ASUS preps new U3 notebook with Penryn, GeForce 9300M

ASUS may be the first computer maker out of the gate with a compact notebook that uses both Intel's Penryn (45-nanometer) Core 2 Duo and a future budget NVIDIA graphics chip, Notebook Italia says. The U3Sg should have the option of any of the newer Intel mobile processors between 2.1GHz and 2.6GHz and will have NVIDIA's GeForce 9300M G to handle 3D work; the unannounced chipset should replace today's 8400M G and should provide newer DirectX 10.1 and OpenGL graphics features as well as a slight boost to performance. It may also take advantage of NVIDIA's just-introduced Hybrid SLI to throttle back the graphics and extend battery life in low-demand use.

As with most ASUS systems, the computer's specifications will vary widely depending on the region but should also start with at least 1GB of memory (up to 3GB), a 120GB hard drive (up to 250GB), HDMI video output, and a 1.3-megapixel webcam. A 1GB flash cache built into the mainboard or a 160GB hybrid drive with its own flash cache will also be available for storage, while a 3G HSDPA modem or GPS reception will be an option for some models. No ship date has been confirmed for the U3Sg, though it should appear no sooner than the announcement of the GeForce 9300M itself, which is increasingly expected to appear in February along with desktop GeForce 9-series cards.

Filed under: computers, digital imaging
Other story tags: ASUS, NVIDIA, Penryn