Sandy Bridge Intergrated Graphics

If the new Sandy Bridge core-i7 processors have integrated graphics, and the computer has another GPU, how does the work? Does the discreet graphics card take over? or is it switchable?

Also, how would they switch? By pressing a button?

 

If the manufacturer chose to enable graphics switching it will most prolly be advertised on the laptop. If you are unsure where you have switchable graphics check in devide manager to see how many gfx adapters you have listed. If more than one you are on the right track..

 

The laptop manufacturer has the option to choose whether they want manually switchable graphics (via toggle or button press) or automatically switching graphics using a technology like nVidia Optimus.

The last generation of Intel mobile processors were Core iX processors based on the Arrendale architecture, which had Intel GPU's integrated onto the CPU package. Some manufacturers chose switchable graphics through a button press (e.g. Sony Vaio Z series). Other manufacturers chose automatically switching nVidia Optimus technology (e.g. Alienware M11x R2).

The general concept is that the Intel GPU is used when the Intel GPU is "good enough" for a current job (e.g. Windows Aero, HD video acceleration,. Flash acceleration, etc). You switch over to the more powerful discrete AMD / nVidia GPU when you really need the graphical power (e.g. gaming). By using two GPU's, you get to extend your battery life as much as possible by using the battery-draining AMD / nVidia GPU only when all of that processing power is needed.

Because the Intel GPU is now integrated into the CPU package, all laptops based on Sandy Bridge will have an Intel GPU no matter what. Before Sandy Bridge / Arrendale, laptop manufacturers had to choose whether they wanted to include Intel GPU *OR* AMD / nVidia GPU. Now, they must choose whether they want Intel GPU only, or Intel GPU *AND* AMD / nVidia GPU.

 

Well, they can still choose AMD/nVidia GPU only, if they don't want to deal with the drivers and hookups to use the embedded Intel GPU. Don't forget that there are numerous Arrandale notebooks that did just that.

 

You are correct. I stand corrected.

 

So, the laptop could only have dedicated graphics, even if it had Sandy Bridge?

 

Yes it is possible, whether or not a manufacturer will do it is up to them.

 

Just random, but do you guys think more laptops will be switchable, or more not switchable?

 

Depends on the manufacturers. There is demand so obviously there will be notebooks out there with the technology, but IMO it won't be a majority simply because most users don't do any graphics intensive tasks so the majority of the laptop market will be dominated by integrated GPUs.

 

Not necessarily what I meant. I was thinking of the laptops that do have dedicated graphics, and if a manufacturer would be in the right mind to completely drop the integrated.

 

Funny enough I think there will be less switchable graphics because the IGP is much more potent and will replace low end GPU (Mobility 5450, GT210M graphics). Plus now i7 will have IGP, business professionals who don't need uber good graphics can live with IGP and get a cheaper i7 notebook. But just my opinion on the matter.

Hybrid/switching graphics isn't that popular, there are issues with it and Intel is further eating into the discreet market by making a potent IGP. Gaming machines won't care for switchable graphics and if I were buying a gaming laptop (I am looking) no way in hell I would buy one if it had switching graphics. And switching graphics have typically been a miserable failure, though with every reincarnation Nvidia gets slightly better..

 

Now I'm curious. The Lenovo y560p, the laptop I have been looking into, has been reported a numerous times by owners that it does not have integrated switchable graphics. But, on lenovo's website, they state it has switchable graphics. It looks like they also say it does not have dedicated graphics. That makes no sense. Switchable graphics, but no dedicated? That's not even possible.

 

Most likely, they're waiting on AMD's Dynamic Switchable Graphics, which should be part of an upcoming driver.

 

So, same computer, just a driver for download?

 

Possibly. It might need a BIOS update.

With any luck, the driver coming out tomorrow will have the functionality and our questions will be answered.

 

Same thing. Flash the BIOS.

 

The problem is, even if they're just waiting for a driver or BIOS update, the issue is hardware; to support switchable graphics, there needs to be one of 2 things done hardware wise; either you need separate muxes for the integrated graphics and the dedicated graphics, and the drivers and hardware to swap between the two at need, or (for Optimus) you need a single mux for the integrated graphics, but extra hardware connections for the dedicated graphics card to pipe the dedicated card's output into the integrated graphics, which then outputs through the mux to the screen. Either way, as you can see, it's not "simply" a driver or BIOS update; there has to be the hardware there, first. This is not to say that the hardware isn't there, but it's a lot of extra work to do if it's not working yet.

 

The laptop's manufacture's chart states "switchable graphics." Taking this into consideration, I had expected a BIOS update.No clue. It seems perhaps they could be waiting on some sort of AMD driver.

 

Just because you have a Sandy Bridge or any other CPU with IGP and a discrete GPU doesnt mean it will support Optimus through a driver or a BIOS update.
You need some hardware along with it also.

If it says switchable graphics i think you need to wait for some software updates to enable it.

 

I was assuming that the hardware is already set for using switchable graphics with specifications provided by AMD and all that's left is the software to enable the option that's already there. This is 100% possible.

Which is exactly what I'm talking about in regards to the laptops with AMD cards that say that they have Dynamic Switchable Graphics in their specs. Either the hardware is there, or they're flat-out lying, in which case Lenovo, HP, and whoever else is making these false claims need to refund all machines bought or get their lawyers ready.

 

We will need both a bios and a driver update to make use of the SB IGP and the AMD GPU. The hardware as stated is already there.

 

Exactly. So the only question is, how long will it take for the OEMs to put out the new BIOS? I would hope that the BIOS is already complete.

 

I'm waiting for the software only solution made by Lucidlogix, which allocates the IGP for tasks it's was born to do (video crunching), and discrete graphics gets to do DX work (3D) ... at the same time. (as demoed at CES 2011)