Nvidia Ion

Nvidia Ion is a system/motherboard platform that includes Nvidia's MCP79MX (with integrated GeForce 9400M G GPU) chipset, DDR3-1066 or DDR2-800 SDRAM, and the Intel Atom processor. The original reference platform was based on a Pico-ITXe motherboard designed for netbook and nettop devices. In February 2009, Microsoft certified the Ion-based platform as Vista-capable.^[1] The small form factor Ion-based computers were released in the early summer of 2009, with the recommended retail price starting at $299.99. Ion systems are DirectX 10.0 and OpenGL 3.3 capable. This allows playback of full 1080p high-definition video with true-fidelity 7.1 surround sound audio output with VDPAU or the Third Generation PureVideo HD feature.^[2] Ion systems can also use CUDA (Nvidia's General-Purpose Computing on Graphics Processing Units technology),^[3] as well as OpenCL. ION-LE based systems share the same basic hardware as ION but lack Vista and DirectX 10 support.^[4]

It was originally believed to be unlikely that Ion systems would ever enter into mass production and were thus unlikely to pose a serious rival to Intel's own chipsets for the Atom platform, due to Intel's unwillingness to supply Atom processors separate from the 945GSE and 945GC chipsets with which the CPUs are usually supplied.^[5] While manufacturers could still buy an Atom-plus-chipset package and remove the CPU for use on an Ion board, it hardly seems likely given the costs involved, especially given the low-cost leanings of the nettop and netbook market.^[6] However, Intel later denied those claims, and a spokesperson for Intel said Intel sells Atom as a stand-alone processor.^[7]

NVIDIA has announced that it will also release the Ion platform for the VIA Nano processor some time in Q4 2009.^[8]

For full-sized laptops, the Ion platform promises 5x faster graphics and video transcoding with an 80% lower CPU cost when compared to the Intel GM45 graphics. For netbooks and nettops 10x faster graphics and video transcoding when compared to the Intel 945GSE graphics. For all-in-ones, the Ion platform is capable of displaying resolutions up to 2560 × 1600.^[9]

Acer have announced the release of their Aspire Revo which is the first^{[citation needed]} model available for retail purchase to be built on the Ion platform.

ZOTAC International has launched four NVIDIA Ion based motherboards in Mini-ITX form factor. An Ion system based on their IONITX A-U dual-core Atom 330 motherboard draws 30 watts total from the AC line cord, including hard disk and DVD drives, while playing and upscaling a DVD.^[10]

Specifications

Ion (first-generation Nvidia Ion)

Chipset: MCP79MX (with integrated GeForce 9400M G GPU)
Intended Operating System: (Ion): Microsoft Windows XP, Vista, Windows 7, Linux; (Ion-LE): Microsoft Windows XP, Linux
Memory Interface: DDR3-1066 or DDR2-800
DirectX 10 Support: Yes, No (Ion-LE)
Graphics Cores: 16
Core/Shader Clocks: 450/1100 MHz
Texture Fill Rate: 3.6 Billion/second
Maximum Anti-Aliasing (AA) Sample Rate: 16x
RAMDACs: 300 MHz
Maximum High-Dynamic Range (HDR) Precision: 128-bit
Maximum Analog Resolution: 2048 x 1536
Maximum Digital Resolution: 2560 x 1600
Graphics APIs: DirectX 10.0, OpenGL 3.3
Full HD decode (1080i/p): Yes, 3rd Generation PureVideo
Display Options: HDMI, Dual-link DVI, DP, or VGA (any 2)
HDMI Version: 1.3 (according to the manual of the zotac ION itx-f board)
PCI-Express 2.0: 20 lanes (1×16 and 4×1)
SATA Drives: 6
SATA Speed: 3 Gb/s
RAID: 0, 1
Networking: 10/100/1000 BASE-T
USB Ports: 12/2C
PCI Slots: 5
Audio: HDA (Azalia)

Ion 2 (next-generation Nvidia Ion)

CUDA Cores: Up to 16
Standard Memory Configs: 512 MB of DDR2, 256 MB of DDR3, 512 MB of DDR3
Memory Interface Width: Up to 64-bit
Hardware Video Decode Acceleration: Yes, 4th Generation PureVideo
nVidia CUDA Technology: Yes
Certified for Windows 7: Yes
Microsoft DirectX: 10.1
OpenGL: 3.3
Audio: HDA
Maximum Digital Resolution: 2560 x 1600
Maximum VGA Resolution: 2048 x 1536
Netbook Supported Display Connectors: HDMI
Desktop Supported Display Connectors: Dual-link DVI, DisplayPort, HDMI, VGA
Multi-monitor: Yes
HDCP: Yes

10" Netbook ION

The ION chip in 10" netbooks with Pinetrail Atoms offers only 8 shader cores and a clock rate of 405 MHz. According to Nvidia the performance should still be similar to the first generation of ION. The power consumption of 6 Watt is rather low, and therefore fully suited for small netbooks.

12" Netbook ION

The 12" version features all 16 cores of the GT218 chip and is clocked at 475 MHz, with a power consumption of 12 Watt. The performance should be above the old ION platform.

Desktop & Netbook ION

The desktop version is clocked even higher at 535 MHz as no power restrictions have to be met.

Existing products

This list is non-exhaustive.

Motherboards

ASRock A330ION motherboard (Intel Atom 330 CPU, DDR3, PCI Express x16 slot)
ASUS AT5IONT-I motherboard (Intel Atom D525 CPU, DDR3, USB3, PCI Express x4 slot @ x1 speed, with latch)
ASUS AT3N7A-I motherboard (Intel Atom 330 CPU)
ASUS AT3IONT-I motherboard (Intel Atom 330 CPU, DDR3, PCI Express x16 slot)
ASUS AT3IONT-I DELUXE motherboard (Intel Atom 330 CPU, DDR3, PCI Express x16 slot, DC power connector, 802.11n WiFi and Bluetooth, Media remote)
IEI Industrial Motherboard KINO-PVN D5251 ION2,DDR3,HDMI,Dual GbE,SATA,PCI/ PCI Expr.x1 slot, mini-PCI,CF TypeII
Jetway NC63-230 ITX board (Intel Atom 230 CPU, 20-pin ATX power connector)
Jetway NC63-330 ITX board (Intel Atom 330 CPU, 20-pin ATX power connector)
Jetway NC63P-230 ITX board (Intel Atom 230 CPU, 12V DC Power Onboard)
Jetway NC63P-330 ITX board (Intel Atom 330 CPU, 12V DC Power Onboard)
Point of View POV/ION230 motherboard (Intel Atom 230 CPU)
Point of View POV/ION330 motherboard (Intel Atom 330 CPU)
ZOTAC IONITX A-B motherboard (Intel Atom 330 CPU, 90w DC power connector, Wireless PCIe module installed)
ZOTAC IONITX A-U motherboard (Intel Atom 330 CPU, DC power connector, Wireless PCIe module installed)
ZOTAC IONITX B-E motherboard (Intel Atom 230 CPU, 20-pin power connector)
ZOTAC IONITX C-U motherboard (Intel Atom 230 CPU, DC power connector)
ZOTAC IONITX D-E motherboard (Intel Atom 330 CPU, 20-pin power connector, Wireless PCIe module installed)
ZOTAC IONITX F-E motherboard (Intel Atom 330 CPU, 20-pin power connector, Wireless PCIe module installed, PCI Express x16 slot)
ZOTAC IONITX G-E motherboard (Intel Atom 330 CPU, 20-pin power connector, PCI Express x1 slot, mini-PCIe x1 slot)

Desktop systems

Acer AspireRevo Nettop Media Server w/Remote
Aleutia H1 Hotel PC (with the above ZOTAC IONITX A-U), fanless in the single core version.^[11]
aOpen GP7A^[12]
ASRock Ion 330 series^[13]
ASRock Ion 330HT series w/Remote^[14]
ASRock Ion 330Pro
ASUS Eee Box EB1012
ASUS Eee Box EB1501
Asus S1-AT5NM10E
Foxconn NetBox-nT330i ^[15]
Giada Mini PC series ^[16]
Lenovo IdeaCentre Q150 - 40816AU ^[17]
MSi All-in-One PC Wind Top AE2220
Myka ION
Orbit Micro Helix A58 Sleek NVIDIA ION/N330 desktop system^[18]
Orbit Micro Helix A5W Fanless IP water-proof dust-proof Nvidia ION system^[19]
Sapphire EDGE HD ^[20]
Shuttle XS35GT, fanless system with ION2 and Atom D510^[21]
Viewsonic VOT132 ^[22]
ZaReason Ion Breeze^[23]
Zotac Mag ^[24]

Netbook systems

References

External links

[1] ttp://www.osnews.com/comments/20968

[2] Computerbase.de: Test: Zotac IONITX-A (Nvidia Ion), page 2: "Im Videobereich verlässt sich Nvidia beim Ion auf PureVideo HD der dritten Generation [...]"

[3] ttp://www.nvidia.com/object/sff_ion.html

[4] ttp://www.nvidia.com/object/picoatom_specifications.html

[5] ttp://www.digitimes.com/news/a20081223PD216.html

[6] ttp://www.bit-tech.net/news/2008/12/26/intel-says-no-to-nvidia-s-ion/1

[7] ttp://www.internetnews.com/bus-news/article.php/3793391/Intel%20Denies%20Squeezing%20nVidia%20Out%20From%20Atom.htm

[8] ttp://www.engadget.com/2009/02/20/nivida-ion-platform-to-support-via-nano-processors-this-year/

[9] ttp://www.nvidia.com/object/sff_ion.html

[10] ttp://www.flickr.com/photos/11292615@N02/3714919608/in/set-72157621353465380/

[11] ttp://www.aleutia.com/products/h1

[12] ttp://usa.aopen.com/Products.aspx?id=74

[13] ttp://www.asrock.com/nettop/overview.asp?Model=ION%20330

[14] ttp://www.asrock.com/nettop/overview.asp?Model=ION%20330HT-BD

[15] ttp://www.foxconnchannel.com/Product/Barebones/NT330i/index.html

[16] ttp://www.giada.cc/chanpinzhongxin/minipc/

[17] ttp://shop.lenovo.com/SEUILibrary/controller/e/web/LenovoPortal/en_US/catalog.workflow:category.details?current-catalog-id=12F0696583E04D86B9B79B0FEC01C087&current-category-id=7989AA4D07004515BEDB0E93AED8B49D

[18] ttp://www.orbitmicro.com/global/build.php?products_id=11431

[19] ttp://www.orbitmicro.com/global/build.php?products_id=11433

[20] ttp://www.sapphiretech.com/presentation/product/?leg=&psn=000106&pid=1088

[21] ttp://www.shuttle.eu/products/ultra-small/xs35gt/overview/

[22] ttp://www.viewsonic.com/products/vot132.htm

[23] ttp://www.zareason.com/shop/product.php?productid=16205&cat=0&page=1

[24] ttp://www.zotacusa.com/products/mini-pcs

[25] ttp://www.engadget.com/2010/02/15/acer-aspire-one-532g-first-to-feature-nvidia-ion-2-switchable-gr/

[26] ttp://www.asus.com/product.aspx?P_ID=30dqaE10a0LUo9XJ

[27] ttp://www.notebookcheck.net/Review-Asus-Eee-PC-1015PN-Netbook.40432.0.html

[28] ttp://www.notebookcheck.net/Newsentry.153+M54ad54f1b63.0.html

[29] ttp://gadgetmix.com/index/asus-1201-nl-review/

[30] ttp://www.asus.com/product.aspx?P_ID=HrglRhH8D60Rmlv3

[31] ttp://www.engadget.com/2009/09/24/hps-ion-infused-mini-311-netbook-now-on-sale-starts-at-400/

[32] ttp://www.netbookchoice.com/2009/10/22/lenovo-ideapad-s12-ion-now-on-sale-in-us/

[33] ttp://www.pointofview-online.com/showroom.php?shop_mode=product_detail&product_id=114&site_id=2

[34] ttp://www.notebookcheck.net/Review-Samsung-N510-Ion-Netbook.21362.0.html

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