NVIDIA to unlock SLI for AMD 990 series chipsets
Are the days of SLI and CrossFire being limited to specific motherboard chipsets finally over?آ While AMD were the first to open up their CrossFire multi-GPU rendering system to non-AMD platforms, NVIDIA were a little slower to allow SLI support on Intel chipsets, and haven't allowed SLI on AMD motherboards at all... until their next generation 990-series parts, seemingly.
For so long, AMD enthusiasts have to resort to unofficial patches to make SLI work on their boards but not anymore. NVIDIA has finally agreed to make their SLI technology available for AMD 9-series chipsets boards supporting the Zambezi processors based on Bulldozer architecture. Only 990FX and 990X will be supported though so no luck for 7 and 8 series boards owners. AMD 990FX is able to support 2 PCIe x16 slots or 4 PCIe x8 slots so it can run 2-way (2 x16) or 3-way (3 x8) while AMD 990X is able to support only 2-way SLI (2 x8). There is no indication whether AMD 970 can support SLI at this point of time. The AMD 9-series launch is expected to be sometime in May so look out for it.
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NVIDIA GeForce/ION 270.51 beta driver released
NVIDIA have just released a new beta driver, which as well as containing a slew of performance improvements also offers up a new automatic update ability to ensure that your graphics drivers are always up-to-date.
This is the first release from the Release 270 family of drivers (versions 270.xx to 274.xx). You can read more about this family of drivers on GeForce.com. This driver package supports GeForce 6, 7, 8, 9, 100, 200, 300, 400, and 500-series desktop GPUs as well as ION desktop GPUs. This driver package also includes the 3D Vision Controller driver.
New in Release 270.51
GPU Support
Download NVIDIA GeForce/ION 270.51 beta driver for Windows Vista/7 (32-bit)New in Release 270.51
GPU Support
- Adds support for the newly released GeForce GTX 590, GeForce GTX 560 Ti and GeForce GTX 550 Ti GPUs.
- Increases performance for GeForce 400 Series and 500 Series GPUs in several PC games vs. v266.58 WHQL drivers. The following are examples of some of the most significant improvements measured on Windows 7. Results will vary depending on your GPU and system configuration:
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- Up to 516% in Dragon Age 2 (SLI 2560x1600 8xAA/16xAF Very High, SSAO on)
- Up to 326% in Dragon Age 2 (1920x1200 8xAA/16xAF Very High, SSAO on)
- Up to 11% in Just Cause 2 (1920x1200 8xAA/16xAF, Concrete Jungle)
- Up to 11% in Just Cause 2 (SLI 2560x1600 8xAA/16xAF, Concrete Jungle)
- Up to 7% in Civilization V (1920x1200 4xAA/16xAF, Max settings)
- Up to 6% in Far Cry 2 (SLI 2560x1600 8xAA/16xAF, Max settings)
- Up to 5% in Civilization V (SLI 1920x1200 8xAA/16xAF, Max settings)
- Up to 5% in Left 4 Dead 2 (1920x1200 noAA/AF, Outdoor)
- Up to 5% in Left 4 Dead 2 (SLI 2560x1600 4xAA/16xAF, Outdoor)
- Up to 4% in H.A.W.X. 2 (SLI 1920x1200 8xAA/16xAF, Max settings)
- Up to 4% in Mafia 2 (SLI 2560x1600 AA on/16xAF, PhysX = High)
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- Up to 461% in Dragon Age 2 (SLI 1920x1200 8xAA/16xAF, Very High)
- Up to 241% in Dragon Age 2 (1920x1200 4xAA/16xAF, Very High)
- Up to 19% in Just Cause 2 (SLI 2560x1600 8xAA/16xAF, Concrete Jungle)
- Up to 13% in Just Cause 2 (1920x1200 4xAA/16xAF, Concrete Jungle)
- Up to 6% in Far Cry 2 (SLI 2560x1600 8xAA/16xAF, Max settings)
- Up to 5% in Call of Duty: Black Ops (1920x1200 noAA/AF, Jungle Map)
- Up to 5% in H.A.W.X. 2 (SLI 1920x1200 4xAA/16xAF, Max settings)
- Up to 4% in Call of Duty: Black Ops (SLI 2560x1600 4xAA/16xAF, Jungle Map)
- Up to 4% in Civilization V (1920x1200 noAA/AF, Max settings)
- Up to 4% in Left 4 Dead 2 (SLI 1920x1200 4xAA/16xAF, Outdoor)
- Up to 4% in Metro 2033 (SLI 1920x1200 4xAA/16xAF, PhysX on)
- This is a new feature in Release 270 and later drivers. NVIDIA Update keeps your PC up-to-date with the latest NVIDIA drivers by notifying you when a new driver is available and directing you to the driver on www.nvidia.com. When you install a Release 270 or later GeForce driver from www.nvidia.com, you will be presented with the option to install NVIDIA Update. Click here to learn more about NVIDIA Update.
Download NVIDIA GeForce/ION 270.51 beta driver for Windows Vista/7 (64-bit)
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How video games killed desktop PC computing
Recent years have seen plenty of wailing and gnashing of teeth surrounding the supposed "death" of the PC gaming industry, and to a wider extent the future of desktop PCs (and gaming systems particularly) in general.آ To this end, the last couple of days have seen a pair of editorial pieces emerge discussing just these concerns and what they mean for both the PC and gaming industries - what are your thoughts on the points they put forward?
Some time shortly after attending the 2011 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas this past January, my exposure to "the next wave of technology" led me to have a true moment of clarity. I've been hard at work trying to find a positive direction within this industry, primarily because Benchmark Reviews is a desktop hardware-centric media outlet. Considering how notebook computers have been outselling desktop counterparts for over three years already, and that netbooks, tablets, and a myriad of mobile devices have piled onto this effect, it's not easy to remain faithful to a shrinking platform. But the writing is on the wall, and the future of this market segment is no longer a mystery.
For many of our readers, that last statement might be passed off as opinion. Sadly, there will always be people who refuse to believe in something until after it has becomes undeniable to argue. I'm a little more calculated since I operate a corporation centered on sales and service of this platform, in addition to my experiences with this website. Nevertheless, I've already published statistical facts that backed my initial pessimistic feelings, but that wasn't enough for some of you. I knew that to really convince my readers, my message would needed to be solid. For those who still remain tethered to this industry, consider this editorial a friendly forewarning.
How video games killed desktop PC computing at Benchmark ReviewsFor many of our readers, that last statement might be passed off as opinion. Sadly, there will always be people who refuse to believe in something until after it has becomes undeniable to argue. I'm a little more calculated since I operate a corporation centered on sales and service of this platform, in addition to my experiences with this website. Nevertheless, I've already published statistical facts that backed my initial pessimistic feelings, but that wasn't enough for some of you. I knew that to really convince my readers, my message would needed to be solid. For those who still remain tethered to this industry, consider this editorial a friendly forewarning.
Run in guns blazing? Stealth in undetected? Drive in with a car and start firing at everyone? You could adapt to any scenario and change the suit powers at any time. What does Crysis 2 do?
Just as you get to a battle or see some bad guys, the suit tells you to activate stealth or armor, letting you know there's a battle that is about to begin. The suit talks to you now, telling you what to do, where to go, what power to use. I don't want that; why am I having my hand held throughout the game? I don't want this. I want the open-ended gaming that the original games from Crytek offered in Far Cry and Crysis.
Games these days don't want you to struggle. They want you to enjoy your time and finish the game, usually cut down which allows DLC (downloadable content) to be released (for a charge). If the game comes out and 2 weeks later there's DLC, why not ship the game as a whole, instead of cutting it off and releasing more content which you get charged for.
Are consoles holding back gaming tech? at Tweak TownJust as you get to a battle or see some bad guys, the suit tells you to activate stealth or armor, letting you know there's a battle that is about to begin. The suit talks to you now, telling you what to do, where to go, what power to use. I don't want that; why am I having my hand held throughout the game? I don't want this. I want the open-ended gaming that the original games from Crytek offered in Far Cry and Crysis.
Games these days don't want you to struggle. They want you to enjoy your time and finish the game, usually cut down which allows DLC (downloadable content) to be released (for a charge). If the game comes out and 2 weeks later there's DLC, why not ship the game as a whole, instead of cutting it off and releasing more content which you get charged for.
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