Difference between SLI and hybrid SLI.

[calidar]

Hoping someone can help me out with the difference between SLI and hybrid SLI. I recently noticed my motherboard, a GA-Z77X-D3H supports SLI however it does not support hybrid SLI.

I understand that SLI is running two GPUs in parallel, but am essentially clueless to anything else.

Thanks.

[kalniel]

Hybrid SLI is when you pair a discrete GPU with an onboard GPU.

SLI is when you pair two discrete GPUs.

[calidar]

So a discrete gpu is just a normal GPU like the GTX 670 for example, whereas an onboard GPU would be just a built in graphics card on a lower end laptop for example? Also is there any restriction to which GPUs can be paired together under normal SLI? Obviously nvidia can't be paired with ATI but could I for example pair a 670 with a 680?

Thanks again.

[kalniel]

So a discrete gpu is just a normal GPU like the GTX 670 for example, whereas an onboard GPU would be just a built in graphics card on a lower end laptop for example?

That's right.

Also is there any restriction to which GPUs can be paired together under normal SLI? Obviously nvidia can't be paired with ATI but could I for example pair a 670 with a 680?

Basically they need to be the same underlying chip. Different manufacturers and clock speeds are fine. See the nVidia FAQ:
http://www.geforce.co.uk/hardware/te...gy/sli/faq#c16

[calidar]

Thanks!