NVIDIA unveils dual-GPU Quadro FX 4700 X2

NVIDIA has quietly upgraded the higher end of its workstation card line via the Quadro FX 4700 X2. A professional cousin to the GeForce 9800 X2, the Quadro shares the same tactic of incorporating two mid-range graphics processors into a single card; the approach offers more performance than a single chip but without consuming more than one PCI Express slot. While core clock speeds are unavailable, the combined card holds 2GB of video RAM clocked at 800MHz (1.6GHz effective).

The California electronics firm also separates the FX 4700 X2 from the home model with advanced multi-monitor support on top of the SLI performance enhancements available for a single display. Extra space is used on the card to provide four dual-link DVI outputs that each can support very high resolution screens, ranging from 2560x1600 on most 30-inch displays to 3840x2560 ultra-high density monitors from IBM. The combined effect can generate as much as a 15360x2560 image. Stereoscopic imagery is also supported from the card, which is available today but isn't yet given a list price.