Acer Outs First Nvidia Ion 2 Netbook With Optimus
GeForce, transform and roll out!
While the concept of a netbook did not originally call for specialized 3D and HD video rendering capabilities, the intervention of Nvidia with its Ion chipset gave the Intel Atom wings that it wouldn't otherwise be able to have. At the Mobile World Conference in Barcelona, Acer outted the next-generation of Nvidia Ion that would pair up with the new Atom Pine Trail platform in its Aspire One 532G.
Given that the Pine Trail platform means that the Atom already comes with integrated packaged with the CPU, Acer's offering will actually feature two graphics parts – one from Intel and the other from Nvidia.
While the outward appearance of the Aspire One 532G is similar to other 10.1-inch netbooks, the real magic happens inside thanks to Nvidia Optimus, which allows the discrete GeForce GPU to take over whenever there's some heavy lifting to do. Specifics regarding the GPU weren't clear, but some reports have it pegged as either the G310 or GT218. We expect Nvidia to release full details next month at CeBit.
Nevertheless, the Ion 2 chipset will allow users to make real practical use of the 1080p HDMI out and battery life of up to 10 hours when not messing around with intensive tasks.
Acer says that its Aspire One 532G is 1-inch thin and about 1 kg in weight will be available in three contemporary colors – Sapphire Blue, Ruby Red and Pearl Silver when it ships at the end of Q1 2010.
Check out the video courtesy of Notebook Italia.
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the_ub So netbooks finally have more capabilities than surfing the web on your cell phone with 10x's the mass.Reply -
huron I really do like that they are pushing HD to such low-powered solutions. This means HTPCs can continue to get smaller and be fully capable of playing HD content - very cool.Reply -
apache_lives hurry up AMD/ATI i want your answer to these devices, I DONT WANT AN NVIDIA LAPTOP OR NETBOOK not after the last few rounds of duds, no thankyouReply -
shadow187 It might be able to play counter-strike 1.6, but that's about it.Reply
No Crysis here, folks. -
makotech222 well considering the intel 4500mhd cant even play runescape, i think its a huge step up.Reply -
idisarmu Isn't ION basically just a 9400 paired with atom? Why the hype?Reply
I can't wait for AMD to release an R630/635 on 40nm for integrated graphics. Then you would TRULY have something that can play Crysis. (Low @ 720p @ 40-60 fps. This depends on what the clocks are though. I bet you could play it at medium @ 30fps at 850 core with 256mb side-port ddr3) -
idisarmu makotech222well considering the intel 4500mhd cant even play runescape, i think its a huge step up.Reply
That's 100% BS. The integrated graphics on my old computer could play it on high detail with EASE. That was a 2.4ghz P4 (no HT, 180nm fab process) 512mb ram, 845g mobo.