... in with the GPU-Xpander desktop:


I came across this one when I was researching something else. Might be something to think about for the next 'upgrade'. :-)

GPU-Xpander allows you to convert your desktop tower computer into a workstation with multiple adapters and controllers, including high-end, 3D graphics, audio and other multi-port IO adapters such as FireWire, USB 2.0 or Gbps Ethernet for thousands of dollars less per seat than buying a specialized, overpriced GPU-enabled PC.

Use your favorite “slot and watt limited” PC – Dell®, HP®, IBM®, white box – to tackle HPC and/or graphical rendering projects. It takes only a few minutes to supercharge your PC by adding a GPU-Xpander to make scientific calculations or graphical rendering lightning fast.

GPU-Xpander provides an independent life support system with its own power and cooling dedicated to the GPU or GPUs themselves. GPU-Xpander is a PCI Express bus extender, so you don’t tax your existing PC’s cooling capability, power supply, or violate its warranty by operating it beyond its specifications.

You need GPU-Xpander if the hardware and software combination you intend to use runs in your computer but causes over-current or overheating problems. GPU-Xpander is a hardware-only solution: no software required. GPU-Xpander provides its own power supply and cooling; it requires no power from the host computer. Simply plug the host adapter in your computer's PCIe slot, connect GPU-Xpander, power up and install device drivers.

http://www.cubix.com/content/gpu-xpander-desktop
https://www.cubixgpu.com/Products/Desktop/gpu-xpander-4

Wonder who will be the first here to run such a setup. ;-)

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$2600 for the base model. Pass.

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Executive Director GPU Users Group Inc. -
brad@gpuug.org

I like the idea in theory, but it seems to me that those of us who are building our own rigs could find a cheaper way to add GPU capacity. Apart from the base price, the base unit seems underpowered with only a 750W PSU. Two 590's use more than that. Plus, as the base unit has 4 single slots, and most, if not all, high-end air cooled cards are dual slot, you'd be limited to two additional cards. I'd also want to know more about the cooling; the pics available don't make the case look airlow-friendly.

Having said all that, it might be a good idea for, as the company suggests, someone with an older, space-limited retail system, who doesn't want to build a second high end rig from scratch. But it would still be a pricey exercise.

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$2600 for the base model. Pass.

I agree.

I can see the point of what they are trying to do,
Office type`s that do not realy know what go`s into building a crunching power house,
If they have ever looked inside a computer and seen all the voodoo and magic therein,
they just want to buy something that works.

It is just that us lot who happily build our own rigs look at a base budget of $2600 and know what we can do with it.
Right now the three PCIe @16 slots in my 780i would realy look nice with a trio of 7970`s in them.
I can hear them wispering "it only costs £1252 plus postage"
Or is it the fan bearings need oiled again ???

I think those light peak boxes or a vidock might be more cost effective.

These products to expand that a machine was designed to do are always good to see.

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SETI@home classic workunits: 93,865 CPU time: 863,447 hours
Join the [url=http://tinyurl.com/8y46zvu]BP6/VP6 User Group[

I think those light peak boxes or a vidock might be more cost effective.

These products to expand that a machine was designed to do are always good to see.

That's a nice thing to have if you want to empower your laptop, but is there any cost effective solution for desktop people who doesn't have the means (i.e. myself) to upgrade their motherboards (and anything else that might came along with it) to enjoy multi-GPU environment?

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Who the hell is General Failure and why is he reading my harddisk?¿

Holy moly, $2600? Runs away cackling like a JOKER...

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The T1 Trust, PRR T1 Class 4-4-4-4 #5550, 1 of America's First HST's

No, for only $2,600 you have the case... it costs a little more with cards in it. And then they have the nerve to say "GPU-Xpander allows you to convert your desktop tower computer into a workstation with multiple adapters and controllers, including high-end, 3D graphics, audio and other multi-port IO adapters such as FireWire, USB 2.0 or Gbps Ethernet for thousands of dollars less per seat than buying a specialized, overpriced GPU-enabled PC."

The "CES 2012 GPU-Xpander + NVIDIA Bundle Special - 2048 CUDA cores in Desktop 4" is $5,000

Doing a comparison in euros.
- 4 x GTX 580 with 1.5GB GDDR5, depends on brand and what cooling you have (e.g. hydro is 700 euro), but on average €449 a piece. 4 x €449.
- Motherboard with Z68 chipset, €329.(*)
- CPU, don't need a high powered one as we're not running anything on it. All it does is steer the PCI-e lanes, €58,90.
- Memory, 4GB Crucial, €22,99.
- PSU, max output of a GTX 580 is 244W, so that times 4 is 976W, meaning we'd need at least a 1KW. A Chieftec for €147,90.
Anything else? Oh, a case.
- Case, comes with two 120mm casefans, €59,90.

This together is €2414.69
5000 US Dollar(s) = 3792 Euro(s)

I think I am cheaper. ;-)

(*) However, of course the motherboards I can find, all Asus, do have 4x PCI-e 2.0 x16 lanes, but you can realistically only put 2 of those GTX580's in there. Unless you take the cooler case + fans off. So,anyone know of a mobo with 4 PCI-e lanes with double size slots, or else one with 8 slots?

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(*) However, of course the motherboards I can find, all Asus, do have 4x PCI-e 2.0 x16 lanes, but you can realistically only put 2 of those GTX580's in there. Unless you take the cooler case + fans off. So,anyone know of a mobo with 4 PCI-e lanes with double size slots, or else one with 8 slots?

Actually you'd be wanting to look at XL-ATX motherboards for a decent quad setup. ;)

I do know that both EVGA and Gigabyte make these format mobo's but you'll also need a XL-ATX case to go with them.

Cheers.

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I like the look of http://www.evga.com/forums/tm.aspx?m=939449&mpage=1, however note the date.

The other option is 2 x http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/ASUS/Mars_II/ but there is a price issue with this.

There is Gigabyte X79-UD3. 200 EURO(including 20% VAT in Bulgaria), 4 slots spaced enough, x8/x8/x8/x8 when all 4 are occupied, normal ATX. Cheapest CPU is i7-3820(250 EURO), the only drawback.

There is P67 board from Asus with similar layout and size, but its expensier and p67 is so 2010. Sapphire has also same board, but it doesn't support SLI, and maybe highly priced too.

There are several Z77 boards coming with same layout and size also. E.g Gigabyte G1.Sniper3.

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You can checkout these;

ASUS Rampage IV series (except the GENE)
EVGA X79 Classified
Gigabyte GA-X79-UD7
Gigabyte GA-X58A-OC
MSI Big Bang-XPower II

Or if you really want to go extreme then these;

ASUS Z9PE-D8 WS
EVGA Classified SR-X
EVGA Classified SR-2 (Super Record 2)

Though these last 3 you'll need a case that can take E-XL-ATX mobo's (both XL-ATX and E-ATX that is, like the CoolerMaster RC-942-KKN1 HAF X 942 for example).

Cheers.

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(*) However, of course the motherboards I can find, all Asus, do have 4x PCI-e 2.0 x16 lanes, but you can realistically only put 2 of those GTX580's in there. Unless you take the cooler case + fans off. So,anyone know of a mobo with 4 PCI-e lanes with double size slots, or else one with 8 slots?

Yep. The adventure boards. The 2500 has 4 slots double spaced, 2800 has 8 slots single spaced. It's a PCIe bus extender board made by LucidLogix. I have one, but can't seem to get a case for it to get it going.

I also have a bunch of the impossible to find single slot GTX460 cards. The plan was to stuff it with them, although they do have a tendency to overheat easily.

Oh and Phil at GPUUG gave me this link

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BOINC blog

990FXA-UD7 has 4 double spaced slots if you want to go AMD. Really running aircooled that close together is still not a good idea, but you could fit them in at least.