“Our SLI-Ready systems let us keep our equipment the best there is without tremendous cost. Thanks to NVIDIA, DiNk’s is the only place to frag in style.”

Kevin Kearney
DiNk’s iCafé

About DiNk’s iCafé

The trick to a successful iCafé in America is technology—the gaming rigs have to be better than what the customers have at home. Enter DiNk’s iCafé to take up the challenge. Founded by University of Kentucky student Kevin Kearney in 2004, DiNk’s provides Lexington, Kentucky students with a low-cost and convenient place for online gaming and socializing.

The Challenge

From the beginning, DiNk’s success depended on location, atmosphere, and kick-ass gaming technology. Kearney solved the first by locating in a popular shopping mall, convenient to homes and schools. The second was resolved with refreshments, a clean, comfortable environment, and a friendly, knowledgeable staff. And for the technology, DiNk’s turned to NVIDIA®.

To work, the NVIDIA solution would have to attract gamers with power and speed they don’t have at home, while keeping Kearney’s total cost of ownership for the gaming rigs down and the iCafé profitable. Specifically, the cost of upgrades had to be low. DiNk’s had been replacing its systems annually—an expensive proposition, but necessary to keep the gamers coming through the doors. Reducing this cost would be key.

The Solution

In March 2007, DiNk’s converted its 51 gaming PCs to NVIDIA SLI™-Ready systems, featuring GeForce 8800 GTS graphics cards and NVIDIA nForce® 680i SLI motherboards. These Microsoft® DirectX® 10-capable systems are all connected to the Internet and each other by six bonded T-1 lines, assuring maximum performance during online gaming sessions and LAN parties.

Now with SLI, DiNk’s has a low-cost, upgrade path. By starting with high-end, GeForce cards, Kearney’s customers will be able to play the latest games the way they were meant to be played for some time to come. Halfway through the system lifecycle, Kearney plans to add a second GeForce card to the systems, effectively doubling performance. Thanks to SLI technology, DiNk’s has shifted from annual replacements to a four-year upgrade cycle.

The Impact

A combination of business acumen, hard work, and NVIDIA SLI-Ready systems has made DiNk’s a success, attracting gamers from as far away as Cleveland, a five-hour drive. NVIDIA SLI technology gives DiNk’s customers the latest gaming technology at a price that is friendly to the iCafe’s bottom line. And DiNk’s has an upgrade path that ensures these systems will be relevant for years to come, ensuring the rigs will be powerful enough for the next generation of games.

Business is booming and Kearney is thinking about expanding, offering quality gaming to even more fans.

For more information, please visit www.slizone.com/businessvalue