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> the latest graphics APIs offer ways to use independent GPUs simultaneously without these. The problem is that DX12 or Vulkan require the application develope
by wtallis 6y ago
> the latest graphics APIs offer ways to use independent GPUs simultaneously without these.
The problem is that DX12 or Vulkan require the application developers to implement multi-GPU capability.
SLI and Crossfire made multi-GPU support the responsibility of the drivers, and had at least the theoretical possibility of working for unmodified applications and games. That didn't work out too well in practice, but it was pretty obviously the only approach that had much chance of delivering widespread support.
- mappu 6y agoDX12 and Vulkan are realistically, too low-level for ordinary applications to use - but engines like Unity and UE4 get to implement native multigpu without having to adversarially hack around driver multigpu behavior. Sure it has to be done in the application, but overall it will result in better outcomes for AAA titles. For other apps using higher-level OpenGL/DX11 the existing multigpu drivers are still available - for now - but NVIDIA just want you to buy a single faster 3xxx-series card, that will almost certainly outperform implicit multigpu on an older card. They aren't updating SLI profiles after January, and aren't supporting them at all on the 3xxx series cards.