NVIDIA Multi-GPU SLI Technology: New Approach to Old Ideas
 

Massive article from X-Bit Labs!

NVIDIA returned SLI abbreviation from the ancient days of the Voodoo 2 and Quake II to the modern age of the GeForce 6 and Doom III to once again prove its perfection and ability to deliver the fastest ever graphics solution. But how feasible is Multi-GPU technology nowadays and how high the performance can be with two top-of-the-range GeForce 6800 Ultra? We are trying to find this out here and now.



Table of contents:

A Glance Back
SGI: A Tool for Professionals
3dfx: Split It in Two!
ATI Technologies: We Render Two Frames at Once!
3dfx’s Last Try
XGI: An Unfortunate Hybrid
NVIDIA SLI: How Does It Work?
NVIDIA SLI: What Do You Need for the Multi-GPU Mode?

Meet the SLI System: ASUS A8N-SLI Deluxe Mainboard
Modest Luxury
Closer Look
There’s Nothing Perfect in This World
ASUS A8N-SLI Deluxe: Pros and Cons
ASUS Extreme N6600 GT Graphics Card
GeForce 6800 Ultra PCI Express: Have You Ever Heard a Rocket Launch?

NVIDIA SLI: Assembly and Launch
Testbed Configurations and Methods
NVIDIA SLI: Compatibility Issues

Performance in First-Person 3D Shooters
Call of Duty: United Offensive
Doom III
Halo: Combat Evolved
Painkiller
Half-Life 2

Performance in Third-Person 3D Shooters
Splinter Cell: Pandora Tomorrow
Hitman: Contracts
Thief: Deadly Shadows
Deus Ex: Invisible War

Performance in Simulators
IL-2 Sturmovik: Aces in the Sky
Microsoft Flight Simulator 2004
FlatOut

Performance in Strategy Games
Command & Conquer Generals: Zero Hour
Warhammer 40.000: Dawn of War
Perimeter
Rome: Total War

Performance in Semi-Synthetic Benchmarks
Final Fantasy XI Official Benchmark 3
AquaMark3

Performance in Synthetic Benchmarks
Futuremark 3DMark 03
Futuremark 3DMark 05

Conclusion
NVIDIA Multi-GPU SLI: Myths and Reality
Price Factor
Multi-GPU Prospects

http://www.xbitlabs.com/articles/vid...6800u-sli.html