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Tamuril elansar · Jun 10, 2008, 10:48 AM // 10:48

ok, i'm planning to make a hybrid SLI computer, i got some questions about it.

what Nvidia cards supports hybrid SLI? will the new 260/280GTX card support it?

and what ATX mobo is best for hybrid SLI?

thx in advance.

Admael · Jun 10, 2008, 11:03 AM // 11:03

I know the 9800 GTX and GX2 both support hybrid SLI (hybridpower). As for boards, you'd have to make sure you're getting the 'a' version, as nForce 750a, 780a both support hyrbid SLI (both GeForce boost and hybridpower)

Tamuril elansar · Jun 10, 2008, 11:29 AM // 11:29

k, and how about the new cards (260/280GTX)?
any info on that?

Brianna · Jun 10, 2008, 05:37 PM // 17:37

Rahja would have to confirm, at this point he might be the only person here who can give you a 100% definite answer, but he is away right now.

I'm sure they will though, they are new chips so why not?

Blackhearted · Jun 10, 2008, 06:00 PM // 18:00

Even if higher end cards supported hybrid sli, what would be the point? The performance "boost" from the onboard gpu attempting to help out the main card would be so miniscule you wouldn't even notice it's there in most games.

moriz · Jun 10, 2008, 06:49 PM // 18:49

actually, there won't be a performance boost, it's actually a performance "hinderance" since the faster dGPU will have to constantly wait for the slower mGPU.

hybrid SLI with high end cards will only have hybrid power enabled. that is, when you are not running games, the graphic card will shut down and use the mGPU instead. depending on what card you have, that can save a lot of power.

Admael · Jun 10, 2008, 07:44 PM // 19:44

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blackhearted

Even if higher end cards supported hybrid sli, what would be the point? The performance "boost" from the onboard gpu attempting to help out the main card would be so miniscule you wouldn't even notice it's there in most games.

I don't know, when I first noticed hybrid SLi, it's when Nvidia was saying stuff like 55% performance boost in Call of Duty 4! (their words).

moriz · Jun 10, 2008, 07:46 PM // 19:46

55% boost with a geforce 8400GS, probably

zamial · Jun 11, 2008, 02:48 PM // 14:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by moriz

actually, there won't be a performance boost, it's actually a performance "hinderance" since the faster dGPU will have to constantly wait for the slower mGPU.

hybrid SLI with high end cards will only have hybrid power enabled. that is, when you are not running games, the graphic card will shut down and use the mGPU instead. depending on what card you have, that can save a lot of power.

qft

unless I have really misunderstood, hybrid sli is only available on the 780a (or mobo's ending with an a instead of an i). The a signifies it uses the AMD processors, i is for intel.

amd uses more power on the processor than intel chips. The above quote seems accurate. the i series also has a "built in performance boost".

I am reasoning the reason it is called "hybrid" is because systems are moving towards platform builds with hardware. sli for nvidia/intel and spider for ati/amd. It is a "hybrid" because it breaks this reasoning.(there would be lawsuits if this was not possible). Along with the power reduction to be "green", like a "hybrid" car. Intel chips do not require this because they are currently the least power consuming chips available, this may change but unlikely.

In short unless you were getting a steal on a new top of the line amd chip, I would look into intel or building a spider platform. I am not a fan boy of intel I used amd for years, unfortunately amd has lost the edge and is not currently the best.

Lord Sojar · Jun 15, 2008, 05:34 AM // 05:34

Hybrid SLi is currently used for boosting lower performing stand alone cards with integrated solutions (IGPs). I am not at liberty to discuss furture plans of Hybrid technology and future utilization. If you are planning on building a high end gaming PC, hybrid technology is not in your arsenal. If you are planning on building a midrange PC that has low to medium gaming capability, Hybrid SLi technology is definitely something to look into.

Again, as pointed out above, the motherboard chipsets ending with the "a" postfix have this ability. Hybrid SLi technology cuts power usage by utilizing a built on IGP solution when the SA GPU solution isn't needed. Future implementation of this technology will most likely be seen, and will be most likely be robust and impressive on a technological level. I cannot confirm or deny anything beyond that. Sorry.

Snograt · Jun 15, 2008, 08:36 AM // 08:36

nVidia's page on current hybrid solutions - http://www.nvidia.com/object/hybrid_sli_desktop.html

If you read that, you will see that hybrid is currently used for either energy saving or boosting low/mid range systems. Not something power gamers need to look to.