Intel® Embedded Graphics Driver FAQ

6.  What are the differences among “Switchable,” “Additive 3D,” and “Multi-Monitor” hybrid graphics modes, and which modes are supported by Intel® Embedded Graphics Drivers?

“Switchable” allows seamless transition between the integrated graphics in the chipset and a higher-power “external” graphics engine for best battery power capability. This is a feature you would expect to find in a battery-operated device such as a notebook.

“Additive” is a technique where the integrated graphics GPU (graphics processing unit) is tapped by the “external” graphics driver to supplement the external graphics GPU processing power. This feature is of limited value as the overhead on managing the data and transferring the graphics data between the integrated graphics memory and the external graphics tends to override any performance benefits.

“Multi-Monitor” is the ability for the integrated graphics to co-exist with the external graphics engine(s) allowing for more unique displays. For example, in Windows you could extend your desktop between the integrated graphics’ two displays plus one, two, or more external graphics displays. This requires a chipset tested to support this mode, and possibly a BIOS modification to leave the integrated graphics on when external graphics are present, especially in the X16 PCIe* (PEG) slot.

Intel® Embedded Graphics Drivers have always supported multi-monitor mode which, in the past, was primarily tested with integrated graphics plus PCI-based external graphics. With the new ability to use the integrated plus PCIe plus PCI, the combinations are endless.

7.  Do Intel® Embedded Graphics Drivers and the Intel® System Controller Hub US15W chipset support Protected Audio/Video Path (PAVP)?

No. Intel® Embedded Graphics Drivers do not support Windows 7*, which Intel's PAVP technology requires as the operating system. Intel and Microsoft do not have a “standard” technology solution for the kind of content protection that is available on newer systems (Intel's PAVP and Microsoft's PVP require a different graphics driver model). Applications that use PAVP have been validated using only Intel® Graphics Media Accelerator Driver (Intel® GMA Driver) and systems with PAVP support. (Platform-level BIOS support is also required for PAVP).

8.  Do Intel® Embedded Graphics Drivers and the Intel® System Controller Hub US15W chipset support High-bandwidth Digital Content Protection (HDCP)?

Yes, US15W supports HDCP copy protection assuming these two conditions are met:

1. The SDVO HDMI* or DVI transmitter can enable HDCP, and
2. The transmitter vendor provides a suitable port driver for Intel® Embedded Graphics Drivers for HDCP support.

9.  How do I enable or disable a DisplayPort?

The functions for controlling this are proprietary information and cannot be released to customers through the API documentation.

10.  Do Intel® Embedded Graphics Drivers provide driver support for a DisplayPort output from any embedded chipset?

No. The Q45 member of the Intel® Q45/G41/G45 Express Chipset series has hardware-level support for DisplayPort natively. Please refer to page 538 of the datasheet, Intel® 4 Series Express Chipset Family.

If driver support for DisplayPort is required with the Q45, an alternate driver besides Intel® Embedded Graphics Driver would need to be used.

11.  What is Hybrid Multi-monitor support?

Hybrid Multi-monitor support is defined as allowing the graphics processing unit (GPU) integrated into Intel’s embedded chipset to concurrently function with a discrete GPU solution provided most commonly on an external PCI Express* graphics card. This allows for generation of unique display timings on greater than two panels or monitors simultaneously.

12.  What Intel® Embedded chipsets provide Hybrid Multi-monitor support via Intel Embedded Graphics Drivers?

Hybrid Multi-monitor support is officially supported with Intel® Embedded Graphics Drivers for systems using the Intel® Q45/G41/G45 and GM45/GL40/GS45 chipsets.

13.  I have seen some retail platforms provide Hybrid Multi-monitor support via  Intel® Embedded Graphics Drivers and the US15W. Does the US15W chipset provide Hybrid Multi-monitor support via Intel® Embedded Graphics Drivers?

No. Intel Embedded Graphics Drivers do not officially include Hybrid Multi-monitor support for systems using the US15W chipset at the present time.

Several retail platforms based on the US15W chipset and Intel® Embedded Graphics Drivers have successfully enabled unique display timings on greater than two panels or monitors simultaneously. However, much like overclocking the GPU beyond datasheet specifications, enabling Hybrid Multi-monitor support with US15W is done at the board vendor’s risk.

The Intel Embedded Graphics Drivers 10.3.1 Product Brief and Intel Embedded Graphics Drivers 10.3.1 Feature Matrix currently list the US15W as not supported for Hybrid Multi-monitor graphics using Intel Embedded Graphics Drivers.

14.  Why is the CH7318* device not listed in the “Select DVO” section of Intel® Embedded Graphics Drivers’ CED (Configuration EDitor)?

The CH7318 is a level shifter device for HDMI. This is not a transmitter device, but it provides voltage shifting. The Intel® Series 4 chipsets (Q45/G45/G41/GM45/GS45/GL40) supported by Intel® Embedded Graphics Drivers that have integrated HDMI/DVI require only a level shifter to increase the internal voltage to the necessary line voltage. Since Intel Embedded Graphics Drivers support some of the Intel® Series 4 chipsets (Q45/G45/G41/GM45/GS45/GL40), and the internal HDMI/DVI interfaces that are available, it also supports the necessary level shifters, but not directly. The driver is not aware that the level shifter (for example, the CH7318) is present. Because it is not a transmitter, only a level shifter, it is theoretically invisible to the driver. The driver only knows that there is a DVI or HDMI interface configured. When setting up the Intel Embedded Graphics Driver with CED, you are not choosing SDVO and then looking for a device labeled CH7318; you are configuring the HDMI interfaces and the additional data to get these interfaces up and running.