14 DAY TRIAL // MSI has just announced that its upcoming line of graphics cards built using the Intel Z68 Express chipset will support LucidLogix' Lucid Virtu technology, which allows applications to automatically switch between the Sandy Bridge integrated graphics core and a discrete GPU depending on the task run.
The switch is instantaneous and works in a similar way with Nvidia's Optimus technology that is used for a wide series of laptops.
In addition to improving the power consumption of the system, the technology also allows consumers to use the Quick Sync media accelerators packed inside Intel's second-generation Core architecture.
Quick Sync can significantly speed up the transcoding process without affecting the image quality of the resulting video and is better at this job than some other more well-established solutions, such as Nvidia's CUDA technology.
According to MSI, the Lucid Virtu driver will be supported by the upcoming Z68A-GD80(B3), Z68A-GD65(B3) and Z68MA-ED55(B3) motherboards.
Not so many details about these boards are available at this time, but we do know that the GD80 will feature support for tree-way AMD CrossFireX and NVIDIA SLI setups, while the ED55 sports dual graphics capabilities in a microATX form factor.
All the three motherboards come with support for MSI's OC Genie II technology, which overclocks not just the processor but the integrated graphics as well.
The Z68 chipset was designed in order to fill the gap left by the Intel in its Sandy Bridge motherboard lineup and comes as a hybrid between the P67 and the H67 PCH controllers.
This means that users can now overclock the Sandy Bridge CPUs while using the integrated graphics, a feat that wasn't possible on the P67 or H67 as the first one lacks the flexible display interface (FDI) that is required in order to use the on-die GPU while the latter doesn't allow for CPU multiplier adjustment.
The Intel Z68 Express chipset was expected to arrive on May 8, but recent reports claim that Intel has pushed the release date to May 11.