ATI Hybrid Graphics
Encyclopedia
The ATI Hybrid Graphics technology, is a collective brand from AMD
for its Radeon
line of discrete and integrated GPU
, promoting higher performance and productivity while saving energy consumption in GPUs. The technology currently applies to selected chipsets of the AMD 700 chipset series
and AMD 800 chipset series
only. The ATI Hybrid Graphics technology was announced on January 23, 2008 with Radeon HD 2400 series and 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. The architecture has been patented by ATI.
Right now the latest generation of Hybrid Crossfire pairs an 890GX or 880G (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 series.
Initial performance results paired with a Radeon HD 2400 video card leads to a 50% performance increase over standalone Radeon HD 2400 performance , notebook products will also be available. Three operation modes were spotted as follows:
One notable issue is that when the IGP paired with a DirectX 10.1 video card, the whole hybrid CrossFire setup will support up to DirectX 10.0 only, and the UVD in IGP will be shut down. The new 785G chipset has solved this issue however and supports DirectX 10.1.
chipset, and the AMD 780G IGP chipset. This technology supports the connection of multiple monitors. For the AMD 780G chipset, at most two monitors (four supported along with a discrete graphics card) can be connected onto the supported video output ports (one through LVDS
, that is either HDMI or DVI-D port and one D-Sub
port), in "extended desktop mode" or "duplicate mode", for better desktop utilization and to provide more flexibility. The integrated graphics processor and the discrete graphics processor work in parallel to drive multiple displays. Therefore it is different from Hybrid CrossFireX.
Advanced Micro Devices
Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. or AMD is an American multinational semiconductor company based in Sunnyvale, California, that develops computer processors and related technologies for commercial and consumer markets...
for its Radeon
Radeon
Radeon is a brand of graphics processing units and random access memory produced by Advanced Micro Devices , first launched in 2000 by ATI Technologies, which was acquired by AMD in 2006. Radeon is the successor to the Rage line. There are four different groups, which can be differentiated by...
line of discrete and integrated GPU
Graphics processing unit
A graphics processing unit or GPU is a specialized circuit designed to rapidly manipulate and alter memory in such a way so as to accelerate the building of images in a frame buffer intended for output to a display...
, promoting higher performance and productivity while saving energy consumption in GPUs. The technology currently applies to selected chipsets of the AMD 700 chipset series
AMD 700 chipset series
The AMD 700 chipset series is a set of chipsets designed by ATI for AMD Phenom processors to be sold under the AMD brand...
and AMD 800 chipset series
AMD 800 chipset series
The AMD 800 chipset series is a set of chipsets developed by AMD, released in 2009. The chipset series was revealed in its presentation slides during the AMD Financial Analyst Day 2007 held on December 13, 2007...
only. The ATI Hybrid Graphics technology was announced on January 23, 2008 with Radeon HD 2400 series and 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. The architecture has been patented by ATI.
Right now the latest generation of Hybrid Crossfire pairs an 890GX or 880G (Radeon HD4290 and HD 4250 respectively) motherboards from the AMD 800 chipset series
AMD 800 chipset series
The AMD 800 chipset series is a set of chipsets developed by AMD, released in 2009. The chipset series was revealed in its presentation slides during the AMD Financial Analyst Day 2007 held on December 13, 2007...
with an HD 5450, 5550, 5570 or 5670 Radeon video card from the Radeon HD 5000 series.
Hybrid CrossFire / Hybrid CrossFireX
The Hybrid CrossFireX is a technology allowing the IGP, or Integrated Graphics Processor, and the discrete GPU, or Graphics Processing Unit, to form a CrossFire setup to enhance the system capability to render 3D scenes, while the Hybrid CrossFire X technology is present on the 790GX and 890G chipsets, with two supplied physical PCI-E x16 slots at x8 bandwidth , can form a Hybrid CrossFire X setup with two video cards and the IGP, enhancing the 3D rendering capabilities.Initial performance results paired with a Radeon HD 2400 video card leads to a 50% performance increase over standalone Radeon HD 2400 performance , notebook products will also be available. Three operation modes were spotted as follows:
| Mode | On-board IGP | Discrete PCI-E video card(s) (including AXIOM/MXM Mobile PCI Express Module A Mobile PCI Express Module is an interconnect standard for GPUs in laptops using PCI Express created by MXM-SIG... module(s)) |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| On-board IGP only | |||
| Discrete mode | |||
| Hybrid Mode | |||
Notes:
|
|||
One notable issue is that when the IGP paired with a DirectX 10.1 video card, the whole hybrid CrossFire setup will support up to DirectX 10.0 only, and the UVD in IGP will be shut down. The new 785G chipset has solved this issue however and supports DirectX 10.1.
SurroundView
The SurroundView technology is a multi-display technology available in the 690GAMD 690 chipset series
The AMD 690 chipset series is an integrated graphics chipset family which was developed and manufactured by AMD subsidiary ATI for both AMD and Intel platforms focusing on both desktop and mobile computing markets...
chipset, and the AMD 780G IGP chipset. This technology supports the connection of multiple monitors. For the AMD 780G chipset, at most two monitors (four supported along with a discrete graphics card) can be connected onto the supported video output ports (one through LVDS
Low voltage differential signaling
Low-voltage differential signaling, or LVDS, is an electrical digital signaling system that can run at very high speeds over inexpensive twisted-pair copper cables. It was introduced in 1994, and has since become very popular in computers, where it forms part of very high-speed networks and...
, that is either HDMI or DVI-D port and one D-Sub
D-subminiature
The D-subminiature or D-sub is a common type of electrical connector. They are named for their characteristic D-shaped metal shield. When they were introduced, D-subs were among the smaller connectors used on computer systems....
port), in "extended desktop mode" or "duplicate mode", for better desktop utilization and to provide more flexibility. The integrated graphics processor and the discrete graphics processor work in parallel to drive multiple displays. Therefore it is different from Hybrid CrossFireX.
PowerXpress
Available on mainstream mobile IGP chipsets (AMD M780G and M690), the PowerXpress technology allows seamless switch 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 power supply to increase battery life. The process does not require a system reboot as in past and some current notebook implementations. Current Linux support of this feature is not complete but related information can be found in the Linux Hybrid Graphics page.| Mode | Plugged to AC power? | On-board IGP | discrete AXIOM/MXM Mobile PCI Express Module A Mobile PCI Express Module is an interconnect standard for GPUs in laptops using PCI Express created by MXM-SIG... GPU module(s) |
Default PowerPlay ATI PowerPlay ATI PowerPlay is a collective name for a set of technologies implemented in a series of graphics adapters manufactured by ATI, including the Mobility Radeon, the Imageon handheld chipset, and the Radeon family of desktop GPUs... power settings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AC Mode | "Maximum performance" | |||
| DC Mode | "Maximum battery life" |