Intel Atom netbooks get boost from Nvidia

Netbooks are considered to be internet/word processing-only laptops. With smaller components and size, most consumers would not attempt to try to play a game on a nine-inch screen. Nvidia has announced that it will be using the GeForce 9400 mGPU with Intel’s Atom CPU, designated Ion, to assist in graphics computing.

With the current United States’ economic slide, more consumers are shying away from the customary laptop or MacBook and going for the cheaper laptop class: netbook. Most of these laptops run Intel’s Atom CPU, designed to run more efficiently and with less power consumption than its bigger siblings. The CPU along with solid-state drives have proven to be great in battery life. The lack of any disc drive also serves to increase usability.

Big cousin, little cousin

The downside to these netbooks is that they are not for gaming, but Nvidia is going to change that by including the discrete graphics processor to work along side of the Atom. The GPU will be HD capable, and will be able to play some current PC titles, although at less than 30 frames per second. Clearly, the Ion is meant to help the CPU with graphic tasks as more of a step above integrated graphics. The new Ion chipset will not be included with netbooks until the second quarter of 2009, sometime in the summer, and will increase the price of the products marginally.

Nvidia’s GPU will give a needed boost to netbooks and increase their allure with many consumers who are looking for an ultra-portable laptop. As AMD is looking towards full-size ultraportables, Nvidia and Intel have the netbook arena for now. With ATI under the AMD banner, it is likely that a netbook challenger will emerge sometime in 2009.