NVIDIA Ion 2 on a mini-PCIe card might be possible, but pointless

December 22, 2009 20 Comments


Some people might rave at the possibility that you could add NVIDIA’s Ion 2 via a mini-PCIe card to existing netbooks, but this writer doesn’t. Don’t get me wrong, I once enjoyed gaming on my netbooks too, but to have this sort of Frankenstein solution isn’t just irritating, it’s also rather pointless.

A couple of sites are theorizing that NVIDIA could release the Ion 2 as an add-on card that connects to a mini-PCIe card slot, and while it might be an interesting possibility, you have to ask yourself, is all the trouble of dismantling a netbook and attaching the addon card really worth it (and that’s before you consider the fact that this instantly voids your warranty)? What clear purpose will an aftermarket NVIDIA Ion 2 addon have especially on netbooks that run Intel’s new Pineview processors, with integrated graphics and memory controllers?

I realize some people want to enjoy HD video playback on their netbooks with 10-inch screens, and play some of the latest games at the lowest quality settings possible, but you have to admit that this is all very pointless. HD video playback? Mobile gaming? You can do both of these without the extra expense and hassle, easily. And if you want to be stubborn, let me remind you that the bundled battery on any netbook available today will not last you more than a single movie or a couple of levels in Call of Duty 4. And then when the battery runs out, you won’t be able to use the netbook for any other purpose whatsoever. So, why would anyone want any of those on any netbook again?

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  • http://minifrag.com Lee

    I wouldn’t call gaming on a netbook pointless. You might not think there’s a reason to do it, but plenty of other people do – and they would all love to get their hands on an Ion 2 mini card.

    Plenty of people game on iPods, DS, and PSPs and they all have much smaller screens than even an 8″ netbook.

  • http://www.electronicpulp.net David Gonzales

    Gaming itself isn’t pointless. As I’ve said in the article I enjoy it myself. It’s just that I don’t think the prospect of being able to add Ion 2 afterwards is something to be very excited about, considering that (as you’ve mentioned) you can game on other devices for a considerably longer period of time than on a netbook. And if I’m going to game on a netbook while constantly plugged into a wall, then I think I’d rather do it on a desktop. I would love to game on the go, but just thinking about the fact that I’ll only be able to enjoy it for a short amount of time hurts.

  • Gigi

    “let me remind you that the bundled battery on any netbook available today will not last you more than a single movie”

    You must be kidding. One movie? More like… at least 3 on my 1000he.

  • Brian

    are you kidding, this is a total gamechanger for the ultraportable/netbook market… untill now i have been following ONLY congo based releases because of the inferior intel graphics on other platforms (not atom) now my horizons will be expanded the the low voltage core 2 duo which is alot more cpu then the neo x2. for me its not netbook craze its the want of a 11 to 12 inch screen with decent hardware without paying more then i did for my car. put a su7300 with an ion2 aftermarket and it kicks the crap out of what is offered up till now.
    Just cause you dont see the need doesnt mean others dont, i like being able to hook my ultraportable up to my moms 55″ led tv and watch a movie while i am there but at the same time i like having a laptop that manages to fit between the front seat and the center console of my car for quick use on the road. just because you dont have a use for it doesnt mean no one else will…. bring on the ion 2 mini pcie and sign me up to be 1 of the first to buy it

  • Yushatak

    You’re an idiot, mr. writer.

    To begin with, if a proper technician (such as myself) installs a card, it does not void the warranty. Secondly, you unscrew a panel and pop it in – it isn’t hard. Thirdly, this would enable my existing netbook hardware to handle games from another two to three generations ahead of where it can now, as it has a 1.66ghz processor and 2GB of RAM – it is clearly bottlenecked at the GPU. The Ion would allow it to play Civ4, Torchlight (yes it won’t run on the standard netbook) and numerous other games.

    Either you’re truly ignorant due to a lack of research, or you’re an idiot. If it is the former, then I resend my insult and as you to do more research in the future instead of hurting my chances of getting new hardware that I desperately want.

  • Georgi Bonchev

    I really hope that ion2 will support CULVs, since they are much more powerful than the ATOMs.
    Currently my dream is a netbook with culv dual core cpu, mid-range gpu and rotating multi-touch AMOLED display around 9-10″ for $450

  • ufomg

    this post isn’t just irritating, it’s also rather pointless……………………….

  • http://www.wikipedia.net Ted Al Bundy

    Hi there!

  • http://www.lenovos103t.com Jesse B Andersen

    I think it would be awesome to have the ION on a PCI-E card. There are lots of netbooks which could use a video card upgrade.

    Netbooks are super portable but their potential hasn’t been fully unleashed. The ION would make it a heck of a lot easier to do things like this:
    http://jessebandersen.blogspot.com/2010/03/can-your-ipad-do-this-s10-3t-can.html

  • http://intelligenthealth.blogspot.com Yesa

    I for one can think for a use for those cards. Imagine you’re waiting for your wife shopping. You have your netbook handy, with a power socket in a cafe in the middle of the mall. You don’t want to pay more for wifi. So you just play a game!
    well, it’s just one option, but I really think it will be neat to have a solid, all around functionality in one gadget!

  • Name

    The short answer is the HP 2133. This beautiful machine (aluminum, not cheap plastic) is underpowered and screams out for a video co-processor. It has a 4 hour battery and 2 gb of ram a bright 1280 x 768 8.9″ screen and fast 120 gb drive.

  • Voltagenic

    I think it's an excellent idea, but not for what you may think. Laptops and netbooks are prone to heat which in turn can destroy your gpu. In most cases, this also renders your laptop or netbook useless and you either need to replace the motherboard or the computer itself. This would come in handy and save a lot of headaches. I really wihs this was implemented in gaming consoles because 9/10 its a gpu overheating issue and being able to swap them out would save consumers a lot of money.

  • Instantfeed

    nvidia ion2 uses 6 watt power which can be compromised with switching off your Wifi, then you won't be able to enjoy youtube with wifi ,but we still can enjoy most of the graphics applications working on ethernet as well,so i think Nvidia ion2 must to be on mini-PCIe like broadcom HD accelarators.

  • http://keilaron.ca/ Keilaron

    Dismantling? Please: I can simply unscrew a panel and swap out the wifi card the moment I want to. You must have one of those old Acers or something that required the whole thing to be taken apart just to add some RAM. Newer ones hopefully aren't like that. Mine isn't.

  • Guest

    mini pci-e videocard is a wonderful idea, why neither nvidia or ati haven't released something like that already! I don't understand authors line of thought on that subject at all, really think he doesn't know what he is talking about.

  • Ftwphoenix

    Nvidia, get on it. The demand is there. What are you waiting for? This writer is nuts.

  • Sniper_7_99

    pointless you say not at all, it may be pointless when looking at it from the perspective of some dumbazz trying to supe up some old shyt pile but when you look at it from the IT perspective it would be quite helpful as when the onboard gpu fails the easiest least expensive thing to do is disable it in the bios and install a pcie card as apposed to replacing the entire motherboard in which case you may as well just get a new computer. so a 2 second fix or a new computer? having a mini pcie nvida ion 2 would be quite helpful

  • F1aw

    Has there been anything new in the PCIe market lately? Or are we all completely satisfied just having video acceleration with Broadcom Crystal BCM70015? Any other good uses for PCIe on netbooks?

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_TLHQUAJILFYF7MHCP22L6M4JHA Cashmere

    Don’t fool us!!!!

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_TLHQUAJILFYF7MHCP22L6M4JHA Cashmere

    Don’t fool us!!!


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