ATI Quietly Enters Switchable Graphics Technology for Intel Centrino 2 Notebooks

From X-bit Labs: ATI Switchable Graphics technology is a joint effort between ATI/AMD and Intel Corp. to provide users of Intel Centrino 2 notebooks the best features of various graphics adapters: performance and feature-set of discrete GPU and power-efficiency of integrated graphics processor (IGP). A similar technology was also developed by Intel and Nvidia so that to provide customers a choice of graphics processors.

Thanks to Switchable Graphics technology, select notebooks that feature Intel GS45 or GM45 core-logic set and ATI Mobility Radeon HD 3600 or 3400 graphics chip can switch between standalone and integrated graphics cores dynamically depending on the power source and user preferences without rebooting the PC. Although dynamic switching between graphics cores does not require any complex technology inside chips themselves, the notebook and its BIOS must be specifically designed to support the capability.

Similar technology called Hybrid CrossFire is also available for AMD-based mobile computers, but in case of AMD platforms, IGP and GPU can also work collaboratively in multi-GPU mode in order to boost performance of graphics sub-system substantially.

AMD’s graphics product group has not issued any official statements on the matter of Switchable Graphics technology launch. Perhaps, because there are currently no Intel Centrino 2 laptops that feature ATI Switchable Graphics, perhaps because AMD does not want to attract any attention to the platform of its arch-rival on the market of central processing units.

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