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For the first time we met with supereconomy Intel Atom processor over a year ago. Initially, single-core processors in this architecture were announced in conjunction with a very efficient Intel chipsets Series U. But, unfortunately, to store such products are not reached. Instead, there motherboards with soldered Intel Atom processor on the 945GC chipset with the “south bridge” ICH7. And, as we found it rather strange and illogical combination. First, the TDP of this chipset in 5,5 times the maximum heat output of the processor (22 watts to 4 watts for the Atom 230 on the core Diamondville). Alternatively, developers can use the more economical mobile chipset Intel 945GSE, TDP which together with the “south bridge” is about 9 watts, but for some reason it has not been done and related products we have not seen. And secondly, the overall performance of this link is rather low due to weak graphics core chipset 945GC. However, to build compact multimedia home centers these motherboards have been the only choice until the release of the new chipset NVIDIA ION.

With the NVIDIA ION situation has drastically changed. First, in this chipset integrated GeForce 9300 graphics core, whose performance in 3D-applications far exceeds the rate 945GC. In terms of core functionality and powerful NVIDIA product Intel. In particular, it concerns the full support of DirectX 10 as well as excellent realized hardware acceleration HD-video (block PureVideo HD, supports hardware decoding of H.264, VC-1 and MPEG-2).

Core architecture GeForce 9300 is much more progressive core Intel, since it includes 16 stream processors and four blocks rasterization (ROP). By the way, the core itself runs at 450 MHz and the shader frequency is 1100 MHz. Also mention the support of the HDMI interface and connectivity of the two monitors. Finally, we note the support of 20 bus lanes PCI Express, which allows to organize a PEG-slot, and distribute four lines between other devices, such as, for example, Gigabit Ethernet controllers.

Chipset NVIDIA ION outperformed the competition and in terms of capacity expansion. In particular, ION supports six channels of SerialATA (one external), twelve ports USB 2.0, eight-channel HD-audio and gigabit network. As the number of slots for RAM ION is not better than the competition, but it is worth noting that the chipset has dual channel memory controller instead of a single-945GC. In addition, ION supports memory as standard, DDR2, and DDR3, with the latter, except for higher bandwidth, operates at lower voltages and thus consume less energy.

Naturally, one can assume that all these “навороты” adversely affect the heat generation chipset. But do not worry about this is because the maximum heat NVIDIA ION does not exceed 12 watts, which is almost two times less than the popular bundles 945GC + ICH7. Needless to say, that after the announcement of this chipset, Intel began to obstruct the company NVIDIA and put pressure on manufacturers inhibiting production systems on the ION. Such actions could be achieved only under one condition – if it was in the range Intel chipset with similar characteristics. But such a product we will obviously not be soon, because, according to rumors, even in future processors Core i3 will be integrated graphics core from the 945GC.

However, let’s leave the war behind the scenes for fans opaque intrigue, and look at the first motherboard with a chipset NVIDIA ION and soldered a dual-core Intel Atom processor 330. This model Manli ION-ITX-WiFi, which sold only four of the six channels of SerialATA and ten of the twelve ports USB 2.0, which supports the chipset. Immediately there is the idea – but where is the functionality for which paid the money? “. Such claims are perfectly justified for full-size ATX or MicroATX mid-size systems, but it is not justified for the Mini-ITX-computers. Even in the most efficient allocation of space in the Mini-ITX case you can install only two or three notebook hard drive, and all the rest will have to connect from the outside.

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