XGI Volari duel GPU card + questions

Anyone who regularly keeps up with PC 3D graphics has already heard of
the new Volari GPUs from XGI. Their highend Volari Duo solution will
be a card with two DX9 GPUs in parallel. This has never been done
before for *consumer* hardware using modern GPUs. Yeah there was the
Voodoo 2 SLI configuration as well as the ATI Rage Fury MAXX and
Voodoo5 5500 but those were not full 3D processors/GPUs that offloaded
the CPU. they lacked geometry processing / T&L. they were just 3D
accelerators. the new Volari chips are obviously modern GPUs.

While there are countless examples of parallel GPUs used in
industrial/ professional applications like modeling, flight
simulators, workstations, arcade games, scientific, research, etc.,
more than one GPU in parallel has never been offered to the consumer
before, as far as I am aware.


My questions are, with 16 rendering pipelines with the duel GPU card,
would that automatically increase performance in games like Doom 3 and
Half-Life 2, or do applications have to be written with this hardware
in mind? perhaps this is a silly question.




for those unaware of XGI Volari's new products here is a link plus
some info pasted below:

http://www.xgitech.com/products/products_duo.htm

XGI announces new products: Volari Duo, Volari V8/V8 ultra, Volari
V5/V5 ultra and Volari V3.

Volari DUO
"For the first time in gaming history, you can harness the brute force
of true, dual GPUs on a single, DX9 Compliant board. Volari Duo takes
on the task of graphics processing with twice the firepower of other
graphics cards, blowing away 3D benchmark challenges like a pair of 9
millimeters. Enjoy the crisp clarity of independent frame rendering
with a stunning increase in overall yield that will redefine what
people expect from a GPU. With an amazing 16 pipelines linked through
a proprietary new bridge protocol, Volari? Duo unleashes an avalanche
of processing power that will leave the competition out in the cold."


Volari V8
"Combining phenomenal graphics performance with blazingly fast
processor speed, the Volari V8 series of graphics processors more than
satisfies the computing power needs of advanced gamers.
With true hardware DX9 built into each chip and support for both DDR
and DDR2 memory specifications, no other graphics processor for the
mainstream desktop PC can match the combined power and flexibility of
XGI Volari V8 processors. Volari V8 processors have been designed from
the substrate up to provide industry customers with flexible product
segmentation. Choose a Volari V8 Ultra processor with 256MB DDR2 for
extreme gaming graphics solutions, or a Volari V8 processor with 128MB
DDR for high-end multimedia graphics solutions."



Volari V5
"If you?re seeking a smooth, powerful graphics solution for your PC,
but don?t require bleeding-edge performance, Volari V5 is the perfect
partner. The hot new V5 churns out enough juice to deliver a boat load
of 3D fun and excitement that will keep your eyes glued to the screen.
Fire up the combined power of Volari V5 and DDR2, and launch yourself
into the middle of the action.

With true hardware DX9 built into each chip and support for both DDR
and DDR2 memory specifications, no other graphics processor for the
mainstream desktop PC can match the combined power and flexibility of
XGI Volari V5 processors. Volari V5 processors have been designed from
the substrate up to provide industry customers with flexible product
segmentation."



True Hardware DirectX9
"All Volari V8, V5 and Duo processors employ XGI?s next generation
TruShader? 2.1 Engine, taking vertex and pixel shading to a new level
of realism. Combine this with built-in DirectX9 programmability and 8
pixel pipelines, and 3D environments now come alive with cinematic
realism and moviestudio caliber graphics. Advanced developers can take
advantage of the Volari V8 processor?s fully programmable DirectX9
functions to deliver visual experiences never before seen on the PC."

Volari V3
"XGI Volari V3 offering originates from our team extensive experience
and pioneering leadership in supplying high quality 3D graphics
solutions for entry level graphics solution. By employing advanced
graphics algorithm that optimizes for smallest gate count, XGI Volari
family delivers similar features and performance, such as Microsoft
DirectX 8.1 and 9.0, while using only HALF the number of transistors
of the competitive equivalent. This key advantage directly translates
to much smaller die size and cost for all entry level platform and
results in not only low cost but also high performance in both D3D and
OpenGL application."
Software compatible to Microsoft DirectX 9.0

BrightPixel? 3D graphics engine with DirectX 8.1 Vertex and Pixel
Shaders in hardware

CoolPower? power management technology

SmartTile? 128-bit memory architecture with 500MHz DDR memory

UltraClear? TFT image quality at UXGA panel resolution (1600x1200)

Integrated TMDS drivers for TFT and DVI display

Multiple simultaneous output displays with TFT, DVI, CRT and TV AGP-4X
or AGP-8X host interface

In article ,
says...
 >
 > My questions are, with 16 rendering pipelines with the duel GPU card,
 > would that automatically increase performance in games like Doom 3 and
 > Half-Life 2, or do applications have to be written with this hardware
 > in mind? perhaps this is a silly question.

Yes, a "duel" GPU card would be very good for shoot-'em-ups, and
perhaps middle-ages role playing games. After all the GPU is
designed to "duel". They wouldn't lie, would they?

--
Keith