SLI support for CAD

[Big Bunny]

With the advent of the nForce Professional motherboard (seems like only Tyan has one out right now, but others will no doubt be available soon), I am looking into revamping and upgrading the workstation configuration here at work. We have a lot of heavy CAD usage, specifically Pro/ENGINEER, so the extra RAM capacity of a 64-bit system and the extra 3D graphics processing power has me intrigued.

The timing of the hardware availability and software releases that would fully support such a system is not so clear, especially nVidia's plans to support Quadro cards in SLI mode for CAD software. Has anyone here heard anything?

 

[Acanthus]

I would think Pro-E/Maya/3dSMAX would be their original target market with SLI.

Do high end quaddros support SLI? I follow nvidia very closely and honestly have no idea.

I know that 6800Us in SLI would likely slaughter older quaddros even with unoptimised drivers.

 

[imported_Kensai]

Yes. The mid to high end Quadros support SLI. For example, take the system I loaned to Envir Canada:
Tyan Thunder K8WE
2 X Opteron 252
2 X Quadro FX 4400 in SLI (512MB per card)
16GB of Registered ECC DDR400
etc, etc.

 

[otispunkmeyer]

Originally posted by: Kensai
Yes. The mid to high end Quadros support SLI. For example, take the system I loaned to Envir Canada:
Tyan Thunder K8WE
2 X Opteron 252
2 X Quadro FX 4400 in SLI (512MB per card)
16GB of Registered ECC DDR400
etc, etc.

thats a hell of a loan!

 

[Actaeon]

Originally posted by: otispunkmeyer

Originally posted by: Kensai
Yes. The mid to high end Quadros support SLI. For example, take the system I loaned to Envir Canada:
Tyan Thunder K8WE
2 X Opteron 252
2 X Quadro FX 4400 in SLI (512MB per card)
16GB of Registered ECC DDR400
etc, etc.

thats a hell of a loan!

Where do I sign up? 🙂

 

[Big Bunny]

Yes, I had heard that the Quadros were getting support, but my understanding is the drivers will have to specifically support the software you are using to see any/much advantage in SLI mode. Any nVidia insiders have input on that subject?

 

[phisrow]

Drivers do have to be optimized for the application being run(at least if the list of supported games on their website is anything to go by). It wouldn't suprise me if the chaps at NVIDIA use this as another way of distinguishing between high end gamer cards and proper workstation kit. Who wants to bet that the Quadros will get SLI support for workstation apps way, way earlier than the Geforces(if the latter ever do)?