It is beginning to seem like forever ago now, but LucidLogix and its HYDRA platform are finally starting to get off the ground.  My first look at the technology came last August where it was demonstrated for the first time.  For the uninitiated, the HYDRA chip combines hardware and software to create a vendor-agnostic multi-GPU solution that could allow for combining different NVIDIA GPUs, NVIDIA and AMD GPUs, or anything else for that matter.  If you haven’t read up on the theory and drive behind this start-up company, you should definitely do so

Today though, Lucid is announcing a partnership with ELSA Japan and Teradici on a new “external PCI Express remote 3D graphics solution.”  Being demonstrated for the first time at the Virtual Reality Expo in Tokyo, the system uses the ELSA Vridge X100 Quad 8 PCI Express extension system (that is built off of the LucidLogix HYDRA chip) to enable 3D graphics and HD video playback remotely using PC-over-IP technology from Teradici.  The system can be configured with a pair of NVIDIA Quadro FX 5800 cards and two ELSA Vixel H200 remote host card, all running through the HYDRA-based product.

LucidLogix Hydra chip shows up in ELSA Japan Remote renderer - Graphics Cards 4

The Lucid HYDRA technology was apparently one of the key performance milestones allowing ELSA to build a system of this type.  You may be wondering why PC-over-IP news should interest you, the enthusiast?  For one, this allows workstation users to easily upgrade their rendering power without adding new physical hardware to their computers and without worrying about how many free slots they have on their motherboard, etc. 

LucidLogix Hydra chip shows up in ELSA Japan Remote renderer - Graphics Cards 5

What might be more intriguing is how these headless render farms, and Lucid’s HYDRA, might play into the coming technology behind OnLive and OTOY.  Both of those companies are promising real-time remote graphics rendering for games and applications and would definitely require powerful and flexible remote rendering solutions.  If a service like OnLive could combine both NVIDIA and AMD graphics cards, for example, depending on generational performance leaps, that would give them a very unique opportunity going forward. 

LucidLogix Hydra chip shows up in ELSA Japan Remote renderer - Graphics Cards 6
ELSA JAPAN, LUCIDLOGIX AND TERADICI TO DELIVER A POWERFUL, AFFORDABLE EXTERNAL PCI-EXPRESS REMOTE 3D GRAPHICS SOLUTION

17th INDUSTRIAL VIRTUAL REALITY EXPO -Tokyo, Japan, June 23rd, 2009 – ELSA Japan, Lucidlogix Technologies “Lucid” and Teradici® today announced their collaboration in the designing, integrating and marketing of a powerful and affordable External PCI-Express Remote 3D Graphic Solution. ELSA Japan Inc, a leading company of computer graphic solutions (Tokyo, Minato-ku, CEO Jun Nagai) will be demonstrating this system at SGI Japan booth (23-14) at the 17th INDUSTRIAL VIRTUAL REALITY EXPO at Tokyo Big-Sight on June 24-26th.

SGI Japan demo system uses the ELSA Vridge X100 Quad 8 PCI-Express extension system powered by Lucid’s Hydra 100, to enable playback of high quality 3D graphics and HD video content remotely through an IP network delivered by Teradici’s PC-over-IP® technology.  It is possible to install up to two NVIDIA Quadro FX 5800 boards and two ELSA VIXEL H200 remote host cards connected to ELSA Vridge system.

ELSA Vridge is based on the Lucid HYDRA real time distributed processing and connectivity chip. The HYDRA engine allows parallel usage of any GPU on any platform for the ability to share data between, to, and from all GPUs within the system.  With HYDRA technology, ELSA has enabled a solution that deliver the horsepower required in a multi-GPU environment, while significantly improving the price/performance ratio.

The ELSA VIXEL is based on Teradici’s PC-over-IP technology which is an innovative display protocol that enables enterprise workstations to be centrally managed in a data center while providing high resolution, full frame rate 3D graphics and HD media, with full USB peripheral interoperability, locally over a LAN or remotely over a high-latency WAN.

“We found Lucid HYDRA technology to be key in providing a cost effective high-performance remote 3D graphics solution for our customers and shows great potential for expanding to the new markets” said Jun Nagai, CEO of Elsa Japan. “SGI Japan’s demo combing technologies from Lucid and Teradici proves easy integration and compatibility, and the cooperation between the companies creates a smooth value chain and a unique solution that is already experiencing high traction in the market.”

With this new solution, customers can easily upgrade their existing workstation without worrying about lack of power or availability of PCI-Express slots.

“The flexibility of the Lucid HYDRA architecture makes it suitable for multiple market opportunities, including remote rendering, digital signage, visual simulation and computing space” said Offir Remez, Lucid co-founder and President.  “ELSA Japan is a leading brand in Japan with proven performance in these markets, and therefore we see a great synergy between the companies and I believe they have developed a winning platform for their channels”.

About ELSA Japan, Inc.

ELSA Japan has been developing computer graphics & multimedia products for more than ten years. Our products include Professional Graphics Hardware & Software, Consumer Graphics Hardware and Multimedia solutions. Focusing on the video & graphics area of computing, we will continue to introduce products that meet the needs of end users. ELSA Japan will continue to provide high-quality products with powerful support to ensure complete customer confidence in the use of our products.

About Teradici

Teradici Corporation has developed a unique technology, called PC-over-IP (PCoIP®), which makes network delivered computing a viable corporate computing reality. Founded in 2004 and headquartered in Burnaby, BC, Canada, Teradici for the first time enables an exceptional end user experience for datacenter-based computing. Through a combination of unique graphics algorithms, high-performance silicon processing, and workstation/server add-in cards, the company is changing how personal computers are used, deployed and managed. More information is available at www.teradici.com.

About Lucid

LucidLogix Technologies is reinventing multi-core graphics with its HYDRA real-time distributed processing engine that will improve visual computing for both business and gaming applications. Lucid is a fabless SoC provider headquartered in Kfar Netter, Israel. Its innovations are protected by more than 60 patents and patents pending, and it is backed by leading venture providers Rho Ventures, Giza Venture Capital, Genesis Partners and Intel Capital. For more information, visit www.lucidlogix.com.