Right, so apparently Intel is not putting and end to NVIDIA’s plans to bundle a GeForce 9400M GPU with the Intel Atom CPU and sell the chipset to netbook and laptop makers.
The other day DigiTimes reported that Intel refused to sell the Atom processor separately from the Intel 945GSE and 945GC chipsets, which would have made it difficult for NVIDIA to move ahead with the ION platform. But the folks at InternetNews received word from Intel that the company is plenty happy to sell the Atom CPU as a standalone processor.
NVIDIA says its ION platform would seriously boost the graphics performance of low cost mini-laptops without taking a serious hit on battery life or the price of netbooks.
I am sure Intel will be happy to sell the Atom processor separately without the discount they offer when buying the bundle of Processor and chipset. I would imagine the Ion/Atom cobination would be more expensive even with the discount. Without it the pair will add significantly to the cost of production. Hardware manufacturers can’t be happy to see a more capable netbook anyway. Netbook sales have been eating into their more profitable laptop sales. Ion will help to continue that trend.