Vai Technologies, a manufacturer of power efficient x86 processor platforms, on Jan. 4 announced its latest Via Nano X2 processor for mainstream PC markets. Based on a 40-nanometer fabrication process, the Via Nano X2 delivers better computational performance and improved multitasking ability without consuming more power. The company said the processors are targeting a range of PC products that include desktop, all-in-one and mobile notebook designs while extending the reach of Via’s processor portfolio into multitasking and performance-oriented segments.
Nano X2 processors are built using the 64-bit, superscalar “Isaiah” architecture that powered previous single-core VIA Nano processors. Featuring two out-of-order x86 cores, the company claimed Nano X2 processors deliver up to double the performance on multithread-optimized applications and also come with SSE4, native 64-bit support, VT CPU virtualization technology, and the company’s PadLock hardware security features. Nano X2 processors are also pin-to-pin compatible with previous Via Nano, VIA C7, VIA C7-M and VIA Eden processors, facilitating upgrades of existing designs.
“The Nano X2 processor arrives at a time when software architectures are now optimized for multithread computing,” Richard Brown, vice president of marketing for Via Technologies, said in a statement. “Improvements in semi-conductor fabrication means we can now double the number of processor cores while maintaining the same low energy consumption levels that our customers are used to.”
Product highlights include full support for 64-bit operating systems, advanced power and thermal management, and full processor virtualization support Nano X2 processors are also compatible with all Via media system processors and digital media chipsets including the latest Via VX900 and VIA VN1000. The company noted Nano X2 processors samples are currently available for OEMs and motherboard vendors, with systems featuring the processors expected to arrive in the first quarter.
On Jan. 3, the company announced a graphics card designed for the embedded market with the eH1, a DX10.1 compliant, multidisplay card, which comes with a three-year product longevity guarantee. The eH1 AIB features an advanced DirectX 10.1, OpenGL 3.1, OpenGL ES 2.0 compatible 64-bit architecture and offers multistream 1080p HD video decoding and Stereoscopic 3D-rendering capability.
Via officials described the eH1 as a low-profile PCI Express add-in-board designed for next-generation embedded applications in a range of segments including digital signage and advertising, POS, POI, gaming or any embedded application where graphics and HD video is streamed on two displays. The eH1 features the S3 Chrome 5400E GPU, a 64-bit discrete graphics solution and is complemented with 512MB of DDR3 memory.
“The VIA eH1 hits a real sweet spot for the embedded industry as a whole,” Daniel Wu, vice president of the company’s embedded platform division, said in a statement. “Offering technologies like DX10.1, OpenGL/CL, plus multichannel HD video playback on an extremely low power AIB will excite system integrators who want to bring the latest features to existing platforms.”
A company release noted the eH1 can be used in conjunction with a number of Via EPIA board products and can supplement any existing system that uses a x1, x4, x8 or x16 PCIe slot. Samples of the eH1 are available now to project customers upon request, the company noted.