Nvidia today began shipping its latest mobile graphics chip, the GeForce FX Go 5700, to notebook manufacturers, who expect to offer product based on the part to punters early next year. The 130nm 5700 builds on previous GeForce FX Gos by offering technology only available to date from Nvidia"s top-end desktop graphics chips, such as the GeForce FX 5900 and 7500. They include the second-generation CineFX engine, Intellisample HCT anti-aliasing system and the Ultrashadow hardware-based shadow-casting technology.
The chip can process up to four pixels per clock and apply up to 16 textures per pass. It also includes the latest version of the company"s PowerMizer power consumption reduction technology. PowerMizer 4.0 improves chip components" overall power profile, and adds SmartDimmer, which controls the power consumption of the LCD panel the chip is ultimately connected to.
Intel is working on a similar technology for incorporation into future mobile chipsets. Its "Alviso" chipset, due during the second half of 2004, controls a notebook"s backlight on the fly to reduce the backlight brightness - and thus its power consumption - based on what"s displayed on the screen. Intel claims its Display Power Saving Technology (DPST) can cut screen power from Centrino"s 5W to an average of 3W. The 5700 features Nvidia"s Video Processing Engine (VPE) 3.0, which adds support for high-definition component video for HDTV-out. The new chip supports up to 128MB of DDR graphics memory across a 128-bit memory interface. It uses a 400MHz RAMDAC and supports AGP 8x.