NVIDIA Ion Demo: 1080p Coming Soon to Netbooks (CES 2009)

The guys from NVIDIA showed me a demo of 1080p video playing on the an NVIDIA Ion reference design. This little computer is the precursor to netbooks that will be capable of playing high definition video.

The netbook on the left is running an Intel Atom processor with integrated Intel graphics. The LCD on the right is connected to the NVIDIA Ion computer, which also has an INtel Atom processor. Unlike current netbooks, the Ion design features a GeForce 9400M processor.

As you can see for yourself, the NVIDIA Ion platform makes Intel’s integrated graphics look kinda pathetic. Notice how smooth the Belagio water spouts are on the LCD compared to the netbook.

Not only can you watch movies on NVIDIA Ion netbooks, but you can output that video via HDMI, DVI, DisplayPort or VGA onto a display with a resolutoin up to 2560×1600.

Of course, graphics performance isn’t a priority for everyone, but if want to do more than email and web browsing on a netbook, you might want to wait for the release of Ion netbooks.

We expect to see the first NVIDIA Ion netbook in the second quarter of 2009.