NVIDIA Ion
Encyclopedia
Nvidia Ion is a product line of Nvidia
corporation intended for motherboard
s of low-cost portable computers. It uses graphics processing unit
s and chipset
s intended for small products.
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 for Windows Vista
. The small form factor
Ion-based computers were released in mid-2009.
Ion systems were DirectX 10.0 and OpenGL 3.3
capable. This allowed 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. Ion systems can also use CUDA
(Nvidia's General-Purpose Computing on Graphics Processing Units
technology), as well as OpenCL
. ION-LE based systems shared the same basic hardware as ION but lacked Vista and DirectX 10 support.
It was originally believed to be unlikely that Ion systems would ever enter into mass production
and were thus unlikely to pose competition to Intel's own chipset
s 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. 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. However, Intel later denied those claims, and a spokesperson for Intel said Intel sells Atom as a stand-alone processor.
Nvidia announced that it would release the Ion platform for the VIA
Nano
processor some time in Q4 2009.
For full-sized laptops, the Ion platform promised 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.
Acer announced the release of their Aspire Revo which is the first model available for retail purchase to be built on the Ion platform.
Zotac
International 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.
The ION chip in 10-inch netbooks with Pinetrail Atoms offers only eight 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 watts is rather low, and therefore fully suited for small netbooks.
The 12" version features all 16 cores of the GT218 chip and is clocked at 475 MHz, with a power consumption of 12 watts. The performance should be above the old ION platform.
The desktop version is clocked even higher at 535 MHz as no power restrictions have to be met, since the desktop versions don't communicate through a PCI-Express x1 bus, as the netbook versions do, thus not being restricted to x1 bandwidth.
NVIDIA
Nvidia is an American global technology company based in Santa Clara, California. Nvidia is best known for its graphics processors . Nvidia and chief rival AMD Graphics Techonologies have dominated the high performance GPU market, pushing other manufacturers to smaller, niche roles...
corporation intended for motherboard
Motherboard
In personal computers, a motherboard is the central printed circuit board in many modern computers and holds many of the crucial components of the system, providing connectors for other peripherals. The motherboard is sometimes alternatively known as the mainboard, system board, or, on Apple...
s of low-cost portable computers. It uses graphics processing unit
Graphics processing unit
A graphics processing unit or GPU is a specialized circuit designed to rapidly manipulate and alter memory in such a way so as to accelerate the building of images in a frame buffer intended for output to a display...
s and chipset
Chipset
A chipset, PC chipset, or chip set refers to a group of integrated circuits, or chips, that are designed to work together. They are usually marketed as a single product.- Computers :...
s intended for small products.
Description
Nvidia Ion products include a GeForce 9M (9xxxM) series MCP79MX (with integrated GeForce 9400M G GPU) chipset, DDR3-1066 or DDR2-800 SDRAM, and the Intel AtomIntel Atom
Intel Atom is the brand name for a line of ultra-low-voltage x86 and x86-64 CPUs from Intel, designed in 45 nm CMOS and used mainly in netbooks, nettops, embedded application ranging from health care to advanced robotics and Mobile Internet devices...
processor. The original reference platform was based on a Pico-ITXe
Pico-ITXe
Pico-ITXe is a PC Pico-ITX motherboard specification created by VIA Technologies and SFF-SIG. It was announced by VIA Technologies on October 29, 2008 and released in December 2008. The Pico-ITXe specifications call for the board to be 10 × 7.2 cm , which is half the area of Nano-ITX, and 12...
motherboard designed for netbook
Netbook
Netbooks are a category of small, lightweight, legacy-free, and inexpensive laptop computers.At their inception in late 2007 as smaller notebooks optimized for low weight and low cost — netbooks omitted certain features , featured smaller screens and keyboards, and offered reduced computing...
and nettop
Nettop
Nettop may refer to:*Nettop, a type of computer*NetTop, a NSA project...
devices.
In February 2009, Microsoft
Microsoft
Microsoft Corporation is an American public multinational corporation headquartered in Redmond, Washington, USA that develops, manufactures, licenses, and supports a wide range of products and services predominantly related to computing through its various product divisions...
certified the Ion-based platform for Windows Vista
Windows Vista
Windows Vista is an operating system released in several variations developed by Microsoft for use on personal computers, including home and business desktops, laptops, tablet PCs, and media center PCs...
. The small form factor
Small form factor
A small form factor is a computer form factor designed to minimize the volume of a desktop computer. For comparison purposes, the size of an SFF case is usually measured in litres. SFFs are available in a variety of sizes and shapes, including shoeboxes, cubes, and book-sized PCs...
Ion-based computers were released in mid-2009.
Ion systems were DirectX 10.0 and OpenGL 3.3
OpenGL
OpenGL is a standard specification defining a cross-language, cross-platform API for writing applications that produce 2D and 3D computer graphics. The interface consists of over 250 different function calls which can be used to draw complex three-dimensional scenes from simple primitives. OpenGL...
capable. This allowed playback of full 1080p
1080p
1080p is the shorthand identification for a set of HDTV high-definition video modes that are characterized by 1080 horizontal lines of resolution and progressive scan, meaning the image is not interlaced as is the case with the 1080i display standard....
high-definition video with true-fidelity 7.1 surround sound audio output with VDPAU
VDPAU
VDPAU is an open source library and API originally designed by Nvidia for its GeForce 8 series and later GPU hardware, targeted at the X Window System on Unix-based operating systems...
or the Third Generation PureVideo HD feature. Ion systems can also use CUDA
CUDA
CUDA or Compute Unified Device Architecture is a parallel computing architecture developed by Nvidia. CUDA is the computing engine in Nvidia graphics processing units that is accessible to software developers through variants of industry standard programming languages...
(Nvidia's General-Purpose Computing on Graphics Processing Units
GPGPU
General-purpose computing on graphics processing units is the technique of using a GPU, which typically handles computation only for computer graphics, to perform computation in applications traditionally handled by the CPU...
technology), as well as OpenCL
OpenCL
OpenCL is a framework for writing programs that execute across heterogeneous platforms consisting of CPUs, GPUs, and other processors. OpenCL includes a language for writing kernels , plus APIs that are used to define and then control the platforms...
. ION-LE based systems shared the same basic hardware as ION but lacked Vista and DirectX 10 support.
It was originally believed to be unlikely that Ion systems would ever enter into mass production
Mass production
Mass production is the production of large amounts of standardized products, including and especially on assembly lines...
and were thus unlikely to pose competition to Intel's own chipset
Chipset
A chipset, PC chipset, or chip set refers to a group of integrated circuits, or chips, that are designed to work together. They are usually marketed as a single product.- Computers :...
s 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. 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. However, Intel later denied those claims, and a spokesperson for Intel said Intel sells Atom as a stand-alone processor.
Nvidia announced that it would release the Ion platform for the VIA
VIA Technologies
VIA Technologies is a Taiwanese manufacturer of integrated circuits, mainly motherboard chipsets, CPUs, and memory, and is part of the Formosa Plastics Group. It is the world's largest independent manufacturer of motherboard chipsets...
Nano
VIA Nano
The VIA Nano is a 64-bit CPU for personal computers. The VIA Nano was released by VIA Technologies in 2008 after five years of development by its CPU division, Centaur Technology...
processor some time in Q4 2009.
For full-sized laptops, the Ion platform promised 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.
Acer announced the release of their Aspire Revo which is the first model available for retail purchase to be built on the Ion platform.
Zotac
Zotac
ZOTAC International Limited is a computer hardware company based in Hong Kong producing consumer electronics in the form of motherboards , Mini PCs, Nettops, and Nvidia based graphics cards...
International launched four Nvidia Ion based motherboards in Mini-ITX
Mini-ITX
Mini-ITX is a 17 x 17 cm low-power motherboard form factor developed by VIA Technologies in 2001. Mini-ITX is slightly smaller than microATX. Mini-ITX boards can often be passively cooled due to their low power consumption architecture, which makes them useful for home theater PC systems,...
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.
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 PureVideoNvidia PureVideoNvidia PureVideo is a hardware feature designed to offload video decoding processes and video post-processing from a computer's CPU hardware to Nvidia's GPU hardware series GeForce 6 and later, GeForce M series ; and Nvidia Quadro series...
- 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 configurations: 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 PureVideoNvidia PureVideoNvidia PureVideo is a hardware feature designed to offload video decoding processes and video post-processing from a computer's CPU hardware to Nvidia's GPU hardware series GeForce 6 and later, GeForce M series ; and Nvidia Quadro series...
- nVidia CUDA Technology: Yes
- Certified for Windows 7: Yes
- Microsoft DirectX: 10.1
- OpenGL: 3.3
- Audio: HDA
- Maximum digital resolution: 2560 × 1600
- Maximum VGA resolution: 2048 × 1536
- Netbook supported display connectors: HDMI
- Desktop supported display Connectors: Dual-link DVI, DisplayPort, HDMI, VGA
- Multi-monitor: Yes
- HDCP: Yes
The ION chip in 10-inch netbooks with Pinetrail Atoms offers only eight 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 watts is rather low, and therefore fully suited for small netbooks.
The 12" version features all 16 cores of the GT218 chip and is clocked at 475 MHz, with a power consumption of 12 watts. The performance should be above the old ION platform.
The desktop version is clocked even higher at 535 MHz as no power restrictions have to be met, since the desktop versions don't communicate through a PCI-Express x1 bus, as the netbook versions do, thus not being restricted to x1 bandwidth.
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 AspireRevoAspireRevoAcer AspireRevo is a nettop computer line from Acer Inc. first released at the end of April 2009. It is one of the first desktop computers to pair the NVIDIA ION chipset with Intel's Atom CPU....
Nettop Media Server w/Remote - Aleutia H1 Hotel PC (with the above ZOTAC IONITX A-U), fanless in the single core version.
- aOpen GP7A
- ASRock Ion 330 series
- ASRock Ion 330HT series w/Remote
- ASRock Ion 330Pro
- ASUS Eee BoxASUS Eee BoxAsus EeeBox PC is a nettop computer line from ASUSTeK Computer Incorporated, and a part of the Asus Eee product family. First released on August 11, 2008 , the Asus EeeBox PC series is marketed as a small, light, inexpensive and energy-efficient counterpart to the Asus Eee PC netbook / subnotebook...
EB1012 - ASUS Eee BoxASUS Eee BoxAsus EeeBox PC is a nettop computer line from ASUSTeK Computer Incorporated, and a part of the Asus Eee product family. First released on August 11, 2008 , the Asus EeeBox PC series is marketed as a small, light, inexpensive and energy-efficient counterpart to the Asus Eee PC netbook / subnotebook...
EB1501 - Asus S1-AT5NM10E
- Foxconn NetBox-nT330i
- Giada Mini PC series
- Lenovo IdeaCentre Q150 - 40816AU
- MSi All-in-One PC Wind Top AE2220
- Myka ION
- Orbit Micro Helix A58 Sleek NVIDIA ION/N330 desktop system
- Orbit Micro Helix A5W Fanless IP water-proof dust-proof Nvidia ION system
- Sapphire EDGE HD
- Shuttle XS35GT, fanless system with ION2 and Atom D510
- Viewsonic VOT132
- ZaReason Ion Breeze
- Zotac Mag
Netbook systems
- Acer Aspire One 532G
- Asus Eee PC VX6ASUS Eee PCThe Asus Eee PC is a subnotebook/netbook computer line from ASUSTeK Computer Incorporated, and a part of the Asus Eee product family. At the time of its introduction in late 2007, it was noted for its combination of a light weight, Linux operating system, solid-state drive , and relatively low cost...
- Asus Eee PC 1015PNASUS Eee PCThe Asus Eee PC is a subnotebook/netbook computer line from ASUSTeK Computer Incorporated, and a part of the Asus Eee product family. At the time of its introduction in late 2007, it was noted for its combination of a light weight, Linux operating system, solid-state drive , and relatively low cost...
- Asus Eee PC 1201N
- Asus Eee PC 1201NLASUS Eee PCThe Asus Eee PC is a subnotebook/netbook computer line from ASUSTeK Computer Incorporated, and a part of the Asus Eee product family. At the time of its introduction in late 2007, it was noted for its combination of a light weight, Linux operating system, solid-state drive , and relatively low cost...
- Asus Eee PC 1215NASUS Eee PCThe Asus Eee PC is a subnotebook/netbook computer line from ASUSTeK Computer Incorporated, and a part of the Asus Eee product family. At the time of its introduction in late 2007, it was noted for its combination of a light weight, Linux operating system, solid-state drive , and relatively low cost...
- HP Mini 311HP Mini 311The HP Mini 311 is a netbook computer manufactured and sold by HP. This netbook is a notable model as it is the first netbook to use the Nvidia Ion platform, which allows hardware acceleration of High-definition video and increased gaming performance...
- Lenovo IdeaPad S12Lenovo IdeaPad S12The IdeaPad S12 is a line of consumer-oriented netbook computers designed by Lenovo. It is a model in the IdeaPad series and their first netbook to have a 12" screen. The computers were put on the market in 2009 and currently come in black and white....
- Point of ViewPoint of View (computer hardware company)Point of View, POV is a computer hardware company that produces gaming graphics cards. It was established in the year 2000. Most of its sales are in Europe, as it serves more than 30 European countries. POV is based in the Netherlands. The company also includes Point of View Taiwan, Point of View...
Mobii ION - Samsung N510
External links
- NVIDIA's official overview page on the NVIDIA ION platform
- AnandTech: NVIDIA's Ion Platform: Bringing High Def to Netbooks
- bit-tech.net - Nvidia Ion Platform: Atom gets GeForce
- Techgage: NVIDIA's ION Platform: Hands-On Impressions
- X-bit labs: Nvidia ION Platform: HD Video Playback Investigation
- LinuxTECH.NET: Independent overview of all currently available Nvidia ION based products
- The most complete HTPC choice, a experienced users view