What is Alienware’s Video Array?
Video Array, Alienware’s exclusive
patent-pending innovation, is a hardware and software solution that enables two
off-the-shelf PCI-Express video cards from any manufacturer to process graphics
commands in parallel, thus increasing graphics performance by up to 100%.
How Does Alienware’s Video Array
Compare To Nvidia’s SLI?
Similarities:
Goal –
1. Both technologies have the same
objective; to dramatically increase the graphics performance of your PC by using
multiple graphics cards working together to draw the same image.
Performance –
1. The performance increase
resulting from either technology could be up to 100%. These gains will be
realized in applications that are primarily limited by the GPU. For example,
rendering software, CAD/CAM programs, and the latest games like Far Cry,
Half-Life 2, and Doom 3.
2. Both technologies require extra
overhead (e.g. textures have to be sent to both video cards). Therefore, some
data travels twice through the PCI Express bus and, as a result, the average
performance increase could be less than 100%.
Differences:
Flexibility –
1. Alienware’s Video Array works
with video cards from any manufacturer; ATI, NVidia, 3DLabs, Matrox, or others.
Since you are not tied to any one manufacturer’s products, you can configure the
Video Array with the video cards that work best for your application.
2. The Video Array uses
off-the-shelf video cards and drivers. There is no need to have any special
provisions in hardware or software for Video Array to work. When there is a new
feature or optimization implemented in the drivers, they become readily
available through Video Array.
3. Alienware’s Video Array is not
limited to 2 video cards. Future implementations may take advantage of this and
put 4 or more video cards into one system. This would probably be more geared
towards professional applications like rendering farms.
Full Solution –
1. It’s not enough just to get two
high-performance video cards to work in parallel. The combined power requirement
and increased heat generated by two graphics cards are beyond the capabilities
of most PCs on the market today. As a result, Alienware has engineered complete
power and liquid cooling systems for Video Array and will be bringing the total
system solution to market in the ALX line of high-performance PCs.
Features –
1. Video Array implements Frame
Locking with any video cards, a feat previously available exclusively on
extremely high-end professional class video cards. Frame locking synchronizes
display refresh and buffer swaps across multiple cards, preventing visual
artifacts and ensuring image continuity in multi-monitor (or multiple video
card) applications like simulations.
Frequently Asked Questions
When will Video Array be
available?
Anticipated to launch in Q4 of 2004,
Alienware’s Video Array will be available only on ALX systems.
What is ALX?
ALX is a sub-brand of Alienware
high-performance systems. ALX systems offer an even more highly customized and
personalized experience than customers have come to expect from Alienware
systems. Alienware ALX systems feature the latest innovations in performance and
service from Alienware. Offerings include; factory over-clocking, water-cooling,
custom case accents, dedicated sales and support, factory-installed games and
software, 24-hour PC game tips and codes, and much more. <click here to
configure an ALX system>
Is Alienware’s Video Array based
on NVidia’s SLI technology?
No. Alienware’s Video Array was
designed from the ground up by Alienware’s R&D department. Alienware’s Video
Array works with Video cards from NVidia, ATI, and any other Video Card
manufacturer.
Doesn’t the PCI-Express standard
allow anyone to use multiple graphics cards?
PCI-Express will not allow this “out
of the box.” Alienware developed an exclusive software solution as well as a
video merger hub in order to accomplish it. Both solutions are patent pending
and were developed by Alienware. In addition, Alienware has developed a dual PCI-Express
graphics slot motherboard (X2) to enable the Video Array.
What is Alienware’s X2
motherboard?
This dual PCI-Express capable
motherboard is exclusive to Alienware and is also patent pending. The X2
utilizes all available PCI-Express lanes provided by the Tumwater chipset,
supports DDR2-400 memory and includes 6 ports for high-performance SATA RAID 0,
1, and 0+1 configurations. The X2 includes SATA on a 66MHz PCI-x bus, Gigabit
Ethernet, and 5.1 Dolby Digital audio. It is also dual processor capable.
Will I be able to use an ATI card
in the same system as an Nvidia card?
No. You must use identical cards
from the same manufacturer. However, Alienware’s Video Array is designed to be
independent of graphics chipsets and uses off-the-shelf graphics cards. The
system supports both OpenGL and DirexctX9 (including support for the latest
version of Pixel and Vertex Shaders) and will scale easily as graphics
technologies advance.
Will this require driver support
from the graphics card manufacturers?
This will not require driver support
from the graphics card manufacturers. The system was designed to be independent
of the video card manufacturers’ drivers, using Alienware’s Video Array
(including software and merger hub) and X2 motherboard.
What type of performance can we
expect from Video Array?
The performance increase can be up
to 100%. These gains will be realized in applications that are primarily limited
by the GPU. For example, rendering software, CAD/CAM programs, and the latest
games like Far Cry, Half-Life 2, and Doom 3.
Isn’t it true that most games now
are CPU limited thus making this solution not worth while?
Older games tend to be CPU limited
because they were designed with older GPU’s. The latest games and
next-generation titles like Doom 3 and Half-Life 2 will tax even today’s best
GPU’s. Alienware’s Video Array will enable gamers to play these games and
applications at the highest resolutions/settings, with uncompromising quality
and performance. This solution will also be beneficial in the professional
design and engineering market, as well as for real-time rendering solutions.
Do the Application/Game
developers need to modify their code to support Video Array?
No, as mentioned, Video Array
technology works with any application that supports DirectX or OpenGL. The
applications do not need any special modifications or coding. Video Array uses
Alienware-designed API logic that allows any existing game or application to
work without any modifications required. Alienware is, however, working with
leading game developers to develop custom game levels that will take advantage
of Video Array.
Is the image quality degraded by
Video Array?
The resulting image quality is not
degraded by the use of Video Array. In fact, due to the increase in graphics
processing power, it is now possible to turn on all the enhancements provided by
the video cards at resolutions much higher than previously possible. There are
no visible artifacts resulting from this.
Can we plug two dual head PCI-Express
Video Cards to power 4 monitors?
Yes. The X2 motherboard sports two
PCI-Express high performance graphics slots. Populating these with
high-performance dual-head video cards opens up the possibility of driving 4
monitors. One possible application is for flight simulation, where one monitor
can be used for the front view, two others for peripheral views, and the fourth
one for the instrument control panel.
How does the Video Array
reassemble frames to be sent to the monitor?
Alienware’s Video Array reassembles
the frame in its hardware component, the Video Merger Hub (VMH). The VMH enables
Video Array to work with video cards from any manufacturer. Rather than sending
the frame buffer from one video card to the other, as some solutions do,
Alienware employs a low bandwidth patent-pending vendor-independent solution.
Does the Alienware Video Array
use analog pass-through cables?
Alienware’s Video Array works with
both VGA (analog) and DVI (digital) outputs. The output from both video cards is
connected into the Video Merger Hub (VMH). There are two versions of these
cables, one for VGA and one for DVI.
