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NVIDIA ION 2 vs NVIDIA GeForce Go 7900 GS SLI vs NVIDIA GeForce Go 7950 GTX

NVIDIA ION 2

► remove from comparison NVIDIA ION 2

The Nvidia ION 2 (GT218-ION-A3 / GT218-ILV-A3) is a dedicated graphics card for the new Pinetrail Atom CPUs (e.g., N450, D510, D410 announced Dec 2009) Generation. The ION2 is based on the GT218 chip (GeForce 305M, 310M) with dedicated memory (compared to the old ION that was a chipset graphics card). Because of the limitations of the Pinetrail chipset, it can only be connected with PCIe 1x. Therefore, the performance of the chip is slower than a similar GeForce G210M e.g.

The ION 2 comes in three versions, that differ in core speed and shader cores.

10" Netbook ION

The ION chip in 10" netbooks with Pinetrail Atoms offers only 8 shader cores and a clock rate of 405 MHz. According to Nvidia the performance should still be similar to the first generation of ION. The power consumption of 6 Watt is rather low, and therefore fully suited for small netbooks.

12" Netbook ION

The 12" version features all 16 cores of the GT218 chip and is clocked at 475 MHz. The performance should be above the old ION platform.

Desktop & Netbook ION

The desktop version is clocked even higher at 535 MHz as no power restrictions have to be met.

 

First benchmarks by netbooknews.de on a pre-sample of the Acer Aspire 532g with the 8-shader-core version resulted in about 3000 points in 3DMark03. That would be noticeably slower than a ION 1 netbook. The relative low result can be explained by the early sample and the PCIe 1x bus. Still, compared to a GMA 3150 the performance is a lot better. 

As the integrated GMA 3150 graphics in the Atom CPU is quite limited (slow 3D performance, no HD video acceleration, no digital monitor output), the ION 2 is intended to adress these weak points. It offers a better 3D performance, (digital) monitor outputs (HDMI, DisplayPort, DVI, and VGA), video acceleration with PureVideo HD (since Flash 10.1 also for Internet Videos in HD) and CUDA for using the computing power of the GPU.

The netbook ION 2 versions also supports Optimus to automatically switch between the dedicated (ION) and integrated (GMA 3150) graphics card. Therefore the battery runtime without GPU load should be equal to a non ION netbook. The HDMI port however always triggers the use of the ION card, as the port cant be used with the GMA 3150.

The power consumption of 6-12 Watt TDP is quite high for an Atom system, but the ION 2 should be switchable (with the integrated GMA 3150) which still can lead to high battery runtimes.

NVIDIA GeForce Go 7900 GS SLI

► remove from comparison NVIDIA GeForce Go 7900 GS SLI

Two NVIDIA GeForce Go 7900 GS graphics cards are bounded by SLI. This shows only in SLI supported games a clear performance advantage and makes it partially faster than a GTX version. The smaller version of the 7900 GTX with less shader- and vertex-pipelines and according data sheet less current consumption. It is only useful for big laptops, because of the high current consumption of each graphic card.

Current games like Far Cry, Splinter Cell - Chaos Theory, Oblivion, Call of Duty 2 or Half Life 2 - Lost Coast can be played with high details and resolutions without any problem. Antialiasing and anisotrope filter can be set in all games except Oblivion (with >30fps).

List of SLI supported games: SLIZone.com

The chip also features the PureVideo Technology but has less features as the PureVideo engine in the current 8600M GT chip. > Comparison of PureVideo features

NVIDIA GeForce Go 7950 GTX

► remove from comparison NVIDIA GeForce Go 7950 GTX

The NVIDIA GeForce Go 7950 GTX is top of the mobile graphic cards line from NVIDIA (of the 7000 series) and successor of the 7900 GTX graphics card. It enables the user to play all  games from 2006 fluently in the highest resolutions and options. As a consequence, the heat is correspondingly high. Therefore it can be used only in DTR laptops (17"). At moment, there is nothing better for gamers (except the SLI version with 2 cards).

The performance can be compared partially even with the Desktop 7950 GT video cards (partially a bit better, according NVIDIA). Therefore, the Geforce Go 7950 GTX is able to display actual games like F.E.A.R., Company of Heroes, or Call of Duty 2 fluently in high details and high resolutions.

The chip also features the PureVideo Technology but has less features as the PureVideo engine in the current 8600M GT chip. > Comparison of PureVideo features

NVIDIA ION 2NVIDIA GeForce Go 7900 GS SLINVIDIA GeForce Go 7950 GTX
CodenameGT218-ION-A3, GT218-ILV-A3G71MG71M
ArchitectureGT2xxG7xG7x
Pipelines16 - unified40 / 14 Pixel- / Vertexshader24 / 8 Pixel- / Vertexshader
Core Speed405 / 475 / 535 MHz375 MHz575 MHz
Shader Speed? / 1100 / ? MHz
Memory Speed790 MHz500 MHz700 MHz
Memory Bus Width64 Bit256 Bit256 Bit
Memory TypeDDR2, DDR3GDDR3GDDR3
Max. Amount of Memory512 MB1024 MB512 MB
Shared Memorynonono
APIDirectX 10.1, Shader 4.1DirectX 9c, Shader 3.0DirectX 9c, Shader 3.0
Power Consumption6/12 Watt40 Watt45 Watt
technology40 nm90 nm90 nm
Date of Announcement10.01.2010 01.06.2006 12.10.2006
Link to Manufacturer Pagewww.nvidia.comwww.nvidia.dewww.nvidia.com
GeForce Go 7900 Series
GeForce Go 7950 GTX SLI 48/16 cores @ 0.58 GHz256 Bit @ 700 MHz
GeForce Go 7900 GTX SLI 48/16 cores @ 0.5 GHz256 Bit @ 600 MHz
GeForce Go 7950 GTX 24/8 cores @ 0.58 GHz256 Bit @ 700 MHz
GeForce Go 7900 GS SLI 40/14 cores @ 0.38 GHz256 Bit @ 500 MHz
GeForce Go 7900 GTX 24/8 cores @ 0.5 GHz256 Bit @ 600 MHz
GeForce Go 7900 GS 20/7 cores @ 0.38 GHz256 Bit @ 500 MHz
GeForce Go 7950 GTX SLI 48/16 cores @ 0.58 GHz256 Bit @ 700 MHz
GeForce Go 7900 GTX SLI 48/16 cores @ 0.5 GHz256 Bit @ 600 MHz
GeForce Go 7950 GTX 24/8 cores @ 0.58 GHz256 Bit @ 700 MHz
GeForce Go 7900 GS SLI 40/14 cores @ 0.38 GHz256 Bit @ 500 MHz
GeForce Go 7900 GTX 24/8 cores @ 0.5 GHz256 Bit @ 600 MHz
GeForce Go 7900 GS 20/7 cores @ 0.38 GHz256 Bit @ 500 MHz
Transistors556 Million278 Million
Features90nmHDR, Intellisample 4.0, UltraShadow II, PureVideo, CineFX 4.0, PowerMizer 6.0, Transparency Antialiasing
Notebook Sizelargelarge
InformationSLI = 2 Grafikkarten im Verbund, 90nm, 2.278 Mio Transistoren, MXM-Modul90nm, 278 Mio transistors, MXM-Module, Drivers are available at nvidia.com

Benchmarks

3DMark Vantage
3DM Vant. Perf. total + NVIDIA ION 2
3DMark Vantage - 3DM Vant. Perf. total
100%
1 ION 2 +
min: 696     avg: 715     median: 724 (0%)     max: 725 Points
3DM Vant. Perf. GPU no PhysX + NVIDIA ION 2
3DMark Vantage - 3DM Vant. Perf. GPU no PhysX
100%
1 ION 2 +
min: 600     avg: 622     median: 601 (0%)     max: 664 Points
3DMark 2001SE - 3DMark 2001 - Standard
min: 5470     avg: 5858     median: 5539.5 (6%)     max: 6882 Points
min: 24400     avg: 24456     median: 24456 (25%)     max: 24512 Points
32000 Points (33%)
3DMark 03 - 3DMark 03 - Standard
min: 3362     avg: 5342     median: 5718.5 (3%)     max: 6569 Points
min: 22000     avg: 22068     median: 22068 (12%)     max: 22136 Points
21000 Points (11%)
3DMark 05 - 3DMark 05 - Standard
min: 2227     avg: 3385     median: 3817 (4%)     max: 3961 Points
min: 9991     avg: 9996     median: 9995.5 (11%)     max: 10000 Points
min: 9395     avg: 9700     median: 9700 (11%)     max: 10005 Points
3DMark 06 3DMark 06 - Score Unknown Settings + NVIDIA ION 2
3DMark 06
2699 Points (4%)
3DMark 06 - Score Unknown Settings + NVIDIA GeForce Go 7900 GS SLI
5000 Points (7%)
3DMark 06 - Score Unknown Settings + NVIDIA GeForce Go 7950 GTX
5214 Points (7%)
3DMark 06 - Standard 1280x1024 + NVIDIA ION 2
3DMark 06
min: 1155     avg: 1822     median: 1963 (3%)     max: 2409 Points
3DMark 06 - Standard 1280x1024 + NVIDIA GeForce Go 7900 GS SLI
5076 Points (7%)
3DMark 06 - Standard 1280x1024 + NVIDIA GeForce Go 7950 GTX
min: 5502     avg: 5659     median: 5659 (7%)     max: 5816 Points
3DMark 06 - Standard 1280x768 + NVIDIA ION 2
3DMark 06
100%
1 ION 2 +
2488 Points (3%)
Windows 7 Experience Index - Win7 Gaming graphics
100%
1 ION 2 +
min: 3.7     avg: 4.4     median: 4.3 (54%)     max: 5.6 Points
Windows 7 Experience Index - Win7 Graphics
100%
1 ION 2 +
min: 3.2     avg: 3.5     median: 3.3 (41%)     max: 4.7 Points
Cinebench R10 Cinebench R10 Shading (32bit) + NVIDIA ION 2
Cinebench R10 - Cinebench R10 Shading (32bit)
100%
1 ION 2 +
min: 326     avg: 972     median: 1027 (1%)     max: 1266 Points

Average Benchmarks NVIDIA ION 2 → 100% n=5

Average Benchmarks NVIDIA GeForce Go 7900 GS SLI → 307% n=5

Average Benchmarks NVIDIA GeForce Go 7950 GTX → 336% n=5

- Range of benchmark values for this graphics card
- Average benchmark values for this graphics card
* Smaller numbers mean a higher performance
1 This benchmark is not used for the average calculation

Game Benchmarks

The following benchmarks stem from our benchmarks of review laptops. The performance depends on the used graphics memory, clock rate, processor, system settings, drivers, and operating systems. So the results don't have to be representative for all laptops with this GPU. For detailed information on the benchmark results, click on the fps number.

low 1024x768
100%
ION 2:
25.3  fps
low 800x600
100%
ION 2:
12.4  fps
Anno 1404

Anno 1404

2009
low 1024x768
100%
ION 2:
13 31 ~ 22 fps
382%
GeForce Go 7950 GTX:
84  fps
ultra 1280x1024
GeForce Go 7950 GTX:
12  fps
Sims 3

Sims 3

2009
low 800x600
100%
ION 2:
23 42.7 57 ~ 41 fps
med. 1024x768
100%
ION 2:
16 26.5 29 ~ 24 fps
Left 4 Dead

Left 4 Dead

2008
low 640x480
100%
ION 2:
25.2  fps
high 1024x768
100%
ION 2:
22.5  fps
Trackmania Nations Forever

Trackmania Nations Forever

2008
low 640x480
100%
ION 2:
26 33.4 ~ 30 fps
high 1024x768
100%
ION 2:
9.8 15 ~ 12 fps
Crysis - GPU Benchmark

Crysis - GPU Benchmark

2007
low 1024x768
100%
ION 2:
17  fps
364%
GeForce Go 7950 GTX:
61.9  fps
med. 1024x768
100%
ION 2:
9.6  fps
221%
GeForce Go 7950 GTX:
21.2  fps
Crysis - CPU Benchmark

Crysis - CPU Benchmark

2007
low 1024x768
100%
ION 2:
19  fps
med. 1024x768
100%
ION 2:
9.5  fps
World in Conflict - Benchmark

World in Conflict - Benchmark

2007
low 800x600
100%
ION 2:
23  fps
med. 1024x768
100%
ION 2:
5  fps
Call of Juarez Benchmark

Call of Juarez Benchmark

2006
high 1024x768
100%
ION 2:
4.1  fps
Half Life 2 - Lost Coast Benchmark

Half Life 2 - Lost Coast Benchmark

2005
high 1024x768
100%
ION 2:
30.7  fps
F.E.A.R.

F.E.A.R.

2005
low 640x480
GeForce Go 7900 GS SLI:
206  fps
GeForce Go 7950 GTX:
405  fps
med. 800x600
GeForce Go 7900 GS SLI:
118  fps
GeForce Go 7950 GTX:
199  fps
high 1024x768
GeForce Go 7900 GS SLI:
70  fps
GeForce Go 7950 GTX:
85  fps
World of Warcraft

World of Warcraft

2005
low 800x600
100%
ION 2:
44 48.6 ~ 46 fps
med. 1024x768
100%
ION 2:
24.4 27 ~ 26 fps
high 1280x1024
100%
ION 2:
11.6  fps
Counter-Strike Source

Counter-Strike Source

2004
low 640x480
100%
ION 2:
25.8  fps
high 1024x768
100%
ION 2:
21.7  fps
Doom 3

Doom 3

2004
low 640x480
GeForce Go 7900 GS SLI:
95.5  fps
GeForce Go 7950 GTX:
189.1  fps
med. 640x480
GeForce Go 7900 GS SLI:
94.9  fps
GeForce Go 7950 GTX:
190.7  fps
high 800x600
GeForce Go 7900 GS SLI:
94  fps
GeForce Go 7950 GTX:
189.9  fps
ultra 1024x768
GeForce Go 7900 GS SLI:
94.6  fps
GeForce Go 7950 GTX:
176.5  fps
Quake 3 Arena - Timedemo

Quake 3 Arena - Timedemo

1999
high 1024x768
GeForce Go 7900 GS SLI:
293  fps
GeForce Go 7950 GTX:
552  fps

Average Gaming NVIDIA ION 2 → 100%

Average Gaming 30-70 fps → 100%

Average Gaming NVIDIA GeForce Go 7950 GTX → 322%

Average Gaming 30-70 fps → 364%

NVIDIA ION 2lowmed.highultraQHD4K
StarCraft 225.3
CoD Modern Warfare 212.36
Anno 140422
Sims 34124
Left 4 Dead25.1622.5
Trackmania Nations Forever3012
Crysis - GPU Benchmark179.6
Crysis - CPU Benchmark199.5
World in Conflict - Benchmark235
Call of Juarez Benchmark4.1
Half Life 2 - Lost Coast Benchmark30.7
World of Warcraft462611.6
Counter-Strike Source25.821.7
< 30 fps
< 60 fps
< 120 fps
≥ 120 fps
8
3

5


5
1










NVIDIA GeForce Go 7950 GTXlowmed.highultraQHD4K
Anno 14048412
Crysis - GPU Benchmark61.921.2
F.E.A.R.40519985
Doom 3189.1190.7189.9176.5
Quake 3 Arena - Timedemo552
< 30 fps
< 60 fps
< 120 fps
≥ 120 fps


2
2
1


2


1
2
1


1






NVIDIA GeForce Go 7900 GS SLIlowmed.highultraQHD4K
F.E.A.R.20611870
Doom 395.594.99494.6
Quake 3 Arena - Timedemo293
< 30 fps
< 60 fps
< 120 fps
≥ 120 fps


1
1


2


2
1


1






For more games that might be playable and a list of all games and graphics cards visit our Gaming List

v1.26
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#1 checking url part for id 2 +0s ... 0s

#2 checking url part for id 1 +0s ... 0s

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#8 getting avg benchmarks for device 1609 +0.036s ... 0.148s

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#13 got single benchmarks 1 +0.029s ... 0.219s

#14 got avg benchmarks for devices +0s ... 0.219s

#15 min, max, avg, median took s +0.346s ... 0.565s

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#17 Got 51 rows for game benchmarks. +0.007s ... 0.571s

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#19 got data and put it in $dataArray +0.007s ... 0.579s

#20 benchmarks composed for output. +0.035s ... 0.613s

#21 calculated avg scores. +0s ... 0.613s

#22 return log +0.002s ... 0.615s

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Redaktion, 2017-09- 8 (Update: 2023-07- 1)