NVIDIA Hybrid SLI and HybridPower Benchmarked and Explained

NVIDIA Goes Hybrid To Boost Power Savings

NVIDIA Hybrid SLI, based on NVIDIAs SLI technology, allows users to manage the performance and power-saving features of multiple, NVIDIA graphics processing units (GPUs). Hybrid SLI is available on systems that contain one or more NVIDIA Hybrid SLI-enabled GPUs and an NVIDIA Hybrid SLI-enabled motherboard. If you happen to have a system supporting Hybrid SLI then you are also able to use the feature called HybridPower. HybridPower enables the user to switch off the higher performing discrete GPU when it is not needed, and instead utilize the motherboard GPU for non-intensive graphics applications. Switching off the discrete GPU not only lowers the total system power consumption, but also lowers heat and system noise. HybridPower provides the necessary graphics performance for demanding 3D applications and intelligently switches to low-power operation for everyday computing needs. The technology sounds great and we have been using it here at Legit Reviews for the past few days, but due to time constraints we could not include our results and thoughts of the new technology in our launch article on the nForce 780a SLI chipset that was published yesterday.

In order to make this all work you must have the right hardware and the list of hardware supporting Hybrid SLI HybridPower technology isn’t that long.

NVIDIA Hybrid SLI Ready GPUs:

• GeForce 9800 GTX
• GeForce 9800 GX2

NVIDIA Hybrid SLI Ready Motherboards:

• nForce 720a MCP
• nForce 730a MCP
• nForce 750a SLI MCP
• nForce 780a SLI MCP
• GeForce 8100 motherboard GPU
• GeFOrce 8300 motherboard GPU
• GeForce 8200 motherboard GPU

Once you have the right hardware, all you need to do is make a few setting changes in the BIOS and use the proper monitor connection.