Via Nano Processes Cryptography Like Few Others

Even with a flashy Core 2 Quad QX9770, you will not come close to what the Via Nano can crunch in terms of cryptography.

Via Technologies has shown that the cryptographic performance of its Via Nano processor is the most power efficient on the market - due to its dedicated VIA PadLock Security Engine, a suite of security tools integrated directly into the die.

Results from using the newest release of the SiSoftware Sandra 2009 diagnostic utility showed the Nano hitting upwards of 765 MB/s in cryptographic tests – that’s 93 percent faster than the Intel Core 2 Quad QX9770 processor. It is also worth mentioning that the Nano used 5 percent of the power the Core 2 Quad did. The Core 2 Quad was able to tackle the same tests at only 396 MB/s.

The PadLock engine enables secure computing by adding extra functions to the processor which gives programmers an entire set of tools which, when used, can make data unreadable to unauthorized users (encryption) – It can also prevent attacks from hackers or worms.

Quoting Chief Technology officer at SiSoftware, Adrian Silasi: “Cryptography has become an important part of our digital life: it allows us to conduct safe transactions online, certify programs and services, keep our data secure and much more. The speed at which cryptographic operations (encryption, decryption, hashing, signing) can be performed is thus very much important.”

“Fast, power efficient and safe data encryption are quickly becoming a top concern of mobile PC users. Data protection and identity theft for lost and stolen devices are issues that are compounded by the growth of the mobile computing market, key areas where the VIA Nano processor can significantly help protect users data,” said Richard Brown, Vice President of Marketing for Via Technologies.

  • smalltime0
    If only the other computing tasks were that good...

    Still very good for VIA, should help attract the business market.
    Reply
  • Shadow703793
    ^Agreed.

    Can't imagine why AMD might not do something like this. AMD (with larger fabs, server area domination) is in a good position to do this than VIA. Thin might help in the HPC/server area for AMD.
    Reply
  • Alien_959
    That's evidence that specialized designs win against commond architectures. It will be intresting something like this to be implemented for other tusks like video audio decoding, flash ect: in low power CPU category to futher increase their performance, just enought to be comfortable for every day tasks.
    Reply
  • teh_boxzor
    ^ i agree the main concern for low wattage cpu's now is performance per watt. seems like this would be and AMD win since that what the r770 was mainly concerned about.
    Reply
  • yodoso
    love how they waited till Nehalem was close to being released until they told the press about the Cryptography in the Nano. It's quite a shock to see an energy efficient processor outperforming a quad core power house, even if it is in only one area. I'm pretty sure if this gets enough attention Intel will implement something similar in the next iteration of the core 7(any different than the features they implemented from AMD designs?)
    Reply
  • vider
    That's not news. ViA had it for a long time already.
    What's news is that a Single Core 1.8 Ghz ViA NANO
    coupled with a GeForce 8600 can handle Crysis with
    Physics enabled. If nVidia goes with ViA we might
    have very affordable PC's which are able to handle
    almost anything at a VERY reasonable price. This
    will create good competition. Intel with Larabee,
    AMD with R800(?) and ViA with GeForce 200 Series.

    Prices will surely drop in 2009/2010.
    Reply
  • WheelsOfConfusion
    I had no idea of this feature. Very interesting.
    And just in time for me to catch up on my back issue of SciAm. September's magazine (which I just got in the mail the other day for some reason) was dedicated to security with an article describing cryptography techniques.
    Reply