Which LucidLogix VIRTU download?

[BonzaiDuck]

I've got the "pre-Gen3" Z68 motherboard -- ASUS P8Z68-V Pro. Third BIOS revision -- I think version 606.

When I set up the system, I opted to use VIRTU in "dGPU" mode.

As far as I can tell, I'd installed the "vanilla" VIRTU software. At most -- over the last year -- it gave me very minor glitches, like a boot-time "DOS" window that needed to be closed manually from the windows desktop, or a "VIRTU control panel" crash that would give notice of having to be closed. Updates to the software seemed to fix these things.

So I see that there is the "vanilla" VIRTU version, an "MVP" version and a "Universal" version. At least the first two versions seem compatible with my chipset.

What is recommended with this?

 

[IlllI]

unless you use the integrated intel gpu for tasks, i'd recommend uninstalling it and not using it. virtu is little more than a gimmick that does hardly anything, and in some cases makes gaming worse.

 

[BonzaiDuck]

unless you use the integrated intel gpu for tasks, i'd recommend uninstalling it and not using it. virtu is little more than a gimmick that does hardly anything, and in some cases makes gaming worse.

I think that was pretty well established when I built the system last year. Supposedly, there is a slight hit in gaming performance while using VIRTU in "iGPU" mode -- with monitors connected to the mobo.

I was faced with the question commonly arising with extra motherboard and other features -- "To use, or not to use?" I even wish I'd disabled hyperthreading after stress-testing -- if I change it back to "disabled" now, I will need go through the entirety of my home-theater setup. Apparently, the media center setup or HDCP recognizes a "change" in the system and would require repeating the setup.

But for VIRTU as a gimmick, it proved not to interfere with anything or cause any problems. So my question still stands, I guess . . .

[Oh yeah . .. on the "HTPC" issue where advice would be to get a low-power configuration, inexpensive graphics, modest CPU and low footprint -- I "violated" the recommendation of having a dedicated HTPC. But other than the situation I mentioned with changing HT, the "all-purpose" approach seems to be working fine . . . . so . . . . ]

 

[GrumpyMan]

I had to remove my Virtu due to blue screens after gaming sometimes. I haven't had a problem since, it was recommended to me and by golly it worked. My mobo doesn't have a connection for the monitor though, Asus P8Z68 Deluxe.

 

[BonzaiDuck]

I had to remove my Virtu due to blue screens after gaming sometimes. I haven't had a problem since, it was recommended to me and by golly it worked. My mobo doesn't have a connection for the monitor though, Asus P8Z68 Deluxe.

Yeah -- the Dee-lucks didn't have the ports at the I/O plate.

In my case, I did the most logical thing for someone who thought he was simply following routine before reading the manual more closely: I installed the dGPU before "first boot-up." Wondered why the system "didn't post" since I'd plugged in the monitor to the I/O plate and iGPU. Find out that it automatically defaults to a dGPU when installed -- until you tweak some BIOS settings. If I hadn't kept my head at the puzzling moment, I would've gone nuts . . . . But I quickly had it sorted out.

At that point, I was settled on running in "dGPU mode" with monitors connected to my GTX 570.

VIRTU never gave me BSODs, though. I was careful to set up the BIOS to use it, and more careful to get a BIOS revision early in the game as well as the updated VIRTU download.

I might feel inclined to run the system in "iGPU mode" to save power (which you can't do with your Deluxe). I might feel inclined to disable the iGPU and drop the VIRTU installation. But the system runs so well -- so stable for 24/7 over the last year -- "If it ain't broke, I don't wanna fix it."

At most, I just want to update the VIRTU and resolve the question about whether to use the "vanilla" or the "MVP" version -- before I cause myself any trouble with it.

 

[ViRGE]

You're going to want the vanilla version. The MVP version is for newer motherboards (mainly 7-series chipsets) that support (read: paid a license for) their MVP technology.

 

[BonzaiDuck]

You're going to want the vanilla version. The MVP version is for newer motherboards (mainly 7-series chipsets) that support (read: paid a license for) their MVP technology.

Thanks for the clarification. I thought that such might be the case . . . . but I wanted more confirmation. . . .