentially allow for 8 cards in one system... WoW! That thing would have 4 gigs of memory, more than most motherboards can handle for main memory. something is just wrong when video memory surpasses system memory.

 

[DAPUNISHER]

Originally posted by: Enigmatic
I think this is just Dell trying to gain respect in the enthusiast market, the only market they really haven't been able to take total control of. Now that they are using a decent Intel processor which is overclocked (with a warranty no less) really shows that they are serious, not to mention the insane setup in that machine. No doubt, having the most powerful personal computer on the market even for a limited period of time will garner my respect, though I would never ever buy one of these things (my 19" monitor just wouldn't do it justice, and its not like I could afford a Renegade anyways).

Gain respect? I doubt they give a F, their name is gold to the average consumer already. They have doubtless calculated the margins companies like Alienware and VooDoo make, and want a piece of that pie, probably want their slices too!

 

[DAPUNISHER]

Meh, I'm overvolted on java

 

[videogames101]

This is the best, nothing out there outperforms it... AND IT'S A DELL!?! WHAT IS THE WORLD COMING TO???

 

[UltraWide]

It has external power supply of some sort...

 

[UltraWide]

http://pc.watch.impress.co.jp/docs/2006/0107/ces05.htm

http://pc.watch.impress.co.jp/docs/2006/0107/ces05_8.jpg

 

[ElFenix]

anyway, i blame myself for telling a dell marketing puke about alienware and falcon northwest and suggesting dell could make a ton of money selling computers that compete with those two.

i bet she has a corner office now.

 

[James3shin]

OH HELLZ NO!...

 

[Steelski]

Originally posted by: Rollo

Originally posted by: Steelski
Well. I did wright a complete rant over this whole thing.
Summary.
Not a Porche.
Waste of money.
compensating
Would difference be percevable.
power consumption...
Did i mention what a giant waste of money this would be .........
Waste of money.
Geek.
Get a life.
I woulent mind having one.......for free.
Waste of money.
one game benefit........maybee?

The Steelski and the Quad SLI

Having good computer equipment is not a crime, nor is it indicative of compensating.

Mocking those who have nicer things than you have is indicative of insecurity.

BTW I think ANY game would benefit from 32X AA.

I guess i must be sour.

By the way, people that wont see the difference between the SLI AA modes yet still buy things like this are the ones with the insicurity problems. I can see the point in 2xSLI but this is a bit different.
Summary
Foxes dont eat bloody grapes. they eat rodents, birds and eggs.
I imagine that this would be more at home in a simulator than something all of us should aspire to.
If anyone here fancys buying this then its your money and do what you want with it.....
I for one am a bit more grown up and choose to spend my money more wiseley. Even when I have an abbundant supply.

 

[1Dark1Sharigan1]

Originally posted by: Rollo
I don't think customers for computers like this are concerned about their electric bills.

I don't think consumers who aren't considering this are in a position to cast stones about "wasting energy" as they likely have cheaper, more energy ineffient appliances like older furnaces, less insulated homes, older refridgerators, and CRT tvs.

Beyond all that, the "SUVs are bad, mmkay" argument is pretty lame.

Hey, I know that people who would buy this wouldn't care at all about efficiency or power draw but my main worry is with things like this is that it may dissuade companies like nvidia or ATI improve their single-card solutions at the current pace.

Graphics card vendor: "So what if a single card doesn't preform the best? You can always do 4xSLI with it."

It's true I'm exaggerating things but still it does make one wonder . . .

Also games have barely started to optimize for 2xSLI sets, let alone 4xSLI . . . cool tech to be sure but at this point, I really don't think it's something to get all worked up about . . .

 

[nRollo]

Originally posted by: Steelski
If anyone here fancys buying this then its your money and do what you want with it.....
I for one am a bit more grown up and choose to spend my money more wiseley. Even when I have an abbundant supply.

You can say it's "smarter" not to buy this all you want, but the fact of the matter is there are benefits aplenty to be had with this rig.

You are not the final say on what is "wise" for people.

 

[fbrdphreak]

I saw this today @ CES. They had the side of the case open and it was still blowing enough hot air out the back to cook a burger. Its a freakin' Pentium D Extreme Edition OC'd to like 4+GHz and four video cards, that's one helluva power draw.

 

[Cookie Monster]

What were the cooling used on the OCed PEE? i dont think its water cooled..

 

[Wkstar]

The best thing is the the cutting edge always trickiles down to become the Norm.

When the nvida 4600 came out I went and bought it the first week.
Every thing said it was the worlds finest, cutting edge, Can't get better ! !
Hah ! A year later I went and spent 1/4 as much on a 5600 and it runs much better
than the 4600, That is now a paperweight on my desk.

Now I am running a 7800gt and I expect that by this summer
I will buy the new 8800gt 512 meg card

Funny thing about all this is that I play EverQuest.
But when you play in the Upper High End of the game.
Having No Video lag while on Raids is a very good thing

 

[Keysplayr]

Originally posted by: Steelski

I guess i must be sour.

By the way, people that wont see the difference between the SLI AA modes yet still buy things like this are the ones with the insicurity problems. I can see the point in 2xSLI but this is a bit different.
Summary
Foxes dont eat bloody grapes. they eat rodents, birds and eggs.
I imagine that this would be more at home in a simulator than something all of us should aspire to.
If anyone here fancys buying this then its your money and do what you want with it.....
I for one am a bit more grown up and choose to spend my money more wiseley. Even when I have an abbundant supply.

Substitute the fox with any grape loving animal you wish. It's the point you missed if thats all you got out of it.

What's bolded above in your quote, was a very smart thing to say.
What's in italics simply exudes the exact opposite of what you are trying to tell us that you are. "All grown up". Because a real grown up does not have to reassure everyone around him/her that he/she is in fact, grown up. It simply would just show. You do not give me the impression that you are grown up at all. You give me the impression of that (substitute any grape loving animal here) and the grapes story to the LETTER.
Sometimes, it's better to say nothing at all. It will prevent you from saying as many stupid things as you normally would.

Whoever wants to have this Dell system, and has the ability to do so without removing food from their table or miss their rent for the next two months, well, more power to em.

 

[Steelski]

Originally posted by: Rollo

Originally posted by: Steelski
If anyone here fancys buying this then its your money and do what you want with it.....
I for one am a bit more grown up and choose to spend my money more wiseley. Even when I have an abbundant supply.

You can say it's "smarter" not to buy this all you want, but the fact of the matter is there are benefits aplenty to be had with this rig.

You are not the final say on what is "wise" for people.

Would you advise someone to buy this over two GTX's? If they were not excesivley rich.
Wisdom is almost always clouded by greed and insicurity. The fact that someone can afford something does not make it ok to buy.

 

[Steelski]

Originally posted by: keysplayr2003

Originally posted by: Steelski

I guess i must be sour.

By the way, people that wont see the difference between the SLI AA modes yet still buy things like this are the ones with the insicurity problems. I can see the point in 2xSLI but this is a bit different.
Summary
Foxes dont eat bloody grapes. they eat rodents, birds and eggs.
I imagine that this would be more at home in a simulator than something all of us should aspire to.
If anyone here fancys buying this then its your money and do what you want with it.....
I for one am a bit more grown up and choose to spend my money more wiseley. Even when I have an abbundant supply.

Substitute the fox with any grape loving animal you wish. It's the point you missed if thats all you got out of it.

What's bolded above in your quote, was a very smart thing to say.
What's in italics simply exudes the exact opposite of what you are trying to tell us that you are. "All grown up". Because a real grown up does not have to reassure everyone around him/her that he/she is in fact, grown up. It simply would just show. You do not give me the impression that you are grown up at all. You give me the impression of that (substitute any grape loving animal here) and the grapes story to the LETTER.
Sometimes, it's better to say nothing at all. It will prevent you from saying as many stupid things as you normally would.

Whoever wants to have this Dell system, and has the ability to do so without removing food from their table or miss their rent for the next two months, well, more power to em.

Do what your sig says and "stop engaging in my pointless banter"
I may not strike you as a grown up, ......big whoop. dident your parents ever argue.
I am not a kid enough to find such concepts as quad SLI to be more than fantasy for almost all. I object to this level of expence being brought to the PC desktop market as a whole. Gaming is not a critical application that "grown ups" engage in to spend so much money on. I can honestly say that i would invest in Quad quatros or more because that is used differently. But for gaming.....honestly....... merely a fantasy that when realised would show little over conventional equipment.

Let me get this straight. By saying i am grown up, that automatically makes me not.......I could say that when you use such cliches like "Sometimes, it's better to say nothing at all." you sound like a bit of a (insert whatever you want here)....by the way that meant to mock you as you use such so called phrases.

 

[schtuga]

I can't believe that just because you see this as pointless means everyone else should.

What makes you an authority on what is a wise purchase for anyone else but yourself?

Just curious.

 

[Steelski]

Originally posted by: schtuga
I can't believe that just because you see this as pointless means everyone else should.

What makes you an authority on what is a wise purchase for anyone else but yourself?

Just curious.

Point taken, it is pointless for me and i am not an authority on wisdom. The hardware iself is not pointless but should really stay in the proffesional sector. Games are in no way going to challenge this and that in itself makes something complete overkill. Whatever I post is only my oppinion, or my oppinion on someone elses thoughts. In that respect i am in no way an authority. You have a choice wether you take what i say on board or not.