Chicago (IL) – Nvidia has revealed a few more details about Hybrid SLI, a technology which combines integrated graphics with a discrete graphics card to improve graphics performance and save power.

According to heise online, initial desktop boards supporting Hybrid SLI are scheduled to be released during the first quarter of this year. Similar to AMD’s “hybrid graphics”, the technology aims to become an entry-level multi-GPU solution that increases the performance of low-end graphics cards on the one side and disables a discrete graphics card to cut power consumption when only basic graphics performance is needed.

Nvidia calls the performance-enhancing component “GeForce Boost” which enables the chipset to combine its own graphics data with data received from a discrete graphics card (via SLI) and transfer it via PCIe 2.0 to one or multiple displays. All future Nvidia chipsets are scheduled to support this capability, including the nForce 780a, 750a and 730a. Heise quoted Nvidia saying that the performance increase for a graphics card through the chipset will be rather modest. However, we expect this technology to be an effective way for entry-level system owners - especially of those that only integrate a graphics chipset – to improve the graphics performance of a PC, for example with a 8400 GS or 8500 GT card.

HybridPower could become an interesting component in low-noise PCs as well as notebooks: Discrete graphics are available when needed, but will be shut down to save power and increase battery life. Heise, however noted that this feature will only be supported in chipsets starting with the 8200 generation as well as a next-generation discrete GPU. Nvidia told Heise that these processors in fact will be able to draw zero power when shut down.