Alien tech ups graphics power

PCI Express is set to bust a cap for gaming enthusiasts.

PCI Express has a way to go before its standard vernacular for the average computer user, much like the acronyms DVD and USB. While these two technologies debuted with nice, but not groundbreaking, promos such as The Matrix and the optical mouse, PCI Express will embrace its destiny thanks to some 3dfx-inspired technology from US system builder Alienware.

Called 'Video Array', the new technology will make use of PCI Express to allow users to run two video cards simultaneously in their systems to boost performance.

According to the press release, 'Video Array is an accelerated graphics processing subsystem that will allow users to add multiple, off-the-shelf video cards to their Alienware computer systems and have both cards process graphic commands in parallel.'

At the moment, the technology is only available with AlienWare's custom-built 'X2' motherboard. The board itself features a core logic chipset from Intel, as well as 'dual high performance graphics card slots'. Other features of the X2 include SATA and RAID support.

While the specifics behind Video Array are yet to be revealed, it's expected to operate in a manner similar to that of Quantum's Scan Line Interleave (SLI) technology, made popular by the Voodoo2 series of video accelerators from 3dfx.

Units will only be available inside the US, and are due to hit the market in the later half of the year.

Logan Booker