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pjduncan
Sony had/has laptops that had a switch to change between an Intel built-in GPU ...
nd_nd
the Sandy Bridge is on par with the entry to mid-segment of External ...
Intel's Sandy Bridge CPU gets GPU support
Peter Clarke
1/3/2011 9:06 AM EST
LONDON – Multicore graphics firm LucidLogix Technologies Ltd. has announced virtualization software written to help the Sandy Bridge processor from Intel work flexibly with external GPUs.
The software can be used to balance built-in media features of the Sandy Bridge processor graphics with the off-chip DirectX 11 features of discrete GPUs, while significantly reducing the power drain of traditional entertainment desktops, the company claimed.
Called Virtu, the GPU virtualization software is able to assign tasks in real time to the best available graphics resource based on power, performance and features considerations, with no need for additional hardware. If graphics is needed for DirectX 11, high-resolution 3D gaming, the system will assign the job to the discrete GPU. If not the Sandy Bridge processor can perform the graphics.
"Now it is possible to experience a no-guilt, no-compromise PC entertainment experience, and save on energy at the same time," said Offir Remez, president and founder of LucidLogix (Kfar Netter, Israel), in a statement.
Designed for entry-level through mainstream PCs equipped with second generation Intel's Core i3/i5/i7 and NVIDIA or AMD 3-D graphics processors, Virtu software automatically adjusts the performance, thermal and feature allocation based on the requirements of individual applications. The only system requirement is to always connect the display screen directly to the motherboard's Sandy Bridge display output.
A demo version of Virtu is available and a beta version will be available in January 2011. LucidLogix was founded in 2003.
Related links and articles:
www.lucidlogix.com
News articles:
Multicore graphics firm raises $8 million
Inside Intel's Sandy Bridge architecture
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kinnar
1/3/2011 1:01 PM EST
Graphics Virtualization is a very great development, this might totally eliminate the need of GPU for a work PC as the processing power is surely higher for regular office work on this architecture.
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Sanborn84
1/3/2011 1:20 PM EST
Well Kinnar, by design the Sandybridge architecture alone eliminates the need for external GPUs because the GPU is literally integrated into the CPU. On-board motherboard chipsets have existed since Y2K but their performance is absolutely dreadful and the very reason why my wife's laptop from 2007 chokes on HD video. This is me making assumptions, but I thought one of the original selling points of the Sandy Bridge was exactly what this Lucidlogix chip is promising to do? Is this Lucid chipset actually needed with modern CPU and GPU low-power modes?
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pjduncan
1/4/2011 10:20 PM EST
Sony had/has laptops that had a switch to change between an Intel built-in GPU (longer battery life) vs a high performance discrete GPU (ability to play serious games). Only problem... you had to reboot after throwing the switch.
This software is solving that problem.
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nd_nd
1/3/2011 9:50 PM EST
the Sandy Bridge is on par with the entry to mid-segment of External graphics.
HD video / 3-D gaming will be easy with Sandy Bridge with out any system crash/hang.
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