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Message started by janskjaer on 18.10.04 at 19:38:07

Title: Super SLI
Post by janskjaer on 18.10.04 at 19:38:07
I have mentioned it in the past but I don't think I thought it through as much?  Would it be possible to have a Voodoo2 Super SLI?  I'm talking, 6 Voodoo2 cards, all connected up to produce a 3xSLI.

Original Voodoo2 SLI Setup

Super SLI Setup

I know with current drivers this is not possible, but with modified drivers to incorporate a 3-way SLI, would it be?  :)

Title: Re: Super SLI
Post by 3Dfx_tweaker on 18.10.04 at 19:52:20
3 way is impossible, because it needs to be 1way 2way 4 way 8way etc. But It will be very hard indeed, and what will you gain? The biggest problem will be that this monster producing 720mtexels only has efectively 4mb used for textures!!! Before you go and make this thing you better make a voodoo2 with 16mb texture mem. And I now For sure that you will notice the difference, in games like quake3 and other games with a lot of 256x256 textures (max details). The problem is with this is where can you stil get at least 100mhz (I am looking for 110mhz at least 125 mhz has been made before). I know that 2 way SLI is possible with the Alienware way. But back to the mem problem, you need to find ram that has at least 2mb per chip or 4mb I don't know if you can use 2 of 8mb I don't think you can (because of the V2 PCB).
If the V2 has fast 125mhz Edo ram you can easily let it run 120mhz producing in 2 way SLI a whopping 960mtexels this thing will be faster than a V5 5500!!!!!
In cases offcourse where the 16mb texture mem is sufficient and if the 2 way SLI is perfectioned (because the system should be load balanced). But if you be realistic you will know that 2 way SLI is just to expensive fo  us. Having a V2 SLI running at 120mhz with 16mb tex mem wil have a lead to a performance increase of at least 50%!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
In theory the 360 mtexels will go to 480mtexels and the 4 mb to 16mb will on its own will give you 20% performance increase or more.

Title: Re: Super SLI
Post by 3Dfx_tweaker on 18.10.04 at 21:31:50
Ehh... 16mb, not total. I meant 16mb pro TMU!!!!!!!!!!!!
And This makes a lot of difference. Total a standard v2 SLI system would use a total of 72mb of ram.  

Title: Re: Super SLI
Post by paulpsomiadis on 18.10.04 at 23:14:02
Okay, before this gets WAAAAY out of hand - this is NOT POSSIBLE! ::)

The only setup that will allow 4x SLI (four dual V2's) is as we ALL know a Quantum 3D Mercury rig. ;D

There's NO OTHER WAY to do this - alas it will have to remain as a fantasy! :P

This is because you'd have to link ALL of the cards with a sort of "SLI bridge card" - like the Mercury... 8)

So unless anyone knows where we can get our hand on some old 3Dfx enginneers and some Q3D engineers - it ain't gonna' happen! :'(

Title: Re: Super SLI
Post by 3Dfx_tweaker on 19.10.04 at 10:19:00
The mercury DOES NOT enable 4 way SLI!!!!!!!!!
Not in the way that you want to use SLI anyway.  
But it stil is possible, and you do need a bridge chip. Or something that connects the SLI connector to the mobo.
@Thandor:
I AM changin the 8mb vooodoo2's that is the whole reason why I bought so many!!!!!! And for the people who still think this is impossible think again, because the Voodoo3 uses 16mb Sdram and is limited at that because of the TMU(that is also used in the Voodoo2, the Voodoo2 also supports Sd-ram). The only problem now is to find a memory manufacturer that can make some Edo-ram chips (Sd-ram on a voodoo2 would require A NEW pcb which cost a lot of money).


Title: Re: Super SLI
Post by janskjaer on 20.10.04 at 10:32:06
Let us know what you come up with.

Basically guys, it was raised as a hypothetical theory anyway.  Nothing was meant to be set in stone here.

Have a look around and see what you can find.

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