VIA Launching Tiny QuadCore CPU @ 1.2GHz

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.