New VIA VX855 Media System Processor Brings Power-Efficiency to 1080p HD Playback

[btarunr]

VIA Technologies, Inc, a leading innovator of power efficient x86 processor platforms, today announced the VIA VX855 Media System Processor (MSP) - an ultra power efficient, all-in-one chipset that addresses the key performance and entertainment requirements of today's small form factor and mobile PC systems.

Increasingly, content is being filmed in high-definition (HD), with movies, TV shows and sporting events taking advantage of the smooth playback, extraordinary picture clarity, and brilliant colors that HD video offers. However, until now the high bit-rates associated with quality HD video have posed a real challenge to the processing capabilities of power efficient PC systems such as those found in small form factor and mobile devices.



Set to be Microsoft Windows 7-ready, the VIA VX855 MSP solves the problem by offering support for full hardware acceleration of the widest variety of leading video standards including H.264, MPEG-2/4, VC-1 and WMV9, greatly reducing the workload and thus the power consumption of the processor.

"For the first time, system developers have an ultra low power media system processor that delivers high bit-rate HD video to small form factor and mobile devices," said Richard Brown, Vice President of Marketing, VIA Technologies, Inc. "The VIA VX855 opens up exciting opportunities for several PC segments, particularly the mini-notebook category that will now be able to offer true 1080p HD video playback."

Compatible with the ultra compact VIA Nano, VIA C7 and VIA Eden processor families, the VIA VX855 MSP integrates all the cutting-edge features of a modern chipset's North and South bridges into a 27mm x 27mm single chip package that saves over 46% of silicon real estate compared with competing twin-chip core logic implementations. This miniaturization, combined with extensive power management technologies and the ability to run fanlessly within a tiny 2.3 watt power envelope, enables system builders to design ever smaller, lighter, and more portable systems.

View at TechPowerUp Main Site

 

[Katanai]

This sounds good. But I have yet to see a Nano netbook first...

 

[TreadR]

This chips isn't meant to be a netbook solution... so no point in waiting!

 

[TheLostSwede]

@TreadR - you need to learn how to read

The VIA VX855 opens up exciting opportunities for several PC segments, particularly the mini-notebook category

Care to re-read that section?

 

[TreadR]

@TreadR - you need to learn how to read
Care to re-read that section?

You need to learn how to use that thing on your shoulders...

... that will now be able to offer true 1080p HD video playback.

You're probably as clueless as that spoke's person from VIA that composed that article release as to what a netbook's, or should I say mini-notebook's use is.

So enlighten me with you never-ending wisdom why would someone play a 1080p clip on a 10" screen capable device? Not to mention that an image reduction of that resolution will take a lot more processing power to adapt to a small screen's resolution than the regular SD format.

What I said earlier still has relevance, you just fail at thinking... or using common sense!


The VX855 is useful in a slim, power efficient and low noise ITX form factor HTPC... and not in some underpowered laptop! A mini-notebook's usefulness ends at collecting, storing and releasing a limited amount of information for personal or professional use... and it's definitely not for high-definition / high-fidelity media playback.


Besides, that statement was made by a marketing department official in the over-hyped moment that all the so called "big" companies are responsible for, misusing the Netbook trade mark to impress... get over it!

That chip will have it's place in the market, just not this one!

 

[btarunr]

So enlighten me with you never-ending wisdom why would someone play a 1080p clip on a 10" screen capable device? Not to mention that an image reduction of that resolution will take a lot more processing power to adapt to a small screen's resolution than the regular SD format.

Nothing to enlighten. VIA will use the same core-logic for both netbooks and nettops. The nettops based on this, like NVIDIA's Ion platform, will do 1080p video playback justice. VIA wouldn't care what monitor size you connect to it. All it assures is 1080p video playback goes smooth.

Oh, there is something to enlighten: be polite with each other.

 

[TreadR]

OK... if you would only point that to those that... excuse my expression... bitch about people not knowing how to read or telling them to read instead of asking politely as you said, what they've meant.

I can understand the nettops, but for netbooks it's kinda useless.

"VIA wouldn't care what monitor size you connect to it."
That's if you can. In the case of a netbooks like OCZ's neutrion, Eee PC or Aspire One don't have DVI nor do they have HDMI outputs... so what's the point? It defeats the purpose of HD.

 

[suraswami]

This is really nice. Go Via Go

2.3w total and fanless awesome. Probably I will buy one because total system consumption with SSD or CF will be less than 20w and it can be let run 24/7 like domain controller, file server or print server apart from its basic function that it was created for.

 

[suraswami]

OK... if you would only point that to those that... excuse my expression... bitch about people not knowing how to read or telling them to read instead of asking politely as you said, what they've meant.

I can understand the nettops, but for netbooks it's kinda useless.

"VIA wouldn't care what monitor size you connect to it."
That's if you can. In the case of a netbooks like OCZ's neutrion, Eee PC or Aspire One don't have DVI nor do they have HDMI outputs... so what's the point? It defeats the purpose of HD.

I think future versions will come with one.

 

[btarunr]

"VIA wouldn't care what monitor size you connect to it."
That's if you can. In the case of a netbooks like OCZ's neutrion, Eee PC or Aspire One don't have DVI nor do they have HDMI outputs... so what's the point? It defeats the purpose of HD.

Like I said, nothing in the release suggests they won't be using it on netbooks. This chipset is the same as NV's MCP79. A common design that saves RnD costs. They will use the same chip on netbooks (single chip design = low thermal footprint), and on nettops. I'm assured that when I place a nettop + external HDD + network in my living room to serve as a media center, the video playback will be smooth on my HDTV.

 

[R_1]

Where is Nano?

 

[[I.R.A]_FBi]

bta sheck out the first word

 

[MrMilli]

OK... if you would only point that to those that... excuse my expression... bitch about people not knowing how to read or telling them to read instead of asking politely as you said, what they've meant.

I can understand the nettops, but for netbooks it's kinda useless.

"VIA wouldn't care what monitor size you connect to it."
That's if you can. In the case of a netbooks like OCZ's neutrion, Eee PC or Aspire One don't have DVI nor do they have HDMI outputs... so what's the point? It defeats the purpose of HD.

You don't need to have a full HD capable screen to watch full HD content! But you still need full HD acceleration to be able to watch that full HD content (even on a small screen)!
The future of content is full HD ... so better have something that can play it ... not?

 

[TreadR]

Yes... like a HDMI equipped nettop or HTPC.

 

[R_1]

Yep, because your monitor is downscaling HD signal to it's native resolution.