nVidia will reintroduce switchable graphics

[thilanliyan]

http://www.fudzilla.com/content/view/16228/1/

 

[cbn]

http://www.fudzilla.com/content/view/16228/1/

So certain motherboards will be able to switch from discrete graphics card(s) to integrated graphics for 2D desktop?

This could really save on energy bills for people using SLI or quad SLI.

I am assuming this will be for AMD chipsets only since Nvidia stopped future intel motherboard chipset development?

 

[KILLER_K]

Agreed this will be very nice. For us with quad sli and we can change out when not folding or heavy gaming. To the other gpu and browse the web, etc and cut back on heat and power. I'm really looking forward to this.

 

[thilanliyan]

This was announced before by nV and ATI but it never really came to fruition...I hope it works this time.

 

[bryanW1995]

I read a review the other day on a new asus laptop that uses 4500 and a gtx 210m, user-selectable. If they can do it for lappys they can certainly do it for desktops.

 

[netxzero64]

still, having a single graphics card is the way to go... specially for gamers...

 

[DaveSimmons]

Having cards that downclock and powerdown well like ATI's 5xxx series would be good enough for me.

Having my 4870-512 running at 500 MHz to play Fallout Tactics ( = 2D) is a sad waste of power and an annoying source of noise.

 

[Modelworks]

just underclock the gpu. Same result . You can do it now with the various software tools.

 

[thilanliyan]

Having cards that downclock and powerdown well like ATI's 5xxx series would be good enough for me.

Having my 4870-512 running at 500 MHz to play Fallout Tactics ( = 2D) is a sad waste of power and an annoying source of noise.

Use ATI Tray tools to underclock AND undervolt. I have my 4870 1GB at 330/250 @ 1.01v at the desktop and 800/975 @ 1.26v for 3D.

 

[darkswordsman17]

just underclock the gpu. Same result . You can do it now with the various software tools.

While that's not a bad idea, being able to let the system manage itself and completely turn off the video card if not needed would be better still.

 

[ronnn]

Intel has to do something for graphics, as their onboard is very limp. Is the one advantage amd has. So switchable at least gives those that want low power, decent graphics when needed.

 

[cbn]

Use ATI Tray tools to underclock AND undervolt. I have my 4870 1GB at 330/250 @ 1.01v at the desktop and 800/975 @ 1.26v for 3D.

Does ATI tray tools automatically manage this for you?

Or do you have to manually increase settings every time you play a game?

 

[thilanliyan]

Does ATI tray tools automatically manage this for you?

Or do you have to manually increase settings every time you play a game?

You can do it either way. There's an "automatic overclock" feature (that's fairly customizable) that will go into 3D when a 3D app opens and returns to 2D clocks when it exits. Or you can do it manually.

 

[kuyaglen]

Well I do like the concept of drawing Nvidia ION power levels for non gaming computing use and then switch over to a GTX275 class of power when gaming.