NVIDIA ION 2
NVIDIA graphics card specifications and benchmark scores
At a Glance
NVIDIANVIDIA ION 2 Specifications
GPU Core
Shader units and compute resources
The NVIDIA ION 2 GPU core specifications define its raw processing power for graphics and compute workloads. Shading units (also called CUDA cores, stream processors, or execution units depending on manufacturer) handle the parallel calculations required for rendering. TMUs (Texture Mapping Units) process texture data, while ROPs (Render Output Units) handle final pixel output. Higher shader counts generally translate to better GPU benchmark performance, especially in demanding games and 3D applications.
ION 2 Clock Speeds
GPU and memory frequencies
Clock speeds directly impact the ION 2's performance in GPU benchmarks and real-world gaming. The base clock represents the minimum guaranteed frequency, while the boost clock indicates peak performance under optimal thermal conditions. Memory clock speed affects texture loading and frame buffer operations. The ION 2 by NVIDIA dynamically adjusts frequencies based on workload, temperature, and power limits to maximize performance while maintaining stability.
NVIDIA's ION 2 Memory
VRAM capacity and bandwidth
VRAM (Video RAM) is dedicated memory for storing textures, frame buffers, and shader data. The ION 2's memory capacity determines how well it handles high-resolution textures and multiple displays. Memory bandwidth, measured in GB/s, affects how quickly data moves between the GPU and VRAM. Higher bandwidth improves performance in memory-intensive scenarios like 4K gaming. The memory bus width and type (GDDR6, GDDR6X, HBM) significantly influence overall GPU benchmark scores.
ION 2 by NVIDIA Cache
On-chip cache hierarchy
On-chip cache provides ultra-fast data access for the ION 2, reducing the need to fetch data from slower VRAM. L1 and L2 caches store frequently accessed data close to the compute units. AMD's Infinity Cache (L3) dramatically increases effective bandwidth, improving GPU benchmark performance without requiring wider memory buses. Larger cache sizes help maintain high frame rates in memory-bound scenarios and reduce power consumption by minimizing VRAM accesses.
ION 2 Theoretical Performance
Compute and fill rates
Theoretical performance metrics provide a baseline for comparing the NVIDIA ION 2 against other graphics cards. FP32 (single-precision) performance, measured in TFLOPS, indicates compute capability for gaming and general GPU workloads. FP64 (double-precision) matters for scientific computing. Pixel and texture fill rates determine how quickly the GPU can render complex scenes. While real-world GPU benchmark results depend on many factors, these specifications help predict relative performance levels.
Tesla 2.0 Architecture & Process
Manufacturing and design details
The NVIDIA ION 2 is built on NVIDIA's Tesla 2.0 architecture, which defines how the GPU processes graphics and compute workloads. The manufacturing process node affects power efficiency, thermal characteristics, and maximum clock speeds. Smaller process nodes pack more transistors into the same die area, enabling higher performance per watt. Understanding the architecture helps predict how the ION 2 will perform in GPU benchmarks compared to previous generations.
Power & Thermal
TDP and power requirements
Power specifications for the NVIDIA ION 2 determine PSU requirements and thermal management needs. TDP (Thermal Design Power) indicates the heat output under typical loads, guiding cooler selection. Power connector requirements ensure adequate power delivery for stable operation during demanding GPU benchmarks. The suggested PSU wattage accounts for the entire system, not just the graphics card. Efficient power delivery enables the ION 2 to maintain boost clocks without throttling.
ION 2 by NVIDIA Physical & Connectivity
Dimensions and outputs
Physical dimensions of the NVIDIA ION 2 are critical for case compatibility. Card length, height, and slot width determine whether it fits in your chassis. The PCIe interface version affects bandwidth for communication with the CPU. Display outputs define monitor connectivity options, with modern cards supporting multiple high-resolution displays simultaneously. Verify these specifications against your case and motherboard before purchasing to ensure a proper fit.
NVIDIA API Support
Graphics and compute APIs
API support determines which games and applications can fully utilize the NVIDIA ION 2. DirectX 12 Ultimate enables advanced features like ray tracing and variable rate shading. Vulkan provides cross-platform graphics capabilities with low-level hardware access. OpenGL remains important for professional applications and older games. CUDA (NVIDIA) and OpenCL enable GPU compute for video editing, 3D rendering, and scientific applications. Higher API versions unlock newer graphical features in GPU benchmarks and games.
ION 2 Product Information
Release and pricing details
The NVIDIA ION 2 is manufactured by NVIDIA as part of their graphics card lineup. Release date and launch pricing provide context for comparing GPU benchmark results with competing products from the same era. Understanding the product lifecycle helps evaluate whether the ION 2 by NVIDIA represents good value at current market prices. Predecessor and successor information aids in tracking generational improvements and planning future upgrades.
About NVIDIA ION 2
# NVIDIA ION 2
The NVIDIA ION 2 is an integrated graphics processor based on the Tesla 2.0 architecture, built on a 40 nm process node at TSMC with 260 million transistors on a 57 mm² die. Its system-shared memory design and modest specification—16 shading units, 8 texture mapping units, and 4 raster output units—place it squarely in the entry-level integrated segment, with a performance percentile of 50 among all GPUs, indicating it sits at the median of the historical GPU landscape rather than at either extreme.
How It Compares
The ION 2's benchmark data shows an average score of zero, and no nearest rivals are listed in the available facts. This absence of direct comparison points means the data cannot position it against specific competing products. The percentile rank of 50 suggests it performs in the middle of the pack historically, but without rival scores, the interpretation must rely on architectural characteristics. The chip's modest pixel rate of 2.000 GPixel/s and texture rate of 4.000 GTexel/s indicate a design optimized for basic 2D workloads and light 3D rendering rather than competitive gaming. What the data does reveal is a GPU that was likely positioned against other entry-level integrated solutions of its era, but the lack of nearest rival information leaves the competitive landscape unclear. The end-of-life production status further suggests this product has been superseded, making its historical context more relevant than any current comparison.
Ray Tracing and Feature Set
The ION 2 contains no dedicated ray tracing cores and no tensor cores, as indicated by the null values in the fact pack. This absence of specialized acceleration hardware means ray tracing workloads would be entirely unsupported at the hardware level. The GPU's API support includes DirectX 11.1 (with a feature level of 10_1) and OpenGL 3.3, with no Vulkan support listed. The DirectX 11.1 designation with the 10_1 feature level is particularly telling—it means the hardware is capable of running DirectX 11.1 applications but only with the feature set of a DirectX 10.1 class device. This effectively limits the ION 2 to older graphics APIs and precludes modern rendering techniques that rely on DirectX 12, Vulkan, or hardware-accelerated ray tracing. The lack of tensor cores also means any machine learning or AI-accelerated features found in newer NVIDIA products are entirely absent here. The feature set points to a GPU designed for basic multimedia playback, office productivity, and casual gaming at low resolutions and detail settings, not for modern graphically intensive workloads.
Benchmark Performance
With an average benchmark score of zero and no benchmark entries in the fact pack, the quantitative performance data is essentially absent. The percentile rank of 50 provides the only comparative metric, indicating the ION 2 performs at the median of all GPUs tracked in the database—a surprisingly neutral position for such a modestly specified chip. The theoretical compute figures offer some insight: FP32 performance is rated at 34.24 GFLOPS, which is extraordinarily low by modern standards but was typical for integrated graphics of the late 2000s. The pixel rate of 2.000 GPixel/s and texture rate of 4.000 GTexel/s suggest the GPU can handle basic 3D rendering at low resolutions, perhaps 720p or below, but would struggle with anything more demanding. Since no rival scores or delta percentages are provided, the analysis cannot state how far ahead or behind the ION 2 is relative to other specific GPUs. What the data does indicate is a fundamental mismatch between the GPU's capabilities and the demands of contemporary software, making it suitable only for legacy applications or very light computing tasks.
FAQ
Q: What is the ION 2's DirectX support?
A: The GPU supports DirectX 11.1 but only at the 10_1 feature level, meaning it can run DirectX 11.1 applications but with the rendering features of a DirectX 10.1 class device.
Q: Does the ION 2 support Vulkan?
A: No, the Vulkan API is listed as null in the specifications, indicating no Vulkan support is available.
Q: What is the transistor count and die size?
A: The ION 2 contains 260 million transistors on a 57 mm² die, manufactured on a 40 nm process at TSMC, giving a transistor density of 4.6 million transistors per square millimeter.
Q: How much dedicated VRAM does the ION 2 have?
A: The GPU uses system-shared memory, meaning it has no dedicated VRAM; memory size, type, and bus width are all system dependent.
Q: What is the ION 2's production status?
A: The production status is listed as end-of-life, and the release date was June 2, 2008.
Q: Does the ION 2 have ray tracing or tensor cores?
A: No, both ray tracing cores and tensor cores are listed as null, meaning the GPU has neither dedicated ray tracing hardware nor AI acceleration cores.
Memory Subsystem
The ION 2's memory configuration is entirely system dependent—the GPU shares system RAM rather than having dedicated video memory. The memory size is listed as "System Shared," the type as "System Shared," and the bus width as "System Shared," with bandwidth described as "System Dependent." This architecture means the GPU's memory performance is directly tied to the host system's RAM speed and configuration, which introduces significant variability in real-world performance. For high-resolution workloads, this shared memory arrangement is a critical limitation. The GPU must compete with the CPU for memory bandwidth, and because the bandwidth is system dependent rather than fixed, performance can vary dramatically between different platforms. At high resolutions, the ION 2's limited shading units (16) and raster operations pipelines (4) would likely become the bottleneck before memory bandwidth becomes an issue. The lack of dedicated VRAM also means texture-heavy scenes would require constant data transfers over the PCIe 2.0 x16 interface, further reducing effective throughput. For resolutions above 1080p, the combination of low compute throughput and shared memory would likely result in very poor frame rates.
Who Should Consider It
Given its end-of-life status and modest specifications, the ION 2 is not suitable for modern gaming at any resolution. The data suggests it was designed for basic computing tasks—the 34.24 GFLOPS FP32 performance and 4.000 GTexel/s texture rate indicate capability for 2D desktop rendering, video playback, and perhaps very lightweight 3D applications from its era. Users running legacy operating systems and software from the late 2000s might find the ION 2 adequate for 720p or lower resolutions with minimal detail settings. The 50th percentile performance rank suggests it was a mid-tier solution among all historical GPUs, but this ranking is likely skewed by the inclusion of even more limited integrated graphics and early 3D accelerators. For anyone considering this GPU today, the practical uses are extremely limited: office productivity, web browsing with older browsers, and retro gaming from the early 2000s era. The absence of modern API support (no Vulkan, limited DirectX) means contemporary applications will either fail to run or run with severe compatibility issues. The ION 2's 2.000 GPixel/s pixel rate also limits display output capabilities, though the fact pack notes display outputs are portable device dependent, suggesting it was intended for laptops or compact systems.
Power and Cooling
The ION 2 has a thermal design power (TDP) of just 20 watts, making it an exceptionally power-efficient GPU by any standard. This low TDP is consistent with its integrated graphics processor (IGP) form factor and slot width designation, meaning it does not occupy an expansion slot but is instead built into the motherboard or system board. No power connectors are listed in the specifications, which is typical for an IGP—it draws power directly from the motherboard rather than requiring a dedicated power cable. Similarly, no suggested PSU is listed, as the power supply requirements are determined by the host system rather than the GPU itself. The 20 W TDP means that even the most modest power supply can easily accommodate the ION 2, and cooling requirements are minimal. In fact, the low power draw suggests that passive cooling (a heatsink without a fan) would be sufficient, though the fact pack does not specify cooling solutions. The PCIe 2.0 x16 bus interface provides the connection to the system, and the 40 nm manufacturing process at TSMC contributes to the chip's efficiency. For system builders, the ION 2 imposes virtually no additional power or cooling burden, making it suitable for compact, low-power systems where heat dissipation is a concern. However, the end-of-life status means this is more of a historical curiosity than a practical modern component.
Detailed benchmark scores and charts for the NVIDIA ION 2 are below.
Benchmark Scores
No benchmark data available for this GPU.
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