VIA Launching Tiny QuadCore CPU @ 1.2GHz
VIA new quad-core QuadCore processor will have a TDP of only 27.5 watts.
Thursday VIA Technologies revealed the new VIA QuadCore processor, a power efficient, quad-core x86 CPU best suited for desktops, notebooks, small form factor PCs, AIOs, and even mini-servers. The chip features a thermal design power (TDP) of only 27.5 watts, and will initially ship clocked at 1.2+ GHz later this year.
"As a result of the rapid proliferation of high definition multimedia content and increasingly demanding multi-threaded applications, a four core processor is the new baseline for today’s mainstream PC user," said Epan Wu, Head of Processor Platforms, VIA Technologies, Inc. "The VIA QuadCore processor meets that need with the industry’s most power efficient architecture."
Manufactured using 40-nm processing, the VIA QuadCore consists of four "Isaiah" cores mounted on two dies. The chip is natively 64-bit compatible and comes packed with additional performance enhancers like Adaptive Overclocking, 4 MB of L2 cache, and a 1333 MHz V4 Bus. And as previously mentioned, the CPU has an extremely low TDP of only 27.5 watts.
"Yhe VIA QuadCore processor delivers awesome multi-threaded performance across the board for multi-tasking, multimedia playback, productivity and internet browsing in a low power envelope," VIA said Thursday. "The distributed performance of the VIA QuadCore also makes it ideal for making the most of multi-display environments."
Other notable features include a VIA NanoBGA2 package of 21-mm x 21-mm with a die size of 11-mm x 6-mm, VIA VT virtualization, VIA PadLock with the Advanced Cryptography Engine, and full pin-to-pin compatibility with VIA Eden, VIA C7 and VIA Nano E-Series, and VIA Eden X2 processors.
Shipments of the VIA QuadCore processor will begin in Q3 2011. VIA also plans to showcase the new processor in a few weeks at Computex (Taipei International Convention Center, Room 201D) from May 31st to June 4th.
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Kevin Parrish has over a decade of experience as a writer, editor, and product tester. His work focused on computer hardware, networking equipment, smartphones, tablets, gaming consoles, and other internet-connected devices. His work has appeared in Tom's Hardware, Tom's Guide, Maximum PC, Digital Trends, Android Authority, How-To Geek, Lifewire, and others.
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Computerrock1 Where exactly is via implemented? I honestly haven't seen any VIA products on any websites, granted I haven't really been looking. Any one know where to find?Reply -
southernshark Sounds like a neat processor for low cost netbooks and tablets. I don't see any use in a desktop PC.Reply -
theshonen8899 I really hope VIA can get a spot in the netbook world. It's nice to have a competitor to Intel Atom and AMD's Fusion.Reply -
tommysch No one told them about the power cord that goes in a desktop? Imma gonna stick with my 200W CPU if you dont mind.Reply -
27.5 watts is actually quite high when you consider that a Core 2 Duo P9600 clocked at 2.66ghz is around 25 watts and will run rings around the via processor.Reply
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decembermouse If the price is right for these chips and their mobos, and depending on how good their implementation of adaptive overclocking is, I might pick up one of these for a low-wattage Folding@Home rig, throw a big hard drive in it, and use it as a home media server... if the mobos have a PCIe slot (8x or greater) maybe a discrete GPU, and use this instead of Brazos. Well, depending on how it fares against Llano.Reply
My only concern is this: I thought we were past the days where we were slapping two dual-core CPU's together and calling it a quad. This design will not perform as well as if they'd built a native quad. Maybe they're recycling an older architecture that's just too old to make the complexity jump to being a native quad? -
deltatux Where can I get these chips ... I actually want to build a VIA CPU machine ... good for a nice HTPC or a machine to replace my brother's slow dual core :PReply -
itrendslave computerrock1Where exactly is via implemented? I honestly haven't seen any VIA products on any websites, granted I haven't really been looking. Any one know where to find?Newegg has some VIA products:Reply
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=Property&Subcategory=446&Description=&Type=&N=100007623&IsNodeId=1&srchInDesc=&MinPrice=&MaxPrice=&PropertyCodeValue=3700%3A46186&PropertyCodeValue=3700%3A80946&PropertyCodeValue=3700%3A25791
Just generic low-power desktop usage. I know, at least a few years ago, they were being used a lot in the car PC market. -
http://www.anandtech.com/show/4332/vias-quadcore-nano-gets-biggerReply
you can find a little more details here.