LucidLogix’s Hydra system, the vendor-agnostic multi-GPU hardware system discussed previously, is finally coming to market in a new motherboard from MSI.
There are three versions of the Hydra 200: the LT22114, the LT22102 and the LT22114. The only difference between the chips are the number of PCIe lanes. The lowest end chip has a x8 connection to the CPU/PCIe controller and two x8 connections to GPUs. The midrange LT22102 has a x16 connection to the CPU and two x16 connections for GPUs. And the highest end solution, the one being used on the MSI board, has a x16 to the CPU and then a configurable pair of x16s to GPUs. You can operate this controller in 4 x8 mode, 1 x16 + 2 x8 or 2 x16. It’s all auto sensing and auto-configurable. The high end product will be launching in October, with the other two versions shipping into mainstream and potentially mobile systems some time later.
It’s an interestingly priced addition as well, running about $1.50 per PCIe lane, which means each x16 slot on the system adds an extra $24. The high end Hydra chip support 48 lanes (3 PCIe x16 slots) for about $72.
via AnandTech: Lucid Hydra 200: Vendor Agnostic Multi-GPU, Available in 30 Days.
“MSI has some BIG political hurdles on this one. NVIDIA has told me that it may very well code so that this Lucid silicon is worthless with its products and that pretty much nullifies the thing. After you think through the novelty for a moment, who the ____ cares about mixing and matching video cards?”
via Kyle Bennett @ HardOCP forums:
http://hera.hardocp.com/showthread.php?t=1453942
“Initially, Lucid’s driver will only support multiple GPUs from a single vendor. However, the firm plans to introduce multi-vendor capability in a driver update early in the first quarter of 2010. (A beta version of that driver will roll out before then.) At that point, folks running Windows 7 will be able to pair up Radeons and GeForces to their heart’s content.”
via TechReport:
http://www.techreport.com/discussions.x/17636