Howdy, stranger! Ready to join the community? [log in]

Next Intel X58 board to have Hydra graphics?

Peter G. December 19, 2008 10:23 PM ET in Tech

The rumour mill is in full effect today with reports that Intel’s next X58 ‘Smackover’ motherboard will feature Lucid’s Hydra graphics chip. The Hydra allows users to mix-and-match ATI and NVIDIA video cards to their heart’s delight with no real downfall. By using Hydra instead of SLI or Crossfire, people should see better scaling over multi-card setups. If the rumours are even half-true, Intel could have the Next Big Thing on the motherboard market.

Share |

18 Comments:

  1. Gargoyle
    We can't stop here...
    19 Dec '08, 10:54 pm

    I don't think you can mix and max ATI and Nvidia together, since they use different drivers. But mixing any two from the same make would still be awesome. Imagine upgrading your card, but your old one still helps out (and for more than just PhysX). I'm glad to see that the Hydra chip might actually get used.

  2. Peter G.
    Dept. of Propaganda
    19 Dec '08, 11:19 pm

    You're correct. You've gotta have the same drivers for both cards. Cool thing is, you get all the performance of having both cards instead of just a 40 percent increase or whatever it is you get now. With Hydra, double cards should roughly mean double performance.

  3. Leonardo
    F@H Reign of Terror is back!
    19 Dec '08, 11:34 pm
    With Hydra, double cards should roughly mean double performance.

    Maybe under some usages, but I find that hard to believe as a general statement. Neither Crossfire nor SLI have come even close to doubling performance with anything but a few, very few narrow focus applications - a few game titles.

    Nonetheless, this does look to be a big step.

  4. Thrax
    Cad
    19 Dec '08, 11:38 pm

    It's true. Hydra scaling is very close to linear. We linked to this in Aug. '08.

  5. Peter G.
    Dept. of Propaganda
    19 Dec '08, 11:48 pm

    Leo, from Hydra's website:

    Scalability
    The HYDRA supports up to four GPUs so a user can choose the price and performance level of the graphics platform. The platform performance will improve in a linear proportion to the number of GPUs installed.

    I've seen some preliminary benchmarks but can't seem to find them. This article does a pretty good job explaining why Crossfire and SLI don't have as big of performance gains as Hydra.

    Also, Hydra can handle up to 4 cards. Imagine 4 HD 4870 X2s in a Hydra setup!

  6. Leonardo
    F@H Reign of Terror is back!
    19 Dec '08, 11:52 pm

    Wow, that very well could be "the next big thing." If early tests are accurate, that completely outclasses SLI or Crossfire.

  7. Komete
    DIY Haxx0r
    20 Dec '08, 12:10 am

    I remember reading about this a while back. Correct me if I'm wrong but wouldn't even two 4850's or even a lesser card running on hydra out perform 1 4870x2 by a healthy margin? This would make the 300 motherboard price almost worth it.

  8. Peter G.
    Dept. of Propaganda
    20 Dec '08, 12:17 am

    Yep. Two 4850s should run circles around a single 4870 X2 on a Hydra board.

  9. Gargoyle
    We can't stop here...
    20 Dec '08, 1:35 am

    I wonder how long it'll be before Nvidia or ATI come up with better load sharing methods so that SLI/Crossfire scale better. Maybe this will light a fire under them.

  10. mas0n
    technosexual
    20 Dec '08, 2:49 am

    Wonderful.

  11. Leonardo
    F@H Reign of Terror is back!
    20 Dec '08, 8:54 pm
    I wonder how long it'll be before Nvidia or ATI come up with better load sharing methods so that SLI/Crossfire scale better.

    Now that Hydra appears to be reality right around the corner, I think Nvidia and ATI will be scrambling to improve their tech.

  12. Snarkasm
    The Photographer.
    20 Dec '08, 9:26 pm

    I'm pumped. I think I'll delay my inevitable upgrade until we hear more about this here.

  13. Your Amish Daddy
    Banned
    21 Dec '08, 12:40 pm

    Hydra's gonna deliver. It's RISC.

  14. MiracleManS
    Mediocrity Gets You Pears
    22 Dec '08, 8:39 am

    If this is coming out in the near future, I'll also wait to build a new system.

  15. Khaos
    King Kretin
    23 Dec '08, 2:55 am

    At the big Intel show in Taiwan this year they had two GF9600's (Note the crap model number, it's important!) running Crysis at 1920x1200, high quality with AA and getting 45-60 FPS.

    Yeah, it's pretty awesome.

    Apparently, due to the way they are able to optimize AA functions and intelligently delegate work between physical GPU's, sometimes it is possible to see scaling BETTER THAN 100% when using AA at high resolutions.

  16. Snarkasm
    The Photographer.
    23 Dec '08, 9:41 am

    Oh good Lord. Is this the breakthrough we've all been waiting for?

  17. Khaos
    King Kretin
    23 Dec '08, 11:58 am
    Quoting Snarkasm

    Oh good Lord. Is this the breakthrough we've all been waiting for?

    Pretty much. I have to wear my hat on my belt and pop Xanax for a few days whenever a new Hydra article surfaces.

  18. Gargoyle
    We can't stop here...
    23 Dec '08, 1:00 pm
    Quoting Khaos

    Pretty much. I have to wear my hat on my belt and pop Xanax for a few days whenever a new Hydra article surfaces.

    Oh thank God. I thought I was on the only one.

    I'm sure I have a bigger hat, though.

Hey, be nice. Icrontic is full of good people, we promise.

New Features on Icrontic: