Anyone buying into future dual GPU cards?

Well, I usually hate to start rumors and speculation, but this one is bugging me a bit. Right now, it seems like there's some internet buzz about ATI and Nvidia launching dual-GPU cards before releasing their next, big high-end card. My response to that is, WTF?

Having a dual-GPU card is like having SLI, right? And if that's true, than there's no way I'm getting one of these things! I hate SLI, as I really don't like the fact that buying a 2nd identicle card does not give me a 100% boost in performance. Especially now that the state of SLI is pretty sad. Weren't the last dual-GPU cards a total bust? There's no way I'm buying a card in which I can't take full advantage of. What do you guys think? Am I just overreacting to stupid internet rumors? There hasn't been a dual-GPU card released in a damn long time, so I have no idea why they would start now, unless it wasn't really possible before on the 90nm chips.

I remember Asus (I think it was Asus) coming out with a "Single Card" SLI solution in about 2004, or 2005. Dual nVidia 6800GTs I think...might have been Ultras... It was touted as SLI on a single card. Dual GPUs, dual GDDR2, huge HSF, power sucking and super hot. Along with being pricey (like $800), it was pretty fast. :roll:

Found it. :P

The RV570 was made into a dual GPU card, as well as the RV630.
RV570- 1 & 2

With the total trannie count coming ever closer to 1billion, we should definitely be seeing more multiGPU approaches, not neccessarily 2 individual cores but probably like 2-6 different die under an IHS.

Remember these are just placeholders until we get the R700 which better measure up to the statements that were made at the 1H '07 Q/A with AMD/ATi.

Can someone say if these dual cards have ever lived up to expectations of literally being twice as powerful as a single core? Or is it as reliable as SLI (ie not very reliable).

On a side note, I hear that the R670's new 55nm chip is especially suited for dual GPU cards, and it sounds like Nvidia wants to go the same route with a dual 65nm GTX solution. Granted, my sources are just internet buzz, but they've been buzzing about it for a long time.

Can someone say if these dual cards have ever lived up to expectations of literally being twice as powerful as a single core? Or is it as reliable as SLI (ie not very reliable).phan1

Scaling is never perfect but it was pretty dang good.
Let me go try to find that review of the dual RV570...

Can someone say if these dual cards have ever lived up to expectations of literally being twice as powerful as a single core? Or is it as reliable as SLI (ie not very reliable).phan1

Well the 7950GX2 is not quite twice as fast as a single 7950GT but its a damn fast card. Look at the BF2 benches. It beats the 8800GTS - http://www23.tomshardware.com/graphics_2007.html?modelx=33&model1=708&model2=710&chart=277

But it was never really worth the very high price ($450+) and still isnt. I did see a used GX2 just go for about $240 on eBay. I almost bought it. Here is that ebay auction - http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=120164096768&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT&ih=002