Hardware Nvidia Optimus: More Than Meets The Eye

Nvidia's new Optimus technology is primed to transform switchable graphics in laptops, netbooks and the second generation Ion platform. Trust us, for your next laptop upgrade this is looking like a must have technology.

http://www.bit-tech.net/hardware/laptops/2010/02/09/nvidia-optimus-technology-preview/1

 

Graphics cards in disguise...

 

*head desk*

 

Tho it seems interesting, if I use VLC to render video in D3D or OpenGL, if it's a 420p video, I'm pretty sure I don't need the extra oomph to render it, so I guess the best solution would be a mix of "autobotonomously" and a switcheroo.

 

If it ends up working as advertised then it will definitly be a great thing, but after how much trouble the previous solutions where I'm just a bit sceptical.

 

x2

Rich, you should be ashamed. That is DREADFUL.

 

It was wonderful!

 

I'm pretty sure the Nvidia graphics in my unibody MacBook Pro have done this for some time? Switching between the integrated 9400M and the discrete 9600M GPU's as and when necessary?

 

If they combine that with the external GPU concept, they will really have a huge winner. The inherent limitations of high-level internal GPUs are too many at the moment: space, heat, power consumption, speed that quickly becomes very dated, and insane pricetags that are usually *completely* out of proportion with the desktop equivalents.

Imagine being able to take your notebook, with decent CPU and Ram, but typical integrated graphics, and being able to not only hook up an external gaming GPU, which could be upgraded without needing to buy a whole new machine, and also benefit from the Optimus technology. That would be sweet.

 

Yea ill bring my laptop and a GTX280 to LAN parties

 

Seems like a source of unreliability to me - I'd just want to run with nvidia all the time - the nvidia card should just have a low power idle state removing the need any onboard graphics. However I can see why they are doing it - now they can't provide chipsets for iWhatever due to intel's bullying they need another way in. This keeps intel happy, while allowing nvidia a way in to sell stuff - very smart way to make money despite the chipset lockout.

 

[quotemsg]we have no doubt Nvidia has its Optimus primed to create a considerable shockwave in the industry.[/quotemsg]

TWO references in one sentence? Really?

 

On it's own, it's hardly new or all that exciting, but if the use of Optimus Technology becomes part and parcel of external laptop GPU's then this will truly shine. Within existing constraints for laptop graphics, those with non-gaming laptops will have a feature that they will not truly appreciate.

 

If bit-tech was an Xbox game, you'd get an achievement for spotting all the references in this article

 

If I find them all do I get a gold or a platinum trophy?

 

It would be made of unobtanium.

 

seems like a software solution that they piggybacks through Intel IGP.

hope to see this in H55/H57 platforms for some GPU down-time.

 

Um, the 3dfx Voodoo2 worked exactly the same way as this... it just used an external VGA pass-through cable to do it.

 

When I first saw this, just think: BEWARE! Here comes the mighty Marketing ******** Monsta... And yeah! (Sh)it happens...

Very old(, long forgotten) tech, and now it's reinvented again...

 

I'm guessing ATI are not invited to the nvidia/intel party then ?