What's an MXM SLI?
As we already know, the MXM graphics module is NVIDIA's answer to discrete graphics integration in notebooks. The MXM is essentially a scaled down PCI Express interface which attempts to be a standard interconnect for discrete graphics solution used in notebooks. MXM is an initiative by NVIDIA, so it's natural that you'll find only MXM modules based on NVIDIA's GeForce Go GPUs.
MXM has many benefits and its flexibility will obviously help notebook manufacturers offer systems with various kinds of graphics. Besides that, MXM will also allow graphics upgradeability in a notebook as it has done away with proprietary graphics interfaces. The MXM electromechanical specification also detailed the size of the MXM module along with its retention mechanism and cooling requirements. All these standards have made it possible for notebook manufacturers to adopt MXM as the standard graphics interface for their notebooks and obviously reducing the manufacturer's development time. In fact, according to NVIDIA, MXM is an open standard and ATI is free to use its specifications as well.
Now, what is MXM SLI then? Well, as its name implies, it's SLI using two MXM modules - it's that simple. It seems that MSI has found a way to put two MXM modules together in an SLI configuration without the need for any complicated hardware modifications on the MXM modules. As we found out, MXM SLI is just as simple as putting two MXM modules together.
MXM SLI - The Future?
If you think about it, MXM SLI does open up a lot of possibilities for different sorts of hardware configurations. For one, it shows that you can indeed configure SLI using MXM modules and it will only be a matter of time before notebook manufacturers begin offering gaming laptops with SLI capability. In fact, the thought of an SLI gaming notebook is attractive. Think about it, if you were to purchase a notebook with a GeForce Go 6600 today, a notebook capable of SLI may give you the option to increase its performance by simply adding another similar GeForce Go 6600 MXM card.
Of course, on the desktop side, MXM SLI offers cooler and quieter graphics with fairly good performance. Although it may be viewed as a novelty, we think it's far cooler than any dual GPU cards we have out there. Imagine a card with MXM that uses a simple heatsink and a small fan that's quieter than your regular chassis fan.
MSI told us that the card works just like an SLI setup and it can work with either one MXM for a single GPU setup or two MXM for an SLI configuration. As usual, the SLI rule still applies - you're required to install two identical MXM modules with the same graphics chip and memory capacity.
According to MSI, the card will work with all types of MXM modules too, including MXM Type I, II and III cards. Thus, you can see that MSI has pretty much given the card much flexibility. For cooling, MSI has yet to settle on a viable solution but they have tested it successfully using two small coolers with only a 4cm fan. Of course, with MXM's lower heat output, MSI indicated that they have the intention to use fanless heatsinks. That would ultimately make the world's first fanless SLI card!
Judging from what MSI has done with the SLI technology and further extending it to MXM, the future does look promising. We do not know how it will develop, but we're excited that it holds much promise for gaming on the notebook. On the desktop side, it may be a novelty, especially for those who want to have a quiet SLI graphics solution.
MSI's MXM SLi graphics card.
The MSI MXM SLi card with two MXM modules installed.
This is not the final installed position. The cards will be fully parallel with the base card when properly installed. The screws on the base card will securely lock the cards in place.
Here's another view of the MXM modules before it's securely fastened to the base card. As you can see, the card will have the usual DVI and analog RGB outputs, along with an S-Video port too.
Here's the rear view of the card.
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Image courtesy : Hardwarezone
As we already know, the MXM graphics module is NVIDIA's answer to discrete graphics integration in notebooks. The MXM is essentially a scaled down PCI Express interface which attempts to be a standard interconnect for discrete graphics solution used in notebooks. MXM is an initiative by NVIDIA, so it's natural that you'll find only MXM modules based on NVIDIA's GeForce Go GPUs.
MXM has many benefits and its flexibility will obviously help notebook manufacturers offer systems with various kinds of graphics. Besides that, MXM will also allow graphics upgradeability in a notebook as it has done away with proprietary graphics interfaces. The MXM electromechanical specification also detailed the size of the MXM module along with its retention mechanism and cooling requirements. All these standards have made it possible for notebook manufacturers to adopt MXM as the standard graphics interface for their notebooks and obviously reducing the manufacturer's development time. In fact, according to NVIDIA, MXM is an open standard and ATI is free to use its specifications as well.
Now, what is MXM SLI then? Well, as its name implies, it's SLI using two MXM modules - it's that simple. It seems that MSI has found a way to put two MXM modules together in an SLI configuration without the need for any complicated hardware modifications on the MXM modules. As we found out, MXM SLI is just as simple as putting two MXM modules together.
MXM SLI - The Future?
If you think about it, MXM SLI does open up a lot of possibilities for different sorts of hardware configurations. For one, it shows that you can indeed configure SLI using MXM modules and it will only be a matter of time before notebook manufacturers begin offering gaming laptops with SLI capability. In fact, the thought of an SLI gaming notebook is attractive. Think about it, if you were to purchase a notebook with a GeForce Go 6600 today, a notebook capable of SLI may give you the option to increase its performance by simply adding another similar GeForce Go 6600 MXM card.
Of course, on the desktop side, MXM SLI offers cooler and quieter graphics with fairly good performance. Although it may be viewed as a novelty, we think it's far cooler than any dual GPU cards we have out there. Imagine a card with MXM that uses a simple heatsink and a small fan that's quieter than your regular chassis fan.
MSI told us that the card works just like an SLI setup and it can work with either one MXM for a single GPU setup or two MXM for an SLI configuration. As usual, the SLI rule still applies - you're required to install two identical MXM modules with the same graphics chip and memory capacity.
According to MSI, the card will work with all types of MXM modules too, including MXM Type I, II and III cards. Thus, you can see that MSI has pretty much given the card much flexibility. For cooling, MSI has yet to settle on a viable solution but they have tested it successfully using two small coolers with only a 4cm fan. Of course, with MXM's lower heat output, MSI indicated that they have the intention to use fanless heatsinks. That would ultimately make the world's first fanless SLI card!
Judging from what MSI has done with the SLI technology and further extending it to MXM, the future does look promising. We do not know how it will develop, but we're excited that it holds much promise for gaming on the notebook. On the desktop side, it may be a novelty, especially for those who want to have a quiet SLI graphics solution.
MSI's MXM SLi graphics card.
The MSI MXM SLi card with two MXM modules installed.
This is not the final installed position. The cards will be fully parallel with the base card when properly installed. The screws on the base card will securely lock the cards in place.
Here's another view of the MXM modules before it's securely fastened to the base card. As you can see, the card will have the usual DVI and analog RGB outputs, along with an S-Video port too.
Here's the rear view of the card.
__________________
Image courtesy : Hardwarezone