Little power plant that can, and Intel finally take the plunge.
NVIDIA has announced two bits of good (but unrelated) news for the firm, saying its ION platform had gained certification for Windows Vista Home Premium and that Intel is taking out an SLI license from the Goblin.
Nvidia reckons its ION platform, a combination of Intel's Atom processor and NV's GeForce 9400M GPU, coupled with so called 'Premium' versions of the Vole's Windows, will give little lappies much bigger graphics capabilities.
Mightysoft obviously agrees, having given Nvidia the green light to deliver 1080p video, support for Microsoft's DirectX 10 gaming, support for Vista's Aero Glass and Flip3D. Nvidia says it will immediately set to work with the Redmond Giant, as well as a merry band of PC manufacturers, software developers, and Windows eco-system partners.
Vista Home Premium might also wind up in Ion-based desktop computers or bigger notebooks.
Much-anticipated Vista replacer Windows 7 is also expected to work on ION-based machines and might even put in an appearance by the summer in mini notebooks which both companies swear blind will start at around the US$299 mark.
As for Nvidia's other coup of the day, the firm said Intel has humbly asked to take out an SLI licence, which will allow Intel-based machines to use multiple graphics chips at the same time.
The licence gives Chipzilla the right to use SLI in its chipsets, like on the DX58SO motherboard for the Intel Core i7 microprocessor.
Gamers should be pleased. It now means they'll be able to machine gun their way through zombie-infested buildings on Intel's fastest microprocessor sporting four graphics chips.
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Issue: 133 | February, 2012