[Kal-EL]

Galaxy Prepares Special Dual-GPU Accelerator
After AMD completed its mid-thru-high end product launches under its DirectX 11 compliant Radeon HD 5000 series, it looks like NVIDIA eased up restrictions for partners to design high-end dual-GPU accelerators. ASUS had launched a limited-edition accelerator making use of two GeForce GTX 285 GPUs, but limited quantities, and other factors which we're not aware of, may have influenced the company to sell it for over $1000 a piece. Galaxy, for one, is second in line, with a single-PCB dual-GPU graphics accelerator, which it reportedly plans to release before Christmas.

For now, the card exists only in its drawings and CAD designs. The PCB layout drawing shows the card have a layout similar to the single-PCB GeForce GTX 295. With space for 16 memory chips on the obverse side and a backplate in the CAD design, it is deduced that the card has 512-bit memory interfaces per GPU, and hence could be a dual GeForce GTX 285 accelerator, much like the ASUS MARS dual-285. The cooler looks to have independent coolers over each GPU with circular heatsinks that have radially-projecting fins, and a baseplate to cool other components. Galaxy wants this to be a Christmas special. Here's hoping it doesn't draw inspiration from the ASUS MARS as far as pricing is concerned.

Source: Expreview

Why they switch between "accelerator" "GPU" and "Graphics Card" terminology is besides me. Maybe it runs faster when you call it an accelerator?

[Neuromancer]

Think thats a foreign term for it TBH

[Splave]

in for 2

[Witchdoctor]

If they bring these to market I am not sure they will hang with the 5970 ......

They can however hope AMD has as hard of time making enough of them ... as we all know the 5870 are like trying to find a needle in a hay stack .... If this is the case peole may opt for the dual 285 .....

With the bot switching to having them compete with dual cards setups I think these two GPU cards will be for gamers and enthusiasts will stay with two three and four card set ups for competetive benching

[karmakazi]

I honestly hope hwbot doesnt go that route myself... has anything been decided for sure?

[karmakazi]

Wow just read the post @ the bot... interesting to say the least...

[Neuromancer]

Ugh I forgot all about that multiGPU nonsense. I am not sure what the issue is with SLi/CF.

Why shouldn't multiGPU be allowed to compete? It's still PC hardware right, that you can legally buy and run in your PC. Not ES or anything. IT is not a software hack. Thy doing this just because Lucid is coming out and its going to mess them all up?

[Witchdoctor]

The way I understand it and correct me if I am wrong you can use them they will just be competing with SLI set up's.... This because these monsters are dominating the single GPU standings...
Personally I have most of my boints with a 295 so I will take a massive hit along with the rest of the dual GPU card owners .......

[Neuromancer]

Ah, I posted in the thread over at the bot.

I think I am against it.

In effect the dual GPU cards would then have to unfairly compete against dual card setups. It would also mean that a 5980 would have to compete directly against say 4x 5870.

So removing dual gpu cards from the single card ratings, would also mean they have to seperate dual gpu from 3/4 gpu.


I also pointed out that hyperthreading should not be legal since ramdisks are not allowed.

(Both are code telling windows there is a physical device there that is not really there, in one case a harddrive in the other case 4 more logical cores)

[FACE]

I honestly do not see how ramdisks, hyperthreading, and even physX and other like enhancements should be illegal at the bot. I thought the point was performance. If someone can lay a board on a bench, strap a copper pot to it, and pour liquid nitrogen on it for a performance edge, these other technologies should be allowed as well..... Make 'er go as fast as she can!!!!

As long as people aren't photoshopping, all should be good.
Besides, tweaking for the biggest numbers is where the fun is at, and the whole point of overclocking imho.


AS for dual gpu cards.... Give them their own category, everyone wins...