NVIDIA said to be prepping Ion 2 for late 2009

NVIDIA obviously isn't doing much talking about it itself just yet, but Fudzilla apparently has it on good authority that the company is indeed already hard at work on Ion 2, which promises to bring with it plenty of improvements over the already impressive Ion chipset. Chief among those is a decreased die size, "much faster graphics," and more than twice the shaders of the original Geforce 9400M /MCP79 chipset that the current Ion is based on (which uses 16 shaders). Not many more details than that, unfortunately, but NVIDIA is supposedly looking to launch Ion 2 by the end of this year -- although not before it sells plenty more Ion 1s, of course.

[Via SlashGear]

[Justin @ Jul 1st 2009 3:40PM]

wtf?

How does Ion 2 get "prepped" to come out by late 2009 when Ion 1 isn't even available yet?

Boo. You hear me, world? BOO!

[OneLove @ Jul 1st 2009 3:46PM]

Why boo? Just get Ion 2 and skip ion 1.

[Justin @ Jul 1st 2009 3:46PM]

Where can I even buy a reputable Ion netbook right now? Does anyone know / can they provide a link?

I'm pretty much just waiting on a netbook with Ion that offers the free upgrade to Win7 when purchased. If I can get an Atom 330 in it (like two brands I saw in.. China?) all the better, but it isn't a dealbreaker.

Anybody got / know of anything?

The best I know is Lenovo's shipping the S12 in August/September, and Samsung announced one, but that's it. Nothing more in Ion land.

[rock99rock @ Jul 1st 2009 3:53PM]

wtf?

AFAIC, SPF 30 FTW. BTW, GTFO MK? TKS!

That, just happened. (I kid)

I must agree... I've been waiting patiently (well, impatiently, as i gaze upon my mini 9), for the ION "1" chipset to fix my graphics woes on an atom based netbook. I know i've seen like, a post or 2 (http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/29/samsung-to-introduce-nvidia-ion-powered-netbook/ http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/15/dosparas-prime-note-cresion-na-netbook-pairs-ion-with-atom-33/ PSYCH POST- http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/17/asrock-multibook-g22-packs-ion-atom-330-and-a-multitouch-trackp/ ) regarding the ION, but where are the Dells and HP's of the world with their ION netbook? Is it just not gonna happen? Like the Nano? Please advise-

[Alex @ Jul 1st 2009 4:03PM]

@OneLove

"NVIDIA is supposedly looking to launch Ion 2 by the end of this year -- although not before it sells plenty more Ion 1s, of course."

[Justin @ Jul 1st 2009 4:07PM]

You can get Ion Products now. Newegg has sold 4 different Ion Based Motherboards. They are zotac. Since these are for desktops/nettops it might not be the laptop you may be looking for, but the products have been available to some degree.

[chanmanplanet @ Jul 1st 2009 4:24PM]

i doubt nvidia would sell themselves short like that. ion2 would be more likely to be out 1 year after ion1. as far as mini-itx form concerns ion has a pretty firm hold on its little corner as all these coming-soon ion powered netbooks and nas's are about to come out. because of that, i just don't see nvidia racing with themselves against their own product which already proved to be quite impressive. let's face it, if it was as bad as some thing like vista (pre sp1) then it would be a good call, but i don't see why in need of the hurry.

[Jayayess1190 @ Jul 1st 2009 6:19PM]

Seeing as Ion 1 is the 9400m, its been out for a while.

[r3loaded @ Oct 12th 2009 11:26AM]

Anyone hanging on for Ion 2, I highly recommend you wait for the Pine Trail Atom CPUs, coming early next year.

[AnnoyingPoster @ Jul 1st 2009 3:44PM]

nice, say goodbye shitty intel graphics on netbooks

[chanmanplanet @ Jul 1st 2009 4:30PM]

last i've heard, intel chipsets are going anywhere but out. intel price aggressively against nvidia chipsets so as long as they are not penalized by the court (yet) they seem to be quite competitive to the manufacturers. i really don't mind intel chipsets as long as they keep holding competitive edge like they did with p45, x48, x58's. i3 & i5's are coming others watch out.

[David @ Jul 1st 2009 7:02PM]

nope.

not that easy .... unfortunately.

[loosely_coupled @ Jul 2nd 2009 2:34AM]

"i really don't mind intel chipsets as long as they keep holding competitive edge like they did with p45, x48, x58's. i3 & i5's are coming others watch out."

You obviously are not speaking of their graphics capabilities, which the OP was referring to. Intel's IGPs have never kept pace with Nvidia or ATI.

[Applegadget @ Aug 4th 2009 9:00AM]

Dude who cares about useless i3's/i5's/i7's or i9's. We need none of those (hardcore video editors exception) We need some kickass processing power in small form computers and Intel are being maggots about it. They should throw money at it like they are with desktop computers (ofcourse this is only because of AMD). I need 1080P off a low power processor THEN ill buy a HTPC for my pad (well ok my garage)

[JayC @ Jul 1st 2009 3:49PM]

But, the GPU was not the weak point for ION. It has always been the CPU that lacks power...

[TREX6662k5 @ Jul 1st 2009 4:00PM]

Exactly, I don't see how this will benefit many users. ION 1 plays HD content perfectly what's ION 2 going to give me?

I don't want to play "big" games on an ION/Atom machine.

[OneLove @ Jul 1st 2009 4:32PM]

"what's ION 2 going to give me?"

- A bigger penis.

[Mike @ Jul 1st 2009 5:12PM]

Improving the graphics system will substantially decrease the load on the cpu for ion2....just watch it and prep to buy one.

[Ryudeshi @ Jul 2nd 2009 12:29AM]

Smaller die size so possibly lower power requirements.

[Scarhawk @ Jul 2nd 2009 2:11AM]

If they shrink the die size:

Lower cost, so it winds up in cheaper netbooks. $300 to play Hulu to HDMI, not $500.

Lower power consumption (for GPU intensive tasks), so longer battery life while watching h.264 video.

[yokel @ Jul 1st 2009 3:51PM]

Intel graphics should die a quick death and disappear already. I dream of a day I can buy a notebook or netbook and the entry level graphics will be on the same level as a dedicated graphics card.

[yokel @ Jul 1st 2009 3:53PM]

Fight the good fight, Nvidia.

[xconan @ Jul 1st 2009 9:10PM]

other than Apple, Intel also has invested quite a bit into Imagination...

[ioannisnousias @ Jul 1st 2009 3:52PM]

Osborne 1 effect...

[tmarks11 @ Jul 2nd 2009 4:56PM]

no kidding. I was waiting to buy a netbook until I could pick up one with the Ion (preferably with the Atom 330).

Now I guess I will wait several months longer for Ion 2. Of course by then, Ion III will be on the horizon....

[Surge @ Jul 1st 2009 3:54PM]

With all the "noise" about nettops like Acer Aspire Revo, they are still not available in North America. My bet is that Intel twisting the arms of Acer in North America, while they are afraid to act like this in Europe at this point in time. If not, Acer Aspire Revo would have been available in North America long ago. The only hope is ION2 will finally work with Via Nano to deliver perfect nettop computer or HTPC.

[Mike @ Jul 1st 2009 5:15PM]

A dual core nano + a fairly nice graphics system = the best combo evar.

[Eraser @ Jul 2nd 2009 11:22PM]

will ION2 work with the new pineview atom processor?

if it does, that platform will be sweet. improved graphics and improved processor.

[Tony Montana @ Jul 1st 2009 4:09PM]

I don't think this is true the 9400M at the heart of the current Ion platform is more powerful than the xbox 360 and can run Call of Duty 4 at 1280x800 at around 24 frames per second while the xbox 360 can only do it at 1024x600 an has to uprez to 720p.

With double the shaders your talking about a pretty big upgrade but why would you want so much graphics power on such a small screen.

Your effectively talking pippin both the 360 and PS3 significantly in a package that is supposed to be portable and lightweight.

I don't see much demand for that much power in a package that small in the real world but considering where graphics cards have moved to since Ion 1 was announced it shouldn't cost them much more. In fact with a die shrink it'll probably cost them less to make a more powerful platform.

[Justin @ Jul 1st 2009 4:16PM]

The idea is to make it a multimedia powerhouse so that it can fill that void. Cheap, powerful, effective. Play Hulu, watch Flash, rock Starcraft II--anything. Port it to HDMI, use the DVI-out to use a netbook as your desktop, etc.

I can't wait for a solid Ion netbook to do browsing, coding in Visual Studio, and play War3 on.

[Smacksmackums @ Jul 1st 2009 4:08PM]

Until Flash is better able to take advantage of video card processing power I don't see a need for Ion.

[Fanfoot @ Jul 2nd 2009 11:30AM]

If Flash were updated to do GPU offload, it might even work on crappy Intel IGP's, and would almost certainly work on Ion 1, which can handle full Blu-Ray decodes etc but can't help with Flash which doesn't use the GPU.

Like others I fail to see the point of this. The issues with Ion 1 are (a) the power usage, (b) the cost. If NVidia wants to compete in the netbook space they need to make GPUs that use less power and are cheaper. We don't need giant fan-cooled GPUs in these little netbooks with their tiny monitors and cramped keyboards and tiny batteries...

[Aaronage @ Jul 1st 2009 4:22PM]

Great, more chips to fail after a few months of use. Following the footsteps of 8400/8600/9400/9600...

I have no respect or Nvidia.

[Einhanderkiller @ Jul 1st 2009 4:46PM]

The entire meaning of that last sentence changed by you leaving out an 'f'.

[yokel @ Jul 1st 2009 5:11PM]

I see what you did there. Or did you?

[Aaronage @ Jul 1st 2009 7:25PM]

LOL i didn't noticce that, typo fail :)

[xconan @ Jul 1st 2009 9:11PM]

great @ least I have a 9500...

[10minutehobo @ Jul 2nd 2009 7:57AM]

I still use my Ti4200, you nvidialess person.

[Andy @ Jul 2nd 2009 12:42PM]

remember that ion 2 will have support for the via nano processor (which i think are as good as on a par with comparable atoms (maybe better or worse) which is great as via have said they will support ion unlike a certain uncharged processor. This means that instead of all the problems of manufactures even getting the atom on its own (intels fault) the ion 2 will probably hit the mainstream before ion 1 even really gets going. IMO wait for a win 7 ion 2.

Waiting for nice looking 4/5 hour touchscreen ion 32/64 ssd (fast) 10/11.6 '' netbook @

[Scott @ Jul 1st 2009 4:43PM]

Nvidia is going to "launch" Ion 2 in Dec 09 just like it did the Ion 1 in Jan 09... don't expect products before back to school 2010.

[dagamer43 @ Jul 1st 2009 4:50PM]

To be honest, while the Atom chip was the initial goal for the ION chipset, I see these being paired with Core 2 Duos for a decently powerful laptop like in unibody Macbooks. It's likely that in the deal which Apple worked out with nVidia, nVidia would supply the chipset for the unibody MacBooks for a year in exchange for a year of exclusivity on the Core 2 Duo platform (they've already announced the same chip is coming to Core 2 Duos in Q4 2009).

[bot @ Jul 1st 2009 6:31PM]

These are already paired with Core 2 Duos in many laptops and desktop motherboards. As far as I can tell the "Ion" naming is just when this chipset is paired with the Atom CPU in an attempt to make a low cost/small format media solution. It's sort of how like Intel did the "Centrino" naming when their CPU was paired with their chipset and their wireless card. You were still able to get those devices in other configurations.

[Michael Le @ Jul 1st 2009 5:43PM]

Looks intresting. I think that what's really holding performance back is the Intel Atom though. They have Geforce 9400m (same GPU as Ion) paired with Core 2 Duos.

[Mark Schira @ Jul 1st 2009 8:11PM]

They should pair the chipset with an intel CLUV cpu. Then we would be talking.
Put it into a 10" and/or 11" light notebook, without wasting 10cm on the bezel, and I would be all over it.
M.

[DoGoD @ Jul 1st 2009 8:23PM]

Has nvidia ever sold those sweet looking ion reference platforms, the pico itx board, thats show on their site. all I can find on google search is the zotac boards

[daskino @ Jul 2nd 2009 6:29AM]

Remember that Intel is also coming out with a HD capable Chipset in the Capella platform with dedicated broadcom chip for handling HD playback

[Bill @ Jul 2nd 2009 8:37AM]

I have a zotac motherboard with the 730i/9300 chipset (basically the LGA 775 version of ion) and would love to see a 32+ shader version with higher clocks than the 9400 and a lower temp.
The 9300 even can get really hot so a smaller process technology would really help.

You could probably overclock the new ion even further, pair it with a overclocked cheap dual/quad core and you could run almost any game on the market.

Also I think the ion/730i chipset has only 20 PCI-E 2.0 lanes. with a few extra you could have a 16x, 4x, and a few 1x slots.

I look forward to seeing the new zotac mini-itx and smaller ion2 boards.