Ion technology. Review of the Maternal board Zotac Ion ITX-A-A

Technical characteristics

Form factor: Mini-ITX (170×170 mm) * Chipset: NVIDIA MCP79 * Integrated processor: Intel Atom N330 (1.6 GHz) * Integrated graphic processor: GeForce 9400M * The frequency of the graphic chip: 450 MHz * Shader block frequency: 1100 MHz * The number of stream processors: 16 * System tire frequency: 533 MHz * RAM: up to 4 GB DDR2 in 2 DIMM-plots (800/667 MHz) * Disk subsystem: 3 sata, esata * Expansion slots: absent * Sound : 6-channel audio codec * Connectors: 6x USB 2.0, PS/2, VGA, DVI, HDMI, 2x SPDIF OUT, ESATA, RJ-45 LAN, 3x Audio, 19V Power Input.

More than six months ago NVIDIA I announced the platform Ion – compact motherboard with built -in central and graphic processors. And only recently, in May of this year, the company Z OTAC presented the first motherboard made using this technology. Yes, not simple, but platform: both the processor and video chip are integrated into it, there is also a full range of modern interfaces. And all this with completely ridiculous energy consumption and low price.

It would seem, here it is, a revolution: based on such a board you can collect cheap and productive computers. But only is it really so simple in reality? Is it so good for the new season? What is the system board lilliput? And is she worth her money?

Two mountains gave birth to a mouse

In 2004, a significant event occurred: two giants – NVIDIA and Intel – signed, as it seemed at first glance, a mutually beneficial agreement. Like two galactic civilizations, they exchanged technologies. The graphic giant was able to create microprocessors supporting the CPU Intel and make changes to them. In exchange for this, Intel received unique NVIDIA licenses associated with 3D graphics, GPU and other developments. As a result of all manipulations, new platforms on Intel processors, flavored with various innovations created by NVIDIA, were to be born.

Well, the promises were honestly fulfilled: Nvidia brought to https://sister-site.org/dream-vegas/ computer systems such innovations as SLI, Hybrid Power, Cuda and parallel request processing. Sounds optimistic? Just not for Intel! Thanks to the concluded agreement and the efforts of NVIDIA engineers, the high -performance GPU enters a new level of development and becomes a real heart of the computer. He, of course, leaves a place next to him for low -performance CPU, but how to sell top -end multi -single solutions in such a situation? Yes, it was not worth revealing the Indians the secret to the manufacture of gunpowder, but it was too late to bite the elbows.

The latest development of NVIDIA, the Ion platform, allows you to place a powerful graphic processor, the North bridge and the South bridge in one compact chip. And despite the fact that two chips are needed to create a full -functional system on Ion – GPU and CPU, processor Atom in this system only in words remains central.

The performance of the new NVIDIA two -chip platform is about ten times greater than that of the last three -chip Intel platform with a similar processor. The main legislator of the mod, corporation Microsoft , Already approved Ion as the first compact platform that is perfect for Windows Vista, many companies began to produce their models based on NVIDIA chipsets and Intel processors … and the “kings of processors” fully felt that they were losing control of the latest platforms.

Naturally, Intel’s management was horrified and tried to stop the progress of progress by suing Nvidia. There they argued that the contract concluded, they say, allows you to make nvidia chipset only for old processors models and does not apply to a new generation. Partners in response to such statements frowned at the foreheads and claimed that in the agreement it was not written about anything and it was extended not only to modern, but even to future models of Intel processors.

The world has not yet been allowed to resolve – and in the process of the company they were completely quarreled. So, more recently, Nvidia filed a counterclaim, claiming that she intends to defend its rights to all patents transferred by Intel. How the fighting of giants ends is still unknown, but at least working on new technologies do not stop for a minute.

Anatomy of progress

This summer, the Light was seen by motherboards Zotac Ion ITX-A-U And Zotac ion itx-b-e. The first has an Intel Atom N330 two -core processor on board, and the second is equipped with his younger brother – a single -core Intel Atom N230. Mini-ITX form factor surprised everyone-the motherboard fits on a piece of textolite 17 by 17 cm. This, by the way, is even less than the average book. You just have to choose an adequate case – and the Ion -based computer can fit even on a small nightstand. Good potential for a home theater in the living room or network terminal in the kitchen.

Intel Atom processors integrated into the board have low energy consumption (8 and 4 watts, respectively) and small heat dissipation. Therefore, even passive cooling is enough for them: most of the fee is occupied by a huge aluminum radiator, perfectly cope with the mission assigned to it (in principle, the fan is also invested, but it is not necessary to install it). Well, if there are no fans – there is no noise; buzz and crack in this situation only an optical drive and hard drives.

Built -in graphic nucleus nvidia GeForce 9400M With integrated graphics and sixteen streaming processors operates at frequencies of 450/1100 MHz (nucleus/shader blocks). The chip is compatible with DirectX 10 , supports CUDA technologies (the use of a graphic processor for basic calculations) and Purevideo HD – Thanks to her, for example, you can watch the HDTV standard 1080p.

There are no standard expansion slots on the board – you will not find neither PCI nor PCI Express. Only the Mini-PCIE slot remained alive, in which a wireless adapter 802 is installed.11b/g/n and two 240-pin DDR2-slot for memory (you can install two dies of 2 GB of memory at a frequency up to 800 MHz here). Wi-Fi 802 controller.11B/G is made in the form of a separate built -in module with a screwed external antenna – you do not have to spend to the LAN computer.

The number of ports and nests on the input/output panel of the motherboard is very large for such a modest size. Six USB 2.0 for the periphery, PS/2 port for the keyboard, optical/coaxial digital sound output, analog linear entrances/outputs and as many as three video outputs – standard VGA, two -channel DVI and HDMI 1.3. The picture is complemented by the network couple of Gigabit Ethernet and Esata, and completes the food nest.

Together with the memory slots, three SATA ports with support for RAID masses of levels of 0/1/0+1 blush. Connected drives feed directly from the motherboard. By the way, low energy consumption of the entire device allowed the manufacturer to limit himself to an external power supply (as if it were a printer or column). And its power is only 90 watts! For comparison: in the average “large” computer there is a power supply for 400-500 watts, and in powerful gaming machines-and 900-1000 W.

Table 1
PCMark Vantage
PCMark Suite 1340
Memories Suite 515
TV and Movies Suite 717
Gaming Suite 1685
Music Suite 1469
Communications Suite 1280
Productivity Suite 1653
HDD Test Suite 2469

Practical ionization

Having collected our portable “ionizer”, we went to check his tactical and technical characteristics in combat conditions. They experienced in three directions-the new platform was used as the basis for the Internet terminal, for home cinema and gaming computer.

The platform coped with the first role perfectly: the “ion” Internet terminal did not cause us any complaints. Firefox with a dozen open pages, The Bat! And Word , working at the same time, did not slow down at all. The cinema computer assembled on the basis of the zotac ion itx motherboard was also on top: the combination of Purevideo HD 3 and 7.1-channel exit LPCM through HDMI give a magnificent picture and sound.

The platform copes with other computer responsibilities noticeably worse: for unpacking large archives and recoding multimedia files, the CPU is already starting to miss. Assemble a game computer on Ion, as it turned out, and a completely failure undertaking. Of course, we did not expect much, but even the game recommended for the NVIDIA platform ( C & C: Red Alert 3, Call of Duty 4 , SPORE , Left 4 Dead And World of Warcraft ), somewhat slowed down. And the trouble is more likely in a weak processor than in a bad graphic system.

The price of the issue

On the Zotac Ion Itx platform, you can assemble a mediocre gaming computer, a magnificent cinema and a very decent “guest” computer for accessing the Internet. In general, we can only be happy – we see the first representative of the line of miniature, inexpensive and productive computers.

But let's get away from new technologies for a moment and count in the mind. The dual -core version of Ion Itx costs $ 199 today (this is approximately 6,200 rubles.). One -core – a little cheaper, $ 149 (about 4600 rubles.). Is it expensive or cheap? Well, if Ion was just a motherboard, then, of course, it would be a little expensive, but in fact, together with it we get two processors and a power supply in addition.

If we add the cost of iron similar in productivity, we get the following picture: in many ways a similar motherboard, for example, ASUS P5Q It costs 3700 rubles., similar in performance central processor Intel Pentium Dual-Core E2140 – 2400 rubles., A simple video card Palit GeForce 8400 GS – 1000 rubles. A power supply for such a kit will require at least 300 watts, that is, you will have to spend another 600 rubles. The result is about 7700 rubles., Which is noticeably more expensive than ion.

For and against

For the new product:

• Small sizes
• CPU ATOM is fast and with low energy consumption
• GPU is able to reproduce any media file
• Full set of all modern interfaces
• Built -in 802.11n Wi-Fi in Ion Itx-A
• A regular power supply is not required
• Almost silent
• More manufacturing than Intel chipsets

Against:

• Unmounted architecture
• There are not enough loops for optical drives
• There are no expansion slots
• Acceleration of a video card is impossible
• The size of the radiator ion -itx-a (not in) eliminates the use of a chassis type U1
• More expensive than Intel chipsets