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    Nvidia Optimus (seamless GPU switching)

    Discussion in 'Gaming (Software and Graphics Cards)' started by Althernai, Feb 9, 2010.

  1. Althernai

    Althernai Notebook Virtuoso

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    It looks like Nvidia has come up with a means of making decent use of Arrandale while still selling discrete cards. They call it Optimus and it automatically switches in roughly 0.2 seconds when you run a 3D application the IGP can't handle. There are still some hiccups with respect to which applications it should switch on, but you can overrule it.

    I think this is long overdue -- switchable graphics have been around for a while, but they've never been very widespread or seamless (the latter probably causes the former).
     
    Althernai, Feb 9, 2010
    #1
  2. unlogic

    unlogic Notebook Evangelist

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    Well, that's just PRIME!
     
    unlogic, Feb 9, 2010
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  3. ren3g7ade

    ren3g7ade Notebook Evangelist

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    Wow! ...you went there didn't you unlogic... ;)
     
    ren3g7ade, Feb 9, 2010
    #3
  4. Phinagle

    Phinagle Notebook Prophet

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    Why should I believe this will actually work the way it's supposed to and not end up causing problems that are just a major headache?
     
    Phinagle, Feb 9, 2010
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  5. Althernai

    Althernai Notebook Virtuoso

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    I'm pretty sure it will cause major headaches for some people (when was the last time radically different firmware did not?), but it's the third iteration of this technology so they should be limited.

    BTW, here's another article. Neither of them appear to have had any problems with the Asus laptop that they tested.
     
    Althernai, Feb 9, 2010
    #5
  6. anothergeek

    anothergeek Equivocally Nerdy

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    The hardware switch is most ideal. Just flick it when you need it.
     
    anothergeek, Feb 9, 2010
    #6