14 DAY TRIAL // Integrating dual graphics processing units on the very same video card is not really hot news as the technology to do this and much more has already been around for a number of years. This approach of integrating two graphics processing units on the same card comes with some advantages over the more traditional multi card setups like SLI or CrossFire as it ultimately allows users to gain more performance in games or other graphics intensive applications.
One of the best known graphics card manufacturers and vendors in the world which works exclusively with ATI video processing units is GECUBE, a company well liked by gamers and computing enthusiasts because of their high quality products that come with a huge overclocking potential. Now, GECUBE announced the world's first ATI Radeon HD2600XT based card which comes with not one but two GPUs and one GB of DDR2 video memory allowing users to experience the same level of performance as in the case of a CrossFire setup but without the hassle and extra costs in both time and money of installing a second video card. The GECUBE HD2600XT X2 GEMINI 3 delivers the perfect combination of top DirectX 10 gaming performance and hardware processed 1080p video as well as the Auto Pilot Safe Protection technology which allows the GPUs to function independently of each other.
A number of special designed ATI and GECUBE technology were integrated into these graphics cards, like the ATI Overdrive function which is designed to constantly monitor the graphics processing unit's temperature, workload and speed and adjust the clock frequency in order to maintain the best combination between the performance level and the optimal operating temperature. The GEMINI 3 HD2600XT also supports a multi graphics cards setup allowing users with compatible mainboards to install two video cards which translates into four total GPUs running at 800MHz.
Currently there are two distinct models of GEMINI 3 cards, a "lower end" model with 512MB of DDR2 video memory and the "higher end" version which comes with no less than 1GB of graphics memory. For both models, the graphics memory is clocked at an impressive 1GHz and it features a 256-bit memory ring bus controller and an 128-bits wide interface. Being compatible with the latest specifications of the DirectX standard, the GEMINI 3 supports Shader Model 4.0 image optimization technology and a number of other enhancements to 3D functions like distance bump mapping. According to the company's press release concerning this card, the "HD2600XT X2 GEMINI 3 Simultaneous Quad DVI display also dramatically increases Office Productivity for business professionals and high-end workstation users", allowing the use of multi-display configurations in order to eliminate the need to constantly minimize and maximize applications. Alongside with these technologies, the built-in HDMI with HDCP decoding abilities and the Universal Video Decoder, UVD for short, allows the GEMINI 3 graphics card to support 1080p and 1080i Blu-Ray and HD-DVD movies making the images more detailed and realistic while maintaining the computer system at a low workload level.