Hybrid graphics are hardly new, and certainly not unique to Virtu. Nvidia and AMD both offer switchable graphics solutions to achieve many of the same goals as Virtu. Nvidia’s Optimus technology seamlessly switches between discrete and integrated GPUs depending on an application’s needs or available power. AMD’s switchable graphics, while not quite as seamless as Nvidia’s, essentially does the same thing. But both Nvidia’s and AMD’s technologies are typically relegated to the mobile space, save for a single Alienware system (the X51) that leverages Optimus.
The closest Nvidia has come to offering a hybrid graphics solution for desktops is with this wee Alienware X51 PC.
We reached out to both companies to see if either had switchable graphics solutions in the works for desktop systems and got the typical answer that neither company could comment on unreleased products. Nvidia said there is nothing preventing OEMs from using Optimus on desktop systems, but that it hasn’t been done because power is much less of a concern on desktop system, especially since recently released graphics cards consume little power while idling or sitting at the desktop. A rep for AMD said something similar: “On desktop platforms, AMD leads in power efficiency with ZeroCore Power. This vastly reduces power without having to rely on solutions such as switchable graphics.”
Installing Virtu on a system could not be any easier. Assuming you’ve got a compatible platform with the necessary motherboard and iGPU and dGPU installed, there are only a few steps necessary to get Virtu up and running.
As we’ve mentioned, Virtu can be set up in i-Mode, in which a monitor is connected to the processor’s integrated graphics output, or d-Mode, in which a monitor is connected to the discrete graphics card. Although our tests didn’t show much difference in either mode, you’ll want to use i-Mode if power consumption is your main concern and d-Mode if game performance is your priority. To choose your mode, simply connect your monitor to the desired display output on your graphics card (d-Mode) or motherboard (i-Mode).
For Virtu to function, you must be using a compatible motherboard with the necessary hooks incorporated into its system BIOS/UEFI. If you’re unsure about your motherboard’s support for Virtu, reference its specification on the manufacturer’s website (if Virtu was included on your motherboard’s driver disc, chances are it's supported).
If you’re certain you’ve got a Virtu-compatible motherboard, the next step is to enter the system BIOS and enable Virtu (image A). On the Asus motherboard we used for testing, the setting was located in the Advanced > System Agent Configuration > Graphics Configuration section of the BIOS. The name and location of the setting will vary from manufacturer to manufacturer, however.
Image A
Virtu requires that your GPU drivers be installed before Virtu. Once you’ve got your monitor(s) connected and the necessary feature enabled in the BIOS, boot into Windows and install the latest drivers for your iGPU and dGPU.
Installing Virtu requires no special knowledge or configuration information. The tool installs the necessary drivers and abstraction layers and automatically detects the hardware in the system. Although a Virtu installer was likely included on your motherboard’s driver disc, we recommend grabbing the most recent version from the LucidLogix website to ensure the broadest compatibility.
If you don’t need to change the default installation options, simply start the installer, accept the license agreement, and click through the onscreen prompts to complete the process (image B). If all went to plan, once rebooted, Virtu will be installed and enabled
Image B
When the Virtu installation is complete, GPU virtualization will be enabled by default. To access Virtu’s control panel, right-click the Virtu icon in the system tray and simply choose the option to open the control panel. There are only four tabs available in the Virtu tool—Main (image C), Performance (image D), Applications, and About—and they’re all simple to navigate.
Image C
Image D
Comments are closed on this article
MrGeek
February 05, 2013 at 9:51pm
I have Intel Core i7 3770K @ 3.50GHz (Ivy Bridge 22nm Technology), MOBO is ASUSTeK COMPUTER INC. P8Z77-V LK (LGA1155), I see the exact same BIOS image shown in article on my bios, set it up like it. AMD 7950 video with latest and greatest.
When I try to install Virtu it tells me iGPU not found. Huh??
Other than that pc runs fine, games are fast and smooth.
Geneaux
February 05, 2013 at 9:24pm
Works fine with Skyrim and another no-name F2P FPSMMO I have installed iirc. I tried to play BF3 with this on, and immediately recognized that it was unplayable. Tears all up and down the screen. However it's the only game I've experienced this with so far. It's been mostly disabled and only recently I had just reenabled it and I have yet to test it in other games I own.
jgottberg
February 05, 2013 at 1:04pm
I don't get it.
So it's supposed to improve power consumption but really doesn't. It's supposed to improve gaming performance but doesn't quite do that either. So on what level does it "just work?"
Just seems like software for software sake.
CaptainFabulous
February 05, 2013 at 11:45am
Well I was already perplexed by this software prior to this article, and honestly, the article didn't really offer any information to change it.
It doesn't affect power consumption. It doesn't affect game performance. But it just works. Works at WHAT? What is it supposed to be doing??? Is the only benefit in allowing you to use features of the integrated GPU while having a discrete one installed?
This came with my mobo, I keep it installed and updated, but honest to God have no idea what, if any, benefit I get from it. I've read every single iota of content on the website and still have no idea what it's supposed to accomplish, or what benefit it provides to me.
I will say this tho -- I have noticed with virtual vsync that I can disable vsync in my games, get higher than 60 FPS, and not see tearing that I would normally see. So perhaps that's one benefit I notice, but only in games where I would get more than 60 FPS and have that be useful. So maybe some older FPSs?
John Pombrio
February 05, 2013 at 9:49am
TOTAL waste of time. I fiddled with the Virtu MVP settings on numerous games and saw NO improvement. ASUS P8Z77-V deluxe with NVidia GTX 680 EVGA on a Dell 2560 by 1440 IPS monitor and I am very computer savvy.
Supposedly , it prevents tearing but I never saw much if any before running it so no improvement there. Then the frame rate was locked at 60FPS and would only decrease while without Virtu running, the framerate at least doubled.Whatever this was supposed to accomplish, it was completely unsuitable for my system. Perhaps it is for marginal speced computers but with what I saw, I would still not use it.
Nixon
February 05, 2013 at 8:42am
Sounds cool, but saw no increase in gaming performance through the GPU.
Maybe a different story through motherboard and CPU graphics, but seems sort of pointless and I didn't have the time to test it out. o_O
jaygregz
February 04, 2013 at 10:32pm
I tried it on my system before. Didn't save any power consumption and I couldn't tell any difference performance wise.
commandrew
February 04, 2013 at 10:18pm
It's NOT what you think. Virtu requires you to plug your monitor(s) into the HDMI or DVI on your motherboard, and not your graphics card. The routing of the signal through your card out the mobo DVI or HDMI and not the DVI or HDMI on the graphics card can cost you performance wise, albeit only around 5 frames per second in most games.
ShinRenNu
February 04, 2013 at 8:35pm
What happens when you try to install Virtu even its not supported by your motherboard?
Will it damage my motherboard permanently or it will just won't work at all?
limitbreaker
February 05, 2013 at 1:10pm
It'll cause your motherboard to imagine a virtue chip on it and spontaneously grow a chip on the pcb board.
The Corrupted One
February 04, 2013 at 8:31pm
Omg, syncing my Intel Graphics with my dual 6850s. Now that would be awesome.
RS_Lommax
February 04, 2013 at 8:13pm
It sounds nice, but when I installed it on my freshly-built system, it kept my print spooler from starting up. I had to axe it to get my printer back.
UberFefa
February 04, 2013 at 7:22pm
What happens when you want to update the GPU drivers? It said that they have to be installed before Virtu, does that affect new driver installs?
