New High Performance, x86 Compatible Microprocessors from Centaur / VIA

[Deleted member 67555]

I remember trying to play Microsoft Flight Sim of some generation on a Cyrix thing...

It was really bad.

They played Wing Commander 4 just fine...so they were good enough for me. ( in 1996)

 

[trparky]

When compared to mainstream desktop CPU's sure, but for what they were intended to be, they performed very well.

I remember the netbooks that they were in, they ran like hot garbage. Windows XP was the only operating system that even came close to running decent on it and to say that was a stretch.

 

[lexluthermiester]

I remember the netbooks that they were in, they ran like hot garbage. Windows XP was the only operating system that even came close to running decent on it and to say that was a stretch.

The one's that only came with 1GB of RAM, sure. If you upgraded the ram to 2, 3 or 4GB and put in a faster HDD or an SSD they ran fine. Try to remember, Atoms were effectively updated and enhanced PentiumM's. when a user took the time to make XP lean and clean, it ran well. Mine came with 7 that also ran well after some optimizations.

 

[R-T-B]

Atoms were effectively updated and enhanced PentiumM's

More like 486 in lineage. They actaully took design cues from there in the early versions for energy efficiency reasons.

The early ones didn't even have out of order execution. That is not a coincidence. Neither did the 486.

 

[notb]

I mean, did they develop it at all, really? Or just acquire and murder it?

Well, they did launch a few new chips apart from just rebranding what they took over. That's development in my book.

Pretty sure the base x86 license does not survive a buyout.

I don't know a reason why it would not (much like any other IP).
Either way, there are other ways to merge companies.

What are you talking about? The Atom chips were garbage in the performance department.

They definitely weren't.
Sure, if you compare them to mainstream PC CPUs, they were slow. But should we be surprised? Chips that went into tablets and netbooks used around 2W under load and hardly anything in idle. Even the top Raspberry Pi need more.
If you compared 5W lineup (Celeron/Pentium) to 35W Core models, you'd likely be disappointed as well.

For multiple use cases (mini servers, IoT, low-end NASes) these Atoms worked perfectly fine.

 

[R-T-B]

I don't know a reason why it would not (much like any other IP).

Because that's how the agreement is written out IIRC.

 

[Liquid Cool]

I never owned/purchased a Cyrix chip...and I hardly remember that era of my life, but I do remember that no one in my group would touch a Cyrix chip. They were slower, cheaper Intel knock offs.

I do remember my 486 DX2 66 though...it was my favorite pc. Still is. I purchased every part from...The Computer Shopper because we didn't have any good companies locally to purchase from. I was a sysadmin of a BBS back in those days.

I'm also not remembering Via as a processor. I only remember the Via chipset and I'm sure there is a reason for it that I can't recall at the moment....but I do have fond memories of the Via chipset.

Best,

Liquid Cool

 

[Frick]

For multiple use cases (mini servers, IoT, low-end NASes) these Atoms worked perfectly fine.

Perhaps, but people generally only came in contact with them with said awful netbooks and they were awful even with XP. They sipped power sure, but that hardly matter if you can't even browse the web without going insane. Some lightweight linux distros were sorta fine on them, but I still really didn't like those things. There were even desktops with Atoms in them.

 

[lexluthermiester]

More like 486 in lineage.

Nope. Pentium3 -> PentiumM-> Atom

 

[Frick]

Nope. Pentium3 -> PentiumM-> Atom

Wikipedia on Bonnell:

The Bonnell microarchitecture therefore represents a partial revival of the principles used in earlier Intel designs such as P5 and the i486, with the sole purpose of enhancing the performance per watt ratio.

Such as lack of speculative execution. Maybe that's what he'stalking about?

 

[lexluthermiester]

Wikipedia on Bonnell:

The Bonnell microarchitecture therefore represents a partial revival of the principles used in earlier Intel designs such as P5 and the i486, with the sole purpose of enhancing the performance per watt ratio.

Such as lack of speculative execution. Maybe that's what he'stalking about?

Very likely. It's a little more fine-grained than just lumping the Atom in with one series or another, but at their core, Atom had a lot more in common with the Pentium3/PentiumM than with any of the 486 line.
(BTW, thanks for pointing that out, I read up on more detail aspects of the Atom line and learned a few more things I didn't know before.)

 

[trparky]

They definitely weren't.

I witnessed some of those netbooks (with Atoms) back in the day, they were godawfully slow. Like @Frick said, browsing the Internet on them made you want to tear your hair out. I still to this day wonder why the hell Intel came out with such hot garbage, every person I knew that had one of those complained about them and damn near wanted to chuck them out their window.

 

[Frick]

I witnessed some of those netbooks (with Atoms) back in the day, they were godawfully slow. Like @Frick said, browsing the Internet on them made you want to tear your hair out. I still to this day wonder why the hell Intel came out with such hot garbage, every person I knew that had one of those complained about them and damn near wanted to chuck them out their window.

They were cheap, that's why they sold. Good idea, but less good excecution.

 

[trparky]

They were cheap, that's why they sold.

I don't know, when something's that cheap I start to question why.

 

[Tralalak]

[Fun Technology] Domestic CPU draws i5-7400? Zhaoxin KX-U6780A first evaluation! The rise of China's core!

 

[Tralalak]

Centaur Technology started answering your questions @ www.reddit.com


CPU-Z screenshot

http://imgur.com/UU96AOP

Windows 10 screenshot

http://imgur.com/EgPKzRK

source: https://www.reddit.com/r/hardware/comments/ep0lf4

 

[TheoneandonlyMrK]

Centaur Technology started answering your questions @ www.reddit.com


CPU-Z screenshot

http://imgur.com/UU96AOP

Windows 10 screenshot

http://imgur.com/EgPKzRK

source: https://www.reddit.com/r/hardware/comments/ep0lf4

Looks worth a watch, hopefully my prime free month hasn't ran out yet.

 

[Tralalak]

Centaur New x86 Server Processor Packs an AI Punch
source: https://fuse.wikichip.org/news/3256/centaur-new-x86-server-processor-packs-an-ai-punch/

[Self-Category] Is a new generation of domestic CPUs and motherboards ready to enter the DIY market? How about the performance of Zhaoxin ’s new flagship KX-6780A and Xinyingjie C1888 motherboards?

[YT]

 

[TheLostSwede]

Centaur New x86 Server Processor Packs an AI Punch
source: https://fuse.wikichip.org/news/3256/centaur-new-x86-server-processor-packs-an-ai-punch/

[Self-Category] Is a new generation of domestic CPUs and motherboards ready to enter the DIY market? How about the performance of Zhaoxin ’s new flagship KX-6780A and Xinyingjie C1888 motherboards?

[YT]

Just heard that the Zhaoxin is using a Centaur core from 2012 with some tweaks to it to make it perform a bit better.
However, it's not something worth trying to get hold of, as it's not going to impress.
Anandtech just threw up some pictures of the Chinese board.

Zhaoxin’s x86-Compatible CPUs for DIY Enthusiasts Now Available

www.anandtech.com

 

[R0H1T]

This could be a big move especially if CCP push for "homegrown" x86 variants for their domestic market!

 

[Tralalak]

Just heard that the Zhaoxin is using a Centaur core from 2012 with some tweaks to it to make it perform a bit better.
However, it's not something worth trying to get hold of, as it's not going to impress.
Anandtech just threw up some pictures of the Chinese board.

Zhaoxin’s x86-Compatible CPUs for DIY Enthusiasts Now Available

www.anandtech.com

These are print screens from the videos above.

Anandtech would probably be the last one to send that board for testing. Because the ban in the forum. Just wait nicely in line. It is a matter of principle.

 

[Tralalak]

Centaur CHA x86 AI CPU pictured
source: https://www.semiaccurate.com/2020/02/17/centaur-cha-x86-ai-cpu-pictured/

 

[Tralalak]

Stanford Seminar - Centaur Technology's Deep learning Coprocessor

 

[Tralalak]

This mini PC is powered by a Zhaoxin x86 processor
source: https://liliputing.com/2020/02/this-mini-pc-is-powered-by-a-zhaoxin-x86-processor.html

 

[Tralalak]

ZX-G with 16 cores and 64 PCIe 4.0 lanes @ 7nm
source: https://www.forum-3dcenter.org/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=12229503&postcount=471