News on the new Nvidia ION 2 platform

If you want a netbook with some slight graphic abilities, you definitely have to go for one equipped with the Nvidia ION. Unlike the standard ATOM platform, with both Intel GMA 950 or 500 graphics, netbooks built on Nvidia ION offer the GeForce 8400GS solution, with a huge increase in graphic performance.

However, Nvidia is preparing the next generation, ION 2. It will be available by the end of this year and will probably be found on netbooks early in 2010. First of all, the new chip will be smaller. This might also mean it could be cooler and less power hungry, but these are just my speculations. What we know for sure is that ION 2 will be faster. If the first ION offered 16 shaders (or graphic processors if you want), the new one will come with 32 .

According to Fudzilla, Nvidia announced the new ION will be compatible with Intel’s ATOM CPUs, but also with VIA’s Nanos and some ultra low processors (i reckon CULVs?) . However, the next laptop CPUs generation, Arrandale Core i5, won’t be able to use it, but they won’t really need it, as devices equipped with that platform will surely be able to house bigger and better graphics.

Anyway, there’s no news regarding the prices of the new ION 2. And i for one am particularly curious how will the new Pine Trail processors (with CPU and graphiss on the same chip) mix with Nvidia ION 2. Probably we’ll see more and more hybrid netbooks, with two graphic options. Will just have to wait and see…

Tags: Nvidia Ion, Nvidia Ion 2