The world’s second largest PC builder is said to have placed orders for NVIDIA’s coming integrated chipset Ion 2. A decision, if correct, either tells us about the mediocrity of Intel’s new GPU-equipped Atom processor, or the superiority of NVIDIA’s technology. Intel will eliminate the need for an external graphics circuit through its new Pineview architecture, since Intel has blessed the new Atom CPU with an integrated GPU.
Now that Acer has chosen to order Ion 2 anyway it probably means that NVIDIA’s coming platform will be bringing something extra, or that Intel’s integrated solutions will keep disappointing.
NVIDIA Ion 2 is a lot different from the first incarnation and it’s now a lot more like a discrete graphics circuit than a whole chipset. Since the memory controller and all other functionality has been moved inside the processor, NVIDIA has most likely used this to its advantage and thrown out the idea of making traditional chipsets for Pineview.
Acer’s nettop family will certainly be prioritized for Ion 2
Most likely the Ion 2 circuits will be used with stationary nettops, but we’re curious to learn if Acer will decide to use the circuit for mobile netbooks as well.
