Well, this is sad. While we told you earlier this week that the Ion 2-powered
ASUS Eee PC 1201PN wouldn't be
arriving until late May, a number of European sites have gotten early review samples of the 12-inch "netbook" -- if you choose to call it that -- and have discovered that it doesn't use
NVIDIA's Optimus automatic graphics switching technology. That's right, instead we're told by NVIDIA that the discrete GeForce 201M GPU runs continuously and Intel's integrated chip is never used -- a configuration which sounds like it'll absolutely kill the battery life on this machine. According to
Hardware Zone, ASUS made this choice aiming to be the first to market with the next generation of Ion, but an Optimus version of the ASUS Eee PC 1201PN will be ready later this quarter. It also appears that an Eee PC
1215N with both Ion 2 and Optimus is floating around, but we haven't confirmed what's going on with that. We're sorry if we confused you even more, but we'll be keeping our eyes out for the early reviews of the 1201PN to see if our predicted two hours of battery life is on the mark.
Update: The 1201PN cannot be updated with firmware to enable Optimus -- the hardware isn't there for the automatic switching.
posted April 23rd 2010 2:38PM
Optimus is the Prime reason to get this!
@CRA1G
No autobots... no buy!
@CRA1G
I agree... they need to roll out optimus for these
@CRA1G Really? I'm not all that keen on Intel graphics in the first place, so I'm still likely to buy this first release until something else comes up.
@CRA1G Those deceptive con-artists...
@CRA1G Those Decepticons...
@BigD145 : Sure Intel graphics are lousy when you need anything fast; but aren't they good enough for basic stuff like browsing and email?
@John Stracke "Browsing" now includes things like live streaming videos. Intel is not good enough.
@BigD145 Really nice, although I wish they wouldn't use that rocker bar. Either way I am excited for the ion 2 systems. View. http://bit.ly/asus-eee-1201PN-2010PNT
@BigD145 the point is it switches automatically ... when you need the extra performance ... when not you save battery by using the on chip GPU.
@John Stracke
not really. software is increasingly being coded to take advantage of the extra processing potential of GPU's. modern graphics tech from AMD/ATI and Nvidia have their chips full of little "units" (AMD call them "stream units" and Nvidia call them "CUDA cores". they basically mean little processors all bunched up into a big chip, similar to a quad core CPU, except the "cores" in the graphics chip are smaller, simpler and less powerful. to make up the performance, they have LOTS of these stream/CUDA units, hundreds and sometimes thousands of them.
one way to save power in these scenarios is to "switch off" the parts of the GPU not being used, if you're scrolling a web page you don't need 100% of the GPU power, so can switch the rest off and save electricity (battery life, heat, fan noise).
the other way be efficient is to have 2 GPU's (crazy i know). the reason this is even considered is because the OEM's can't get an Atom CPU without buying the graphics chip from INTEL to. this is because of pricing fixing. INTEL will sell you the Atom CPU for e.g. $50 alone, or if you buy the Atom CPU & INTEL GPU it will cost you a total of $35!
this is why you see nearly EVERY netbook with Atom CPU and Intel graphics. it's cheaper for the OEM *not* to get the INtel graphics chip. for the few OEM's that go with a different GPU, it costs them extra.
so one way to save battery power in these scenarios s to use the crappy Intel GPU for light tasks, and switch to the better additional GPU for everything else. problem is, software is increasingly heading towards being coded to use the GPU more for everything. so much so that just using your web browser is using the GPU for rendering text, scrolling, decoding video, and soon accelerating Java, browser extentions...everything.
with this kind of software, Intel's GPU is worthless as it's no where powerful enough to even run a modern browser. Nvidia's GPU for portables is great, it's just a shame that it costs extra for the OEM because of Intel's licensing scams.
to learn more look up:
1) "OpenCL", "
2) Nvidia CUDA",
3) and "AMD/ATI's stream processors"
to learn how GPU's are being used for nearly everything and will soon be used with your CPU for the same tasks.
@p3ngwin
bah, mistake in my post:
it's cheaper for the OEM *not* to get the INtel graphics chip. for the few OEM's that go with a different GPU, it costs them extra.
should read:
it's cheaper for the OEM to get the INtel graphics chip. for the few OEM's that go with a different GPU, it costs them extra.
hmm, looks a lot like something i have seen before
@Sled Yeah I know. They need to replace XP with Windows 7.
@Sled : Yeah, the keyboard is pretty similar to the one that Apple copied from Sony.
It's running XP. Yuck.
@LANjackal
Read somewhere that Optimus does not work with Windows 7 Starter. Does that mean it doesn't work on 7 at all, or only on more complete versions?
P.S. Damn it. I've been waiting months for the 1201PN and now it's a non-starter. I guess I'm waiting for the 1215 now.
@Luke
It runs on full fledged laptops (which have Windows 7). I'd assume that means it only works with full versions then.
@BigJayDogg3 Yeah, that would be correct. They're NOT compatible w/ Win7 Starter, only the Premium Edition. Sucks, don't it? Enough w/this holding-back tech crap, let's see this on these "netbooks"! If CEOs and those so-called executives of ASUS want their company to be successful, then they need to LISTEN to us consumers, because we are the ones in the long run that will help keep them in business. LET IT OUT!
@blueboy09
Well the 1201N comes with windows 7 home premium, so why wouldn't the 1201PN?
XP?
Eee(wwww.....)
.
First to market? What ever happened to the Acer 532g that was supposed to be out weeks ago?
Sounds like something that could be fixed through firmware.
Firmware update possible?
@n0ne No, it's actually built into the hardware.
@n0ne Just updated. I had the same question -- NVIDIA says no. If you want Optimus you have to wait to buy the next version.
@Joanna Stern "we're told by NVIDIA that the discrete GeForce 201M GPU runs continuously and Intel's integrated chip is never used"
This made me think that it was on board but like, dormant. Guess not.
1st ION2 out the door, tripper and falling down the steps. Fail Asus, you made me loose interest in this now.
@n0ne tripping*
/*sigh*
@n0ne ASUS does this constantly. If it's not pricing, it's features.
Bottom Line:
What do I buy if I'm looking for a #1.CHEAP and #2 portable that has at least a 11.6" screen?
I used to spend BIG money on the fastest and lightest. But, after multiple CULV notebooks end up mystrioulsy dying, I'm going cheap for now on.
@Nunya Bizness HP DM3Z ftw!
@Nunya Bizness
Tip, if you're going to go cheap, at least get out of the entry level machines. Every time I've gotten hands on an entry level machine, the build quality was poor. They always had that cheap feeling.
@Nunya Bizness
Get an Acer Aspire ONE 11.6, you can find them refurbished for around 260 with 250GB hdd and 2GB of ram. And the screen is 1366x768.
they cant just upgrade it through new software later?
I just got a new PC with 9800 GT 1 BG, it run Resident Evil Perfectly, no issues what so ever. But it does not run GTA 4, even on lowest settings possible the game flinches and freezes.
And i have a brand new chip and all, i7-930, 3GB DDR3 1600.
Very angry at nVidia
@Sea Urchin
Actually, that's probably Rockstar's fault. GTAIV is a resource hog.
@Sea Urchin
I wouldn't be blaming nVidia. I have an eVGA 9800 GT 1GB card and it plays GTA IV flawlessly on high at 1920x1080. I'm using a Phenom II X2 and 4GB of DDR3 1600.
aww, all that wait for nothing? pass...
So the integrated graphics chip is sort of like the human appendix?
What a waste of cash.
Asus, here's a clue:
First means nothing if the result is garbage.
When the hell are they gonna come out with a nettop with ION2???? They shouldn't have wasted the effort in making this and instead just released the hardware as a nettop.
I would prefer to have a manual switch...
All I can say is the first company to market to integrate ION2 into a light convertible tablet with a chiclet keyboard, multi-touch (pen and touch), decent battery life (4-6 hours) and Nvidia Optimus with a decent processor will have my money. If it could be done I wouldn't mind a pixelqi display either.
Until then I guess i'll see what happens on the AMD/ATI side of the coin. For being first to market Asus has made a pretty worthless machine.
While this IS sad, it makes my recent purchase of the regular 1201N that much less buyers-remorse-y.
I'll still probably be picking up the PN when they throw the optimus in there.
shit, i was waiting for these too. I was looking forward to it, have to wait and see what the review says, but might just think about a Dell with broadcom in it, with tv tuner, nice setup, just wont have video out
If they don't have the hardware switch built in, why on earth on they using XP on it?
With Vista and Win7, the OS's WDDM can dynamically flip between the two GPUs automatically.
Doesn't make sense unless the battery difference is tiny between the two GPUs.
Boner, I want 4xx mobile series from Nvidia on an Asus. Let's hope they have it by summer. What's a Ion? Must be a competitor of Pentium I.
AsusFail! Why couldn't they have just added a manual switch?!
That would have been a fine solution...
Why are ASUS LCD screens so horrible?