Sunday, September 21st 2008
VIA Readying Dual-Core Nano Processor
With ULPC, "small is big", they say. This summer, we had seen something not thought of since the days of the Cyrix processor: VIA (that eventually acquired Cyrix), battled with Intel for supremacy in regard to a segment of processors, in this case, ULPC. The VIA Nano proved to be a worthy alternative to Intel's Atom processor. However, with Intel releasing a dual-core version of the chip that remains within the 10W thermal envelope, it seemed like Intel leaped ahead of VIA Nano.
Fresh news suggests that VIA would release a dual-core version of the Nano processor by the end of this year to be able to make it to next year's CES held at Las Vegas. VIA has already earned itself production and supply contracts from HP, this could be accelerating the development of the new chip. In essence, the Nano could make it to HP's netbooks right upon release.
Source:
IT Examiner
Fresh news suggests that VIA would release a dual-core version of the Nano processor by the end of this year to be able to make it to next year's CES held at Las Vegas. VIA has already earned itself production and supply contracts from HP, this could be accelerating the development of the new chip. In essence, the Nano could make it to HP's netbooks right upon release.
27 Comments on VIA Readying Dual-Core Nano Processor
:confused:
And VIA's chipsets are usually not so hot in the IGP dept.
enthusiast.hardocp.com/article.html?art=MTUzNSwxLCxoZW50aHVzaWFzdA==
www.trustedreviews.com/cpu-memory/review/2008/08/15/VIA-Nano-vs-Intel-Atom/p1
and read this before you say silly things about power consumption yea the Atom might be better in 480p movies but it cant play 720P or 1080P while the atom can and when you do daily tasks the Via will use THE SAME AMOUNT OF POWER because it does them in less time!
www.trustedreviews.com/cpu-memory/review/2008/08/15/VIA-Nano-vs-Intel-Atom/p5
here would be the via designed UMPC
www.engadget.com/2008/06/03/first-via-nano-based-netbook-spotted/ really are you comparing the garbage GMA950 to Via's not to mention these are super low watt designs
the Via is still more recent that the intel there will be netbooks released with them in it (the ECS netbook off the top of my head) just give them time right now companies are seeing the C7m's are holding up against the Atom. give them time they will rebuild the netbooks with Nano's in them
oh and to top it all off the Via Nano can run crysis. albiet not on the integrated video but the atom cant even think about doing that!
www.engadget.com/2008/06/05/video-mini-itx-2-0-with-via-nano-really-does-play-crysis/
Nano isn't that exciting really. It's not in the same power envelope as Atom and speed isn't a consideration for a netbook CPU really. Atom with a better chipset is the way to go. I have an Eee900 with a Celeron M and would not want something hotter! Cooler is what we need. And no subpar VIA IGP technology.
To be honest, I have no idea the performance of IGP's or care, but I already hated the decision to use the hot and old G945 chipset, and this proves its faults in the low-power segment.
www.tweaktown.com/articles/1540/1/intel_atom_vs_via_nano_platform_comparo/index.html
You see, these little desktop boards are not very efficient. It's probably a combo of the power supply being inefficient and the board itself having more components and less of a focus on mobile-level power efficiency. The Atom CPU used in netbooks is a ~4W CPU when loaded, and like 500mW while idle. Nano isn't even close to that. Nano uses more than Celeron M ULV, which is a 5W CPU under load.
The top Nano CPU (fastest) is a 25W CPU. That is the same as a Pentium M or Core Solo, and those are better CPUs than Nano. Hell, a Core 2 Solo that would annihilate Nano is only a 5.5W CPU. You see, only Nano's lowest power models (slowest) are competitive with Atom on the power front and I'd bet that Nano becomes slower than Atom at those clock speeds.
I want to see what Intel's Poulsbo chipset looks like when it comes out. That's the one with the north and southbridge integrated along with a PowerVR GPU. It is designed to go with Atom.
It was so totally terrible that it was pretty much useless as a nettop and had to be relegated to a low access NAS device.
It was replaced by a mini-ITX Pentium M 1.5Ghz which BLEW the Via EPIA away. It wasnt a question of %'s better, but multiples better.
That is what has killed the take up of the Nano... just disbelief. Intel has delivered with the Pentium M and Core 2, and there is a sense of trust with the "Atom" that Via cannot gain with the Nano due to the lack of trust from the EPIA M, Mii and the C3 which were all very lackluster if not downright rubbish. (Old pentium 3's are faster).
If this chart is correct (ignore the 9800GX2 result) then Via are on to a winner with the Nano.
images.tweaktown.com/imagebank/avn101_test7.gif
yet again Nano+chipset draws the same as Atom+chipset which is why i say go for the Via its a better choice its more powerful (spec wise) and the entire box will use the same amount of power
You see, I'm not interested in desktops based on this hardware. I want netbooks that run cool. Atom is a 2-4W CPU that needs a better chipset, that's why I want to see Poulsbo. Nano is a 5-25W CPU. The 5W 1GHz Nano is not going to outperform an Atom CPU. I also doubt that VIA's chipset is lower power than 945GME or 910GML and definitely have doubts about their IGP doing 3D well at all. I have much more interest in Poulsbo with that PowerVR GPU and integrated southbridge.
Nano is slower than a 2005 Pentium M and shares its TDP! What is it about that CPU that causes thrills? I'd rather see AMD come along with 740G/780G and something to stomp out VIA Nano. Wouldn't hard considering all they need to do is match that high 25W TDP. I don't doubt that an undervolted K8 design could do that.
Neither AMD or VIA have a 2-4W CPU though so they're out of competition with Atom in a way, especially once Intel gets a matching chipset and maybe even 32nm going. Intel wants to compete with MIPS and Arm chips in embedded devices one day. Those CPUs are not even 1W chips, but Atom definitely has advantages if Intel can get the power even lower with their manufacturing advantages.
Tech Report
Via's Nano L2100 takes on Intel's Atom 230
Take note of the difference between idle and load for these CPUs. Atom barely moves. That's the ~4W TDP there. And also notice that the Pentium M has higher idle but its load is still below Nano. Heh.
So maybe now you see how Nano isn't all that revolutionary. It doesn't have any advantages. If you want speed and low power consumption, even an olden Pentium M can do you better. If you want absolute minimum power consumption, Atom is superior assuming you also get a low-power chipset and overall design like that of the netbooks.
and the sarcastic BS comment about how smart i am? really what are you 3? your argueing with someone who has posted shitloads more than you and has 200 times as many thanked posts?
oh and were are the 3D benches? just wondering if you can support that claim yet