NVIDIA have announced a new NVIDIA ION GPU that potentially can deliver graphics up to 10 times faster and still retain a battery life on the netbook of 10 hours.
The new GPU’s use what is called NVIDIA Optimus technology that allows the netbook to “vastly outperform basic netbook graphics by delivering rich HD media in games, movies, and Internet-based video.”
Netbooks are traditionally known as being a little on the slow side when it comes to most things, but by using one of the NVIDIA ION GPU’s in there, it totally transforms the netbook allowing it to playback HD video without jitter as well as play games such as World of Warcraft without problem.
The Optimus technology used by the ION GPU is capable of auto-detecting the correct GPU to use for a specific application. Netbooks running the NVIDIA ION with Optimus Technology still use integrated Intel Graphics but only when the Intel chip is sufficient for the application running. By switching between the two graphics chips power can be saved when needed.
NVIDIA are expecting that over 30 new products will launch with the new ION GPU over the summer. The list of 30 is not restricted to just netbooks though as it also includes motherboards, discrete add-in cards and barebones systems.
Regarding the first netbooks to run the new ION GPU, these include the Acer Aspire One 532G and the ASUS 1201PN.
NVIDIA ION GPU Details
· It’s a discrete GPU (graphics processing unit) with dedicated memory that attaches to an Intel Atom Pine Trail CPU via PCI Express.
· It supports streaming HD video on sites like YouTube HD, and smooth gaming performance on titles like World of Warcraft and Spore.
· ION netbooks feature NVIDIA Optimus technology, which automatically assigns processing chores to the NVIDIA ION GPU or integrated graphics. Optimus powers down the GPU for basic tasks like web surfing, further extending battery life. When more graphics horsepower is needed for playing 3D games, running videos, or using GPU compute applications, Optimus automatically enables the ION GPU.
· It will be available starting in April with the Acer Aspire One 532G netbook.
· It accelerates a growing list of media-rich applications including Muvee Reveal for making home movies, Badaboom for media conversion, Total Media Theater and PowerDVD 9 for watching HD video or instantly upscaling standard definition video to near-HD quality.
Via: NVIDIA and Gizmodo
Speak Your Mind
You must be logged in to post a comment.