ION 2 a.k.a. The 9400M G Successor

[Eidorian]

http://www.fudzilla.com/content/view/14468/1/

nVidia's all-in-one chipset, I/O controller, and IGP solution gets an update later this year. On the GPU side we move up to 32 shaders from 16 on the current 9400M G.

Expect performance nearing the 8600M GT if the clocks are right and it shouldn't consume more power if it's in 40nm goodness.

It still looks like it's only for Core 2 and its derivatives or Atom though.

 

[Tallest Skil]

So you're thinking an Ion 2 + 240M combo for the Arrandale line?

 

[Eidorian]

So you're thinking an Ion 2 + 240M combo for the Arrandale line?

No mention of Nehalem support, yet.

I doubt it will though.

 

[Dwalls90]

I thought Nvidia wasn't allowed to manafacturer chipsets for Arrandale though? That will suck .. that means it will only be for C2D.

 

[Eidorian]

Apple is going to have to use discrete solutions unless they really want to use Arrandale's onboard IGP.

 

[w00t951]

Apple is always very reluctant to upgrade parts... Don't expect it.

 

[Eidorian]

Apple is always very reluctant to upgrade parts... Don't expect it.

It would be a drop-in for the current Core 2 hardware using the 9400M G right now.

There's nothing to change besides what chipset is soldered in.

 

[geoffreak]

It would be a drop-in for the current Core 2 hardware using the 9400M G right now.

There's nothing to change besides what chipset is soldered in.

You forgot to consider driver differences.

 

[Eidorian]

You forgot to consider driver differences.

Those would be? This isn't radically different GPU hardware. It's an IGP derivation of the MCP79 which is built on the 8M Series as it is. Double the shaders and etch it in 40nm.

 

[maratus]

I thought Nvidia wasn't allowed to manafacturer chipsets for Arrandale though? That will suck .. that means it will only be for C2D.

Arrandale won't use QuickPath Interconnect and nVidia may produce chipsets for mobile Nehalems with DMI.

 

[fpnc]

Ion II would make a very nice upgrade to the current MacBook Pros come this December (Christmas buying season). Then, we might get Arrandale come spring 2010.

And just to confirm (or reword) a previous reply, the 9400M (or Ion) chipset won't work with Arrandale, so you can't have Arrandale with 9400M/Ion -- either with or without a second discrete graphics processor. Arrrandale will ship with Intel's integrated graphics (and not the 9400M/Ion) with higher performance models using a third-party discrete graphics processor (which will offer a switchable graphics mode).

 

[maratus]

Ion II would make a very nice upgrade to the current MacBook Pros come this December (Christmas buying season). Then, we might get Arrandale come spring 2010.

And just to confirm (or reword) a previous reply, the 9400M (or Ion) chipset won't work with Arrandale, so you can't have Arrandale with 9400M/Ion -- either with or without a second discrete graphics processor. Arrrandale will ship with Intel's integrated graphics (and not the 9400M/Ion) with higher performance models using a third-party discrete graphics processor (which will offer a switchable graphics mode).

Next update will be on February 2010. Look at Apple release history.

And since Arrandale's iGP may be inferior to 9400M, Apple will likely use different giscrete GPUs with whole MBP line.