A Microsoft technical support staff member, stated that DirectX 12 will support "multi-GPU configurations between Nvidia and AMD." This is based on a screenshot published over at LinusTechTips. No particular requirements were specified, that would enable such configurations, nor any actual benefits that would result from such a setup.
Multi-GPU setups are used to accomplish various tasks. Nvidia SLI and AMD Crossfire configurations are used by gamers to get better performance in the latest video game titles. Both Professionals as well as gamers use them to attach multiple displays to a single PC. Engineers and Artists also use different setups as well. Even though in some cases it is possible to use AIBs from different developers, in most cases such as gaming and ray-tracing, it is impossible due to various limitations.
DirectX 12 will offer better multi-GPU support
DirectX 12 will offer better support for multi-GPU configurations than what has been possible before, but reports suggest that it could be possible to use graphics processors from different vendors, in ways that are not possible today, such as in rendering video games. There are current limitations that make it impossible to use such setups today, like differences in GPU architectures, driver limitations, as well as API limitations. DirectX 12 will eliminate such obstacles and permit the use of resources of two graphics cards at the same time.
Architectural differences make it hard to use graphics cards from different vendors for real-time latency-sensitive rendering, like in the case of contemporary 3D engines. Multi-GPU technologies used for real-time rendering require two GPUs to be synchronized not only in terms of feature set, but also in terms of performance and memory latency. All of these limitations make it really questionable whether such a technology could eventually take off.
DirectX 12 though is designed for Xbox One as well, and Microsoft has been experimenting with cloud-assisted AI and physics computations for Xbox One, both of which are latency-sensitive. So it could be possible that there is already a technology available, that enables performing different tasks using different hardware resources without need for real-time synchronization.
The question remains though, whether Nvidia and AMD would allow these heterogeneous multi-GPU configurations or opt to block them in their drivers. We will bring you any more information regarding the subject, as well as more DirectX 12 news as soon as it becomes available.
DISCLAIMER: Wccftech cannot verify the identity of the Microsoft representative and authenticity of the screenshot.
Source: LinusTechTips, KitGuru.
