Nvidia Ion Explained

Nvidia Ion
Manufacturer:	Nvidia

Nvidia Ion was a product line of Nvidia Corporation intended for motherboards of low-cost portable computers. It used 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
• 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 × 1536
• Maximum Digital Resolution: 2560 × 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

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, 90 W 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)
• ZOTAC IONITX N-E motherboard (Intel Celeron 743 CPU, 20-pin power connector, Wireless PCIe module installed, PCI Express x16 slot)
• ZOTAC IONITX P-E motherboard (Intel Celeron SU2300 CPU, 20-pin power connector, Wireless PCIe module installed, PCI Express x16 slot)

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 Windows support

Nvidia has ceased Windows 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 342.01 (WHQL) released on December 14, 2016; Download
• Windows Vista, 7, 8, 8.1 64-bit: version 342.01 (WHQL) released on December 14, 2016; Download
• Windows 10, 32-bit: version 342.01 (WHQL) released on December 14, 2016; Download
• Windows 10, 64-bit: version 342.01 (WHQL) released on December 14, 2016; Download

See also

• Comparison of Nvidia graphics processing units
• Tegra

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

Notes and References

1. Web site: NVIDIA Collaborates With Microsoft To Make Premium, Low-Cost PCs A Reality . News release . February 11, 2009 . Nvidia . 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 [...]"
3. Web site: Next-Generation NVIDIA ION Graphics Processors . Nvidia web site . June 2, 2011 .
4. Web site: NVIDIA Ion platform to support VIA Nano processors this year. 20 February 2009 .
5. Web site: H1 Hotel PC | Aleutia . 2010-04-15 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20100810112920/http://www.aleutia.com/products/h1 . 2010-08-10 .
6. Web site: N. America & Latin . 2010-03-21 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100401173758/http://usa.aopen.com/Products.aspx?id=74 . 2010-04-01 . dead .
7. Web site: ASRock > ION 330. www.asrock.com. 18 December 2022.
8. Web site: ASRock > ION 330HT-BD. www.asrock.com. 18 December 2022.
9. Web site: Foxconn PRODUCT : NanoPC Barebones: Details . www.foxconnchannel.com . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20130523125029/http://www.foxconnchannel.com/ProductDetail.aspx?T=NanoPC&U=en-us0000014 . 2013-05-23.
10. Web site: Archived copy . 2010-04-06 . 2010-04-01 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100401070335/http://www.giada.cc/chanpinzhongxin/minipc/ . dead .
11. Web site: Lenovo Official US Site | Laptops, PCS, Tablets & Data Center | Lenovo US.
12. Web site: Orbit Micro products . 2009-06-05 . 2009-06-27 . https://web.archive.org/web/20090627080755/http://www.orbitmicro.com/global/build.php?products_id=11431 . dead .
13. Web site: Orbit Micro products . 2009-06-05 . 2009-06-26 . https://web.archive.org/web/20090626025119/http://www.orbitmicro.com/global/build.php?products_id=11433 . dead .
14. Web site: http://www.sapphiretech.com/presentation/product/?leg=&psn=000106&pid=1088.
15. Web site: Shuttle Europe: Overview . 2010-11-26 . https://web.archive.org/web/20101223133108/http://www.shuttle.eu/products/ultra-small/xs35gt/overview/ . 2010-12-23 . dead .
16. Web site: Viewsonic » VOT132 . www.viewsonic.com . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20091019060837/http://www.viewsonic.com/products/vot132.htm . 2009-10-19.
17. Web site: ZaReason, Inc. :: Desktops. . 2009-06-25 . https://web.archive.org/web/20090616114102/http://www.zareason.com/shop/product.php?productid=16205&cat=0&page=1 . 2009-06-16 . dead .
18. Web site: Mini-PCS - Products . 2010-01-06 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100103200824/http://www.zotacusa.com/products/mini-pcs . 2010-01-03 . dead .
19. Web site: Acer Aspire One 532G first to feature NVIDIA Ion 2 switchable graphics. 15 February 2010 .
20. Web site: ASUSTeK Computer Inc. . www.asus.com . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20101111152213/http://www.asus.com/product.aspx?P_ID=30dqaE10a0LUo9XJ . 2010-11-11.
21. Web site: Review Asus Eee PC 1015PN Netbook. Felix. Sold. Notebookcheck. 18 December 2022.
22. Web site: Notebookcheck: More details on Asus Eee PC 1201N and 1201HA leaked . www.notebookcheck.net . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20091018010247/http://www.notebookcheck.net/Newsentry.153+M54ad54f1b63.0.html . 2009-10-18.
23. Web site: Asus Eee PC 1215N Review | Netbook with Nvidia ION - Gadgetmix.com. Taran. Kaur. 14 August 2010. 18 December 2022.
24. Web site: ASUSTeK Computer Inc. - Eee - Eee PC 1215N . www.asus.com . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20100730205532/http://www.asus.com/product.aspx?P_ID=HrglRhH8D60Rmlv3 . 2010-07-30.
25. Web site: HP's Ion-infused Mini 311 netbook now on sale, starts at $400. 24 September 2009 .
26. Web site: Lenovo Ideapad S12 ION now on sale in US | Netbook Choice. 18 December 2022.
27. Web site: :: Point of View :: . 2009-12-09 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100213024431/http://www.pointofview-online.com/showroom.php?shop_mode=product_detail&product_id=114&site_id=2 . 2010-02-13 . dead .
28. Web site: Review Samsung N510 Ion Netbook.
29. Web site: EOL Windows driver support for legacy products | NVIDIA. nvidia.custhelp.com. 18 December 2022.