Hybrid graphics systems are not anything new. NVIDIA's Optimus and other hybrid systems have been available for laptops for some time. Desktop users haven't been as lucky but then again, power consumption which is the primary focus of hybrid graphics are not as critical. With the introduction of the Sandy Bridge Intel processors with their on processor graphics, desktop users now have a reason to care. Intel's QuickSync offers very tangible benefits for anyone that has to do video transcoding by decreasing the amount of time it takes to make these conversions. The problem was buyer's had to choose to either use the H60 chipsets to benefit from QuickSync and forgo a dedicated graphics card or use a P67 chipset and drop the ability to use the Intel HD Graphics.
Intel addresses this issue with the new Z68 chipset and the Virtu software from Lucidlogix. This combination allows desktop users to have the benefits of both the Intel HD Graphics with QuickSync along with a dedicated graphics card. This article looks at how this can be beneficial, the two methods in can be used and why you would choose which method.
Lucidlogix Virtu
Lucidlogix Virtu software is a key element for enabling the hybrid graphics system on the Intel Z68. It puts a software layer on top of Windows 7 similar to NVIDIA's Optimus that tells the system which graphics system will be used depending upon which program is being used by the system. They refer to this as GPU virtualization. Theoretically, this software could be enabled on more platforms beyond Intel's Z68, but at this time it is the only platform to have the function and software to support it.
Setting up the software is quite easy. Basically load the software and plug in the monitor cable to the appropriate display port depending upon which mode is in use. The software then will automatically detect programs which will use the appropriate graphics processor and switch the graphics system accordingly. Users can modify which programs will be enabled by selecting the "Games" tab from the Virtu Control Panel. From here, users can add programs based upon their executable to use the virtualization or remove programs if they feel that the software would benefit without it.
Integrated Mode
The original design of the Virtu software essentially only ran in integrated mode. With this method, the monitor is connected to the motherboard video connector and the graphics system is driven by the integrated processor graphics. When a program that would use a discrete graphics processor, the software will route the graphics into the discrete graphics card and then output it via the integrated system.
The primary benefit of this method is that it helps reduce the power consumption of the system. The more power hungry graphics system will be held in a low power sleep state when it isn't needed. Then when an application that requires the discrete graphics, it powers that card back up. With many modern 3D graphics cards using up several hundred watts of power, this can be a significant amount of power savings.
There a a number of key drawbacks to using the integrated mode of the Virtu software. The most notable of these is the limitation on the graphics system support by the integrated graphics hardware. For example, most motherboard implementations can only support up to 1920x1200 on a single monitor. This makes it unsuitable for anyone using multiple displays or a single high resolution display. Secondly, some games don't properly turn on the Direct X 11 graphics systems even if the discrete card supports it. This has to do with the detection being done at first on the integrated graphics which is limited to Direct X 10.1. Hopefully this will be corrected with some updates to the Virtu software.
Discrete Mode
Discrete mode differs from the integrated mode because it flips which graphics processor is on and connected by default. Instead of connecting the monitor to the integrated graphics, the monitor is connected to the discrete card(s). In addition, the discrete graphics card is going to be powered on all the time. Only when a program that can benefit from the QuickSync feature of the Intel HD Graphics will the graphics processing be handed over to the integrated Intel HD Graphics to then be routed out of the discrete cards video connectors.
The obvious downside to this method is the loss of any power savings found in a typical hybrid system. Since the dedicated graphics card is powered on at all times, the power usage is no different than if the system wasn't running the Virtu software. This isn't a major problem for many power desktop users but it is a key consideration.
There are many reasons why this mode is beneficial for users. In particular, anyone running a multiple monitor setup for AMD's Eyefinity or NVIDIA's 3D Surround as the integrated mode will only support a single display. In addition, this will properly utilize multiple graphics cards in an SLI setup which isn't possible with the integrated mode. Finally, more games will properly detect Direct X 11 graphics than when used in the integrated mode although there are a few which may still have issues.
Setting Up Integrated Or Discrete Mode
The setup of the discrete versus integrated mode is actually done within the BIOS of the system rather than the Virtu software. Within an Intel Z68 BIOS, there should be an option for the graphics system to either run off the integrated or dedicated graphics. If this is setup to be integrated, then the Virtu software when loaded will be using the Integrated mode. When the BIOS is set to the dedicated graphics card, then the Virtu software will be set to the Discrete mode.
Conclusions
The Viru GPU virtualization software combined with the Intel Z68 chipset is extremely easy to setup and use and has some very tangible benefits but it isn't going to be a major selling point for most users. Those that benefit the most from it are either those looking to reduce the power consumption of their system by turning off the dedicated graphics card except when needed or to those who frequently use their system for gaming but also want the benefits of Intel's QuickSync for transcoding video. If neither of these are key features that you need, then it isn't going to be a major selling point for buying a Z68 based desktop over the H60 or P67 based boards.
