14 DAY TRIAL // Nvidia launched its Hybrid SLI technology during the first day of the Consumer Electronics Show, along with a new line of chipsets. The Hybrid SLI merges the power of Nvidia integrated graphics chipsets with Nvidia discrete GPU units, which allows them to work as a single entity. This approach saves a considerable amount of resources, while improving the system's performance.
The new technology represents the company's first attempt at visual computing, and, at the same time, it is a major shift in the chipset policy. Until now, the Nvidia chipsets to feature integrated graphics processors (IGP) were exclusively dedicated to the lower segment of the market. As of this year, all the Nvidia new chipsets will come with IGP, no matter what their market destination is.
Hybrid SLI is a mix of two technologies, called HybridPower and GeForce Boost. HybridPower is responsible for monitoring and reducing the power consumption by turning off discrete graphics cards each time this is possible. The action will result in the chipset's integrated graphics becoming active.
HybridPower is available only when the Nvidia IGP and a discrete Nvidia video card are present on the system at the same time. When the HybridPower is triggered, the display must be connected to the motherboards graphics outputs.
If the system needs to use the discrete GPU, the frame buffer contents for the discrete graphics cards get copied over the integrated graphics processor's frame buffer. Neither latency nor the bandwidth are considered issues, as the second generation of PCI-Express specifications can provide the necessary transfer rate for smooth streaming.
The second technology to be included in the future chipsets is GeForce Boost. It fusions the power of IGP (internally referred to as mGPU) with the discrete GPU (dGPU) for a maximum performance output. Although Nvidia initially stated in a press release that this technology is meant for low-end or mid-range PCs, the company considers that the GeForce Boost can be an essential factor in the performance improvements on high-end PCs as well.
Nvidia's Hybrid SLI is currently working in conjunction with a Windows Vista operating system only. The technology will become available with the advent of a broad range of graphics and motherboard desktop and notebook products scheduled for release during 2008.