More and more information on NVIDIA’s coming Intel Atom platform is appearing and after some preliminary information on NVIDIA’s first reference system, Anandtech has published a considerably more detailed preview of the Ion platform. As expected it is built on the NVIDIA’s GeForce 9400M chipset that recently replaced Intel’s own chipsets in Apple’s Mac computers. A nice point on the merit list for NVIDIA that managed to convince Apple that is has a considerably better platform than Intel, something that should make Intel at least a little bit nervous now that the Ion platform is coming.
Even if we only have NVIDIA’s own product material go by it says that it is the exact same chipset that NVIDIA ships to Apple for its portable MacBook computers.
The greatest advantage over Intel’s own chipsets is the integrated graphics circuit that together with the energy efficient Atom processor makes it possible to play 1080p at high bitrates with loading the processor all that much. With Intel’s 945G chipset, most netbooks struggle to play even 720p videos.
Even though NVIDIA delivers more performance than Intel’s platform it has managed to keep the power consumption at the same level, which the single chip solution can be fitted onto a minimal Pico ITX motherboard, 10cm x 7.2cm.
NVIDIA is going after the netbook market and it is taking no prisoners. If it can deliver as promised, in six months or so, NVIDIA looks to give the market a real nice boost and we might seem some true multimedia netbooks and nettops soon. Something we’re really looking forward to.
No active posts found.