2010-08-08, 17:21
There are also a few other things to point out. The open ended x4 slot is really only an x1 slot. The NM10 only provides 4 x1s or 1 x4. If you add up all of the devices that use PCIe, you'll find that there is more than 4.
PCIe slot
PCIe Mini slot (deluxe only)
USB 3.0
eSata
Gigabit Ethernet
Nvidia ION 2
The way they get around this is by using a PCIe switch from Pericom. I've posted information about this in another forum. Only time will tell what affect this has on performance.
One last thing to note is that there is a bit of marketing hype around Optimus technology from Nvidia which is supposed to save power. In theory, this allows you to seamlessly switch between use lower end/power graphics from the Atom when you don't need the higher end/power graphics from the ION 2. Well, that's all fine and dandy but if what I've heard is correct, you have to use ION 2 all the time with HDMI so anyone using HDMI as their video out, will not get the power savings that someone with a netbook would.
PCIe slot
PCIe Mini slot (deluxe only)
USB 3.0
eSata
Gigabit Ethernet
Nvidia ION 2
The way they get around this is by using a PCIe switch from Pericom. I've posted information about this in another forum. Only time will tell what affect this has on performance.
One last thing to note is that there is a bit of marketing hype around Optimus technology from Nvidia which is supposed to save power. In theory, this allows you to seamlessly switch between use lower end/power graphics from the Atom when you don't need the higher end/power graphics from the ION 2. Well, that's all fine and dandy but if what I've heard is correct, you have to use ION 2 all the time with HDMI so anyone using HDMI as their video out, will not get the power savings that someone with a netbook would.
