Scan-Line Interleave
Template:Short description Template:Confused Template:Refimprove Template:Infobox Information appliance Scan-Line Interleave (SLI) is a multi-GPU method developed by 3DFX for linking two (or more) video cards or chips together to produce a single output. It is an application of parallel processing for computer graphics, meant to increase the processing power available for graphics.<ref name=NGen37>Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref name=boot17>Template:Cite magazine</ref>
3DFX's SLI technology was first introduced in 1998 with the Voodoo2 line of graphics accelerators. The original Voodoo Graphics card and the VSA-100<ref name=AnandVoodoo5Review>Lal Shimpi, Anand. 3DFX Voodoo5 5500, Anandtech, July 11, 2000.</ref><ref name=wicher>3DFX Interview with Peter Wicher, Hot Hardware, December 15, 2001.</ref> were also SLI-capable. However, in the case of the former, it was only used in arcades,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> as well as professional applications via Primary Image's Piranha<ref name=":0">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> card, intended for use with simulations using various<ref name=":1">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name=":2">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> graphics APIs such as OpenGL, Glide, or Primary Image's own Tempest API. Support for the MultiGen OpenFlight Format in particular was specifically advertised.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2" />
NVIDIA reintroduced the SLI acronym in 2004 as Scalable Link Interface. NVIDIA's SLI, compared to 3DFX's SLI, is modernized to use graphics cards interfaced over the PCI Express bus.<ref name="NVIDIA SLI">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
FunctionEdit
3DFX's SLI design was the first attempt, in the consumer PC market, at combining the rendering power of two video cards. The two 3DFX cards were connected by a small ribbon cable inside the PC. This cable shared graphics and synchronization information between the cards. Each 3DFX card rendered alternating horizontal lines of pixels composing a frame.<ref name=NGen37/><ref name=boot17/>
See alsoEdit
- Scalable Link Interface - Nvidia
- AMD CrossFireX - AMD