San Jose (CA) - AsusTek and Nvidia announced the availability of the first SLI-ready motherboard for the AMD64 platform. The A8N-SLI is based on the nForce4 SLI chipset and promises to double graphics performance in video games.

The new board marks the launch of the Nvidia's SLI technology which allows enthusiasts to integrate two GeForce 6600 GT or higher graphic cards into one system via a bridge chip. Nvidia said that currently gaming would be the only application to benefit from increased graphics performance devlievered by SLI.

The Asus SLI board already made headlines late October when it was used to break the 10,000 points barrier of the 3DMark 2005 graphics benchmark. Shipping now, the A8N-SLI is expected to arrive in online and retail stores well in time for Christmas. Pricing was not announced yet.

According to Nvidia, further product introductions are on their way, with currently 19 system builders certified through the firm's "SLI Ready" program.

According to media reports, ATI is working on its own version of running dual graphic cards in one system and will launch the technology in 2005. Alienware also is preparing a solution with similar effect for the customer: The firm's "video array" enablkes users to combine any graphic cards within one system. Alienware so far has not said when the video array will be launched.