VIA's low-power Nano 3000 rumored to rival Intel's Atom

Not that we didn't already have a hunch that VIA was working up a dual-core Nano, but it seems that details are beginning to firm up just a bit. According to a new report over at China-based HKEPC, the dual-core Atom-killer will be dubbed the Nano 3000, and while it will still rely on a 65-nanometer manufacturing process, the power consumption should be much lower than existing Nano chips. Furthermore, it'll reportedly boast SSE4 instruction support, integer / floating point enhancements and improved internal cache performance. The writeup has it that samples could begin shipping out as early as this quarter, with mass production expected to get going in Q3. So, is it safe to say this whole "netbook" thing has grown some legs, or is the Tamagotchi-like crash just around the bend?

[Via CNET]

[trevor @ Jan 2nd 2009 8:00AM]

engadget... i understand you've probably been pissed with all our comments on the asian chicks... but this piece of sin? did we really deserve this much punishment??

[EI8HT @ Jan 2nd 2009 8:04AM]

trevor, i don't know what you're talking about...i'd totally do that chick!

[ed. @ Jan 2nd 2009 8:12AM]

cpu??what cpu?

[tekdroid @ Jan 2nd 2009 8:10AM]

Engadget new year's resolutions:
1) learn to appreciate older asian gentlemen in 2009 versus younger asian lady of 2008
2) post more Meizu stuffs
3) think about enabling secretly-disabled editing privileges for user
4) more Tamagotchi mentions

;)

[Menos @ Jan 2nd 2009 8:11AM]

o, god...

[a @ Jan 2nd 2009 9:25AM]

He needs a thought bubble that reads "CHIPS, delicious CHIPS!"

[Barbaric @ Jan 2nd 2009 9:36AM]

I can't get past his split personality face. Draw a line down the center of his face... on his left hes calm & cool. On the right, however, he's planning on global destruction.

The Asian Harvey Dent.

[konshuss @ Jan 2nd 2009 10:06AM]

forced smile.

[sotec_productions @ Jan 2nd 2009 10:49AM]

@Barbaric, @a

I see your mental image and I raise you a visual!

http://addicted2fractals.deviantart.com/art/I-believe-in-Asian-Harvey-Dent-108170968

[big j @ Jan 3rd 2009 1:55PM]

moron

[Eric @ Jan 2nd 2009 8:18AM]

I don't doubt VIA has the skills to match the power draw of the Atom, but it remains to be seen if they can come close to touching the performance/watt that has always eluded them. Even if they do get better CPU performance they still have a chipset that feels like a toy and can't move bytes to save it's life.

[htd @ Jan 2nd 2009 9:10AM]

from charts/tests I've seen, via nano performance is a lot faster than current atom like N270... but I think it might not be as power effecient as atom for a while.

[ProfessorKaos @ Jan 2nd 2009 8:12PM]

Wow, read much? Its been thoroughly proven that the Nano handles computing better than the atom. And given the balls tight grip they have on the market Via is doing great for themselves, this chip putting some pressure on the Atom. I love Intel (have a Celeron M, and Q9550), but wake up dude...

[Gmail @ Jan 2nd 2009 8:24AM]

Man, that is one evil eye he's got going there.

[KarlW @ Jan 2nd 2009 9:00AM]

He's saying "ca-ching!"

His eye always flinches when he says that. Good thing he doesn't work for Nintendo!

[giuliop @ Jan 2nd 2009 9:39AM]

Fact is, they tried morphing his face into Bill Gates', but the right-hand side is clearly rebelling.

[rock99rock @ Jan 2nd 2009 9:49AM]

I INSTANTLY thought of this.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y8Kyi0WNg40

[eggothewaffle @ Jan 2nd 2009 8:27AM]

I love how his facial expression implies that he actually has another chip. Unfortunately, it's in his pooper :(

[Jose @ Jan 2nd 2009 8:33AM]

VIA is the only Taiwanese company which makes CPUs in Taiwan.

[Oli D @ Jan 2nd 2009 8:40AM]

Nice, maybe Nano-ITX boards will finally get a CPU upgrade.. i'm sick of C7, it sucks toes.

[strider_mt2k @ Jan 2nd 2009 8:48AM]

I think this is significant in that Via already has a low power chipset to go along with this improved Nano.

Intel's current netbook setup utilizes a chipset that draws twice as much power as the Atom CPU.
If Via's Nano has the cajones to pull just as strong as the Atom does but using less power then yes, I can see it being a contender.

[aurispector @ Jan 2nd 2009 9:39AM]

Good point. Raw performance isn't as important as battery life with netbooks. All you need to do is offer comparable performance. The battery cost per unit is a killer.

[fgl82 @ Jan 2nd 2009 12:01PM]

cOjones. Cajones just means "drawers". If you are going to speak in spanish, at least do it right.

[skyblaze @ Jan 2nd 2009 8:52AM]

damn i could use some waffles right now. nothin to eat around here...

[skyblaze @ Jan 2nd 2009 8:53AM]

@ eggo

[John from Buffalo @ Jan 2nd 2009 9:00AM]

Ya, but the problem even with the first iteration VIA chips was evident in the HP mini-note 2133. The thing was a freegen dawg. Low voltage, 1.2/1.6Ghz offerings, and since HP switched in the HP 1000 line of THEIR netbook, its been light years ahead of VIA offerings. Unfortunately, I think it's to little, to late in this respect. But I think if VIA sinks more money into the netbook line with some willing (good) vendors, I think it'll take sometime - if the chip is INDEED better than Atom (or on par) - to even catch up.

VIA is not a slouch of a company - no chip maker is, really - but I think the damage was already done in a small way with the 2133.

[Marcela @ Jan 2nd 2009 9:01AM]

I can't help it! I'm laughing my ass off!But to everyone who complained about how the girls didn't know what they were holding...he know what he is holding...he is not there just to increase sales...so do you guys feel any better?


By the way, that shirt with that suit its a no no.

[Oli D @ Jan 2nd 2009 9:17AM]

Oh it's not that they don't know what they've got in there hand, its that they don't know what to do with it.

This guy knows exactly what to do with it.

[SOOPERGOOMAN @ Jan 2nd 2009 9:55AM]

Tamagotchi-like crash, Tamagotchi-like crash, Tamagotchi-like crash, yesss fire fire. huh huh huhhh

[dj moon @ Jan 2nd 2009 10:29AM]

But will the (VIA) motherboards it powers still be in the mid $200-$300's,
as opposed to the (Intel) Atom's $70-90 range?!?
Hmm... ;@b

[Charlie @ Jan 2nd 2009 11:24AM]

I don't think that there will be a netbook crash at all, I think that they will only get more on more popular as people rely more and more on internet-delivered services as opposed to performing tasks on the local computer. I'm looking to replace my current laptop with a netbook when the time comes, although I also have a desktop computer.

[futurepastnow @ Jan 2nd 2009 2:05PM]

VIA's Nano is vaporware. Have you ever seen one at retail?

[digitallysick @ Jan 2nd 2009 3:55PM]

You guys always hate me for saying that i think VIA is a good company. Competition is great , it makes the world go round.

[Neoprimal @ Jan 2nd 2009 5:59PM]

Prediction:

Via will produce and sell the Nano 3000 dual core Atom rival.

It will sell 'alright', clocking more than the atom and able to handle a bit more, a few companies will jump on the bandwagon to sell it.

Intel will promptly release the Atom Core Duo (or A2, or something - which I'm pretty sure they have sitting around right now anyway).

They'll sell it cheaper, even by $5 at cost so that as many manuf. drop the Via from their lineup as possible (as noone is making variable cpu flavors of netbooks).

Voila! Via will need a triple or quad core chip because th A2 is being sold on just about everything.

Enter: Zii! Which will blow....our....minds. jk.

[Boards of Canada @ Jan 2nd 2009 8:13PM]

I second that!

[bebop @ Jan 2nd 2009 8:28PM]

I'll believe it when I see it.

Despite the similar VIA-generated hype over the Nano, and some very generous (VIA-sponsored?) "reviews", the chip's market penetration was a big fat zero.

[I LOVE THE CAPS LOCK KEY @ Jan 2nd 2009 8:34PM]

FIRST, TO GET LOWEST RANKED!

[superhobo @ Jan 3rd 2009 6:10PM]

Why, that's an excellent comment, good sir!

[superhobo @ Jan 3rd 2009 6:10PM]

I hope this kicks Atom's butt.