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ION netbooks and mini laptops – best options and technology explained

Mark — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 12:48:03 +0000

There was something fishy about netbooks from the start and that was the lack of support for entertainment applications. Sure, nobody thought that a lilliputian 10 inch computer could ever play HD playback or run COD 5, at least not from the get go. Netbooks were meant to cover basic needs, like surfing the web, editing spreadsheets and some very light media playback. Think 240p Youtube video. Stuttering.

Of course, it wasn’t long until manufacturers and marketers understood that this newly created niche shouldn’t be forever labeled as “budget conscious”. People were attracted by the idea of an ultra portable, 10-11.6 inch computer, but they wanted to have their cake and eat it too. Browsing the web wasn’t enough. HD playback and gaming are normal longings of any casual user and people were expecting these features on netbooks.

Poor little Atom chips, barely dealing with a browser and a Word doc opened at the same time, were insufficient to satisfy this type of requirement. This is when Nvidia jumps on board, releasing their ION platform, which is basically an integrated video card (at start), which grants assistance to the processor and deals with intensive tasks, like HD playback.

The ION technology is an upgraded (but shrinked) Geforce onboard graphics accelerator and produced results virtually unimaginable on a netbook prior to this: HD playback, CUDA functionality (which means some basic Physx horse power- yeah, the one you need for gaming), dual DVI support for connecting the netbook to a HD monitor, 7.1 HD audio, video encoding and more.

And what’s even better is that Nvidia’s jack in the box was and is relatively cheap. ION netbooks are indeed more expensive that those relying only on the CPU, but not excruciatingly so.

Nvidia ION platform

Please, Atom, stop trying already

What? A video card that makes the netbook more expensive and drains the battery faster? On my cheap and highly autonomous netbook? No, thanks. I’ll just wait for Intel to solve this. Well, it won’t really happen. Although newer Atom chips, like the N2xx series, have better chances of dealing with a video, most Atom processors were simply not made for something like this.

Atom chips are based on the 945GC chipset, which can’t really deliver any kind of video or gaming experience. An Atom chip is not fast enough to properly decode a high bit rate video, let’s say H.264 encoded one. It’s too much for it to handle and thus it will choke and the images will look choppy- this if playback actually begins.

The ION solution, on the other hand, can deal with 1080p video flawlessly and even support some gaming. It was a smart move from Nvidia to pair their ION chip with an Atom CPU, thus unleashing multimedia capabilities on virtually any netbook. And, actually, having an ION chip on your netbook won’t drain the battery much faster.

Bigger, better and uncut

The ION solution was launched a couple of years back and since then Nvidia launched the second iteration of this technology, named ION 2. What happened is that Intel released a new line of Atom chips, namely Pine Trail, which, at that time, had both an integrated video card and a processor, thus making the ION not necessary and technically viable anymore.

Nvidia worked their way around this and released ION 2, which is a discrete, dedicated video card, which works together with Intel’s on board graphics in order to deliver HD playback and support some 3D games. ION 2 comes in two versions, one with 8 cores, that is aimed more at 10 inch machines and is sufficient for a netbook that anyway has a modest resolution most of the time (1024 x 600), while the 16 core version is aimed at +11.6 inches machines, which have better screens and overall better performance, thus being able to deal with even more intensive HD apps.

But a problem with dedicated video card is battery life. These components take in more power and might prove quite of a problem for netbooks that come with 3 cell batteries, barely having 3-4 hours of autonomy in the first place. Nvidia thought about this as well and developed a system called Optimus, which switches between on board graphics and the dedicated video card in order to save power.

Optimus technology helps save battery life by switching between on board and dedicated video card

Let’s say you’re browsing the web or working with some documents, activities that don’t require too much graphic capabilities. You can switch off the ION 2 card and use Intel’s on board solution. Similarly, if you’re watching an HD video or playing a game, you can power up the video card and benefit from all its advantages.

Asus netbooks packing Nvidia ION graphics

There are a couple of Asus netbooks that pack ION graphics, namely 8 and 16 cores versions. Both of these setups offer decent performance, definitely above what regular netbooks can offer. Here are a couple of examples.

The Asus EEE PC 1215N is a 12.1 inch netbook packing a dual core Intel Atom N550 processor and Nvidia ION 2, the more powerful 16 cores version. The setup is much better than any single core netbook out there, but lags behind what an ULV Core i5 or Core i7 can offer. The N550 chip has the memory controller and IGP (integrated graphics processor) on the same die, thus allowing the Nvidia ION 2 card to use Optimus technology to switch between dedicated and on board video cards in order to save battery life.

As for performance, the 1215N can easily deal with 720p and 1080p video playback; even very dynamic clips play well, both local and streamed. The experience is helped by the decent (not great, though) display, that has a 1366 x 768 resolution. As for gaming, the mini laptop can play titles like Sims 3 and WOW at decent frame rates, although details have to be taken down a notch.

If you sacrifice the maximum resolution for something lower, you’ll even be able to use medium settings and get a better frame rate. As for battery life, the 1215N can achieve, set on a normal profile, with the default 6 cell battery, a maximum of 5 hours and a half of autonomy. This is indeed less than what other netbooks can offer (some can go for about 10 hours on a single charge), but those don’t pack a dedicated video card.

All these for around 460 bucks is a pretty neat deal in my eyes. Of course, the 1215N faces competition from the Asus 1215B and some other AMD Fusion powered laptops, but more about that in this other post.

Asus Eee PC 1215N comes with a dedicated ION graphics card

The Asus EEE PC 1015PN hosts a smaller, 10 inch screen and packs the more modest, 8 core ION 2 solution, but the same dual core N550. It offers great HD playback and some medium gaming, but has issues with the battery, which is able to go on a single charge, with ION on, for only about 4 hours. Needless to say, both of these netbooks are to be paired with Windows 7 Home Premium, as Nvidia ION 2 supports all the bells and whistles of Aero. Also, Win 7 Home Premium can automatically switch between ION and on board graphics, while Starter requires a reboot.

The 1015PN goes for around $350 right now, which is about 50-80 bucks more than the price of a more basic 10 incher. Anyway, if you’ll want to upgrade to Win 7 Home Premium and add an extra stick of RAM, you might want to keep an extra 100 bill close by. As for the 1215N, it goes right now for $465, already packing 2 GB of RAM and Win 7 Home Premium.

The 10 inch 1015PN can deliver great HD video

Final thoughts

Right after netbooks appeared, it was pretty clear users will progressively want more from these small laptops, with better video playback and gaming being natural claims. Nvidia’s ION and ION 2 solutions, paired with the dynamic Optimus technology, is a decent enough solution for those looking for a more complete netbook, closer in terms of fire power to a large laptop.

ION groomed netbooks are not larger or bulkier than regular netbooks (after all, Nvidia invented the Tegra platform, which delivers flawless 1080p playback on an almost microscopic chip) and have very decent numbers when it comes to battery consumption. So if you’re willing to spend a little more for a HD netbook, look for the ION or ION 2 entry on spec sheets.

Intel to make 2.0 Ghz Atom Z550

Andrew — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 01:03:29 +0000

There’s a new rumor flying around top blogs today about Intel that they could be working on new Atom chips at the Z5xx series.

Z550 – runs at 2.0 Ghz and consumes power just like Z520 and Z530
Z540 – runs at 1.88 Ghz
Z515 – runs slower at 1.33 Ghz

Does this mean faster and longer lasting netbooks are coming their way as well? Of course, I’d think so.

via liliputing

Intel Atom N280 Speed

Andrew — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 06:06:47 +0000

At CES, the new Intel Atom N280 was introduced together with the new Eee PC tagged as the 1004DN. It is the first netbook to cast a built-in optical disc drive and the first to feature Intel Atom N280. The looks and other specs goes pretty similar to previous models, so you might just wanna know how different or how fast this new processor would be.

According to UK Netbook Review, the Intel Atom N280 will have a clock speed of 1.66Ghz. This is slightly different from the current N270 which has 1.6Ghz. Don’t know exactly though the speed details of the two. The BUS speed though will have a rather great increase to 667Mhz compared to N270′s 533Mhz. As fas as I know, this will have a noticeable difference in performance, but again, I won’t have the details.

Maybe in a not so far time, someone will post an article the N270 and the N280 speed test.

HowTo install Expressgate on USB

Mon, 27 Oct 2008 07:08:43 +0000

I have personally witnessed a live presentation of ExpressGate on the EeeBox before and it was impressive. It has number of limitations compared to a full booted-up netbook, but it can just offer you anything you need as far as mobility is concerned. You can do Internet surfing, chatting, check emails. Before, it comes along with the motherboard. Now you can have it on your USB flash drive, perfect as an alternative OS for quick internet access.

Here are the requirements before you can install ExpressGate on a USB.

A bit of knowledge about Linux.
At least 512 MB USB Flash drive.
A copy of ExpressGate which can be downloaded here

Steps about the installation process is detailed very well on Kinox’s site.

via liliputing

AMD to Launch CPU for Netbooks

Sat, 11 Oct 2008 13:13:00 +0000

AMD has been playing in the field of fast CPU’s for desktops and laptops eversince, competing head to head with other CPU makers like Intel and Via. And if you’ve been wondering if AMD is going to jump into Atom bandwagon, it seems likely so, as they have announced they’re making netbook CPU’s and will be launching the latter later this quarter or first quarter next year.

Raon’s Everun has been successful with their netbook which is quitely a monster netbook as it’s faster compared to other netbooks, with its AMD Turion Dual Core, but it’s also hungry on power. Even hungrier if it does not have tha ability to automatically change clock speed depending on power supply.

AMD has been a better option for PC Buyers in the past years, as it is cheaper yet as powerful as Intel. Now that there’s going to be CPU for netbooks from AMD, we’re looking for cheaper netbooks coming their way as well. And as netbook sales spears high today, we are optimistic to see the sales spears much higher when AMD comes to play.