http://www.engadget.com/2010/04/23/first-wave-of-ion-2-asus-eee-pc-1201pns-lack-nvidia-optimus/ Engadget Comments for First wave of Ion 2 ASUS Eee PC 1201PNs lack NVIDIA Optimus http://www.engadget.com/media/feedlogo.gif http://www.engadget.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/http://www.engadget.com/2010/04/23/first-wave-of-ion-2-asus-eee-pc-1201pns-lack-nvidia-optimus/http://www.engadget.com/2010/04/23/first-wave-of-ion-2-asus-eee-pc-1201pns-lack-nvidia-optimus/Apr 23rd 2010 2:41PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/04/23/first-wave-of-ion-2-asus-eee-pc-1201pns-lack-nvidia-optimus/http://www.engadget.com/2010/04/23/first-wave-of-ion-2-asus-eee-pc-1201pns-lack-nvidia-optimus/
No autobots... no buy!]]>Apr 23rd 2010 2:43PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/04/23/first-wave-of-ion-2-asus-eee-pc-1201pns-lack-nvidia-optimus/http://www.engadget.com/2010/04/23/first-wave-of-ion-2-asus-eee-pc-1201pns-lack-nvidia-optimus/
I agree... they need to roll out optimus for these]]>Apr 23rd 2010 2:57PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/04/23/first-wave-of-ion-2-asus-eee-pc-1201pns-lack-nvidia-optimus/http://www.engadget.com/2010/04/23/first-wave-of-ion-2-asus-eee-pc-1201pns-lack-nvidia-optimus/Apr 23rd 2010 4:12PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/04/23/first-wave-of-ion-2-asus-eee-pc-1201pns-lack-nvidia-optimus/http://www.engadget.com/2010/04/23/first-wave-of-ion-2-asus-eee-pc-1201pns-lack-nvidia-optimus/Apr 23rd 2010 4:24PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/04/23/first-wave-of-ion-2-asus-eee-pc-1201pns-lack-nvidia-optimus/http://www.engadget.com/2010/04/23/first-wave-of-ion-2-asus-eee-pc-1201pns-lack-nvidia-optimus/Apr 23rd 2010 4:33PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/04/23/first-wave-of-ion-2-asus-eee-pc-1201pns-lack-nvidia-optimus/http://www.engadget.com/2010/04/23/first-wave-of-ion-2-asus-eee-pc-1201pns-lack-nvidia-optimus/Apr 23rd 2010 4:36PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/04/23/first-wave-of-ion-2-asus-eee-pc-1201pns-lack-nvidia-optimus/http://www.engadget.com/2010/04/23/first-wave-of-ion-2-asus-eee-pc-1201pns-lack-nvidia-optimus/Apr 23rd 2010 5:09PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/04/23/first-wave-of-ion-2-asus-eee-pc-1201pns-lack-nvidia-optimus/http://www.engadget.com/2010/04/23/first-wave-of-ion-2-asus-eee-pc-1201pns-lack-nvidia-optimus/http://bit.ly/asus-eee-1201PN-2010PNT]]>Apr 23rd 2010 6:53PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/04/23/first-wave-of-ion-2-asus-eee-pc-1201pns-lack-nvidia-optimus/http://www.engadget.com/2010/04/23/first-wave-of-ion-2-asus-eee-pc-1201pns-lack-nvidia-optimus/Apr 24th 2010 2:13PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/04/23/first-wave-of-ion-2-asus-eee-pc-1201pns-lack-nvidia-optimus/http://www.engadget.com/2010/04/23/first-wave-of-ion-2-asus-eee-pc-1201pns-lack-nvidia-optimus/
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.]]>Apr 24th 2010 2:47PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/04/23/first-wave-of-ion-2-asus-eee-pc-1201pns-lack-nvidia-optimus/http://www.engadget.com/2010/04/23/first-wave-of-ion-2-asus-eee-pc-1201pns-lack-nvidia-optimus/
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. ]]>Apr 24th 2010 2:50PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/04/23/first-wave-of-ion-2-asus-eee-pc-1201pns-lack-nvidia-optimus/http://www.engadget.com/2010/04/23/first-wave-of-ion-2-asus-eee-pc-1201pns-lack-nvidia-optimus/Apr 23rd 2010 2:42PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/04/23/first-wave-of-ion-2-asus-eee-pc-1201pns-lack-nvidia-optimus/http://www.engadget.com/2010/04/23/first-wave-of-ion-2-asus-eee-pc-1201pns-lack-nvidia-optimus/Apr 23rd 2010 2:50PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/04/23/first-wave-of-ion-2-asus-eee-pc-1201pns-lack-nvidia-optimus/http://www.engadget.com/2010/04/23/first-wave-of-ion-2-asus-eee-pc-1201pns-lack-nvidia-optimus/Apr 24th 2010 9:44AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/04/23/first-wave-of-ion-2-asus-eee-pc-1201pns-lack-nvidia-optimus/http://www.engadget.com/2010/04/23/first-wave-of-ion-2-asus-eee-pc-1201pns-lack-nvidia-optimus/Apr 23rd 2010 2:43PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/04/23/first-wave-of-ion-2-asus-eee-pc-1201pns-lack-nvidia-optimus/http://www.engadget.com/2010/04/23/first-wave-of-ion-2-asus-eee-pc-1201pns-lack-nvidia-optimus/
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.]]>Apr 23rd 2010 3:08PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/04/23/first-wave-of-ion-2-asus-eee-pc-1201pns-lack-nvidia-optimus/http://www.engadget.com/2010/04/23/first-wave-of-ion-2-asus-eee-pc-1201pns-lack-nvidia-optimus/
It runs on full fledged laptops (which have Windows 7). I'd assume that means it only works with full versions then.]]>Apr 23rd 2010 3:33PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/04/23/first-wave-of-ion-2-asus-eee-pc-1201pns-lack-nvidia-optimus/http://www.engadget.com/2010/04/23/first-wave-of-ion-2-asus-eee-pc-1201pns-lack-nvidia-optimus/Apr 23rd 2010 5:59PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/04/23/first-wave-of-ion-2-asus-eee-pc-1201pns-lack-nvidia-optimus/http://www.engadget.com/2010/04/23/first-wave-of-ion-2-asus-eee-pc-1201pns-lack-nvidia-optimus/Well the 1201N comes with windows 7 home premium, so why wouldn't the 1201PN?]]>Apr 23rd 2010 11:19PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/04/23/first-wave-of-ion-2-asus-eee-pc-1201pns-lack-nvidia-optimus/http://www.engadget.com/2010/04/23/first-wave-of-ion-2-asus-eee-pc-1201pns-lack-nvidia-optimus/
Eee(wwww.....)













.]]>Apr 23rd 2010 2:46PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/04/23/first-wave-of-ion-2-asus-eee-pc-1201pns-lack-nvidia-optimus/http://www.engadget.com/2010/04/23/first-wave-of-ion-2-asus-eee-pc-1201pns-lack-nvidia-optimus/Apr 23rd 2010 2:49PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/04/23/first-wave-of-ion-2-asus-eee-pc-1201pns-lack-nvidia-optimus/http://www.engadget.com/2010/04/23/first-wave-of-ion-2-asus-eee-pc-1201pns-lack-nvidia-optimus/Apr 23rd 2010 2:53PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/04/23/first-wave-of-ion-2-asus-eee-pc-1201pns-lack-nvidia-optimus/http://www.engadget.com/2010/04/23/first-wave-of-ion-2-asus-eee-pc-1201pns-lack-nvidia-optimus/Apr 23rd 2010 2:55PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/04/23/first-wave-of-ion-2-asus-eee-pc-1201pns-lack-nvidia-optimus/http://www.engadget.com/2010/04/23/first-wave-of-ion-2-asus-eee-pc-1201pns-lack-nvidia-optimus/Apr 23rd 2010 3:08PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/04/23/first-wave-of-ion-2-asus-eee-pc-1201pns-lack-nvidia-optimus/http://www.engadget.com/2010/04/23/first-wave-of-ion-2-asus-eee-pc-1201pns-lack-nvidia-optimus/Apr 23rd 2010 3:18PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/04/23/first-wave-of-ion-2-asus-eee-pc-1201pns-lack-nvidia-optimus/http://www.engadget.com/2010/04/23/first-wave-of-ion-2-asus-eee-pc-1201pns-lack-nvidia-optimus/
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.]]>Apr 23rd 2010 5:14PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/04/23/first-wave-of-ion-2-asus-eee-pc-1201pns-lack-nvidia-optimus/http://www.engadget.com/2010/04/23/first-wave-of-ion-2-asus-eee-pc-1201pns-lack-nvidia-optimus/
/*sigh*]]>Apr 23rd 2010 5:15PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/04/23/first-wave-of-ion-2-asus-eee-pc-1201pns-lack-nvidia-optimus/http://www.engadget.com/2010/04/23/first-wave-of-ion-2-asus-eee-pc-1201pns-lack-nvidia-optimus/Apr 23rd 2010 8:36PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/04/23/first-wave-of-ion-2-asus-eee-pc-1201pns-lack-nvidia-optimus/http://www.engadget.com/2010/04/23/first-wave-of-ion-2-asus-eee-pc-1201pns-lack-nvidia-optimus/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.]]>Apr 23rd 2010 2:57PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/04/23/first-wave-of-ion-2-asus-eee-pc-1201pns-lack-nvidia-optimus/http://www.engadget.com/2010/04/23/first-wave-of-ion-2-asus-eee-pc-1201pns-lack-nvidia-optimus/Apr 23rd 2010 3:01PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/04/23/first-wave-of-ion-2-asus-eee-pc-1201pns-lack-nvidia-optimus/http://www.engadget.com/2010/04/23/first-wave-of-ion-2-asus-eee-pc-1201pns-lack-nvidia-optimus/
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.]]>Apr 23rd 2010 3:35PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/04/23/first-wave-of-ion-2-asus-eee-pc-1201pns-lack-nvidia-optimus/http://www.engadget.com/2010/04/23/first-wave-of-ion-2-asus-eee-pc-1201pns-lack-nvidia-optimus/
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.]]>Apr 23rd 2010 4:40PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/04/23/first-wave-of-ion-2-asus-eee-pc-1201pns-lack-nvidia-optimus/http://www.engadget.com/2010/04/23/first-wave-of-ion-2-asus-eee-pc-1201pns-lack-nvidia-optimus/Apr 23rd 2010 3:14PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/04/23/first-wave-of-ion-2-asus-eee-pc-1201pns-lack-nvidia-optimus/http://www.engadget.com/2010/04/23/first-wave-of-ion-2-asus-eee-pc-1201pns-lack-nvidia-optimus/
And i have a brand new chip and all, i7-930, 3GB DDR3 1600.


Very angry at nVidia]]>Apr 23rd 2010 3:15PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/04/23/first-wave-of-ion-2-asus-eee-pc-1201pns-lack-nvidia-optimus/http://www.engadget.com/2010/04/23/first-wave-of-ion-2-asus-eee-pc-1201pns-lack-nvidia-optimus/
Actually, that's probably Rockstar's fault. GTAIV is a resource hog. ]]>Apr 23rd 2010 3:43PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/04/23/first-wave-of-ion-2-asus-eee-pc-1201pns-lack-nvidia-optimus/http://www.engadget.com/2010/04/23/first-wave-of-ion-2-asus-eee-pc-1201pns-lack-nvidia-optimus/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.]]>Apr 23rd 2010 4:31PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/04/23/first-wave-of-ion-2-asus-eee-pc-1201pns-lack-nvidia-optimus/http://www.engadget.com/2010/04/23/first-wave-of-ion-2-asus-eee-pc-1201pns-lack-nvidia-optimus/Apr 23rd 2010 3:23PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/04/23/first-wave-of-ion-2-asus-eee-pc-1201pns-lack-nvidia-optimus/http://www.engadget.com/2010/04/23/first-wave-of-ion-2-asus-eee-pc-1201pns-lack-nvidia-optimus/
What a waste of cash.]]>Apr 23rd 2010 3:28PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/04/23/first-wave-of-ion-2-asus-eee-pc-1201pns-lack-nvidia-optimus/http://www.engadget.com/2010/04/23/first-wave-of-ion-2-asus-eee-pc-1201pns-lack-nvidia-optimus/
First means nothing if the result is garbage.]]>Apr 23rd 2010 3:38PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/04/23/first-wave-of-ion-2-asus-eee-pc-1201pns-lack-nvidia-optimus/http://www.engadget.com/2010/04/23/first-wave-of-ion-2-asus-eee-pc-1201pns-lack-nvidia-optimus/Apr 23rd 2010 3:38PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/04/23/first-wave-of-ion-2-asus-eee-pc-1201pns-lack-nvidia-optimus/http://www.engadget.com/2010/04/23/first-wave-of-ion-2-asus-eee-pc-1201pns-lack-nvidia-optimus/Apr 23rd 2010 4:06PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/04/23/first-wave-of-ion-2-asus-eee-pc-1201pns-lack-nvidia-optimus/http://www.engadget.com/2010/04/23/first-wave-of-ion-2-asus-eee-pc-1201pns-lack-nvidia-optimus/
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.]]>Apr 23rd 2010 4:18PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/04/23/first-wave-of-ion-2-asus-eee-pc-1201pns-lack-nvidia-optimus/http://www.engadget.com/2010/04/23/first-wave-of-ion-2-asus-eee-pc-1201pns-lack-nvidia-optimus/
I'll still probably be picking up the PN when they throw the optimus in there.]]>Apr 23rd 2010 4:27PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/04/23/first-wave-of-ion-2-asus-eee-pc-1201pns-lack-nvidia-optimus/http://www.engadget.com/2010/04/23/first-wave-of-ion-2-asus-eee-pc-1201pns-lack-nvidia-optimus/Apr 23rd 2010 5:37PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/04/23/first-wave-of-ion-2-asus-eee-pc-1201pns-lack-nvidia-optimus/http://www.engadget.com/2010/04/23/first-wave-of-ion-2-asus-eee-pc-1201pns-lack-nvidia-optimus/
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.]]>Apr 23rd 2010 9:37PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/04/23/first-wave-of-ion-2-asus-eee-pc-1201pns-lack-nvidia-optimus/http://www.engadget.com/2010/04/23/first-wave-of-ion-2-asus-eee-pc-1201pns-lack-nvidia-optimus/Apr 24th 2010 4:41AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/04/23/first-wave-of-ion-2-asus-eee-pc-1201pns-lack-nvidia-optimus/http://www.engadget.com/2010/04/23/first-wave-of-ion-2-asus-eee-pc-1201pns-lack-nvidia-optimus/That would have been a fine solution...]]>Apr 24th 2010 1:41PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/04/23/first-wave-of-ion-2-asus-eee-pc-1201pns-lack-nvidia-optimus/http://www.engadget.com/2010/04/23/first-wave-of-ion-2-asus-eee-pc-1201pns-lack-nvidia-optimus/
]]>Apr 24th 2010 5:54PM