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Via Will Join The 64-Bit Fray

Posted by timothy on from the smaller-than-breadbasket dept.

ancice with news that Via plans to introduce 64-bit chip codenamed 'CN.' "It was revealed at the Fall Processor Forum. The chip 'will have much better performance, particularly when handling video and audio information ... However, it won't depart from Via's emphasis on low cost, small size and modest power consumption.' Features include 'high-speed Front Side Bus, ... Floating Point Unit that can achieve floating-point additions and multiplies using only two clock cycles, an increased cache size, high-speed data movement, and out-of order, superscalar execution that allows the processor to achieve high clock rates while executing multiple, simultaneous instructions for high definition digital entertainment.' The story was reported by ZDNet. The offical release is here. Expected release date is first half of 2006." Update: 10/06 13:10 GMT by T : Also at the Forum, VIA showed off a dual-processor Mini-ITX board, about which more below.

An anonymous reader submits "Via gave a sneak preview at the Fall Processor Forum of what is likely the world's first dual-processor mini-ITX mobo. The "four-wheel drive Hyundai" is expected to ship in "early 2005," according to the article at LinuxDevices. Looks like Via is cooking up some higher-end hardware in hopes the security processing features in its CPUs can carry it into higher-margin markets. I don't know, though; I think I'd rather have a PocketPC cluster ... "

8 of 189 comments (clear)

  1. Via? VIA?!? by Toby_Tyke · · Score: 3, Interesting

    VIA you say? *shudder*

    After my last horrific experience with their 4 in 1 driver set, I vowed to never touch another board with a VIA chipset again. That way lies maddness and death.

    --
    "I realise this is not a very popular opinion but it's the truth, and there for needs to be said" -Bill Hicks
    1. Re:Via? VIA?!? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Interesting

      Give the guys a chance. After that disaster that is the via 686 chipset I sweared to never buy any of their products. That is, until I tried a Nehemia based mini-itx. Man, those systems rock. Absolutely silent, the perfect PC for that tiny firewall/small server you keep running 7/24.

      I'm actually quite excited about the new 64bit version. I don't need a 8GHz monster that needs a 250W fan to keep it from burning, but a nice, low power, silent system.

      After Smorgrav

  2. Funny name for the chip by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Interesting

    It's really funny VIA would name their chip CN considering that (in canada at least), the main passenger rail transportation company is called VIA rail and the main commercial rail transportation is CN.

  3. Re:And it will still suck by AKnightCowboy · · Score: 3, Interesting
    Sure it was fun to play around with and got you from point a to point b, But do you really want your friends to see you with one?

    Hell yes. All of my friends were really impressed with the MythTV frontend I built with a Via EPIA motherboard. Just a tiny motherboard in a tiny book-sized case with no moving parts and network, video/tv-out, mpeg2 decoder, and sound all integrated into the box.

  4. Re:And it will still suck by Paladin128 · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Amen! I've got a bunch of little mini-ITX systems that I use with LTSP, and I've got an 8U portable rack (the kind used typically for live audio gear) with a beefy server, a 16-port switch, a router/firewall, and other goodies. It's basically a network-in-a-box. I do gigs with a local DJ and set up quick and dirty cyber-cafe's. The boxes boot Linux and run Firefox (with a stripped-down browser.xul so they can't do anything funky like install extensions). People love it! You can run an event anywhere, and have a totally secure bunch of very responsive PC's. On my rig, I can get up to 15 of these guys going, and they're fast for just browsing! And cheap!

    --
    Lex orandi, lex credendi.
  5. Nano-ITX by Sketch · · Score: 3, Interesting

    So the SP uses the nanoBGA CPU and CN400 northbridge. Does this mean we will finally see the long awaited nano-ITX board VIA originally announced last year and still has yet to deliver, despite announcing availability months ago? Or are they giving up on the Nano-ITX and just giving us Yet Another Mini-ITX?

    --
    -- OpenVerse Visual Chat: http://openverse.com
  6. Dual EPIA is a great idea!!! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Hey, a dual EPIA1000 is a great idea. I'm not so interested in the size as a cheap dual CPU system with low thermals.

    Multi-processing is non-existant on a single, low power CPU system like the VIA M/E lines. But a low power dual system offers the kind lateral of processing power that a much more powerful single CPU platform can only offer.

    Of course there's always the A64's great power characteristics, but if you're looking to live in the sticks off of solar power, you start dreaming of dual systems they'll run on 26Watts total.

  7. This could be an interesting cluster machine by Analogy+Man · · Score: 3, Interesting
    I was considering putting together my first Beowulf cluster. I wanted to go with 64 bit processor to run CFD codes. To maximize CPU's I was considering dual processor boards. Also of concern is energy consumption/heat etc.

    The boards for the AMD64 have a lot of features a compute node would not need. A compute node needs a network connection, processor, memory and one hard-drive...I don't need 5 PCI slots etc.

    This interesting solution offers:

    Modest Power Consumption

    Small form factor

    Modest Price

    Dual processor

    This is worth a look at the detail specs.

    --
    When the people fear their government, there is tyranny; when the government fears the people, there is liberty.