• Intel Will Not Validate Nvidia's Ion Platform

    Intel Will Not Validate Nvidia's Ion Platform

    Techtree News Staff, Dec 26, 2008 1704 hrs IST

    Intel has said that it will sell Atom as a stand-alone processor or packaged with Intel 945GSE and 945GC chipsets

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Intel has passed on an internal statement to PC makers stating that Intel Atom CPUs are available only for Intel-based chipsets. Nvidia's recently launched Ion platform is far from being validated by Intel, as reported by DigiTimes.

Nvidia had been pushing their Ion Platform to be paired with the Intel Atom CPU and their GeForce 9400M graphics chip so that they could eventually come up with HD-ready nettops and netbooks. However, Intel has decided it will sell Atom processors only when bundled with Intel 945GSE and 945GC chipsets.

Intel indicated no plans for Nvidia MCP79 chipset validation in an Atom-based netbook or nettop. Intel added that there are no plans for a partnership with Nvidia to support nettop or netbook platforms based on the Intel Atom CPU.

However, in an email sent to InternetNews.com, an Intel spokesperson said, "There is nothing preventing vendors from using the Ion platform. We sell Atom as a stand-alone processor, or as a package with the chipset." Thus, Intel is taking steps to avoid anti-trust lawsuits in the future.

It's highly unlikely that both competitors will pair up for Atom-based support for the MCP79 chipset. Intel has already entered Nvidia's graphics area with the Larrabee video processor, while Nvidia is marching ahead into Intel's high performance computing arena. Let's wait until official clarifications are put forth by both companies.

It would be interesting to know what consumers think about an Intel-Nvidia tie-up for Atom-based netbooks and nettops. Do share your views on whether you'd be ready to shell out more for Intel-Nvidia powered netbooks and nettops.

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Tag keywords
Intel Nvidia 945GSE 945GC chipsets processor Atom Larrabee video nettop netbook GeForce 9400M graphics chip PC CPU Ion platform



Discussion Board
(1) Comments
MaxAxe
,Noida, on Dec 26, 2008 08:02 PM
This could turn out to be the ideal Media and HD pc that people have been looking for. dead cheap and can be paired with a LCD TV.... this could be really really good
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