Nvidia looks to maintain desktop graphics lead with mGPUs

By Ann Steffora Mutschler, Senior Editor -- Electronic News, 9/25/2007

Delivering what it says is the ‘first modern motherboard GPU’ for Intel-based desktop PCs, Nvidia Corp. today showed its dedication to making the ultimate visual experience possible for today’s modern PC applications including Microsoft Vista and other 3D-optimized applications such as Google Maps and Microsoft Office 2007 by extending its GeForce 7-Series motherboard graphics processing unit (mGPUs) family to Intel processor-based PCs with the addition of three new components.

The Santa Clara, Calif.-based programmable graphics processor supplier new additions are the GeForce 7150, 7100, and 7050 mGPUs that support Intel's Core 2, Pentium, and Celeron CPU families, as well as the upcoming 45-nm Intel "Penryn" processors, and contain a 1,333-MHz frontside bus technology. 

The GeForce 7150 mGPU is aimed at entry-level discrete GPU applications and contains graphics compatibility when compared against traditional integrated graphics solutions, the company pointed out.

Further, the GeForce 7-Series mGPUs support optional HDMI or DVI digital output capability to allow playback of protected digital content directly from the PC to high-definition televisions and other displays.

Designed as single chip solutions for cost-effective PC system integration for both AMD and Intel platforms, Nvidia said the GeForce 7-Series mGPUs allow a premium graphics experience on Windows Vista, and incorporate the company’s nForce core-logic functionality, including advanced storage and networking features.

Drew Henry, general manager of MCP business at Nvidia said the company recognizes that integrated graphics are no longer good enough for mainstream applications. “Windows Vista has opened consumers’ eyes to an entirely new visual experience. We are ecstatic that our customers will now be able to harness the power of NVIDIA graphics and application compatibility and have an exceptional PC experience no matter what their price budget or intended application usage is.”

This move positions Nvidia against Intel, but the AMD-ATI graphics combo as well, the latter of which has lost market share in the past year.

According to market research firm Jon Peddie Research (JPR), traditionally, Q2 is slow for the computer industry, however, Nvidia made significant gains in Q2, while AMD and Intel saw more typical results for the time period.

Total shipments for Q2 were 81.3 million units, up 3 percent sequentially and up 8.2 percent year-over-year, JPR reported.

On the desktop JPR named Nvidia the clear winner with claiming 43 percent against Intel’s 38.5 percent, while AMD had a modest gain to 23 percent.

In the mobile market, Intel held its dominant position and grew slightly to 51.5 percent, with Nvidia number two at 27 percent and AMD at 21 percent, JPR reported.