Ads
Ads
All about CPU
 Latest CPU articles
AMD Phenom II X4 965 BE: Same Speed, Less Power

AMD Phenom II X4 965 BE: Same Speed, Less Power
Today AMD is introducing a revision of its flagship Phenom II X4 965 processor rated at 125W, replacing the 140W part, as well as a new 3.1 version of its Overdrive overclocking software. We take a quick look at both to see what advantages they offer. Read More

  • Overclocked On Air: Intel's Core i5-750
    Intel's new quad-core i5 and i7 CPUs for LGA 1156 deliver plenty of performance and impressive efficiency. But how far can they be overclocked? We take the entry-level model Core i5-750 as far as it'll go with a modest air cooler and benchmark it. Read More
All CPU articles

Newsletters


  • Ask your question about IT issues
  • Post

Partners

The Games selection

violent : Interactive Buddy Unwind on your interactive buddy: Do anything you want to him, it will earn you money, and you can buy other stuff to torture him with.
kids : Bob Throw bubbles so as to make the ones that appear in the game disappear. For this, use the Right / Left arrow keys to duck or move about, and the...
Ads

Sponsored links

Nvidia Looking to Buy Into VIA?

Next news
12:21 PM - March 30, 2009 by Marcus Yam

Nvidia could be purchasing a chunk of VIA, which has the possibilities spinning around in our minds.

Subject to shareholder approval, VIA will soon go ahead with a private placement of up to 300 million shares NT$9-12 ($0.27-0.35), which aims to boost the company’s capital.

According to various reports, though none entirely official, Nvidia is the forerunner to pick up a sizable portion of those shares.

Such a development, while interesting, wouldn’t be completely surprising. Given now clearly publicized cold war between Intel and Nvidia over the former’s Atom CPU and the latter’s Ion platform.

It’s no secret that the second generation Ion platform will support the VIA Nano (as well as the full Intel line), so Nvidia could just be investing in its own future.

There could also be lines drawn to Nvidia’s interest in entering the CPU market. Nvidia’s Michael Hara, senior VP of investor relations, said during a conference an Nvidia-branded x86 CPU is a certainly within the next several years. “The question is not so much I think if; I think the question is when," said Hara. “I think some time down the road it makes sense to take the same level of integration that we’ve done with Tegra."

Nvidia partnering with VIA could conveniently skirt by the issue of obtaining an x86 license from Intel, something VIA already holds.

We’ll know more after VIA’s investor’s meeting in June.

Source : Tom's Hardware US

Talkback
Add your comment
deltatux 03/30/2009 6:36 PM
Hide
-7+

This should really push VIA processors to the forefront of many consumers if NVIDIA chooses to terminate the ION platform on Intel processors. These VIA processors are technically superior to the Intel Atoms.

Hopefully this deal goes through because we'll see a lot better competition to this Intel dominated market.

shabodah 03/30/2009 6:52 PM
Hide
-4+

I can't believe Nvidia didn't buy Via as soon as the AMD/ATI deal was finalized. Intel has a long history of screwing its partners, so no one should be surprised about this latest attempt of theirs.

megamanx00 03/30/2009 7:03 PM
Hide
--3+

Well, the x86 license is like non transferable so I don't think nVidia can buy VIA outright, but they can buy a controlling share. It would be interesting to see what comes from this. I think that AM2 and AM3 are open platforms so it would be interesting to see a VIA designed CPU on an nVidia AM3 motherboard. We shall see what happens with everything.

megamanx00 03/30/2009 7:09 PM
Hide
-0+

Well I know that the HT protocol is open so I guess VIA could use whatever new fangled socket they wanted, just as long as the CPU used HT protocol to connect to chipsets nVidia developed to use with AMD CPUs. Well that and as long as it had an integrated memory controller. VIA with a 750a chipset anyone?

stinkygood 03/30/2009 7:19 PM
Hide
-1+

Getting access to X86 technology for 100 millions sounds like a sweet deal, when you think that AMD spent in the billions to get ATI's graphic technoloiges.

And if Via remains as a company they not only get new market share but get around one thing that has always seemed to dog them - crappy chip sets

scarpa 03/30/2009 7:42 PM
Hide
-4+

Nvidia entering CPU market is welcomed.

knickle 03/30/2009 7:44 PM
Hide
-3+

When ever nVidia gets their fingers into anything, support for the legacy brand products promptly stop. For example, when 3dfx was bought out, driver support vanished for anything labled 3dfx. When they bought out ULI, it was the same story with the chipsets.

You have all been warned. :P

allenpan 03/30/2009 7:52 PM
Hide
--1+

again who has VIA plateform anymore? beside

joz 03/30/2009 10:37 PM
Hide
-0+

I have two VIA platforms, one recenetly aquired Nano sitting in my carputer, and an older C7, sitting as a backup server for my family's computers.

Don't mind the chipset, im just sad about the number of PCI-E, I would do alot more if they had more pci-e slots.

knickle 03/30/2009 11:00 PM
Hide
-1+

allenpan :
again who has VIA plateform anymore? beside


I have a Mini ITX board by VIA with a VIA CPU on it. This is installed in my car and runs the entertainment, GPS, and a few other gadgets... all off a mere 100 watts (including the touch screen).

I was thinking of updating to something newer since what I have is over 4.5 years old, but now that nVidia is clawing in, I may have to wait until after the transition for fear of no support on legacy products.

joeman42 03/30/2009 11:00 PM
Hide
-1+

I'm surprised that Nvidia has the capital to purchase. Even more shocked that AMD's new mfg spinoff didn't bid for VIA as a means to skirt IBM's x86 license revocation.

jerreece 03/31/2009 1:13 AM
Hide
-2+

All I have to say is, that it'd be nice to have three choices in CPUs. Would be very good for overall competition. :)

I will say though, I probably won't be buying a first generation nVidia CPU when they come out. ;) I'd rather wait until the bugs and such get worked out.

apache_lives 03/31/2009 1:05 PM
Show
hack__you 03/31/2009 3:38 PM
Hide
-1+

It will be called NVIA.....

lo....l

Judguh 03/31/2009 5:19 PM
Hide
-0+

shabodah :
I can't believe Nvidia didn't buy Via as soon as the AMD/ATI deal was finalized. Intel has a long history of screwing its partners, so no one should be surprised about this latest attempt of theirs.



You can never trust a company that has the majority of the market share if you plan to partner, obtain a license, etc from them.

Matt_B 03/31/2009 5:46 PM
Hide
-0+

jerreece :
All I have to say is, that it'd be nice to have three choices in CPUs. Would be very good for overall competition. I will say though, I probably won't be buying a first generation nVidia CPU when they come out. I'd rather wait until the bugs and such get worked out.


There has almost always been three or more choices of x86 chip makers.

Personally, I would like it if Nvidia kept their claws off of VIA. I usually don't side with a company that has a reputation of tearing an acquired company apart (Microsoft and EA are the main two coming to mind). To be honest, I am surprised at how well AMD has done with ATI. They have kept the name and brand well alive and invested in a healthy manner. I can just see Nvidia on the road to a monopoly in ten years time. They have been going after (or attempting to) companies at a rather rapid rate these past several years.

sonofliberty08 04/01/2009 7:40 AM
Hide
-0+

EA ruin the westwood and maxis ......

apache_lives 04/01/2009 1:56 PM
Hide
-0+

"sorry but dont trust nvidia or intel - VIA chipsets are poor at best and nvidia video/chipset products are poor at best too - going to take a bit to get my trust back"

sorry ment Nvidia or VIA - both poor chipset makers, Intel is 100%, just hot/power hungry for netbooks, but cheap etc so

Comments are closed on this page.

Sponsored links