SLI Coming to i19

Ah.




Well.

... (insert request for mac client update here)

Ai. As far as I am aware Apple has access to the types of documents that X.org Driver writers have with AMD (http://www.x.org/docs/AMD/) and Intel (http://intellinuxgraphics.org/) graphics, and that Apple writes their own drivers for the platforms. Apple is also heavily involved in the development and publication of the Xserver and will reportedly be using Xserver 1.9 as the base for the next XQuartz: http://www.phoronix.com/scan.php?pag...item&px=ODUzNA

Transgaming's in-house tech can leverage some types of SLI and Crossfire acceleration as is, so in theory, as long as SLI / Crossfire are enabled in the X.org driver, support should be exposed to the resulting application.

Now, will Apple take the time to actually add SLI / Crossfire support to their XQuartz system? My gut reaction is not likely on SLI.

As of now Apple is selling Crossfire enabled MacPro's with 2x RadeonHD 5770's. According to Wikipedia (I know, not the most reliable source of information), all other previous multiple GPU factory systems were using Quadro cards, which do support SLI. However, the Quadro drivers are not optimized for single-pass fast rendering, which is what video games leverage. The Quadro-Drivers are optimized for accurate target rendering, and really use the second gpu for General Processing, or GPGPU.

Nvidia's done shot themselves in the foot, repeatedly, with Apple and other vendors, and it's highly unlikely that outside of Nvidia getting bought out by another company, that Apple will use them in the high-end systems again. It's also likely that if Bobcat lives up to expectations, Nvidia will be loosing the MacBook Air contract as well... and as well known with the Ipad, Apple went with their own A4 system instead of Nvidia's Tegra... another slap to the Nvidia company.

The reality is that, as a gaming system, there are enough MacPro's in circulation with consumer HD 5770's to justify Apple and AMD making sure gaming Crossfire support works for gamers with OSX.

There is not enough, and probably won't be enough, MacPro's in circulation with Nvidia's Consumer graphics cards to justify Apple adding gamer SLI support.

Just to be clear, Crossfire is possible when you boot into Windows but there is no support for Crossfire when you boot into the MacOS.

The dual 5770s are there for more than 3 monitor support when you are booting into the MacOS (currently).

http://www.anandtech.com/show/3969/a...-2010-review/4

Both of which are as likely to occur as getting an update from Transgaming to our client in the next quarter.