Remember when we previewed a piece of software from Lucid called Virtu that promised the capability to combine processor graphics features of the Intel Sandy Bridge lineup with the performance and DX11 support of discrete graphics cards from NVIDIA and AMD? The ideas was pretty simple but it addressed one of our major complaints about the initial Sandy Bridge processor launch: the IGP features like fast video transcode acceleration and ultra-low-power video acceleration were unavailable to users that chose to also use a discrete graphics solution.
Lucid’s Virtu software running in our previous testing
Lucid’s solution was to "virtualize" the GPUs and use a software layer that would decide which applications to run on the discrete GPU and which to run on the integrated processor graphics on the Intel CPU. There were some limitations including the need to have the displays connected to the IGP outputs rather than the discrete card and that the software worked on a rather clunky white-list implementation. Also, discrete graphics control panels were a bit of a headache and only worked with NVIDIA cards and not in all cases even then.
Virtu was to be distributed through motherboard vendors starting with the release of the Z68 chipset (as it was the first mainstream chipset to support overclocking AND display outputs) but now it appears that NVIDIA itself is diving into the same realm with a new piece of software called "Synergy".
Check out more after the break!
Synergy, as VR-Zone has found out, will allow users of the new Z68 chipset, as well as older H67/H61 motherboards, to utilize both the performance of the faster discrete NVIDIA GPU and the features of the Intel Sandy Bridge graphics as well. Because the P67 chipset doesn’t support any kind of video outputs, it will not work with current board though.
NVIDIA is apparently going to release the software free to consumers without the need for licenses of any kind and will use basic key and SBIOS checks to make sure you are using an approved motherboard. You will NOT need to get a special graphics card for Synergy to work, which is good news, and a surprising change from NVIDIA’s usual stance of charging partners for entrance into said programs.
Unfortunately, the requirement to have at least one display connected to the integrated graphics on the motherboard remains, though it sounds like secondary displays will be able to run off of the discrete card. I don’t have any information on how this will work with technologies like NVIDIA Surround or 3D Vision, but my initial guess is that Surround and 3D Vision are likely out of the picture for now. SLI support is there on the Z68 chipset – another bit of good news for gamers.
This technology will likely work much like NVIDIA’s Optimus software that allows the combination of discrete and integrated graphics in the mobile market. If you have been reading any of our notebook reviews recently you will notice that Optimus is pretty pervasive and I have to say all of my experiences with it have been very positive. NVIDIA has been able to create a user interface and set of features that seems to exceed what Lucid’s Virtu can do (with the exception of support for AMD GPUs of course) even before Virtu sees the light of day.
I saw rumblings of this
I saw rumblings of this yesterday. For me this makes the decicion between an AMD and a Nvidia card easy; Nvidia will be my choice. This is probably why they are willing to offer this for free – those building new systems who are in tune with this sort of thing will recognize the advantage that Nvidia is bringing to the table.
I can see that. We don’t
I can see that. We don’t know if AMD is planning anything similar but it doest give a boost to NVIDIA, which is exactly what they want.
If they bring the same quality to Synergy as they did to Optimus it should work out very well.
This would be great, but one
This would be great, but one silly question, do the current H6x and the future Z6x chipsets support DUAL LINK DVI, for higher bandwith applications like a 30″ 2560×1600 display?
Yes, they do, at least one
Yes, they do, at least one output will.
AMD may be planning something
AMD may be planning something similar but it isn’t out yet and Nvidia has some experience in this area – so for now they have an advantage – and good for them.
I’m going to assume that you need the monitors running of the integrated connectors to get the best power savings, do you know if I can run two monitors off the integrated connectors or only one?
Doesn’t really say yet, but
Doesn’t really say yet, but it says “at least” one so I am thinking you can put other displays on it or the discrete graphics.
This just might make Intel
This just might make Intel Z68 a default platform for the enthusiasts. Apart from support for SLI and SSD Caching.
Combined though, I think you
Combined though, I think you are right.
So… I’ll need to buy a
So… I’ll need to buy a second monitor for this to work then?
Not something I intend to do or can afford, so unless that requirement changes, I’ll be using Lucids Virtu solution, when I upgrade to Z68
Nope, all you have to do is
Nope, all you have to do is hook your one monitor up to the IGP outputs.
A satellite digital video
A satellite digital video recorder, or DVR, captures a satellite TV signal for storage on the internal hard drive and playback to a connected television. The signal passes through a coaxial cable connection to the DVR. Hooking up a security camera enables you to record an area under surveillance to the DVR, or simply monitor an area on a TV connected to the DVR without recording. Use a pair of coaxial cables with threaded RF couplers on the ends.
Items you will need
2 coaxial cables
TV or video monitor
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Step 1
Switch off the security camera, DVR and TV or monitor.
Step 2
Push on the connector at one end of a cable onto the camera’s output port, which is usually on the back edge. Twist the metal ring on the cable clockwise to hold it on the camera.
Step 3
Attach the other end to the input on the rear panel of your DVR.
Step 4
Connect the second cable from the DVR’s output to the RF input on the television set or monitor.
Step 5
Turn on the power for the three components and tune the DVR to channel three or four, depending on the camera model.
Step 6
Watch the monitor or TV to view the area under surveillance from the camera, or record video by pressing the DVR’s record button.