nforce4 sli master/slave question

[terminator02]

Do the current nforce4 boards allow this setup? I am wondering if it would be possible to upgrade to a g70/next gen nvidia card AND have two GT/ultras running as the slaves? That would be a great upgrade path to people like myself who have already sprung for 2 SLI cards by having the same two cards running with one new master card.

 

[Tigerblade]

Unlikely. From what I've read it's only ATi's solution that will offer more than 2 cards....

Could be wrong tho

 

[geekcomputing]

i doubt we will see any company do more than 2 cards.

reasons being.

1. just imagine how hard that would be to program drivers for. i mean.. 2 6800GTS and a g70 working together. and then factor in all the various brands doing little different things to the cards.

or worst case.. a x800... x800 xt and a future gen rxxx working together..

= driver nightmares.

2. what are you going to plug all that into??? unless they make a mobo w/ 3 or 4 pci-e slots

or 2 pci-e's and 1 agp...

3. it would be cool... dont get me wrong.. and id love it.. but i doubt it since we really dont have a need for that this generation.

4. They are in the business to sell NEW graphics cards.. not let you get away w/ using your old one w/ new ones for extra performance.


but yes.. from a consumer standpoint id love it. it would rock.

 

[UnknownSouljer]

i doubt we will see any company do more than 2 cards.

reasons being.

1. just imagine how hard that would be to program drivers for. i mean.. 2 6800GTS and a g70 working together. and then factor in all the various brands doing little different things to the cards.

or worst case.. a x800... x800 xt and a future gen rxxx working together..

= driver nightmares.

2. what are you going to plug all that into??? unless they make a mobo w/ 3 or 4 pci-e slots

or 2 pci-e's and 1 agp...

3. it would be cool... dont get me wrong.. and id love it.. but i doubt it since we really dont have a need for that this generation.

4. They are in the business to sell NEW graphics cards.. not let you get away w/ using your old one w/ new ones for extra performance.


but yes.. from a consumer standpoint id love it. it would rock.

http://www.hexus.net/content/reviews/review.php?dXJsX3Jldmlld19JRD0xMTY1

Obviously not concrete evidence, but discussions are showing that it's a distinct possibility. At this point in the battle between ATi and nVidia it looks like it's more important to not hold any punches than it is to make money. If a company holds a punch that the other side does not, that can equate to a landslide victory.

But like the artical discusses, it would be intersting to have a next gen card + a x800 xt(or pro or whatever) and then additionally link that to the onboard solution. This is more cost effective than nVidia's solution, in which users that wanted to move to SLi would have to buy 2 new cards (or one at a time etc) whereas this technology would allow users to link up their last gen hardware and their newgen hardware, and even onboard hardware.

My only issue with any of this so far is the fact that I would have to get an ATi chipset based board. It seems to me that they should make the technology work on any chipset. But maybe I misread that, I'll check the artical again later.

 

[FanATIc]

Heh, why are people completely ignoring the PCI Express slot? Its not limitless bandwith, more then 2 high end cards would be sucked up to uselessness so fast its not funny.

 

[{NG}Fidel]

My only issue with any of this so far is the fact that I would have to get an ATi chipset based board. It seems to me that they should make the technology work on any chipset. But maybe I misread that, I'll check the artical again later.

So far I wouldnt expect either of them to allow their multiple VPUs to be used in another board.