VIA Announces VIA Nano X2 Dual-Core Processor

[btarunr]

VIA Technologies, Inc, a leading innovator of power efficient x86 processor platforms, today announced its latest VIA Nano X2 processor for mainstream PC markets. Based on a 40 nanometer fabrication process, the VIA Nano X2 delivers better computational performance and improved multi-tasking ability without consuming more power.

"The VIA Nano X2 processor arrives at a time when software architectures are now optimized to for multi-thread computing," commented Richard Brown, VP International Marketing, VIA Technologies, Inc. "Improvements in semi-conductor fabrication means we can now double the number of processor cores while maintaining the same low energy consumption levels that our customers are used to."



VIA Nano X2 processors are targeting a range of PC products that include desktop, all-in-one and mobile notebook designs while extending the reach of VIA's processor portfolio into multitasking and performance-oriented segments. VIA Nano X2 processors offer end-users the most optimized, power-efficient computing experience on the market today.

VIA Nano X2 Processor
VIA Nano X2 processors are built using the advanced 64-bit, superscalar 'Isaiah' architecture that powers previous single-core VIA Nano processors, adopted worldwide for a growing number of market-leading mini-note, small form factor desktop, and energy-efficient server designs.

Featuring two out-of-order x86 cores, VIA Nano X2 processors deliver up to double the performance on multi-thread optimized applications and also come with SSE4, native 64-bit support, VT CPU virtualization technology, and VIA PadLock hardware security features. VIA Nano X2 processors are also pin-to-pin compatible with previous VIA Nano, VIA C7, VIA C7-M and VIA Eden processors, facilitating easy upgrades of existing designs.



Product Highlights

• Advanced multi-core processing
• Power-efficient out-of-order x86 architecture
• Full support for 64-bit operating systems
• High-performance superscalar processing
• Most efficient speculative floating point algorithm
• Full processor virtualization support
• Advanced power and thermal management
• VIA PadLock hardware security features
• Pin-to-pin compatibility with other VIA processors

VIA Nano X2 processors are also compatible with all VIA media system processors and digital media chipsets including the latest VIA VX900 and VIA VN1000.

VIA Nano X2 Availability
VIA Nano X2 processors samples are currently available for OEMs and motherboard vendors, with systems featuring the processors expected to arrive in Q1 2011.

Information about VIA Nano X2 processors can be found here.

View at TechPowerUp Main Site

 

[LittleLizard]

I only hope that this make it to netbooks so we can have cheap, dual core, proper netbooks. Intel Atom ones are too expensive here.

 

[GSquadron]

I still don't get it how via still stands against amd and intel
How is it possible that dual cores so late make the cpu so interesting for the market?
It would be a real shame to say: "In 2011 our first dual core" :S

 

[crazyeyesreaper]

um maybe its because VIA actually makes very low TDP cpus so while there not the fastest in general there more power efficient overall thats why there still around there also bring a quadcore out thats extremely energy efficient aka capable of being used in Netbooks something amd nor intel have yet.

 

[GSquadron]

Amd will bulldoze via too than with its fusion

 

[micropage7]

its interesting where via join the battle of muti core, with their capability on low tdp, low heat it would offer more choices to the market

 

[AlienIsGOD]

I still don't get it how via still stands against amd and intel
How is it possible that dual cores so late make the cpu so interesting for the market?
It would be a real shame to say: "In 2011 our first dual core" :S

Considering VIA is after a different market share for the most part over AMD/Intel this IMO is good news. Alex, you seem to think that if its not Intel or AMD, it shouldnt even be on the market. Obviously VIA makes $$$ or else they wouldnt be coming out with this.

 

[TheMailMan78]

Intel called. They want their logo back.

 

[GSquadron]

You seem type of philosopher....
Unless you have been captured by their navy, they wont bulge to turn your mind back!

 

[LittleLizard]

intel called. They want their logo back.

lol & agree :d

 

[Baum]

most of the time it's not vias low tdp, like when you compare Performance per Watt they were weak in the past, yes their tdp is low but when you can't work with it?

they are bought for their PRICE which is lower then LOW, compared to others and don't come up with their ITX or Nano Boards which are build by themselves and out of question like the industrial boards with their cpu's ( expensive but cheap compared to intel ones )

i only like them for being cheap and thats good if you need a typewriter or just a spare pc...
just try a via C3 or C7 or C-7M ULV and you will see that it feels like a pentium 3 on steroids nothing more and power efficency is far away from atom ( i am only talking from real world performance and not labtests where via rocks most of the time ? )

 

[crazyeyesreaper]

then stop shitting on it all and buy something else

fact is there still gonna be the first chip maker with a quadcore ULV processor for netbooks.

and its still gonna be faster then an intel atom which is on par with Pentium 4s and last i checked if you compare Pentium 3 to Pentium 4 at the same speeds P3 wins every time its why I3 I5 and i7 cpus can trace there core design back to the P3 with hyperthreading added from the netburst architecture.

eitherway ive used VIA chips before and i have noticed there a bit slow guess what switch the os to friggin linux and its no longer slow. You cant really fix a bloated carcass that is windows but Windows 7 should run fine on VIA chips. Altho i can only imagine how bad a c7 is with vista tho that just a fugly mess..

 

[TheLostSwede]

You guys do know that this CPU is faster than AMD's Brazos right? And that was the early 65nm samples sent out for preview, the final silicon is meant to be a lot better/faster.
That said, I doubt it'll make much difference as VIA has pretty pissy chipsets, poor graphics drivers etc. which isn't likely to change with a new good CPU.

 

[ToTTenTranz]

I also don't get what drives VIA these days. They must either some screwed up management or a sever lack of R&D funding.

They have a decent, transistor-efficient DX10.1 graphics architecture IP and an equally efficient low-power CPU architecture.
They announce their products but then we see no design wins at all.

The VN1000 was shown more than a year ago, an IGP with 32 nvidia-like shaders that was supposed to go with Nano -> back at a time when nVidia was still stuck with the 16-shader ION/MCP78 and ATI had the 8*VEC5 (40) shader HD3200/4200.
That IGP has it all: decent 3D performance, OpenCL certification, integrated Vynil audio codec, all the HD video hardware decoding, etc.

The natural evolution by now would be to have a VN1000+Nano in a single chip (even a multi-chip module would suffice) and try to compete with Fusion and Atom, but they just won't do things at the appropriate time!

 

[TheMailMan78]

then stop shitting on it all and buy something else

fact is there still gonna be the first chip maker with a quadcore ULV processor for netbooks.

and its still gonna be faster then an intel atom which is on par with Pentium 4s and last i checked if you compare Pentium 3 to Pentium 4 at the same speeds P3 wins every time its why I3 I5 and i7 cpus can trace there core design back to the P3 with hyperthreading added from the netburst architecture.

eitherway ive used VIA chips before and i have noticed there a bit slow guess what switch the os to friggin linux and its no longer slow. You cant really fix a bloated carcass that is windows but Windows 7 should run fine on VIA chips. Altho i can only imagine how bad a c7 is with vista tho that just a fugly mess..

Ill $H!t on whatever I want to. My grandfather didn't give up his left nut in the great war for anything less.

 

[OneCool]

Can we see some Pi numbers?

 

[RejZoR]

We used to have some VIA powered notebooks with Chrome graphics few years ago. But i haven't seen any since then. Just Intel and few AMD...

 

[R_1]

Wow -this time Nano will kick some ass... eventually.

 

[LittleLizard]

We used to have some VIA powered notebooks with Chrome graphics few years ago. But i haven't seen any since then. Just Intel and few AMD...

Agree & thats my point. VIA Processor are literally tailor made for netbooks, power saving pcs, home servers, etc. But Intel with atom (and soon amd with fusion) cope all the market share. I would love to see a proper netbook from a big name like msi or asus. But it just wont happen. The end.

 

[Imsochobo]

Agree & thats my point. VIA Processor are literally tailor made for netbooks, power saving pcs, home servers, etc. But Intel with atom (and soon amd with fusion) cope all the market share. I would love to see a proper netbook from a big name like msi or asus. But it just wont happen. The end.

embedded guys.

You see that buss stop showing times for busses.
you see those ATM's.
you see those things living outside in norwegian cold -40C temps, and it still runs.
when its +40C it still runs.

That is VIA.
That is what they mostly delivers.
VIA are doing what they do best, and intel and amd have had no competetive products, until now ? amd fusion.. 9W its abit high, get it down to 4W then it can compete ( yes im talking about the whole chip, 28nm may do this.)

Now you guys know what via makes, and i've yet to see a intel or amd product that competes (AMD do have a 1 ghz K7 part that can deal with the envoriments)

 

[ToTTenTranz]

embedded guys.

You see that buss stop showing times for busses.
you see those ATM's.
you see those things living outside in norwegian cold -40C temps, and it still runs.
when its +40C it still runs.

That is VIA.
That is what they mostly delivers.
VIA are doing what they do best, and intel and amd have had no competetive products, until now ? amd fusion.. 9W its abit high, get it down to 4W then it can compete ( yes im talking about the whole chip, 28nm may do this.)

Now you guys know what via makes, and i've yet to see a intel or amd product that competes (AMD do have a 1 ghz K7 part that can deal with the envoriments)

How about ARM?

 

[unsmart]

25w @ 1.8g without on die GPU/mem controller doesn't seem to energy efficient now a days.

 

[LittleLizard]

embedded guys.

You see that buss stop showing times for busses.
you see those ATM's.
you see those things living outside in norwegian cold -40C temps, and it still runs.
when its +40C it still runs.

That is VIA.
That is what they mostly delivers.
VIA are doing what they do best, and intel and amd have had no competetive products, until now ? amd fusion.. 9W its abit high, get it down to 4W then it can compete ( yes im talking about the whole chip, 28nm may do this.)

Now you guys know what via makes, and i've yet to see a intel or amd product that competes (AMD do have a 1 ghz K7 part that can deal with the envoriments)

Then why bothering giving x64 & x86 support if these devices dont use it? This cpu, even in the news says

"VIA Nano X2 processors are targeting a range of PC products that include desktop, all-in-one and mobile notebook designs while extending the reach of VIA's processor portfolio into multitasking and performance-oriented segments"

This cpu is perfect for office pcs, netbooks, home servers. BUT as atom & soon fusion take all market share, we wont see netbooks, NAS, nothing using it.

 

[inferKNOX]

Wow, haven't seen any actual VIA hardware in ages!
The more the merrier though, come on VIA, get aggressive & add 3rd options to the CPU and GPU (I'm discounting Intel here) markets!
Give us MOAR!

 

[NC37]

Yeah, haven't used a VIA chipset since...Socket A days! lol

Always had issues with them, was glad when I finally had gotten an nForce chipset which actually worked the way it should. But if they can find a niche market with this...go for it. The more competition the better things will get from AMD/Intel.