Introduction

Is nVidia currently extremely active not only on the desktop PC market. The graphics card specialist for a new request prepares in the mobile space. One of the tags is Windows Vista and along so DirectX 10. Although already sufficient a DirectX 9 graphics card for the 3-d surface Aero glass, many games in the starting blocks, which come up with DX10 support, or even assume they are. And when it comes to nVidia, so of course not enough notebook buyers can choose the mobile computing field even after the performance of integrated graphics card.

But not only PC games will let increase the demands on the mobile work base. With the price decline in Blu-ray and HD-DVD drives, the next opportunity to use takes on even more accurate forms: the notebook as a mobile movie viewer for everywhere. And the market for notebooks is growing. According to a study of the Gartner Institute the sales of notebooks will have achieved already 2010 almost that of desktops.

On the field of HD video, a focus in the development of the new video chipsets. More performance for same power was the motto. And for the same size of the graphics unit. With the mobile graphics chip sets GeForce 8400M G, GS and GT for the mainstream area and GeForce 8600M GS and GT for the performance section will have reached nVidia exactly these goals.

In naming something has been done compared to the predecessors also. So far, all mobile video chipsets from nVidia were the addition of “Go”. This was now deleted and replaced by the code “M” for Mobil(e). In the future is looking at values on a M, to compare not pears with apples.

We want to briefly present the most important innovations of the new generation on the following pages.

GeForce 8400M

The three models of GeForce 8400M G, 8400M GS and 8400 GT are the mainstream segment of new notebook graphics chip array. Differences lie in the number of stream processors, the GPU and memory clock rates, amount of memory and the memory bus.

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GeForce 8600M

The fastest notebook graphics chips of the current generation form for the time being the models GeForce 8600M GS and 8600M GT. Also here are differences in the number of processing units and the GPU clock speeds. Memory clock, memory, and memory bus are, however, identical for both variants. Offers to the desktop cards GeForce 8600 GT and GeForce 8600 GTS the 8600M GT although like many stream processors, also 512 MB memory and a 128-bit wide memory interface. GPU and shader clock are significantly below the clock rates of the desktop versions (see computer base test).

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Features

DirectX 10

With the new GeForce 8x00M family (abbreviated) also GF8M the full DX10 support on notebooks is becoming for the first time. DirectX 10 is a prerequisite for the full range of functions and feast for the eyes in terms of Windows Vista and upcoming 3D games. Although you should expect no high refresh rates in great splendour of graphics due to the relatively weak memory bus and clock speeds in current games. For the fun in between and for animated Windows backgrounds performance is likely enough but for the time being.

PureVideo HD

A real highlight for the mobile sector represents the new VP2 (2nd generation video processor). In cooperation with the new “bit stream processor” (BSP) and the 128-bit AES encryption engine, it is possible to speed up also HD-DVD or Blu-ray movies actively on the graphics hardware. nVidia calls the second generation of PureVideo PureVideo HD. What initially quite unspectacular sounds placed impressively on a press event by nVidia in scene.

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Patrick Beaulieu, product marketing manager for nVidia PureVideo HD technology, demonstrated the abilities of VP2 in Windows Vista on a PC system with HD-DVD and Blu-ray drive. On the basis of different media and a special version of WinDVD that already supports the VP2 and will be available in the next few days, the gathered press the power could see for themselves. The CPU load was typically only about 20 percent. This “residual load” is created by the decryption of AACS content and demuxing (disconnect) video and audio stream. The CPU load to about five percent would be reduced for unprotected content.

The CPU load in the range of 20 percent without the slump in the FPS, bucking or artifacts to see would have been remained even when the trailer for “Transporter 2″, that can score with bit rates of partial about 50 MBit/s. at present, the only manufacturer that allows resolutions up to 2560 x 1600 Dual-DVI link is nVidia. The upscaling of HD video playback on a corresponding display had no loss of quality become visible.

HDCP is needed, with nVidia it to producers, whether they incorporate HDCP or not for the playback of HD content. The paid HQV video benchmark the new 8600M-Grafik-Chipsätze can show nVidia loud points with a score of 128 points of maximum 130, that they are not only fast, but also high on the amount of time.

PowerMizer

In the mobile sector save energy has top priority. nVidia, the GF8M graphics chips for this purpose has provided with extensive power. Maximum consumption is on the level of the previous generation – despite significantly higher performance, which is to be partially twice as high as with the predecessors. The graphics card has nothing to do, consumption under the 7th generation consumption is located. One reason for this is that the chips have mechanisms that unused parts of the graphics chip on and can be disabled. The clock rates may vary and also with the video RAM, there are savings in energy consumption.

MXM

In the fourth year, the MXM technology will drive nVidia further ahead. So the new GF8M video cards mainly as MXM modules are marketed.

MXM stands for “mobile PCI eXpress module”. Graphics cards in the notebook sector to easily can be exchanged with it. nVidia speaks of GPUs, which are soldered on an MXM module, about 75 percent of a share.

GeForce 7 m

Looked also to the entry area with graphics chips for notebooks has up nVidia after. Much news not admits here but it report. DirectX 9 with SM3. 0 on the program and with the VP1 is only the first generation of HD video acceleration available – up to 720 p. What is new is a digital image output in form of DVI or HDMI with HDCP support, as well as the integration in a single-chip design, i.e. the Union of graphics chip and chipset. Thus, a further reduction of the mobile equipment is possible. nVidia “Motherboard GPU” speaks of one, short mGPU. The GF7M family is Vista Premium ready.

Quadro NVS

Finally, the professional sector gets new graphics units. These are based on the GF8M family, however, are designed primarily to increased compatibility and stability. nVidia cooperates in this area with great partners like Dell, HP, and Lenovo.

Conclusion

nVidia continues to expand, and sets the standard for the competitors a step higher. For all market segments in the notebook sector, today new or updated products are introduced, want to come with the “Greens” continue forward. In particular the wholly owned tasks shift of video playback on the GPU is remarkable. This leads to longer battery runtimes and less noise pollution by annoying fan in the notebook sector when watching a HD video.

Also the other performance information can quite see themselves. But only independent tests of the Writers Guild will show what they actually bring in the real world. At first glance, nVidia his homework done very well and some unique features integrated into parts of its notebook graphics portfolio. The future will show how the two major rivals Intel and AMD/ATi respond to this challenge and what features will provide graphics chips of the competitors.