by Anton Shilov
07/19/2006 | 11:17 PM
Nvidia Corp. is reportedly developing a technology, which will allow notebooks to carry a standalone graphics processor in addition to integrated one and seamlessly switch the tasks from one to another.
Performance and quality advantages of modern discrete graphics processing units (GPUs) are indisputable compared to contemporary integrated graphics processors (IGPs). However, the former consume significantly more power, which is a disadvantage for notebook computers. To provide users a choice between performance and battery life, Nvidia Corp. is, according to a news-story at Laptop Logic web-site, developing a technology, which allows IGP and GPU to co-exist in one laptop and dynamically switch the roles.
The report claims that the technology currently known as SLI Power shifts the graphics workload to Nvidia’s standalone GPU from Nvidia’s integrated graphics core and vice versa without any reboots needed. No particular details are known. Given that Nvidia has unified graphics driver for all of its graphics cores – both standalone and built-in – SLI Power is more like a new driver feature, rather than a hardware technology.
While availability of a higher-performance discrete graphics processor in a laptop can provide owners some benefits, it is obvious that a low-power laptop even with SLI power will not satisfy gamers, as machines for gaming are equipped with high-performance hard disk drives, audio systems, displays and so on, meanwhile a fully fledged multimedia laptop will never become a choice of a frequent traveler due to weight and dimensions.
The feature may improve popularity of the company’s IGPs for laptops, which are currently used in one or two models from HP. However, given the domination of integrated chipsets from ATI and Intel Corp. on the market, the SLI Power is unlikely to gain rapid popularity, as laptop makers will have to redesign their systems to fit a discrete GPU.
Nvidia Corp. did not comment on the news-story.
Select models of Sony Vaio SZ-series notebooks already employ Intel GMA 950 IGP and Nvidia GeForce Go 7400 GPU, but to switch between them users have press a button and reboot, the web-site notes.