Intel Atom based netbooks are known for their portability and power efficiency, but these netbooks are not known for their graphics capabilities. Most of the netbooks won’t even play a 720p video properly let alone a 3D game. Well, NVIDIA has jumped in to improve the graphics performance of these netbooks. The company has revealed their new Ion platform that combines GeForce 9400M graphics with Intel Atom processor on a Pico-ITX mainboard.
NVIDIA says that the new Ion platform reduces the number of main chips from three to two by merging interface and memory controllers with graphics. This not only reduces the system size, but also improves overall speed of the system. A system built using the Ion platform will be capable of playing modern games such as Call of Duty 4 on lower settings and will also be capable of 1080p video playback.
Even though the system speed will increase and system size will decrease, NVIDIA doesn’t expect a rise in power consumption or heat when compared to Intel’s existing Atom setup. No information is available about when NVIDIA will start mass production of the Ion based mainboards. But we should see netbooks based on Ion platform in first half of 2009.