I do not want a product with Lucid tech, that is for sure. From all tests I've seen it's extremely rare that it performs better than a single graphic card does when mixing two different graphic cards. It's also not as efficient as the old tech used for sli or crossfire.
Their idea is interesting but their execution is horrible.
So before I see new tests that proves that any of their tech is working nicely I do not want anything from that company.
It is quite true that Hydra scaling with different cards is abyssal. It is also true that scaling with the same cards is not quite as efficient as SLI/Xfire. However I would much prefer it to a SLI/Xfire solution.
The biggest problem with SLI/Xfire is latency. No matter how many cards you throw into your system, the individual frame rendering times stay the same. The only way to get benefits out of more cards is to render ahead using Alternate Frame Rendering. This introduces quite a bit of input delay. I cringe when I see people bragging about their Quad GPUs able to pump out 100+ FPS. That's a free 40ms of input delay just by itself. For someone who tries to get frame latency as low as possible, SLI/Xfire just isn't an option.
Enter Lucid's Hydra. While those 4 GPUs in the above situation might get 100FPS in SLI, they may only get 70FPS when running on Hydra. However, since all GPUs are working on one frame at a time, it only takes 14ms to render the frame. We just got 26ms of input delay cut.
If I were to build an absolutely no limits system, it would either have a single powerful GPU, or multiple GPUs on a Hydra chip. I won't touch SLI/Xfire until they can provide a competent SFR solution.
Sorry but no. Lucid has never been able to implement their ideas. Their implementation has always been nothing but a bust.
Thus, I do not believe in them until it has been proven that they have a product that does what they claim to have it do.
About the problem with crossfire and sli and fps is also not true what you write. The problem that exists with SLI and Crossfire is micro suttering. That problems becomes less noticeable if the picture they work on take the same effort or when you have a high fps. This link describes the problem fairly well. http://www.pcgameshardware.com/aid,631668/Video-pr...
"The tech is what is being discussed, or rather the faulty tech.*"
*Citation needed.
I'm not saying you're wrong, but you're not right until you actually show me something that backs you up. Until then, your statement, to me, amounts to an opinion, not a fact.
IceDread...it took 20 years to actually make the concept of a transistor work...a good thing people like you were not working on that project!
I'm pumped lucid is continuing to move forward with their concepts. Yes they don't work like they need to but they;re making progress, it's called a paradigm shift and it takes time and a ton of work...sometimes the fruits of their labor turn into something totally different (i.e. maybe thier hydra approach fails but this new approach does and it was developed from the hydra technology...it's just how innovation works)
I for one would just be happy if they'd update their HydraLogix driver for my Crossfire IV Extreme board. It hasnt had a driver update since March and wont work with newer NVidia drivers without one.
I have a Sandy Bridge Intel board with an Core i5 2500 and a Radeon video card, upgraded just to use QuickSync to render Full HD videos, with PowerDirector 9. But Virtu (supplied with the board) never supported video applications besides Media Expresso and Media Converter.
With and older version of Virtu, adding manually all the .exe files of PowerDirector made QuickSync available inside the software (albeit with somewhat erratic behavior). But this approach never worked anymore in the newer versions.
I've made the upgrade to Sandy Bridge putting my faith in Virtu to use QuickSync, and it was a BIG dissapointment.
The last Lucid product was a big disappointment. It will be good for general users if it will work as well as it says. There are times Lucid is slower than just the stand alone graphic card.
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IceDread - Wednesday, September 14, 2011 - link
I do not want a product with Lucid tech, that is for sure. From all tests I've seen it's extremely rare that it performs better than a single graphic card does when mixing two different graphic cards. It's also not as efficient as the old tech used for sli or crossfire.Their idea is interesting but their execution is horrible.
So before I see new tests that proves that any of their tech is working nicely I do not want anything from that company.
Ben90 - Wednesday, September 14, 2011 - link
It is quite true that Hydra scaling with different cards is abyssal. It is also true that scaling with the same cards is not quite as efficient as SLI/Xfire. However I would much prefer it to a SLI/Xfire solution.The biggest problem with SLI/Xfire is latency. No matter how many cards you throw into your system, the individual frame rendering times stay the same. The only way to get benefits out of more cards is to render ahead using Alternate Frame Rendering. This introduces quite a bit of input delay. I cringe when I see people bragging about their Quad GPUs able to pump out 100+ FPS. That's a free 40ms of input delay just by itself. For someone who tries to get frame latency as low as possible, SLI/Xfire just isn't an option.
Enter Lucid's Hydra. While those 4 GPUs in the above situation might get 100FPS in SLI, they may only get 70FPS when running on Hydra. However, since all GPUs are working on one frame at a time, it only takes 14ms to render the frame. We just got 26ms of input delay cut.
If I were to build an absolutely no limits system, it would either have a single powerful GPU, or multiple GPUs on a Hydra chip. I won't touch SLI/Xfire until they can provide a competent SFR solution.
IceDread - Wednesday, September 14, 2011 - link
Sorry but no. Lucid has never been able to implement their ideas. Their implementation has always been nothing but a bust.Thus, I do not believe in them until it has been proven that they have a product that does what they claim to have it do.
About the problem with crossfire and sli and fps is also not true what you write. The problem that exists with SLI and Crossfire is micro suttering. That problems becomes less noticeable if the picture they work on take the same effort or when you have a high fps.
This link describes the problem fairly well.
http://www.pcgameshardware.com/aid,631668/Video-pr...
GTVic - Wednesday, September 14, 2011 - link
Yes, we get it, you don't want to buy products that don't work. Next ...These type of "I don't like this company", "their products are bad", "I won't buy them" comments are pointless. Just discuss the technology.
IceDread - Thursday, September 15, 2011 - link
The tech is what is being discussed, or rather the faulty tech. Where did you learn to read?LoneWolf15 - Monday, September 19, 2011 - link
"The tech is what is being discussed, or rather the faulty tech.*"*Citation needed.
I'm not saying you're wrong, but you're not right until you actually show me something that backs you up. Until then, your statement, to me, amounts to an opinion, not a fact.
BroderickAU - Friday, February 24, 2012 - link
Micro stuttering is indeed a problem with multi-GPU, but it's far from the only problem. What Ben90 said about input lag is correct.m.amitava - Wednesday, September 14, 2011 - link
Nice name I have to admit! :PATC9001 - Wednesday, September 14, 2011 - link
IceDread...it took 20 years to actually make the concept of a transistor work...a good thing people like you were not working on that project!I'm pumped lucid is continuing to move forward with their concepts. Yes they don't work like they need to but they;re making progress, it's called a paradigm shift and it takes time and a ton of work...sometimes the fruits of their labor turn into something totally different (i.e. maybe thier hydra approach fails but this new approach does and it was developed from the hydra technology...it's just how innovation works)
ayersmj - Thursday, September 15, 2011 - link
I for one would just be happy if they'd update their HydraLogix driver for my Crossfire IV Extreme board. It hasnt had a driver update since March and wont work with newer NVidia drivers without one.Can they work on that now please?
IlllI - Thursday, September 15, 2011 - link
is it just me or is this is all starting to remind me of those 'memory optimizer' programs back in the windows 95 days.Marcio K - Friday, September 16, 2011 - link
I have a Sandy Bridge Intel board with an Core i5 2500 and a Radeon video card, upgraded just to use QuickSync to render Full HD videos, with PowerDirector 9. But Virtu (supplied with the board) never supported video applications besides Media Expresso and Media Converter.With and older version of Virtu, adding manually all the .exe files of PowerDirector made QuickSync available inside the software (albeit with somewhat erratic behavior). But this approach never worked anymore in the newer versions.
I've made the upgrade to Sandy Bridge putting my faith in Virtu to use QuickSync, and it was a BIG dissapointment.
Vinny DePaul - Friday, September 16, 2011 - link
The last Lucid product was a big disappointment. It will be good for general users if it will work as well as it says. There are times Lucid is slower than just the stand alone graphic card.