SAPPHIRE X1950 Pro Dual - Two GPUs on a Single Card

[malware]

Sapphire Technology showed for the first time its SAPPHIRE X1950 PRO DUAL graphics card at this year's CES. The SAPPHIRE X1950 PRO DUAL brings two X1950 Pro GPUs on a single card. It performs as fast as the ATI CrossFire dual GPU systems, but the difference lies in that the card connects via a single PCI-Express x16 slot, bringing DUAL GPU performance to mainboards with only one PCI-Express connector. The SAPPHIRE X1950 PRO DUAL features 1GB GDDR3 memory with both cores operating at clock speeds of 580MHz and memory frequences of 1400MHz. The SAPPHIRE X1950 PRO series natively supports HDCP and features the highly acclaimed ATI Avivo High Definition video and display technology.

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[Lazzer408]

Maybe I need one of those.

 

[newtekie1]

I fear that with DX10 so close, this card isn't worth it.

 

[ATIonion]

I fear that with DX10 so close, this card isn't worth it.

true, but at least they can work some bugs out of the dual core single card setup...then when the DX10 cards hit they will be better....

 

[Lazzer408]

I dont have high hopes for dx-10 yet. On a review I seen a few screenshots and a statement claiming "dx-10 helps normally flat surfaces have depth". I believe that's called bumpmapping and it's been here for some time now. Also, the picture they were using to demonstrate this "new technique" was a screenshot of the sidewalk in the Toystore demo from ATI which is dx-9. I'm so tired of hearing about "new" technology. Also the dx10 cards that will pop up in the next few monthes will be the bottom end begining of it. It will be some time before we really see some good dx10 games hit the streets. I don't even think the 8800 can keep up with what dx-10 claims to be capable of. It does run dx9 games pretty damn fast though. I just now bought 2 x1950 pros knowing dx-10 is around the corner. I'll be ok for awhile.

 

[Fleekar]

Jeez. How many friggin x1950 PRO's are there now? So much for the Ultimate which is still pretty darn recent too. I think all the hype on the PRO series is getting PROdigal. Seems to show that Dx10 really wont be taking over for a looooooong while if theyre still spending so much time maximizing Dx9 performance

 

[DaMulta]

Chipset
2 x ATI RADEON

X1950 PRO

Engine clock
580MHz

Shader units
36 + 36

Pixel Pipelines
12 + 12

Memory clock
1400 MHz GDDR3

Memory interface
256-bit

Memory Support
1024 MB

Cooling
Active dual slot cooling

Bus Interface
PCI-Express x16

Variable display outputs
DVI-I / DVI-I / TV out

Max 3D resolution
2560x1600 (dual-link DVI)

1024 x 768 (TV out)

Hardware Features
DirectX® 9

ShaderModel 3.0

Software Feature
ATI AvivoTM

 

[Seany1212]

guess thats a bonus of AMD/ATI allowing there distributors to design there own PCB's, might not be dx10 but when sapphire or any other company starts bringing out dual core dx10 gfx cards then it'll start to become interesting

 

[tkpenalty]

DX10 isn't even about graphics guys... all that "Improved graphics" crap is just propaganda.
DX10 is about PHYSICS

 

[Deleted member 3]

What about chipset limitations? Will these cards work on any chipset or is it still limited?

 

[Easy Rhino]

it seems to me that DX10 isnt going to hit the ground running. instead, it should take a year after launch to work out the bugs and actually get a game that is going to actually utilize its new architecture. this makes me want to get a second x1800xt card now...

 

[Wile E]

DX10 isn't even about graphics guys... all that "Improved graphics" crap is just propaganda.
DX10 is about PHYSICS

Actually, DX10 doesn't have physics APIs built in. It, in no way, prevents developers from writing code for physics tho. It's all down to the game developer and their relationship to hardware manufacturers. Ageia, ATI, and nVidia all have their own physics models. There's actually a pretty good article on DX10 in the Jan 07 issue of Maximum PC. It's were I got this info.

 

[RickyG512]

is there a X1950pro crossfire review so we can compare what this gets compared to a 8800GTS

 

[peach1971]

rue, but at least they can work some bugs out of the dual core single card setup...then when the DX10 cards hit they will be better....

2nd that.

 

[Casheti]

I've never been a big fan of dual-GPU cards since the nVIDIA's 7950GX2. Because that sucked BAAAAAAAAAAAAAD. Let's hope ATi can do better. And keep the temps down too

I'm staying with this X850XT until it can do no more. Or if I found a REALLY cheap X1950 But seriously, I want to play Crysis maxed on DX10, the way it should be. I know it's probably not coming for some time but when that time does come it will be amazing. And I WILL NOT run it on some nVIDIA card. R600 is the bomb. (Matter of opinion, nobody flame Casheti).

 

[unsmart]

I wonder if you can run physic on one core and graphics on the other.
Is AMD still supporting physics on the x1xxx cards or is it just the DX10 cards now? I haven't heard much about GPU physics since the whole physx thing died down. It's like ATI / NV where just pushing GPU physics to kill agiea and now are in no big rush.

 

[EviLZeD]

i dont think this ageia phyx card will get too famous now that u can get quad core and dual core cpus i mean thers no real need

 

[Zubasa]

Guys, today I just saw Grandmars release the X1650Xt Dual on one of the magazines....
The dual core thing is getting kinda dumb.
X1650XT Dual? I bet it is not even close to X1950XT while more expensive

 

[technicks]

I've never been a big fan of dual-GPU cards since the nVIDIA's 7950GX2. Because that sucked BAAAAAAAAAAAAAD. Let's hope ATi can do better. And keep the temps down too

I'm staying with this X850XT until it can do no more. Or if I found a REALLY cheap X1950 But seriously, I want to play Crysis maxed on DX10, the way it should be. I know it's probably not coming for some time but when that time does come it will be amazing. And I WILL NOT run it on some nVIDIA card. R600 is the bomb. (Matter of opinion, nobody flame Casheti).

Same here. If you look at this your mouth will not close for a minute or so. You are warned.
http://www.gametrailers.com/player.php?r=1&type=wmv&id=16080

I love Crisis.

 

[TUngsten]

yeah that looks too sweet

 

[Casheti]

It's a shame EA had something to do with it. But on the other hand... That looks amazing.

 

[DRDNA]

I wonder will the dual GPU cards work on a crossfire mobo =ing quad ?????

 

[newbielives]

I thought DX10 was to do what we do now in DX9 but more efficiently, so we can add more of the effects we have now but not bog down the framerate so much.

 

[WarEagleAU]

This is actually pretty interesting. ATI followed Nvidia on the dual gpu solution (though like 8 months behind, I think they learned how to manage heat and such better). I Believe the 7950 GX2 are 2 7950 GTs or something like that. Yes, I read that Maximum PC article for the 1/07 issue (good to know Im not the only one who reads that magazine, it really is awesome). Anywho, Id be interested in getting this in the next 4 or 5 months. Just because its new and cool. (WHat I would love to see is two 8800GTX or X1950XTX cores on a single card. That would be awesome and probably nuclear!!!)

 

[unsmart]

The graphics look good but the game play looks GREAT!!!
Does anyone know what the PC specs where on that? I'm guessing 8800s in SLI with a QX6700 and a lot of ram.
I don't think it looks that much better then newer DX9 games at really high settings. It is still in the early of DX10 so it's only going to get better