Dual GPU cards may finally be able to combine their VRAM.

[Assassin]

On a recent tweet by an AMD representative Robert Hallock, it has been confirmed that dual GPU cards are now finally able to double their VRAM with proper optimization and support using low level APIs such as mantle and possibly DX 12.

 

Here is the tweet:

https://twitter.com/Thracks/status/561708827662245888

 

 

Here is an article that goes into more detail. 

http://wccftech.com/geforce-radeon-gpus-utilizing-mantle-directx-12-level-api-combine-video-memory/

 

One of the more interesting features of multiple GPU configuration is how the system itself works. The reason why there is no memory stacking effect is because a complete copy of the game has to be run in each GPU, and frames are alternated between whatever number of cards you have. However, with low level APIs like Mantle having now entered the scene, the developer is granted the coveted ‘to-the-metal’ access to the GPU. That means, that with the proper optimization developers can now surpass the limitation of the old soft architecture and enable buffer stacking. 

Ultimately the point is that gamers believe that two 4GB cards can’t possibly give you the 8GB of useful memory. That may have been true for the last 25 years of PC gaming, but thats not true with Mantle and its not true with the low overhead APIs that follow in Mantle’s footsteps.

 

So there you go guys. This is really exciting and hopefully will see more support in the future. 

[CoolaxGaming]

AMD, loving the innovation these days . 

I think its gonna be a great year for them

[soaringchicken]

Nice, looking forward to the 300 series... I'm going to need to get a job, #broke

[Victor Golf]

Yeah! No more false advertising! I wonder if that means any potential performance has been unlocked...

[XTankSlayerX]

Now you ACTUALLY be able to have 8GB of VRAM!

[Deletive]

Finally people can stop whinning about it. 

OT: nice to see the optimizations, don't know how it'll work with DX12 though.

[zlolslavez]

Now, how good is that extra ram.

[Toddwjp]

i always wondered why they havent done this before. i mean it just turning it into a shared memory pool rather then 2 duplicated sets. the obliviously a lot of harder things to overcome. but strange its never been done before.

[dadasmithywinkle]

Now you ACTUALLY be able to have 8GB of VRAM!

OR 16GB OF MOTHERFUCKING VRAM WITH TWO 8GB CARDS!

[EChondo]

Cool, now SLI 970's can have 7GB!

[wyattzx]

I wonder if we'll get ads now that say "4GB means 8GB. No, really."

[sgloux3470]

My guess is this has something to do with how Mantle crossfire works.

 

In Beyond Earth mantle crossfire uses a different rendering technique than AFR (I believe it's similar to SuperTiling described here http://techreport.com/review/8826/ati-crossfire-dual-graphics-solution/3) and I suspect that if you do this properly it may be possible to not require both cards to have the same framebuffer contents.  The reason it typically isn't used is that it's more complicated to implement, but maybe Mantle/DX12 remove enough overhead on drawcalls to make it feasible instead of AFR.  

[Syntaxvgm]

Cool, now SLI 970's can have 7GB!

oh, you 

http://linustechtips.com/main/topic/303304-im-examining-nais-benchmark-and-possibly-making-my-own/

[XTankSlayerX]

OR 16GB OF MOTHERFUCKING VRAM WITH TWO 8GB CARDS!

We're going to end up with 64GB VRAM configs....

 

Now only if the GPU Cores could actually handle something that used that much or if there were only games that used up that much...

 

I think we're set when we add another zero to common HDD Sizes.

[Aniallation]

OR 16GB OF MOTHERFUCKING VRAM WITH TWO 8GB CARDS!

Autobahn Hammer.... 24GB of VRAM

[Syntaxvgm]

My guess is this has something to do with how Mantle crossfire works.

 

In Beyond Earth mantle crossfire uses a different rendering technique than AFR (I believe it's similar to SuperTiling described here http://techreport.com/review/8826/ati-crossfire-dual-graphics-solution/3) and I suspect that if you do this properly it may be possible to not require both cards to have the same framebuffer contents.  The reason it typically isn't used is that it's more complicated to implement, but maybe Mantle/DX12 remove enough overhead on drawcalls to make it feasible instead of AFR.  

I really prefer and have a better experience with AFR. 

[Victor Golf]

I think this should be pointed out from the article:

 

"just because you are running Windows 10 and DX12 and/or Mantle API does not mean that your multiple GPU configuration is now stacking memory. The capability is present in these low overhead APIs but they will not come into affect until devs specifically optimize the game as such."

[Assassin]

OR 16GB OF MOTHERFUCKING VRAM WITH TWO 8GB CARDS!

Or 24GB with Titan Z sli. 

[Assassin]

I think this should be pointed out from the article:

 

"just because you are running Windows 10 and DX12 and/or Mantle API does not mean that your multiple GPU configuration is now stacking memory. The capability is present in these low overhead APIs but they will not come into affect until devs specifically optimize the game as such."

I will add that in. Thanks!

[RazeG3SG1]

Good step towards it. Can't wait to see both teams' products.

[sgloux3470]

I really prefer and have a better experience with AFR. 

 

It works really good in Beyond Earth.  Mantle crossfire has generally been pretty shitty, but I was impressed there.  

 

Didn't use Mantle in anything else though.  Crossfire support was non-existant or shitty (thief) in mantle titles.

[SkilledRebuilds]

Dammit.. I just changed into these pants....

[Statik]

Most likely going to upgrade my rig with Broadwell-E or Skylake (not sure which one, ideas?) to try to make a more "future proof" machine.

 

I'm just an Nvidia fanboy, but I'm concerned I might have to fall in love with AMDs 3XX cards, and it had me concerned.

[Inkz]

 Although the Twitter part seems legit.

[ForsakenLive]

The day this comes every beginner reading stuff even a month old would be confused as hell. LOL.