14 DAY TRIAL // Even though NVIDIA still hasn't managed to launch even one DirectX 11 graphics card, the company aims to score big on the mobile PC market through its introduction of the Optimus Technology. Eager to be among the first to bring out products featuring this functionality, ASUS has proudly announced that, during the following months, its product lineup will see the addition of Optimus-enabled notebooks for the N Series, U/UL Series and K Series.
The NVIDIA Optimus technology enables end-users to harness the power of both integrated and discrete graphics cards. Optimus aims to deliver both the best graphics performance and the most efficient battery power use. The technology works in the background and intelligently monitors the programs being launched, automatically selecting between the integrated graphics and the discrete card. This transition is done seamlessly and without user intervention.
The ASUS N Series notebooks are designed to provide consumers “with a mobile entertainment powerhouse for all-day multimedia enjoyment.” As such, they will combine the Optimus with the ASUS SonicMaster technology, not just for graphical but also audio clarity. In addition, the laptops will feature Video Magic Technology, which enables true-to-life videos through GPU computing. The notebooks will also boast USB 3.0 for fast multimedia data transfer.
“The ASUS N Series notebooks represent the latest in mobile multimedia entertainment technology, combining optimized graphics performance and long-lasting battery life that will satisfy even the most discerning of multimedia fans. Its capabilities are due to the new NVIDIA Optimus technology, which intelligently monitors applications, and then summons the right amount of graphics performance for the job. It uses the discrete GPU for multimedia, games, and GPU computing applications, and integrated graphics for the Internet, emails and documents. It does so automatically and without the need for user intervention, delivering both convenience and a seamless computing experience for users on-the-go,” the press release revealed.
Of course, as already mentioned, in addition to the N Series, ASUS will also lunch other types of laptops. The full roadmap includes the UL50Vf, U30Jc, N61Jv, N71Jv and N82Jv models. Out of these, the only model currently listed on the manufacturer's website is the N71Jv.