Australian PC User contributing editor
Why all netbooks could soon have HDMI output
It almost seems like the “Holy Grail” of computing – a low-cost, ultraportable notebook computer with built in High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) and the processing ability to handle H.264 video in high-definition.
However, it looks as though it could well be about to arrive.
With rumours that Acer is about to launch an HD netbook with an 11.6-inch widescreen LCD and 1366×768-pixel resolution, we could well be about to see a number of high-definition netbooks hit the market.
The chipset that will allow that to happen is Intel’s SCH US15W chipset, formerly codenamed “Poulsbo”. The chipset was actually released in early 2008 however, it’s only now that we’re beginning to see this chipset enter into real product.
The key feature of the chipset as far as HD netbooks are concerned is the GMA500 integrated graphics engine, which supports what Intel calls SDVO – Serial Digital Video Output.
SDVO is an Intel proprietary design to allow digital video output however, this feature does make it possible for netbook vendors to incorporate HDMI output into future designs.
The GMA500 graphics has a number of other important features which add to the HD booty – apart from its SDVO and the ability to output to HDMI and DVI (digital video interface), it also includes hardware video acceleration for a range of video codecs including:
* H.264
* MPEG2
* MPEG4
* VC-1 (WMV9)
It supports a maximum pixel clock of 112MHz, which is effectively SXGA resolution or 1280×1024-pixels in a 4:3 display. Stretch that out to 16:9 and its not quite 1080p (1920×1080) resolution but it is enough to handle 1366×768-pixels easily.
Having accelerated video decoding means the CPU will only have to play a minor supporting role, ideal for processors such as the Atom N270 or Z500-series.
Intel has been spruiking a development kit that has a total thermal design power (TDP) rating of 4.3-watts by combining this US15w chipset with an Atom Z510 processor clocking at 1.1GHz. Given the US15W would be doing the hard work, it is feasible that a Z510 processor could easily handle the task of running Windows XP Home Edition SP3 at least up until the point of HD video playback when the US15W would take over.
So, basically, the technology for high-definition video playback on netbook computers has been around since March 2008. And any netbook with the SCH US15W or SCH US15L chipset could be equipped with an HDMI output. (The US15L is cheaper version of the US15W that Intel isn’t expecting to be around as long as the US15W and only supports 1GB of memory rather than the US15W’s 2GB).
We may well now be about to see that technology filter through to real product.
[from netbookreview.darrenyates.com.au]
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| Print article | This entry was posted by Darren Yates on March 24, 2009 at 2:36 pm, and is filed under Buyers' Guide, Education, Notebook computing, video encoding. Follow any responses to this post through RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback from your own site. |
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Q. Are there any netbooks with HDMI?
about 5 months ago - 1 comment
A. At this stage, no. Despite the fact that netbooks are quite capable of featuring HDMI (High-Definition Multimedia Interface) ports thanks to the capabilities of the various Intel chipsets used by the overwhelming majority of models available, manufacturers have declined to include them.
That said, netbooks have been dropping in price consistently over the last six
about 1 year ago
I think the idea of the netbook is moving to far away from what it was originally designed to be. IE a small notebook that could be used to surf the net and do the odd bit of work when required, and as it moves up goes the price. We will eventually end up back where we started, with overpriced laptops.
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about 1 year ago
The first real US15W-based product is expected any day now (actually 4 days from now as I type this on April 7th): http://www.logicsupply.com/products/ms_9a06
Granted it’s not a netbook, but it surely won’t be long until we see one. What’s really driving me crazy right now is that particular product doesn’t mention if it supports audio over the DVI port, much like ATI’s video cards do when used with a DVI-HDMI dongle. This is pretty important since there’s no HDMI port on it and a converter to mux audio (especially analog audio) and DVI to HDMI is bulky, costly, and annoying. I haven’t been able to find anything definitive from MSI OR Intel on whether or not it does which is infuriating because this is a pretty major issue for the HTPC market which they seem to be aiming this product at.
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