This SLI is not combining graphics card for increased performance, but offering ultimate flexibility for notebook users.
High end models of
Sony's current SZ series laptops already use dual graphics cards, an NVIDIA GeForce Go 7400 and Intel GMA 950. While there is a neat little external switch to change GPU's, it is nothing close to seamless and requires a reboot. Enter: SLI Power
SLI Power is the current tag line for a new technology NVIDIA is developing. Along the same lines as the Sony model, there will be both integrated and discrete NVIDIA graphics processors. Through complicated hardware logic and of course clock gating to cut power off to unused devices, NVIDIA plans to be able to seamlessly switch between integrated and discrete GPU's with no reboot needed.
Obviously this is easier said than done and the feature is still being developed. We hear that the software interface is being rather difficult, getting Windows to switch video device drivers on a whim and all. There is no word on when this may be completed, but we wouldn't be surprised to see this around Vista time.
