The First Consistent Graphics Interface for Notebook PCs

Unlike desktop PCs, that have consistent designs and easily upgradeable parts, notebooks are subject to restrictive size and thermal constraints, leading to multiple customized designs. In order to implement a new generation of graphics technology in their notebooks, manufacturers have to do extensive redesigns, resulting in the slow adoption of the latest graphics technology.

NVIDIA recognizes the explosive growth of the notebook PC market, and the value that consumers place on portable systems that offer uncompromised features and performance, and deliver the latest graphics technology. The transition to the PCI Express graphics specification presents the ideal opportunity to introduce a consistent interface for any GPU from any vendor to instantly connect to any mobile system.  

MXM (Mobile PCI Express Module), the result of a joint design effort between NVIDIA and the industry’s leading notebook manufacturers, provides a consistent interface for mobile PCI Express graphics in order to achieve:

-Faster time to market for the latest notebook graphics
-Multiple system configurations and price points from a single system design
-Compatibility for any graphics solution from any vendor
-Configure-to-order upgradeable graphics through notebook manufacturers, or potentially by consumers

With these goals in mind NVIDIA has worked with these leading notebook manufacturers to create MXM—a consistent graphics interface designed for notebook PC systems.

MXM Benefits:

Accelerating the Design Cycle
The industry has long acknowledged that modular designs are the best way to shorten the design cycle and to deliver the latest GPUs to the market faster.  Historically this has been achieved with proprietary module designs that are customized for specific platforms. MXM would allow any notebook manufacturer to accelerate the design cycle for all notebooks designed with the MXM graphics interface.

One Design, Many Notebooks
Multiple platforms create increased complexity for inventory management, logistics, and technical support. Designing a system with an MXM interface provides that flexibility to configure to order a single base platform with a range of graphics options for various market segments and price points.

Any Graphics Solution from Any Vendor
By creating a consistent graphics interface across notebook designs, MXM allows manufacturers to utilize the best graphics solution available at any time, giving consumers a wider selection of the latest products.

Upgradeable Notebook Graphics
MXM, as a consistent notebook graphics interface, provides a design specification for upgradeable graphics in a notebook.

Co-designed with Industry Leading Notebook Designers and Manufacturers
To support its customers and accelerate the adoption of PCI Express in notebooks, NVIDIA collaborated with all of the industry’s leading ODMs to create a consistent graphics interface in the form of MXM. 

Delivery Vehicle for NVIDIA Next-Generation GPUs
Customers are extremely excited about ramping new graphics architectures into the market as soon as possible, particularly NVIDIA’s highly anticipated next-generation products.

The notebook PC market is the most dynamic segment of the PC industry, and PCI Express creates an opportunity to introduce a variety of innovative graphics solutions.  By collaborating to design a consistent graphics interface in the form of MXM, the industry’s leading manufacturers are introducing a revolutionary interface that will allow notebook PC graphics to advance as quickly as desktop PC graphics.