Galaxy Prepares Special Dual-GPU Accelerator

[btarunr]

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.



View at TechPowerUp Main Site

 

[pantherx12]

Really doesn't look like that cooler has any cooling capacity at all.

 

[lemonadesoda]

We have "extra long" GPUs that dont fit in regular cases. Why not "extra tall" GPUs where the cooler fins extend a few cm above regular height? There are MORE cases that have a bit of extra height than have the extra length. It would be more efficient at cooling too.

 

[Zubasa]

By the way that drawing look, and by looking @that cooler, its a GTX 260+ X2 @best....
Those fins don't really look tall enough for 2 GTX 285s.

 

[pantherx12]

I would like to see a cooler like thermalright HR-03, you know, can be fitted in two ways so it sits above the cards.

Like that but with a heatsink that sits above the card, and below the card, both quite low profile heatsinks though.

Would be outstanding cooling performance.

Think Thermalright T-rad on both sides of the card.

 

[BUCK NASTY]

It would be a great card for folding if the price is right. I would like to see dual GPU cards become more prevelent.

 

[Imsochobo]

Well, I don't see the use of a dual 285 NOW! ???

Seriously, come with something new, or beat it. using money developing new cards is just plain stupid when the new ones around the corner.

The Die size is 30% larger than a 5870 aswell! its more expensive, hotter, less features and most importantly slower! jeez.

No flaming galaxy in general, they do innovate, but with old products its pretty much worthless, they should be looking ahead, and not back.

 

[gvblake22]

Well, I don't see the use of a dual 285 NOW! ???

Seriously, come with something new, or beat it. using money developing new cards is just plain stupid when the new ones around the corner.

The Die size is 30% larger than a 5870 aswell! its more expensive, hotter, less features and most importantly slower! jeez.

No flaming galaxy in general, they do innovate, but with old products its pretty much worthless, they should be looking ahead, and not back.

nVidia is the one that you need to be referring to, not the board makers. Galaxy doesn't design GPUs, they just solder them to the board and sell it. They're doing the best they can with what they have to work with. "Lemonade from lemons" if you will...

 

[mdm-adph]

We have "extra long" GPUs that dont fit in regular cases. Why not "extra tall" GPUs where the cooler fins extend a few cm above regular height? There are MORE cases that have a bit of extra height than have the extra length. It would be more efficient at cooling too.

That'd be cool, but I think there's like ISO requirements that manufacturers have to follow as to why graphic cards are the height that they are and no higher (though I do remember one Powercolor HD 3870X2 that was a bit higher than normal). Obviously, there doesn't appear to be any rules for length.

Here's that Powercolor card: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814131100&cm_re=3870_x2-_-14-131-100-_-Product

It was a totally non-reference design that allowed them to make it quite a bit shorter, I think, though as you can see, it's taller when viewed on end.

 

[WarEagleAU]

i like that cooler size. GTX 285 *2 is a nice little breather for them as well.

 

[wolf]

I think it could be cool, hec if the can make it cost say $500-550 that's not too bad at all.

I guess we'll see how effective the cooler is once it's released

 

[Zubasa]

I think it could be cool, hec if the can make it cost say $500-550 that's not too bad at all.

I guess we'll see how effective the cooler is once it's released

The only thing it will be good for is folding once the 5950 is ready.

 

[Binge]

The only thing it will be good for is folding once the 5950 is ready.

Think that'll actually get made?

 

[Zubasa]

Think that'll actually get made?

Maybe, maybe not, most likely semi-vaporware like the 4850X2

 

[InTeL-iNsIdE]

which it reportedly plans to release before Christmas.

For now, the card exists only in its drawings and CAD designs

So wait, all they have is cad drawings but yet it will be out by Christmas ? ok then, I would like to see that, and if it is here by Christmas they were lying, there is no way they can go from design concept to retail product in a month unless I am missing something here ?

 

[Zubasa]

So wait, all they have is cad drawings but yet it will be out by Christmas ? ok then, I would like to see that, and if it is here by Christmas they were lying, there is no way they can go from design concept to retail product in a month unless I am missing something here ?

It is possible, they are not designing something from the ground up.
They have more than a year of experience with the GT200(b) already.

 

[1Kurgan1]

The only thing it will be good for is folding once the 5950 is ready.

No point in a 5950, the 5970 isn't leaps and bounds faster than a 5950 would be, since its clocked lower, yes it can OC like crazy, but thats an OC and not everyone will do that.

Either way, be interesting to see what dual GPU card they come up with. If it's the 285 it will have to be around $550 or less to really have a market. I think that a dual GPU 275 would be the sweet spot, it would be faster than a 295, yet not cost much more, and faster than a 4870x2, pretty much making it the 2nd fastest single slot solution, and they could market it at a significantly lower cost.

 

[mdm-adph]

No point in a 5950, the 5970 isn't leaps and bounds faster than a 5950 would be, since its clocked lower, yes it can OC like crazy, but thats an OC and not everyone will do that.

Either way, be interesting to see what dual GPU card they come up with. If it's the 285 it will have to be around $550 or less to really have a market. I think that a dual GPU 275 would be the sweet spot, it would be faster than a 295, yet not cost much more, and faster than a 4870x2, pretty much making it the 2nd fastest single slot solution, and they could market it at a significantly lower cost.

Wait -- wasn't the GTX 275 just a single GPU version of the GTX 295 to begin with? (240 shaders on a 448-bit bus).

 

[aj28]

Really doesn't look like that cooler has any cooling capacity at all.

The "pin" design they use in the center is actually quite effective, albeit much more expensive to produce than traditional fins. Also, the radial fins around the base of the fans should pickup airflow without too much of an issue, much like Intel's box coolers. I can't say the airflow pattern itself will be all that great though... Dual fans just aren't going to do much in that configuration.

 

[Zubasa]

Wait -- wasn't the GTX 275 just a single GPU version of the GTX 295 to begin with? (240 shaders on a 448-bit bus).

It is exactly that.
I guess he is refering to a GTX 295 "Super Clocked" edition.

 

[Scrizz]

That'd be cool, but I think there's like ISO requirements that manufacturers have to follow as to why graphic cards are the height that they are and no higher (though I do remember one Powercolor HD 3870X2 that was a bit higher than normal). Obviously, there doesn't appear to be any rules for length.

Here's that Powercolor card: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814131100&cm_re=3870_x2-_-14-131-100-_-Product

It was a totally non-reference design that allowed them to make it quite a bit shorter, I think, though as you can see, it's taller when viewed on end.

that's nothing, check this beast out
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Sapphire/X1950_Pro_Dual/3.html

 

[troyrae360]

why would anyone wanna by that when the have DX11 options out there right now?

 

[mdm-adph]

that's nothing, check this beast out
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Sapphire/X1950_Pro_Dual/3.html

I remember that! Always wanted one of those! One of the last great hurrahs before the HD 2900 Xt.

 

[cdawall]

cooler should be able to handle the 285's just fine plus this is just a CAD drawing nothing more so far the design has room for more cooling with a shorter fan which will probably be what they end up using

 

[HalfAHertz]

that's nothing, check this beast out
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Sapphire/X1950_Pro_Dual/3.html

Wow talk about a blast from the past! Is this the first dual solution from ati?