Nvidia has joined an increasing band of hardware makers who are producing low-power, portable laptops. Nvidia, better known for graphics cards, has just shown off its two Tegra processors designed for tiny netbooks or laptops.

It stated devices that were fitted with the chips would be capable of browsing the web, showing high-definition video and also be able to manage graphically-heavy games. The move pits the firm against chip giant Intel that is releasing a similar line of chips for such tiny devices. So it’s competition time for Nvidia. But the firm seems to be well geared up.

The chip maker informed the processors were specifically aimed at portable, light gadgets, which are fitted with a screen up to 30cm (12in) across, a high-speed wireless connection, keyboard, as well as a port for a game controller. The firm has termed such devices “Mids” or Mobile Internet Devices. Others, such as Intel and Dell have begun calling them “netbooks”. “The systems look more like dehydrated notebook computers,” general manager of Nvidia’s mobile business, Mike Rayfield , stated.