Nvidia launches Ion netbook chips, new notebook drivers

Beyond rolling out a new graphics chipset for netbooks this week, Nvidia launched the beta edition of updated drivers for Windows XP and Vista notebook PCs outfitted with its graphics processors.

In addition to introducing the GeForce 9400M "Ion" graphics chipset for netbooks, Nvidia is now offering user-downloadable updated graphics drivers which extend its high-end CUDA architecture to notebook PCs.

Nvidia is aiming "Ion" at replacing the Intel graphics silicon currently used with Intel's Atom processor by providing netbook manufacturers with better graphics performance. Also in the interests of better performance, Nvidia's updated notebook PC drivers are designed to support features such as GPU-accelerated game physics and video conversion.

Starting today, users of many notebooks with GeForce 8- and 9-series GPUs or Quuadro NVS-equipped can download beta versions of the new 32- and 64-bit drivers directly from Nvidia's Web site.

Also on the site, Nvidia has posted a list of notebook PCs not yet supported by the new drivers.

Early next year, users will be able to download a WHQL-certified version of the drivers supporting all GeForce 7, 8, and 9 series and Quadro NVS series notebook GPUs, according to a statement from Nvidia.