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Nvidia Announces Ion Platform for Netbooks

Posted 12/18/08 at 09:34:52 AM  by Paul Lilly

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It looks as though Nvidia will finally find its way into netbooks, and without using any strong arm tactics. The graphics chip maker announced plans to pair its GeForce 9400M chipset with Intel's Atom processor in a new netbook dubbed Ion.

Nvidia's 9400M GPU is the same one Apple chose to use in its refreshed MacBook line. From a performance standpoint, Nvidia says its 9400M offers 5x faster graphics and 10x faster video transcoding than a typical Atom-powered netbook, and is capable of playing full-spec 1080p high definition video. Nvidia also claims you'll be able to play popular games on the Ion platform, such as Call of Duty 4.

"NVIDIA's Ion Platform transforms Atom-based PCs into capable mainstream gaming platforms," said Mark Rein, vice president of Epic Games. "Epic is excited about the growth potential offered by these new affordable premium PCs."

In addition to gaming and high definition content, Ion will be capable of handling Vista's full user interface, as well as Microsoft's upcoming Windows 7.

Look for the new graphically supercharged netbooks to appear midway through 2009 "within $50" of standard netbook pricing, Gizmodo reports.

Image Credit: Nvidia

COMMENTS:7
TAGS: intel, gaming, graphics, mobile, nvidia, gpu, netbook, 9400m
COMMENTS
avatarVery Interesting

Submitted by Caskey.100 on Fri, 12/19/2008 - 7:33pm

I don't think that this platform will offer being able to play modern games like COD4. Who would even want to play a game like that on such a small screen?? It will help for th casual gaming market, as it can play online games like Quake Live, etc.

 

Should be interesting to see if it holds up to the standard that they are saying will happen.

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avatarAh hem..... It's still got

Submitted by Keith E. Whisman on Fri, 12/19/2008 - 1:26pm

Ah hem..... It's still got an Atom processor so your going to be waiting extended periods of time waiting for the levels to be decompressed and loaded into memory just to play COD4.

The only thing that would make Atom a good processor is if there were a great many cores packed into the processor with an instruction set designed to take code and parse it out to all the available cores to make this snail of a processor even appear slightly fast. I guess if it were able to do that it would be pretty fast. 

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avatarSign Me Up

Submitted by Justin.Kerr on Thu, 12/18/2008 - 6:00pm

I don't think i'll be playing Call of Duty on one, but if I can run Windows 7 with all the Aero goodness turned on full, that makes it worth $50 bucks to me.

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avatarWhy?

Submitted by Cry of SOMNUS on Thu, 12/18/2008 - 9:59am

As the owner of a netbook, and I know netbook owners get flamed on these boards, I understand its purpose. I surf the net, write documents, send/check e-mails, and tinker with the device with all of my geeky ideas. It is not a gaming rig (although playing StarCraft on it is a lot of fun) The best thing of all, I do all of these things on a 4 hour battery...

There are too many drawbacks for me to be excited about this development:

1. Heat
2. Lower battery life
3. Increased cost
4. Increased chassis size (to accommodate for new tech, cooling) a change which will inevitably turn a “netbook” into a run of the mill “laptop.”

NO THANKS!!!

 

 

 

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avatarBy using the Intel Atom base

Submitted by Caskey.100 on Fri, 12/19/2008 - 7:36pm

By using the Intel Atom base the size of chassis and such wouldn't change it would still be a netbook when it comes to size. But like you stated. One could expect a lower battery life and more than likely higher heat production from the integrated graphics chip. Should be interesting on the price of a netbook with these type of specs.

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avatari feel the exact say way. i

Submitted by nekollx on Thu, 12/18/2008 - 10:19am

i feel the exact say way. i mean Why? These are low power NETBOOKS for use in light tasks. I mean they sell Netbooks at 12 inches now...

 

MY 2.10 duel core LAPTOP is 12 inches....

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avatarThat's a relief?

Submitted by skhills on Thu, 12/18/2008 - 9:13am

Good thing netbooks will be able to play full HD video on those little non-HD 1024x600 screens.  I guess you can connect an external monitor, but it's misleading for them to advertise HD capable graphics on netbooks to customers this way.

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