NVidia has updated their nTersect blog with more information about Ion and Optimus including a new demonstration video of Optimus in action. As before, they show how the 3D Card activates and deactivates as they load a 3D application. Unlike previous demo’s however, this one goes one further by showing the electrical capabilities of Optimus with an engineering sample, showing that the 3D card is not simply “unused”, but electrically disabled when not in use. To further drive the point home, they electrically disconnect the 3D card from the system while running, and nothing happens.
The benefit of electrically shutting off components in your notebook, including the GPU, is that it extends battery life. Compared to a standard notebook with a discrete GPU Optimus can extend battery life up to 2x*. The benefit of immediately turning it on again is, of course, that you get all the graphics and processing capabilities of the GPU at a moment’s notice. Few people ever get to see this demo because it requires a completely open notebook system – no chassis – just the motherboard, CPU, GPU, Hard drive, and monitor, so it is not exactly portable. This demo is really killer with engineering teams that design notebooks. They practically fall out of their chairs when they see it.
A powerful demo, guaranteed to make EE’s in the audience cringe.
via nTersect Blog – Optimus – Engineering Coolness for GeForce and ION.
