Wednesday, January 13th 2016

MSI Vortex is a Mac Pro Inspired Dual-GPU Monster

by
btarunr
 Discuss (30 Comments)
MSI unveiled its latest desktop under its coveted MSI Gaming logo - the Vortex. This compact gaming desktop features a design that's heavily inspired by the Mac Pro - a cylindrical case with three planes, and key components arranged along those planes, with a common air channel running through the bore of the cylinder. Much like the Mac Pro, the MSI Vortex packs a wallop.

In its base configuration, the MSI Vortex comes with an Intel Core i5 "Skylake" desktop quad-core processor, and two GeForce GTX 960 (desktop) graphics cards in SLI. The top variant gives you a Core i7-6700K quad-core chip, and two GeForce GTX 980 (desktop) cards in SLI, making it capable of 4K Ultra HD gaming. Sharp edges aside, the Vortex comes with RGB LED lighting. Not just design, MSI appears to have taken cues from Apple on even pricing - the base model is expected to be priced around US $2,000.
Source: TechGage

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30 Comments on MSI Vortex is a Mac Pro Inspired Dual-GPU Monster

#2
HumanSmoke
Looks like a prop from Star Trek....the 1966 edition.
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#3
ZeDestructor
Show me the insides! If it's a "normal" MXM machine, I'm interested.
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#4
MxPhenom 216
ASIC Engineer
At least it doesn't look like a trash can.
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#5
JrockTech
Really cool. My best buddy is a graphic designer and uses the Mac Pro. You can't even tell if they're or on or not-whisper quite. Unfortunately the GPU's they use in them aren't meant for gaming. Two GTX 980's is a much better choice. Hopefully they can keep the heat down!
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#6
MxPhenom 216
ASIC Engineer
JrockTechReally cool. My best buddy is a graphic designer and uses the Mac Pro. You can't even tell if they're or on or not-whisper quite. Unfortunately the GPU's they use in them aren't meant for gaming. Two GTX 980's is a much better choice. Hopefully they can keep the heat down!
Its a workstation system with FirePro GPUs, of course it wont be very good for gaming.
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#7
Frick
Fishfaced Nincompoop
Looks ... I dunno. I don't like the looks. The Mac Pro looks great, but this looks off.
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#8
MxPhenom 216
ASIC Engineer
FrickLooks ... I dunno. I don't like the looks. The Mac Pro looks great, but this looks off.
You must like the look of your standard cylindrical trash can.
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#9
JrockTech
MxPhenom 216Its a workstation system with FirePro GPUs, of course it wont be very good for gaming.
Yup, I didn't know those GPU's were meant for different applications up until a couple weeks ago. I assumed the Mac would run games just as good as a modern gaming rig.
Posted on Reply
#10
Frick
Fishfaced Nincompoop
MxPhenom 216You must like the look of your standard cylindrical trash can.
When it looks like thison the inside, sure. :D
JrockTechYup, I didn't know those GPU's were meant for different applications up until a couple weeks ago. I assumed the Mac would run games just as good as a modern gaming rig.
This has sadly never been true for any Mac, ever.
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#11
ZeDestructor
JrockTechReally cool. My best buddy is a graphic designer and uses the Mac Pro. You can't even tell if they're or on or not-whisper quite. Unfortunately the GPU's they use in them aren't meant for gaming. Two GTX 980's is a much better choice. Hopefully they can keep the heat down!
JrockTechYup, I didn't know those GPU's were meant for different applications up until a couple weeks ago. I assumed the Mac would run games just as good as a modern gaming rig.
FrickWhen it looks like thison the inside, sure. :D

This has sadly never been true for any Mac, ever.
Actually workstation GPUs are fine in games (what do you think triple-A gaming devs use to build games on?). They just need a bit of driver love, since they're the same chips mostly.
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#12
Frick
Fishfaced Nincompoop
ZeDestructorActually workstation GPUs are fine in games (what do you think triple-A gaming devs use to build games on?). They just need a bit of driver love, since they're the same chips mostly.
Not a high end gaming rig. But yeah the most expensive Mac Pro could probably perform close to a HD 7970.
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#13
cssniper
Though obviously inspired by mac pro, this machine surely offers us a good platform for gaming.
After all, windows users are much more than mac users.
I am courious that how did msi put two destop gtx960 in it, metioned that the gtx980 is a laptop version.
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#14
ZeDestructor
FrickNot a high end gaming rig. But yeah the most expensive Mac Pro could probably perform close to a HD 7970.
Actually, the twin D700 configuration the Mac Pro offers would be equivalent to a pair of W9000s a little underclocked, which are in turn basically expensive 7970/R9-280X/R9-380X chips. With crossfire and the right driver profiles, they should perform just as well. Granted, there's even bigger chips now, but good luck cooling the 300+W TDPs those put out in a mac pro.
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#15
HumanSmoke
cssniperI am courious that how did msi put two destop gtx960 in it, metioned that the gtx980 is a laptop version.
The 960 has a pretty short PCB, so it might not be too tight a fit. The MSI Vortex video just shows the GTX980M SLI (MXM) version though

And here's a still from the video if you just want the quick reference
Posted on Reply
#16
ZeDestructor
HumanSmokeThe 960 has a pretty short PCB, so it might not be too tight a fit. The MSI Vortex video just shows the GTX980M SLI (MXM) version though

And here's a still from the video if you just want the quick reference
<snipped>
Oooh, this has my attention. Too many of those SFF PCs have gone on using soldered cards rather than (the marginally thicker/larger/more expensive) upgradeable MXM cards.
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#18
PP Mguire
ZeDestructorShow me the insides! If it's a "normal" MXM machine, I'm interested.
Uses 2 GTX 980m MXM-B cards.
Posted on Reply
#19
trog100
i think it wrong to say its Mac inspired.. its just an attempt to make something that isnt just a box.. there are only so many shapes to work with.. something different in a very competitive world.. and something more living room friendly..

trog
Posted on Reply
#20
MagnuTron
ZeDestructorActually workstation GPUs are fine in games (what do you think triple-A gaming devs use to build games on?). They just need a bit of driver love, since they're the same chips mostly.
They don't use workstation cards. Why in gods name would they need FP64 for realtime performance...
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#21
buildzoid
MadsMagnusThey don't use workstation cards. Why in gods name would they need FP64 for realtime performance...
Work station cards come with more than just a ton of FP64.
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#22
ZeDestructor
MadsMagnusThey don't use workstation cards. Why in gods name would they need FP64 for realtime performance...
buildzoidWork station cards come with more than just a ton of FP64.
^That

Mostly it's down to having a fully certified rendering chain, which lets you gain the ability to ring up some engineers over at nVidia/AMD at 4 in the morning and yell at them to make you a hotfix for that one edge-case that's not rendering properly. Like most things pro, it boils down to support contracts more than most things.
Posted on Reply
#23
blibba
ZeDestructor^That

Mostly it's down to having a fully certified rendering chain, which lets you gain the ability to ring up some engineers over at nVidia/AMD at 4 in the morning and yell at them to make you a hotfix for that one edge-case that's not rendering properly. Like most things pro, it boils down to support contracts more than most things.
That and gobs of RAM, which you need for games that are not yet optimised (and are "next-gen" even when they are).
Posted on Reply
#25
EarthDog
MxPhenom 216Its a workstation system with FirePro GPUs, of course it wont be very good for gaming.
Check the first post again. 2 980Ms in there...;)

I also don't think its Mac inspired either, unless Mac inspired means cylinder. :p
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