Exclusive Preview - NVIDIA Quadro FX3800

Its been a long time in coming but the dawning of time is upon us.  Banging right out the starters gate today we have a brief preview on The NVIDIA Quadro FX 3800.   This high-end, single slot solution brings the power of high performance professional graphics to an entirely new level; offering support for features previously only found on ultra-high end graphics cards. The Quadro FX 3800 gives users the power and features to take their inspiration even further with certified application support for the industry’s top CAD/CAM, 3D Design, and Digital Content Creation software applications.

So what's the key product specifications of  this neat single slotted pedigree thoroughbred from the professional stable of NVIDIA.

Actually a whole host of items but the key, and most important factor is the support for SLI-Multi Operating Systems as the diagram below shows.

Now that's got a whole load of people thinking.  Especially within the film and studio's scenario's, thoughts like "whow we can  now do this";  "life has just got so much easier".

SLI Multi-OS

SLI Multi-OS is a new SLI feature available on the FX 3800 that allows users to maximize the utilisation of their workstation by running multiple operating systems concurrently. Each OS can take full advantage of GPU acceleration with a separate GPU dedicated per OS. The Parallels Workstation virtualization software can run both host and guest operating systems on a single physical workstation. SLI Multi-OS technology works in concert with Parallels Workstation to permit separate GPU's to be allocated per operating system environment. By allowing users to double the functionality of their workstation, SLI Multi-OS provides more flexibility and greater cost savings for hardware, maintenance, and IT service issues. Additionally, such configurations result in a single system setup, with less overall noise, heat, and power consumption.

To the reader it means simply.   Workstation configurations utilizing the Parallels Workstation virtualization software can have full GPU acceleration in a virtualized environment when dual Quadro graphics cards are installed.   Also for the first time on a product in this class, the Quadro FX 3800 offers the ability to output 8-, 10- or 12-bit uncompressed output to a broadcast quality monitor via an optional SDI add-on card. SDI output allows for professional video processing and the ability to composite (combine) live video with computer graphic images.

The Quadro FX 3800 supports professional quad-buffered stereo in a window for professional workstation applications. A 3-pin stereo din connector is available as a board option to allow direct connection of stereo capable monitors and stereo glasses.

With the tongues now hanging at the short trail, what else can we gain.   Therefore continuing with the key focus points.

CUDA Architecture for Parallel Computing.   NVIDIA’s CUDA architecture is designed to natively support all computational interfaces, including both standard languages such as C, to newer APIs’ such as OpenCL and DirectX Compute. Designed to scale to 100’s of cores and 1000’s of parallel threads, CUDA allows for a true heterogeneous computing environment. The CPU is free to focus on serialized tasks, while parallel computing tasks are executed on the GPU. The CUDA architecture gives parallel computing applications the power to achieve their full potential.

Support for OpenGL 3 and DirectX 10

Ultra FSAA Performance. The NVIDIA Quadro FX 3800 is capable of supporting ultra-high quality 32X full scene anti-aliasing (FSAA) on a single GPU.

Jumbo 8K Texture Processing.   Faster processing of very large textures results in higher performance when zooming and panning through high-resolution images, such as are typically used in photogrammetry and stereo-photogrammetry applications. The Quadro FX 3800 offers the ability to read textures from, and render to 8K x 8K surfaces for applications that demand the highest resolution and quality image processing.

NVIDIA Quadro SDI.   Serial Digital Interface (SDI) is the SMPTE broadcast video standard for transfer of uncompressed broadcast-quality video throughout a production environment, including cameras, recorders, and displays. With the additional of an SDI interface card the Quadro FX 3800 becomes an ideal solutions for digital broadcast professionals who use various applications—such as virtual sets, sports footage, and weather news systems—to composite live video footage onto virtual backgrounds, and send the result to live video for TV broadcast.

Quadro SDI solutions also allow film production, post-production, and finishing professionals to preview the results of 3D compositing, editing, and colour grading in real time on high-definition (HD) broadcast monitors. This graphics-to-video-out solution delivers uncompressed 8-bit, 10-bit, or 12-bit SDI from programmable graphics, enabling a direct connection to broadcast monitors, switchers, tape decks, or SDI projectors.

Having now covered  the main key points, what of performance.   The supplied SPEC Viewperf 10 figures from NVIDIA below give us an idea from NVIDIA's Intel 3.0GHz Xeon test system. 

When we compare these to older results of the NVIDIA Quadro FX3700 we do see marked improvements.   Don't be quick to judge some of the other results, a whole load of work has gone into the drivers as in certain areas have vast improvements.    Though the question on the tongues, so what of todays modern offerings from Intel and it's infamous i7, we need to be ever so patient.  What of cost and shipping, firstly we can cover cost winging in at $1199 US Dollars, this is a very  aggressively priced card.   Shipping, we are awaiting clarification on this but it should not be long as NVIDIA now have been good at getting the product out the door after announcement, though we will clarify these facts as quickly as possible.   For now and with the initial impressions demonstrated it would appear that NVIDIA has a professional high-end card that competes.