An end to crappy integrated graphics? Say hello to the NVIDIA Ion platform
Are the days of crappy netbook graphics performance coming to an end? The answer to that might finally be YES. NVIDIA announced the new Ion platform which couples the NVIDIA GeForce 9400 GPU with an Intel Atom processor resulting in a system that is actually capable of offering a decent “visual experience.”
There are several use case scenarios for such a system – and of course the one that concerns all of us the most is the netbook scenario. While NVIDIA has yet to demo a netbook utilizing the entire Ion platform, they did say on their website that an Ion based system would:
- Deliver 10x faster graphics and video transcoding
- Full HD video decode and display
- 1/2 the size yet the same battery life
- Be ready for Windows Vista Premium AND Windows 7
Of course the Ion platform is ideal for other target markets such as Notebooks, Nettops, and all-in-one systems – yet the real issue here is the netbook market which clearly is booming during a time when nothing else seems to be booming.
If the NVIDIA GeForce 9400 can make its way into future generation netbooks without an increase in cost to the consumer, then this is a clear winner to all of us. As Darren Gladstone of PC World notes, “why stick to low expectations?” when it comes to netbooks. Shouldn’t we be demanding higher performance from systems that cost on average $400 dollars? I couldn’t agree more and let’s hope NVIDIA fulfills that promise.
Make sure to read the PC World article for even more info on Ion and the GeForce 9400 GPU.
Related Posts
Add New Comment
Viewing 2 Comments
Thanks. Your comment is awaiting approval by a moderator.
Do you already have an account? Log in and claim this comment.
Do you already have an account? Log in and claim this comment.
Do you already have an account? Log in and claim this comment.
Add New Comment
Trackbacks
(Trackback URL)