PlayStation 4 Could Get GPU Switching, Dynamic UI
The Internet was floated a new rumor that suggests that the next Playstation could be equipped with GPU switching technology.
The rumor isn't that far-fetched since we previously heard that Sony will be using an AMD APU as well as a Southern Islands GPU in its next game console. A patent describing an automated GPU switching process provides further credibility that Sony is aiming for a flexible, power optimized GPU infrastructure for the PS4.
The patent application for "dynamic context switching between architecturally distinct graphics processors" was already filed back in 2009 and published in late 2010, which would indicate that it is not the latest information on Sony's development. The purpose of the GPU switching technology is summed up by the patent application authors as follows:
"It would be desirable to allow the context switching to be hidden from the user and performed automatically in the background. Unfortunately, no solution is presently available that allows for dynamic, real-time context switching between architecturally distinct GPUs. The closest prior art is the Apple MacBook Pro, from Apple Computer of Cupertino, Calif., which contains two architecturally distinct GPUs but does not allow dynamic context switches between them. Another prior art solution is the Scalable Link Interface (SLI) architecture developed by Nvidia Corporation of Santa Clara, Calif. This architecture lets a user run one or more GPUs in parallel, but only for the purpose of increasing performance, not to reduce power consumption. Also, this solution requires the two GPUs to be synchronized when the system is enabled, again requiring some amount of user intervention."
The document does not specify a target product for the technology, but the full automation without user interaction hints to a consumer device and not a notebook computer.
Sony recently filed several patent applications that may hint to the future PS4. Most interestingly, an application entitled "game device" and filed in September of this year reveals a game content screen that is much more focused on community interaction and appears to be much more dynamic that the current screen of the PS3.

And then youd have a PC. Great idea. /s
and how should a console get an apu series wich isnt even out yet?
without loosing your warranty nor "loosing your "privileges" as a console owner"
And then youd have a PC. Great idea. /s
Power up the high end GPU when required. selected programs could on start up for examply send a system request for the GPU.
It is silly to have 50W of power wasted on "stand by" of a high powered GPU.
@KelvinTy. AMD always said the architecture is scailable outside the PC space. If the die were expanded, trade a processing core for more GPU space, and change the memory controller to a 256bit GDDR5 then you'd have something much more competent. Still wouldn't quite displace a good dedicated GPU.
Where does it say that it is any different?
The context of the question is posing the question that the Nvidia Optimus already exist and wasn't mentioned in the patent. So how is it different... don't be a smart a**
Consoles are managing to maintain their market relevance because consumers and developers can rely on the fact that every console of a particular model family will be almost exactly the same as any other console from the same family so developers only have one general platform to worry testing, debugging and optimizing for and consumers can enjoy very predictable and repeatable performance no matter which variant of a particular console they pick.
Without all the component access and modularity thanks to everything being integrated into the motherboard, consoles can achieve better performance at better efficiency in much smaller form factors and lower cost than conventional PCs can, which are all very much welcome in the consumer electronics market.
If you take most of those away, you end up with devices mechanically and electrically as complex and as expensive as PCs with none of consoles' benefits for developers and consumers alike.
While it should be technically possible, it would not be practical.
Since SLI/CFX work by issuing frames to the next GPU available, if one GPU is substantially faster than the other(s), frames get finished out-of-order and the IGP/slower-GPU's tardy frames simply get dropped which may make the final rendered video stuttery/choppy.
Pairing an IGP with a much faster GPU simply does not work for realtime rendering.
You're the one to talk. If he was seriously asking that then he's on the wrong website because the only way to answer that is by comparing patents vague descriptions.