Galaxy Starts Working on a Dual-GPU Graphics Card

Although known for its restrictive policies concerning just how much its partners can use from its portfolio, NVIDIA seems to have had a change of heart and may have started allowing them to craft dual-GPU adapters. This is probably due to just how well AMD has been doing lately, with its many recent DirectX-compatible releases of mid and high-end market products, not the least of which is the Radeon HD 5970. Probably as a precaution, NVIDIA may be trying to stabilize its position on the market in advance, in case more issues arise with the technologies still in development (production snags have already plagued TSMC, affecting the progress of NVIDIA's Fermi and AMD's Cypress alike).

The card seemingly being developed by Galaxy still hasn't left the drawing board, but its 3D-model already has hardware specialists speculating. The card looks like a single-PCB dual-GPU graphics accelerator model, which the company supposedly intends to release before Christmas.

Each GPU seems to be outfitted with its own cooler built with radially projecting fins, including a baseplate to cool the rest of the components. Studying the layout of the PCB seems to show a certain similarity with that of the single-PCB GeForce GTX 295, but the space for 16 memory chips instead indicates that the card might turn out to be more similar to ASUS' MARS dual-285 (a dual GeForce GTX accelerator).

The seeming resemblance between ASUS' MARS adapter and Galaxy's blueprint might point towards a similar adapter. That would pretty much remove its 'Christmas special' status (as Galaxy Intends to make it). The limited edition of ASUS' dual GeForce GTX 285 was sold for over $1,000 each. Consumers naturally would not want to have to spend so much money on Galaxy's upcoming adapter, especially with the highly competent HD 5970 already out, and with Fermi-based cards set to emerge soon as well.

No pricing or specific launch details have been given, however, so hopefuls will just have to wait and see.