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Table of Contents
Introduction
nVidia says that it gives the consumer “heart-pounding PC performance.” It will deliver “unparalleled gaming experience.” So what is it? And where can I find it? And what do I need to run it? These are the questions you may be asking yourself, as I was, when I first read about nVidia’s new SLI technology for PCI-Express. Well, I am here to answer those questions for you. To tell you what exactly this newfangled technology does to deliver this “unparalleled gaming experience.”
What is SLI Technology?
What is the Performance Gain of SLI?
Imagine Doom 3 turned all the way up on every option running at 99 fps (frames per second). This is, for most of us, not even remotely possible. But with SLI, nVidia claims that, depending on the application, the gain can be as much as double the normal speed. That type of gain with one innovation is unheard of in the computing industry. However the “depending on the application” is vague and only time will tell whether that’s true. Nevertheless, it is logical. Double the number of graphics cards, double the power. I guess two heads really are better than one.
What do I need to utilize SLI?
As of November 17, the parts necessary are not available on their own. However, Alienware says they have begun production and is shipping models with SLI technology, starting at around $6000. Of course, if I actually try to buy one, it gives me a ship date of late next month.
How Does it Work?
Conclusion
WOW! What a product, what a development, what a leap for the computing industry. SLI, according to some sources, will eventually become the benchmark of GPU technology. So should you get it? Well, seeing how expensive it is, I certainly will be waiting until the price tag drops, but if you have the cash on hand, there’s no reason not to purchase an SLI ready computer or motherboard when they are released. After all, isn’t “Heart-pounding PC performance” what we’re all after?
For more information on SLI, check out a basic SLI FAQ from nVidia:
http://www.nvidia.com/page/pg_20040624928832.html
Also, Tom’s Hardware shows how the load is shared between the video cards:
http://graphics.tomshardware.com/graphic/20040628/nvidia-02.html