NetbookTech

NVIDIA officially launches their second-generation Ion platform today with the unveiling of the “Ion 2”. As most of you already know by now, the Ion 2 delivers a new discrete graphics chip which is 40 percent smaller than the original Ion chip as well as switchable graphics functionality via NVIDIA’s Optimus technology.

On the discrete graphics side, the Ion 2 will come in two flavors – an 8-core chip designed for 10 inch netbooks and a 16-core version for larger 11 inch or 12 inch netbooks. Both Ion 2 variants will support HDMI and DisplayPort technologies . The 8-core version will have a TDP of 6 watts while the 16-core version will have a TDP rating of 13 watts.

Of course we all know discrete graphics are certainly not a battery’s best friend.

To address this issue and improve overall battery performance with the Ion platform, NVIDIA rolls in Optimus technology into the Ion 2 platform. Optimus basically delivers switchable graphics to netbook systems – switching between the integrated graphics solution built into the Pinetrail Atom processor and the discrete NVIDIA graphics chip. A software driver automatically determines the best graphics solution for the application at hand – potentially saving tons of battery life on the netbook.

No word on delivery dates for the Ion 2 platform but we all know the Acer Aspire 532G will be one of the first Ion 2 systems out.

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