Hybrid only works in Vista (yuk!) so will probably only have 2 people in the world using it. AMD needs to release XP drivers for Hybrid. If they did they'd sell more of the boards and more of their graphics cards.

One other thing, IGP (3400) and 3450 Discrete would both be passive cooled. Sure, not the greatest gaming rig in history but silent (as far as graphics).

A step toward Fusion. It is clear that this is ATI/AMD's first visible steps towards fusion. This should allow them to allow you to have a Fusion CPU and add a dedicated GPU and not lose the benefits of that Fusion CGPU.

Here: https://a248.e.akamai.net/f/674/9206/0/www2.ati.com/manuals/x800x850crossfiregettingstartedguide.pdf

Number 12 on the FAQ - card will continue to operate at their individual speeds.

Yeah, thanks Intel. Now we have to wait for their discrete GPU for a Havok that takes advantage of a surplus GPU for physics calculations.

there is absolutely no problem with mixing 3850 and 3870 in CrossFire X
Read small note under some picture here:
http://tinyurl.com/3xnk8n

Andy, I'd have to guess that they're using alternate frame rendering. So, unless they completely rewrote their crossfire drivers(and maybe not even then), it would probably be impossible to do what you suggest. 

Mike, that does seem like an interesting idea. It's too bad that GPU physics never took off.

a new feature called sideport? my old Radeon Xpress 200 has sideport..... as well as my friend's 690G based motherboard, so it seems hardly new

I'm looking at this with interest as a way to improve AA performance on all cards. Even with high end R670's and R680's. Leave this turned on and minimize the performance hit with AA.

I believe 7XXG is same Crossfire as 690G, you probably turned off one display in Avanced options, as to turn off crossfire itself takes bios adj.
RECOMMENDED CARD OF CHOICE IS FIRE GL 3100V. I'd like to see better results for TOP w/more, Yet in ULTIE, theres too much clutter still labouring system in these early chipsets. its' $20 Board.

Signed:PHYSICIAN THOMAS STEWART VON DRASHEK M.D.

I dont think so; the GPUs have to communicate to one another, so if one is at 800mhz and the integrated is, lets say, 500mhz, then the 800mhz is still going to have to wait on the slower end. Cant say for sure though...might be other technical issues that we dont even know about...
Thats how Crossfire has always been though, lowest common dominator..

KUDOS to ATi, may not always have the most FPS, but they are always thinking

What if we could offload some physic computation on the IG? So the limitation that the lowest performing card does not apply since they would do different things.

This would be perfect for mid-range gamers like me...

I doubt an integrated GPU could do this yet but it would be really interesting to see if the integrated GPU could assist in some physics processing for games that support physics.

Or at least let the integrated GPU become dedicated to folding proteins for the Folding@home project?

Just thinking out loud.

what about a 3850 combined with a 3870?
is it possible?

"but it will step them down to the speed of the slowest part"

This seems unefficient.. wouldn't it be possible to use both cards to as much efficiency as possible ??

Just have the weaker card draw as much as it can muster say x % of the screen.