Nvidia Ion

Nvidia Ion is a product line of Nvidia corporation intended for motherboards of low-cost portable computers. It uses graphics processing units and chipsets intended for small products.

Description

Nvidia Ion products included a GeForce 9M (9xxxM) series MCP79MX (with integrated GeForce 9400M G GPU) chipset, DDR3-1066 or DDR2-800 SDRAM, and the Intel Atom 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.^[1] The small form factor Ion-based computers were released in mid-2009.

Ion GPUs are DirectX 10.0 and OpenGL 3.3 compliant. They also support CUDA and OpenCL. They can play 1080p H.264, MPEG-2 and VC-1 video using VDPAU or PureVideo HD.^[2] ION-LE–based systems shared the same basic hardware as ION but lack Vista and DirectX 10 support.^[3]

Nvidia announced that it would release the Ion platform for the VIA Nano processor some time in Q4 2009.^[4]

Specifications

Ion (first-generation Nvidia Ion)

Chipset: MCP79MX (with integrated GeForce 9400M GPU)
Intended Operating System: (Ion): Microsoft Windows XP, Vista, Windows 7, Linux; (Ion-LE): Microsoft Windows XP, Linux, MacBook
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 PureVideo
Display Options: HDMI, Dual-link DVI, DP, or VGA (any 2)
HDMI Version: 1.8 (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 Gbit/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 PureVideo
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

Existing products

This list is non-exhaustive.

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).^{[citation needed]}

Desktop systems

Acer AspireRevo Nettop Media Server w/Remote
Aleutia H1 Hotel PC (with the above ZOTAC IONITX A-U), fanless in the single core version.^[5]
aOpen GP7A^[6]
ASRock Ion 330 series^[7]
ASRock Ion 330HT series w/Remote^[8]
ASRock Ion 330Pro
ASUS Eee Box EB1012U (ION 1)
ASUS Eee Box EB1012P (ION 2)
ASUS Eee Box EB1501
Asus S1-AT5NM10E
Foxconn NetBox-nT330i ^[9]
Giada Mini PC series ^[10]
Lenovo IdeaCentre Q150 - 40816AU ^[11]
MSi All-in-One PC Wind Top AE2220
Myka ION
Orbit Micro Helix A58 Sleek NVIDIA ION/N330 desktop system^[12]
Orbit Micro Helix A5W Fanless IP waterproof dustproof Nvidia ION system^[13]
Sapphire EDGE HD ^[14]
Shuttle XS35GT, fanless system with ION2 and Atom D510^[15]
Viewsonic VOT132 ^[16]
ZaReason Ion Breeze^[17]
Zotac Mag ^[18]

Netbook systems

Acer Aspire One 532G^[19]
Asus Eee PC VX6^[20]
Asus Eee PC 1015PN^[21]
Asus Eee PC 1201N^[22]
Asus Eee PC 1201NL^[23] (Only graphics component attached to Intel motherboard.
Asus Eee PC 1215N^[24]
HP Mini 311^[25]
Lenovo IdeaPad S12^[26]
Point of View Mobii ION ^[27]
Samsung N510 ^[28]

Discontinued support

NVIDIA has ceased driver support for Nvidia ION series on April 1 2016.^[29]

Windows XP 32-bit & Media Center Edition: version 340.52 (WHQL) released on July 29, 2014; Download
Windows XP 64-bit: version 340.52 (WHQL) released on July 29, 2014; Download
Windows Vista, 7, 8, 8.1 32-bit: version 341.95 (WHQL) released on March 16, 2016; Download
Windows Vista, 7, 8, 8.1 64-bit: version 341.95 (WHQL) released on March 16, 2016; Download
Windows 10 32-bit: version 341.95 (WHQL) released on March 16, 2016; Download
Windows 10 64-bit: version 341.95 (WHQL) released on March 16, 2016; Download

References

External links

[1] "NVIDIA Collaborates With Microsoft To Make Premium, Low-Cost PCs A Reality". News release. Nvidia. February 11, 2009. Retrieved June 2, 2011.

[2] Computerbase.de: Test: Zotac IONITX-A (Nvidia Ion), page 2: "Im Videobereich verlässt sich Nvidia beim Ion auf PureVideo HD der dritten Generation [...]"

[web-3] "Next-Generation NVIDIA ION Graphics Processors". Nvidia web site. Retrieved June 2, 2011.

[4] ttp://www.engadget.com/2009/02/20/nivida-ion-platform-to-support-via-nano-processors-this-year/

[5] ttp://www.aleutia.com/products/h1

[6] ttp://usa.aopen.com/Products.aspx?id=74

[7] ttp://www.asrock.com/nettop/overview.asp?Model=ION%20330

[8] ttp://www.asrock.com/nettop/overview.asp?Model=ION%20330HT-BD

[9] ttp://www.foxconnchannel.com/ProductDetail.aspx?T=NanoPC&U=en-us0000014

[10] ttp://www.giada.cc/chanpinzhongxin/minipc/

[11] ttp://shop.lenovo.com/SEUILibrary/controller/e/web/LenovoPortal/en_US/catalog.workflow:category.details?current-catalog-id=12F0696583E04D86B9B79B0FEC01C087&current-category-id=7989AA4D07004515BEDB0E93AED8B49D

[12] ttp://www.orbitmicro.com/global/build.php?products_id=11431

[13] ttp://www.orbitmicro.com/global/build.php?products_id=11433

[14] ttp://www.sapphiretech.com/presentation/product/?leg=&psn=000106&pid=1088

[15] ttp://www.shuttle.eu/products/ultra-small/xs35gt/overview/

[16] ttp://www.viewsonic.com/products/vot132.htm

[17] ttp://www.zareason.com/shop/product.php?productid=16205&cat=0&page=1

[18] ttp://www.zotacusa.com/products/mini-pcs

[19] ttp://www.engadget.com/2010/02/15/acer-aspire-one-532g-first-to-feature-nvidia-ion-2-switchable-gr/

[20] ttp://www.asus.com/product.aspx?P_ID=30dqaE10a0LUo9XJ

[21] ttp://www.notebookcheck.net/Review-Asus-Eee-PC-1015PN-Netbook.40432.0.html

[22] ttp://www.notebookcheck.net/Newsentry.153+M54ad54f1b63.0.html

[23] ttp://gadgetmix.com/index/asus-1201-nl-review/

[24] ttp://www.asus.com/product.aspx?P_ID=HrglRhH8D60Rmlv3

[25] ttp://www.engadget.com/2009/09/24/hps-ion-infused-mini-311-netbook-now-on-sale-starts-at-400/

[26] ttp://www.netbookchoice.com/2009/10/22/lenovo-ideapad-s12-ion-now-on-sale-in-us/

[27] ttp://www.pointofview-online.com/showroom.php?shop_mode=product_detail&product_id=114&site_id=2

[28] ttp://www.notebookcheck.net/Review-Samsung-N510-Ion-Netbook.21362.0.html

[29] EOL driver support for legacy products

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v t e Nvidia chipsets
Comparison of Nvidia chipsets
GeForce Series	ION 8 9
nForce Series	nForce 220/415/420 nForce2 nForce3 nForce4 nForce 500 nForce 600 nForce 700 nForce 900
Technologies	ESA EPP LinkBoost MXM SoundStorm