Nvidia has unveiled the first new gaming notebook graphics processing unit (GPU) falling within its GeForce 500M series of notebook GPUs. Besides being the first GPU in the 500M range, the company’s hardware partners will also be offering GeForce GTX gaming GPUs with Nvidia Optimus technology for the first time.

 

Optimus technology enables longer battery life for notebooks by automatically switching the GPU on when its graphical power is required for gaming for example, and off again when its not needed, for instance whilst working in Microsoft Office.

 

“The GeForce GTX 560M and NVIDIA Optimus mean gamers get 50 frames per second in Duke Nukem Forever and five hours of battery life in Microsoft Office,” said Rene Haas, general manager of notebook products at Nvidia. “That’s real power and real portability.”

 

According to the GPU maker its GeForce GTX 560M GPU delivers a no-compromise gaming experience at full 1080p resolution when playing the latest available DirectX 11 titles. The GeForce GTX 560M GPUs also offers more performance-per-watt than the previous generation, with faster frame rates and more detail with the same battery life.

 

 

The company’s new GeForce GTX 560M GPU supports Nvidia 3D Vision technology, as well as Nvidia PhysX technology for in-game real-time physics effects and sports Nvidia CUDA architecture support, for GPU computing applications.

 

For thin-and-light notebooks, Nvidia refurbished its entry-level GeForce GT 500M GPUs with the arrival of the new GeForce GT 520MX GPU. This GPU offers better performance, wider support and a more advanced feature set than integrated graphics solutions. It also offers notebook users a level of performance beyond that of the existing GeForce GT 520M GPU.

 

 

Alienware and Toshiba will be offering gaming notebooks boasting the GeForce GTX 560M and Nvidia Optimus technology, whilst ASUS, MSI and others will be offering notebook PCs featuring GeForce GTX 560M.

 

ASUS, Samsung and a few other manufacturers will be offering notebooks featuring the GeForce GT 520MX. No local release info is available yet.

 

Nvidia also recently announced that PC (desktop and notebook) users whose systems boast a 3D display and 3D glasses, as well as an Nvidia graphics processing unit (GPU) compatible with its 3D Vision software, are now able to watch 3D videos on YouTube for the first time. They will be able to do this via the latest version (4) of Mozilla’s Firefox web browser.