AMD Hybrid Graphics: Difference between revisions

The ATI Hybrid Graphics technology was announced on January 23, 2008 with [[Radeon R600#Radeon HD 2400|Radeon HD 2400 series]] and [[Radeon R600#Radeon HD 3400|Radeon HD 3400 series]] video cards supporting hybrid graphics functionality. Originally, ATI announced this feature would only be supported in Vista, but in August 2008 they included support in their Windows XP drivers as well.<ref>{{cite web|last=Hruska |first=Joel |url=https://arstechnica.com/hardware/news/2008/08/ati-cat-8-8-drivers-include-hybrid-graphics-in-windows-xp.ars |title=ATI Cat 8.8 drivers include Hybrid Graphics in Windows XP |publisher=Ars Technica |date=2008-08-22 |accessdateaccess-date=2012-09-14}}</ref> The architecture has been patented by ATI.<ref>{{patent|US|2006282604|"Methods and apparatus for processing graphics data using multiple processing circuits." filed on May 27, 2005}}</ref>

The previous generation of [[AMD CrossFireX#Hybrid CrossFireX / Dual Graphics|Hybrid Crossfire]] paired 890GX or 880G (with Radeon HD4290 and HD 4250 respectively) motherboards from the AMD 800 chipset series with an HD 5450, 5550, 5570 or 5670 Radeon video card from the [[Radeon hd 5000|Radeon HD 5000 series]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://sites.amd.com/us/game/technology/Pages/crossfirex.aspx |title=AMD CrossFireX™ |publisher=Sites.amd.com |date=2010-11-05 |accessdateaccess-date=2012-09-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120903065608/http://sites.amd.com/us/game/technology/Pages/crossfirex.aspx |archive-date=2012-09-03 |url-status=dead |df= }}</ref>

Newer information suggests that A6-series and A8-series [[AMD Accelerated Processing Unit|AMD APUs]] can be used in Hybrid Crossfire (Subsequently, called "Dual Graphics") with HD 6570 and HD 6670 video cards.<ref name="vr-zone">{{cite web|url=http://vr-zone.com/articles/exclusive-amd-s-dual-radeon-graphics-for-desktops-unveiled/12746.html |title=Exclusive: AMD's Dual Radeon Graphics for desktops unveiled by |publisher=Vr-zone.com |date=2011-06-24 |accessdateaccess-date=2012-09-14 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120727035018/http://vr-zone.com/articles/exclusive-amd-s-dual-radeon-graphics-for-desktops-unveiled/12746.html |archive-date=July 27, 2012 }}</ref><ref name="AMD#3">{{cite web|url=https://www.amd.com/us/products/technologies/dual-graphics/Pages/dual-graphics.aspx#3 |title=AMD Radeon Dual Graphics |publisher=Amd.com |access-date= |accessdate=2012-09-14}}</ref><ref name="AMD#4">{{cite web|url=https://www.amd.com/us/products/technologies/dual-graphics/Pages/dual-graphics.aspx#4 |title=AMD Radeon Dual Graphics |publisher=Amd.com |access-date= |accessdate=2012-09-14}}</ref><ref name="AMD#5">{{cite web|url=https://www.amd.com/us/products/technologies/dual-graphics/Pages/dual-graphics.aspx#5 |title=AMD Radeon Dual Graphics |publisher=Amd.com |access-date= |accessdate=2012-09-14}}</ref><ref name="ASCII">{{cite web|author=文● 宇野 貴教 |url=http://ascii.jp/elem/000/000/626/626734/index-3.html |title=ASCII.jp：ゲームPCを安く作るならAMD Dual Graphicsを活用すべし！ |publisher=Ascii.jp |access-date= |accessdate=2012-09-14}}</ref><ref name="Toms">{{cite web|url=http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/amd-a8-3850-llano,2975-2.html |title=Dual Graphics: How Does It Perform? : AMD A8-3850 Review: Llano Rocks Entry-Level Desktops |publisher=Tomshardware.com |date=2011-06-30 |accessdateaccess-date=2012-09-14}}</ref><ref name="Canucks">{{cite web|url=http://www.hardwarecanucks.com/forum/hardware-canucks-reviews/44338-amd-a8-3850-apu-review-llano-hits-desktop-7.html |title=AMD A8-3850 APU Review: Llano Hits the Desktop - Page 7 |publisher=Hardwarecanucks.com |access-date= |accessdate=2012-09-14}}</ref> Dual-graphic-capable second-generation [[AMD Fusion#2012 platforms|Trinity]] A-series APUs like the A8-5500 and A10-5700, with HD 7500 / 7600 series GPUs, and based on [[Socket FM2]], are expected in June 2012.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cpu-world.com/news_2012/2012021501_AMD_Trinity_Desktop_APU_Specs_Revealed.html |title=AMD Trinity Desktop APU Specs Revealed |publisher=Cpu-world.com |access-date= |accessdate=2012-09-14 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121110165216/http://www.cpu-world.com/news_2012/2012021501_AMD_Trinity_Desktop_APU_Specs_Revealed.html |archive-date=2012-11-10 }}</ref>

Available on mainstream mobile IGP chipsets (AMD [[AMD mobile platform#Puma platform (2008)|M780G]] and [[AMD mobile platform#Yukon platform (2009)|M690]]), the PowerXpress technology allows seamless switching from integrated graphics (IGP) to discrete graphics on notebooks when the notebook is connected to the AC power supply for better 3D rendering capabilities, and ''vice versa'' when disconnected from the power supply to increase battery life. The process does not require a system reboot as in the past and some current notebook implementations, and it features a UI within the driver which can profile applications to run on specified GPUs. In addition to that, later GPU models feature an Ultra Low Power Saving (ULPS) state that completely disables the discrete GPU when not in use, thus further saving power. However this feature proved to be buggy when inappropriate drivers are installed.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://community.amd.com/thread/176003 |title=ULPS: How to disable |publisher=Amd.com |date=2014-05-08 |accessdateaccess-date=2019-07-11}}</ref>

Current Linux support of this feature may be complete since Catalyst 11.4 (fglrx driver 8.840 or newer) according to a ''Phoronix'' article.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.phoronix.com/scan.php?page=news_item&px=OTI3Mg |title=[Phoronix&#93; PowerXpress Support Notebooks Under Linux |publisher=Phoronix.com |date=2011-03-30 |accessdateaccess-date=2012-09-14}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.phoronix.com/scan.php?page=news_item&px=OTI3MQ |title=[Phoronix&#93; Here's The Special AMD Present For Ubuntu Users |publisher=Phoronix.com |date=2011-03-30 |accessdateaccess-date=2012-09-14}}</ref> X.org currently does not support seamless graphic cards hot-switching without restarting the X server.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.phoronix.com/scan.php?page=news_item&px=OTIyMQ |title=[Phoronix&#93; Multi-GPU PRIME & GPU Hot-Switching Proposal |publisher=Phoronix.com |date=2011-03-16 |accessdateaccess-date=2012-09-14}}</ref>

* PowerXpress v4.0, the external name is rebranded as "Dynamic Switchable Graphics" (DSG).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.amd.com/us/products/technologies/switchable-graphics/Pages/dynamic-switchable-graphics.aspx|title=Products We Design|publisher=}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.anandtech.com/show/4839/mobile-gpu-faceoff-amd-dynamic-switchable-graphics-vs-nvidia-optimus-technology/2|title=Mobile GPU Faceoff: AMD Dynamic Switchable Graphics vs. NVIDIA Optimus Technology|first=Jarred|last=Walton|publisher=}}</ref>

* PowerXpress v5.0 - present, DSG is rebranded as "Enduro".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.anandtech.com/show/6243/amds-enduro-switchable-graphics-levels-up/2|title=AMD's Enduro Switchable Graphics Levels Up|first=Jarred|last=Walton|publisher=}}</ref>