Guess who showed up at Computex with an all-new dual-core processor? Nah, we're not referring to AMD or Intel (though they certainly did) -- we're talking about VIA. The company quietly (re)introduced a dual-core desktop chip here in Taipei, with the codename Nano DC being used to describe it for the time being. The device utilized a VN1000 Digital Media Chipset and fully supported dual-channel DDR3 memory. A Chrome 520 GPU was helping to push out a 720p movie trailer on the demo system, and the innate compatibility with HDMI and DisplayPort should keep home cinema owners happy. The 65nm chip was clocked at 1.6GHz, and we were told that it wouldn't be venturing into mobile machines in its current form. 'Course, this device has been a bit of unicorn for the past couple of years, but company representatives seemed certain that it would finally be ready to ship (using a different process technology, mind you) in around six months. We shall see. Live action video is just past the break.
So I dunno, is this just a new processor from a different company? My question is why? Is it supposed to be really cheap? What's the purpose of someone else getting into the ring with two other companies that develop some of the worlds best processing technology?
@ThomasBags Via's been in the game for a long time. They use Intel's x86 architecture, but have always focused more on small form factor and embedded stuff.
@ThomasBags Well, they were there with the "netbook" type of class CPU... Even way before Atoms came into place. Except they weren't really big enough to change the game, I guess.
@cicada I've got a C7-M netbook and their processors are quite good, especially in some benches. Feels much snappier than my friends Atom netbook but his GMA is better for games/video than the VX800 :(
Agreed. With Intel already producing 32nm chips and AMD getting ready to make similar transitions (or are they skipping to 32nm), VIA is waaaaaay behind. Heck even the internals for the PS3 have been scaled down to 45nm.
Man, I love VIA, but with Intel's big push for mobile and embedded stuff, their x86 stuff probably won't be able to keep pace. Hope I'm wrong though, for the sake of mini-itx lovers all over.
What's wrong with you guys? Do a bit of research before you say the first thing that comes to your mind. (Seems to be a general thing on Engadget forums) Via will use this chip as a temporary solution until the real DC chip is ready. It's meant to be a cheap solution for desktops in Asia. For now each CPU comprises two dies, each containing a single core Nano 3000, residing next to each other on a multi-chip module package. Obviously this is not ideal. (BTW Via has bigger sales in desktop computers) Via will move to a sub-65nm single die solution in half a year. Via was planning to do this sooner but they weren't really decided on what fab they were going to use. On top of that, both Fujitsu and TSMC experienced problems with their 45nm LP process.
This board is using a VN1000 UMA chipset. This chipset does support 1080p. Even with a single core C7 it doesn't go over 10% CPU load. On top of that, the Chrome 520 GPU inside of it, is one of the fastest UMA GPU's on the market. Easily challenging an ION on 3D performance.
@Milli Hear Hear! Not to mention that the previous generation VIA 1.8ghz l2200 was about 10% faster than my 3.06ghz P4 with HT in many synthetic benchmarks and with the 3xxx series Nanos being anywhere from 20-30% faster than the 2xxx series across the board, you're looking at a tiny little CPU that definitely can and WILL do amazing multimedia playback. Something my P4+7600GT CANT do to this day.
Honestly, I am very disappointed with VIA. After the famed Nano last year, there was no much progress. One would expect them to match atom in power efficiency and squeeze 10% or more performance out of it. But they diverge into dual cores. Mistake and time waster!. The Chrome GPU also has potential before, at least they had experience beyond Intel's graphics group. But how would Chrome 520 perform today ?. Can it match ION2 ?. It should are even surpass it. Should have been a mobile part. Cheap desktops in Asia is being dominated by AMD systems, so VIA has no chance in that market if that were its focus. The mobile space would have been a nice niche goldmine. But it is almost CLOSED now. Pity and darn shame.
I really do not know how VIA has stayed in business all these years. Their processors are middle of the road at best and their GPU's have always been artrocious.
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posted June 2nd 2010 9:33AM
Wonder what this is slated to be running in...
I love how the sign behind it says "Full HD" but it only demos outputting 720p.
@ThomasBags 720p, 1080i, and 1080p are all considered "Full HD" rather or not it's the highest resolution output.
Why only desktop? Looks totally portable to me. Just put some wheels under there and you're good to go.
@SeeKo
Battery Life.
@ThomasBags
I think your just looking at the HD glass as being only half full
"Enjoy the Cloud in Full HD"? Now I -know- they're making this stuff up!
So I dunno, is this just a new processor from a different company?
My question is why? Is it supposed to be really cheap? What's the purpose of someone else getting into the ring with two other companies that develop some of the worlds best processing technology?
@ThomasBags
VIA isn't a new player in mobile CPU...
@akbc
well okay, I didn't exactly mean new, but still poses the question why are they there in the first place?
@ThomasBags Via's been in the game for a long time. They use Intel's x86 architecture, but have always focused more on small form factor and embedded stuff.
@ThomasBags
Well, they were there with the "netbook" type of class CPU...
Even way before Atoms came into place. Except they weren't really big enough to change the game, I guess.
@ThomasBags because competition is a good thing, even if the competition sucks balls.
I had a VIA Eden mini-itx board with a 1Ghz single core for years as my main desktop, they're not bad little processors.
@cicada
I've got a C7-M netbook and their processors are quite good, especially in some benches. Feels much snappier than my friends Atom netbook but his GMA is better for games/video than the VX800 :(
65nm?
You're living in the past, man. Quit living in the paaaaassssttttttt.
@FAP FAP FAP
Agreed. With Intel already producing 32nm chips and AMD getting ready to make similar transitions (or are they skipping to 32nm), VIA is waaaaaay behind. Heck even the internals for the PS3 have been scaled down to 45nm.
@FAP FAP FAP
No, no, no!
It's "65nm? TOO OLD!"
silly bear.
@peedobear
Oh man, upranking you is a moral conundrum...
Man, I love VIA, but with Intel's big push for mobile and embedded stuff, their x86 stuff probably won't be able to keep pace. Hope I'm wrong though, for the sake of mini-itx lovers all over.
@dancinbojangles I would love to mix some Nvidia CPU/GPU in with my nano-itx HTPC... dunno if that is happening any time soon but one can hope.
@DBG
Seriously, a dual-core VIA offering with some ION magic going would be epic in an HTPC. Ah well, we can dream...
What's funny to me is that my old P4 3.2 Ghz computer is already doing HD. All it really needed was a graphics card to handle that.
@albinomexi
how is that funny at all? you bought a graphics card for a not very old computer and it now plays hd video? amazing!
Can't the EVO do 720p?...
Outputting 720p is like turning your amp up to 5.
Seems like 2 year old tech. 65nm? 720p? I'll pass
Screw VIA I'll never use them!
Their sh#ty motherboards burned me too many time in the past, never again!
@Ethan Austin
have you tried better heatsinks?
*rimshot*
@Ethan Austin from my experiences their chips are really capable of that low end thing that they are designed for
VIA should stick to making picoITX stuff
@LowSky
No, VIA should market their CPU's better. I'd love to see some more competition in the low power CPU business.
I have a laptop and a small microATX board with VIA CPU's, they were quite cheap, do their job nice and cool, I'm glad they made them.
It'd be great to have something like this in a mini-itx form factor.
What's wrong with you guys? Do a bit of research before you say the first thing that comes to your mind. (Seems to be a general thing on Engadget forums)
Via will use this chip as a temporary solution until the real DC chip is ready. It's meant to be a cheap solution for desktops in Asia. For now each CPU comprises two dies, each containing a single core Nano 3000, residing next to each other on a multi-chip module package. Obviously this is not ideal. (BTW Via has bigger sales in desktop computers)
Via will move to a sub-65nm single die solution in half a year. Via was planning to do this sooner but they weren't really decided on what fab they were going to use. On top of that, both Fujitsu and TSMC experienced problems with their 45nm LP process.
This board is using a VN1000 UMA chipset. This chipset does support 1080p. Even with a single core C7 it doesn't go over 10% CPU load.
On top of that, the Chrome 520 GPU inside of it, is one of the fastest UMA GPU's on the market. Easily challenging an ION on 3D performance.
@Milli
Hear Hear! Not to mention that the previous generation VIA 1.8ghz l2200 was about 10% faster than my 3.06ghz P4 with HT in many synthetic benchmarks and with the 3xxx series Nanos being anywhere from 20-30% faster than the 2xxx series across the board, you're looking at a tiny little CPU that definitely can and WILL do amazing multimedia playback. Something my P4+7600GT CANT do to this day.
via should try glofo maybe they can help as glofo has acquired many major foundry players.
wow netbooks withh tegra 2 and broadcom chip can already do 1080p so wtf is this sh**
So many lovely ports, why can't motherboards these days come with more ports as standard?
it supports dx1?
Honestly, I am very disappointed with VIA. After the famed Nano last year, there was no much progress. One would expect them to match atom in power efficiency and squeeze 10% or more performance out of it. But they diverge into dual cores. Mistake and time waster!.
The Chrome GPU also has potential before, at least they had experience beyond Intel's graphics group. But how would Chrome 520 perform today ?. Can it match ION2 ?. It should are even surpass it. Should have been a mobile part. Cheap desktops in Asia is being dominated by AMD systems, so VIA has no chance in that market if that were its focus. The mobile space would have been a nice niche goldmine. But it is almost CLOSED now. Pity and darn shame.
I really do not know how VIA has stayed in business all these years. Their processors are middle of the road at best and their GPU's have always been artrocious.