AMD's RS880 integrated graphics chip could make netbooks usable

Tired of hearing that your next favorite netbook / nettop is hamstrung with one of those woefully underpowered GMA950 graphics chipsets? Eager to see what all AMD is going to do about it? If The Inquirer is to be believed, an up and coming integrated chipset should elevate the multimedia prowess of low-end machines, as the RS880 would actually be based around the new Radeon HD 4200 core. In theory, at least, this chip would be around 15 percent faster than similar alternatives out there now, giving future netbooks just enough power to churn through 720p video without st, st, stuttering. Needless to say, the suits are refusing to comment on the matter, but we're definitely holding out hope for this one.

[flowy2k @ Jul 2nd 2009 9:00AM]

amd + ion =will be nice

[human_error @ Jul 2nd 2009 9:06AM]

You do realise this is a graphics chip and so would compete with the ion, not run with it.

[L @ Jul 2nd 2009 9:46AM]

And also, that Ion is manufactured by Nvidia, the archnemesis of AMD/ATI?

[iphonerulez @ Jul 2nd 2009 10:27AM]

It seems the article headline is implying that netbooks in their current form aren't quite usable. I don't think I'd find any portable that can't play back video without stuttering very useful at all and I think a lot of unaware purchasers of those crap machines wouldn't either.

[Shinigami @ Jul 2nd 2009 11:29AM]

Ion has 1080p playback. And you don't want to replace that by 720p "without stuttering".
And you can't use both video chips at the same time...

[knifex4 @ Jul 2nd 2009 1:02PM]

I will assume he meant amd & ion alternatives will be nice, as opposed to the GMA950.

[Laughing Man @ Jul 2nd 2009 5:03PM]

Lets get this strait. The Ion has 1080p playback as an options. Every review I have seen of it attempting that ends in high CPU use and st st st stuttering. Just because it is listed as a option doesn't mean it will work well. Their claim here is basically, regardless of the processor you are using, 720p will play with no issue. I would image that 1080p will work with a decent CPU on board to help.

[jwilson02 @ Jul 2nd 2009 9:05AM]

I think gone are my days of lugging around a 17" beast of a Dell. I always told myself I would never replace my laptop with a netbook. Now I cant wait till they meet my requirements and this is one step closer.

[David @ Jul 2nd 2009 9:29AM]

About 6 months ago I finally replaced my aging Inspiron 9300 with a desktop/netbook combination. I don't think I'll ever spring for a monster laptop again.

[michael @ Jul 2nd 2009 10:38AM]

I'm about to do the same (replace a beast of an Alienware laptop with a netbook and a desktop). Much cheaper and actually portable.

[loosely_coupled @ Jul 2nd 2009 10:37AM]

I'm in the same boat, but every netbook I've tried was completely unusable for my average sized hands, and the display wasn't any better than the keyboard. I'm thinking more along the lines of a 13"/14" 'thin and light' like the new Acer Aspire 4810 Timeline, or something similar. Maybe even a 13" Macbook Pro, although thats heavier and more expensive. I really just want an Intel dual-core CULV with a decent keyboard and the ability to hook up an external drive sans USB -- so either Firewire 400/800, eSATA, or an expresscard slot to add ports is necessary.

Anyone bought a "thin and light" recently and are satisfied?

[E C S Sucks @ Jul 2nd 2009 9:06AM]

It would probably be neo + ati rather than atom + Ati. I wish ati would support Intel Processors. I would buy them over iGpu from intel or nvidia.

[E C S Sucks @ Jul 2nd 2009 9:07AM]

That is amd Neo.

[boomerz @ Jul 2nd 2009 11:51AM]

ATI is AMD so they won't be supporting intel processors.

[Brian @ Jul 2nd 2009 1:56PM]

Actually, there are plenty of laptops with Intel CPUs and ATI graphics, including my friend's ThinkPad T400.

What you're not going to see (anymore) is ATI chipsets supporting Intel CPUs.

[Gary @ Jul 2nd 2009 9:09AM]

Sounds good but nothing special. AMD really need to do something to make themselves stand out again.

[mitchell_pgh @ Jul 2nd 2009 9:15AM]

sign...

I still don't understand how some people consider the Atom unusable. Perhaps if you expect the system to perform like a full sized laptop, you would be disappointed, but I have been using my HP Mini 1000 for well over four months and have been completely satisfied with the speed. Yes, my large laptop is much faster... but that's not the point. The mini is ultra portable (and with Leopard, it's even nicer).

Would I like to see faster chip combination? Sure... but don't say that the Atom is unusable... or even slow. It's perfect for what it does.

[M. @ Jul 2nd 2009 9:31AM]

you've got sound & wifi working in Leopard?

Anyways, sold my Mini 1000 because I couldn't fit my workflow in the specs of that machine, I'm spoiled by core2duo and geforce graphics and lots of RAM

[elBravo @ Jul 2nd 2009 10:28AM]

Completely agree! Why do people (uninformed consumers) think that these Atom chips are going to break the barriers of economics and physics? An $18 cpu that draws 2 watts max is not going to be the right solution for converting your dvd collection to ipod videos! Its a case of the right tool for the right job...

[loosely_coupled @ Jul 2nd 2009 10:41AM]

The article is clearly talking about the graphics component of the platform, with the Atom platform being unusable because of the ancient 130nm Intel GMA9xx 'graphics decelerator'. With ION or ATI's RS880, the Atom isn't all that bad, at least in the higher-clocked dual-core variants. That said, I'd much rather have a ~1.2 Ghz Penryn-based Celeron ULV.

[Aaronage @ Jul 2nd 2009 9:12AM]

Neo X2 and RS880 will be fantastic!

I own a desktop board with 780g (ATI 3200) and flys through anything i throw at it :)

[acme @ Jul 2nd 2009 9:12AM]

its called ION, kinda late AMD...

[OneLove @ Jul 2nd 2009 10:03AM]

Not really. Do you see any ION netbooks available?

[richb93 @ Jul 2nd 2009 2:27PM]

Lenovo S12

[Tommy @ Jul 4th 2009 10:23PM]

well did you know AMD was FIRST with a igp that can decode blu-ray and it was called AMD 780G?, NVIDIA and Intel had NOTHING i say NOTHING to counter the 780G? at the time of its release?

btw the RS880 aka HD 4200 has better dvd upscale, LPCM 6.111mbps upto 7.1 channel so amd is catching up on audio front compared to NVIDIA/Intel IGPs that

here is a comparison
AMD was first with a proper IGP that had Blu-Ray 1080p Decoding of H.264/MPEG-2/VC-1
AMD was first with a IGP that didnt suck to hard compared to intel* and nvidia at the time, it was like 100% faster
NVIDIA or Intel was first with a IGP that had LPCM Lossless 6.111mbps upto 7.1 channel
AMD was first with LPCM Lossless 6.111mbps upto 7.1 channel on discrete cards (HD 4000 series), NVIDIA dont have lossless on their renamed 8800>9800 or gtx 200 series

not bad

http://www.bit-tech.net/hardware/cpus/2008/03/04/amd_780g_integrated_graphics_chipset/8
http://techreport.com/articles.x/14261/9

NVIDIA Ion is so OVERRATED its basicly a Geforce 9400 chipset for atom, that was made LONG after AMD released 780G ;)

[Josh @ Jul 2nd 2009 9:14AM]

But, my netbook is already usable. I have plenty of other options for more graphics intensive needs, and would really rather not bulk up any pricing on a netbook.

[Laughing Man @ Jul 2nd 2009 5:05PM]

No one said the price would go up. Hell it might go down.

[Kelvinyam @ Jul 2nd 2009 9:18AM]

I think 15% improvement just ain't significant enough, since manufacturer likes to over exaggerate the numbers. They need to work equivalent hard on the drivers.

[firestrider @ Jul 2nd 2009 9:22AM]

Is this just a die shrink of HD 3200 with better power management features so it will fit in netbooks?

[neofolklore @ Jul 2nd 2009 9:23AM]

A race to the bottom!

[M. @ Jul 2nd 2009 9:28AM]

Darren Netbooks are already usable, just not for those that expect Core2Duo performance, like me...

[David @ Jul 2nd 2009 9:32AM]

can't wait for ATI to jump into the netbook game and busy up the intel party..

[strider_mt2k @ Jul 2nd 2009 10:05AM]

What I'm really tired of is people expecting too much from netbooks.

If your netbook is letting you down in the graphics department then you bought the wrong portable, dingus.

[JAMF @ Jul 2nd 2009 10:07AM]

"..., giving future netbooks just enough power to churn through 720p video without st, st, stuttering."

I thought VIA proved that it was already possible and Samsung did build a nice netbook around that? You know, the NC20?

[Wolfe @ Sep 12th 2009 7:02AM]

You mean NC10?

[JAMF @ Sep 14th 2009 1:58PM]

No, I mean the NC20. I doubt the NC10 has the capability to display every visual "720" media smoothly. The NC20 has stood that test and the screen itself is 1280x720.

[elBravo @ Jul 2nd 2009 10:18AM]

This sounds like it *could* be a good idea. For me, this would be great. A low powered chipset lacking the glitz and glamor of the ION and the power sucking characteristics of the GMA950 would make for a good netbook. Although it depends on how good a x2 Neo would be.

It will also sell miserably in netbooks since it would use "not an Intel Atom" CPU. So consumers wouldn't know what the hell is happening here. Plus they would see the ion netbook sitting next to this one and think, (in dumb, offy consumer monologue) "Ion? More is always Better!"

[sam @ Jul 2nd 2009 7:17PM]

Where'd you get that this will be low-powered? The article didn't say that. (I mean obviously it will be in the low power range - but will it be lower than either of the alternatives.) AMD aren't exactly known for their low-power processors, but if this is at least lower-power than Ion, that'd be a selling point.

[Liam @ Jul 2nd 2009 10:21AM]

Cool so something to follow up the 7XX mobos - which easily give Nvidia a run for their money.

AMD needs to concentrate on bringing their processors to Sub 10" laptops.

[powerlord @ Jul 2nd 2009 10:24AM]

I run XP on my acer one. It runs all 720p smooth at 40% cpu with coreavc. Whats the problem ?

Only MPC cinema edition supports HD hardware accelerated just now anyhoo, and its a bit buggy. I turn it off on my laptops that support it.

It ain't gonna magically support H264 encoding just because the video hardware does...

[ManekiNeko @ Jul 2nd 2009 10:28AM]

Now if we could just find the technology to make Darren Murph's posts readable, we'd be in business.

I'm with Strider on this one. Netbooks aren't designed to play Crysis or render characters for the next Pixar film... they exist to give you a portable Internet experience without the annoying compromises of smartphones. Why don't you ever criticize the iPhone for its own technological shortcomings? Oh yeah, because you wouldn't want to lose the advertising. My bad.

[Gooey @ Jul 2nd 2009 10:33AM]

It's called Everun Note and it's been around for a looooooooooong time.

[Matt @ Jul 2nd 2009 11:17AM]

No offense intended, but The Inquirer has always seemed to be a bit fan-boyish for AMD/ATI. Maybe it's just me.

[Kip HT @ Jul 2nd 2009 11:58AM]

My eeePC 1000HA has played 720p HD video since I bought it.

Nothing special. Engadget must be behind the times :)

[ManekiNeko @ Jul 2nd 2009 9:02PM]

It's just more mindless bashing from technophiles with an overwhelming sense of self-entitlement, that's all. "I want my three hundred dollar laptop to have the latest graphics card! Durrrr!" Take out a loan and buy a proper sense of perspective, dorks.

[iubyont @ Jul 2nd 2009 1:01PM]

i have a desktop/netbook combo and the atom n270/280 chips are more than powerful enough for almost everything i need it for. the only problem is that there are a lot of websites now with flash video streaming at 720p and current netbooks can sometimes have trouble with these. when a better intergrated graphics chip comes out that will be able to breeze through these videos then i'll probably upgrade. i couldn't care less if its from intel, amd/ati, or nvidia.

[Nitesh @ Jul 2nd 2009 1:42PM]

780G already trumps everything Intel has.

[johnblarson @ Jul 2nd 2009 1:55PM]

So.. what about the netbooks running Linux? It's certainly not a small market and ATI isn't known for good driver support in Linux for their graphics cards/chips.

[AtomicPlayboy @ Jul 2nd 2009 2:06PM]

So this new chip will put AMD only two steps behind NVidia, whose current Ion chip can already do 1080p and whose upcoming Ion2 promises to further enhance graphics performance. Way to go, AMD.

[Ian @ Jul 2nd 2009 3:58PM]

My thoughts exactly. Woooo. AMD is alomost kinda cought up with nvidia on the integrated GPU front. Bravo.