VIA QuadCore Processor Revealed

[btarunr]

VIA Technologies revealed its upcoming 4-core processor, simply called "QuadCore". The chip comes in BGA packages, and is simply a multi-chip module (MCM) of two Nano X2 dies built on the 40 nm process. One of the first models is the QuadCore L4700, which is clocked at 1.20 GHz with a BClk of 266 MHz. Using the Adaptive Overclocking feature, the processor can bump clock speeds up to 1.46 GHz provided the thermal solution by the manufacturer can keep up, while keeping the chip within its thermal constraint of 27.5W TDP. Each of the two dies can independently up speeds based on their individual loads and temperatures.

The VIA QuadCore L4700 features four x86-64 cores split between two dual-core dies that share a V4 front-side bus clocked at 1333 MHz. The processor has a total L2 cache of 4 MB, also split between the two dies. On the feature-set front, SIMD extensions up to SSE3 are available, so is VIA Virtualization Technology, and Padlock Security Engine, which is a fast hardware random number generator that speeds up AES encryption. The processor itself doesn't feature on-die memory controller or integrated graphics, and continues to rely on the chipset for memory and graphics. VIA's QuadCore L4700 is expected to be released in Q3, 2011, at least one can expect VIA-made demo platforms to be shown at Computex.



Source: The Tech Report

[RejZoR]

Cool. I wish they would be more active in the CPU segment. I kinda miss notebooks and these days netbooks that would run VIA CPU and S3 Chrome graphic card. Considering they are now from the same company and that S3 Chrome wasn't all that bad.

[DanTheBanjoman]

Interesting name, did they fire the marketing department?

[micropage7]

cool, its been a while since via sounds no where
but it needs to prove itself as a reliable and powerful processor to challenge the king of the block (you know that)

[Melvis]

Sounds like a Intel chip.

Good to see VIA coming along slowly.

[DanTheBanjoman]

Originally Posted by micropage7

cool, its been a while since via sounds no where
but it needs to prove itself as a reliable and powerful processor to challenge the king of the block (you know that)

It won't. Via has never bothered to make powerful processors. Just low power ones.

[LifeOnMars]

Originally Posted by DanTheBanjoman

Interesting name, did they fire the marketing department?

Imagine if AMD were the same, the name of their chips could be interesting -

Presenting the new "Dual core which may unlock to a triple core, possibly even a quad" CPU

[RejZoR]

I remember notebooks that we used to seel with VIA C7 processors, VIA chipset and S3 Chrome graphics. And it wasn't bad at all. That range was meant for office usage anyway so even AMD or Intel offerings weren't much different as far as performance was concerned.

[Funtoss]

wait.. so via isnt an intel or an amd chip? lol

is it for laptops?

[micropage7]

Originally Posted by DanTheBanjoman

It won't. Via has never bothered to make powerful processors. Just low power ones.

true, i mean for low power processor too. at least we have another processor to choose

[SeanG]

I wonder what is using 52% cpu usage,explorer?

[Drone]

The more cpus, the better.

[Yukikaze]

Expect actual products with this chip somewhere in 2070. When VIA reveals something it takes this something forever to actually get to market.

[Rexter]

Its a little sad that VIA is close to forgotten amongst consumers. They were first with ultra low power cpu's, but got left in the dust by amd and especially intel.

I really hope they can get their act together and speed up to a competetive level. Because now that AMD has released their Fusion cpu's to compete with intel's Atom cpu's we are finally seeing some competetion in that segment. Imagine if a third player entered that field, more competition can only benefit us consumers in the end. Thats why i want VIA to step their game up.

[SetsunaFZero]

Originally Posted by Rexter

Its a little sad that VIA is close to forgotten amongst consumers. They were first with ultra low power cpu's, but got left in the dust by amd and especially intel.

I really hope they can get their act together and speed up to a competetive level. Because now that AMD has released their Fusion cpu's to compete with intel's Atom cpu's we are finally seeing some competetion in that segment. Imagine if a third player entered that field, more competition can only benefit us consumers in the end. Thats why i want VIA to step their game up.

i think they dont care rly much bout the consumer market. via is more active in the industry especial in the car industry

[syeef]

I want to buy one... price?

[TheLaughingMan]

Both AMD and Intel would curb stomp this process in any price range above $45 MSRP. This will be a hard sell to make. I just don't see the viability of what you could put this in other than say Netbooks. And even that would be hard to sell with a full Northbridge and VGA chip being needed to support this "Quadcore."

Someone help me out because I don't see any place this processor could be sold where I could not replace it with an E-350 Zacate (more power efficient. not as powerful, but comes with integrate graphics and memory controller) or upcoming A8 (maybe not as power efficient, but it will more powerful, and integrated goodies) or the Intel i3 2100T (TDP of 35W is close to the same heat requirements, more powerful, IGP, memory control, Intel AVX, hyper-threading).

[FordGT90Concept]

I wonder who it would stand up to similarly priced AMD quad cores. It might make a good low-duty server processor.

[HalfAHertz]

Originally Posted by TheLaughingMan

Both AMD and Intel would curb stomp this process in any price range above $45 MSRP. This will be a hard sell to make. I just don't see the viability of what you could put this in other than say Netbooks. And even that would be hard to sell with a full Northbridge and VGA chip being needed to support this "Quadcore."

Someone help me out because I don't see any place this processor could be sold where I could not replace it with an E-350 Zacate (more power efficient. not as powerful, but comes with integrate graphics and memory controller) or upcoming A8 (maybe not as power efficient, but it will more powerful, and integrated goodies) or the Intel i3 2100T (TDP of 35W is close to the same heat requirements, more powerful, IGP, memory control, Intel AVX, hyper-threading).

VIA don't just sell processors...they sell complete platform solutions which I think is amazing considering their size. So instead of buying the CPU/RAM/Mobo/PSU/Case separately, you can buy the whole system assembled, tested and packaged.

[Frick]

Originally Posted by TheLaughingMan

Both AMD and Intel would curb stomp this process in any price range above $45 MSRP. This will be a hard sell to make. I just don't see the viability of what you could put this in other than say Netbooks. And even that would be hard to sell with a full Northbridge and VGA chip being needed to support this "Quadcore."

Someone help me out because I don't see any place this processor could be sold where I could not replace it with an E-350 Zacate (more power efficient. not as powerful, but comes with integrate graphics and memory controller) or upcoming A8 (maybe not as power efficient, but it will more powerful, and integrated goodies) or the Intel i3 2100T (TDP of 35W is close to the same heat requirements, more powerful, IGP, memory control, Intel AVX, hyper-threading).

If they make Nano and pico boards to go with it it would be awesome.

[micropage7]

Originally Posted by HalfAHertz

VIA don't just sell processors...they sell complete platform solutions which I think is amazing considering their size. So instead of buying the CPU/RAM/Mobo/PSU/Case separately, you can buy the whole system assembled, tested and packaged.

yep. remember who is the first that use mini itx platform? via is the one that still run on mini itx
i guess for one package via still has the chance, especially on green computer area, or any system that need low power or multimedia things
note: the processor is like oldies AMD

[Chevalr1c]

Thin clients, or so?

[Frick]

Originally Posted by Chevalr1c

Thin clients, or so?

That and industrial computers. Etc. PoS.

[DaJMasta]

Originally Posted by Frick

If they make Nano and pico boards to go with it it would be awesome.

With a 27W TDP?


To stay competitive with power consumption they need to move to 32nm or smaller and soon.



Also not sure why people are defending S3 graphics... Had some in an athlon XP-M laptop that ran XP home, then linux.... and it was never impressive. Like the desktop 2D acceleration did not make moving a window or scrolling through a webpage smooth. Nothing but the most basic hardware decoding, I remember a score of 115 3dmarks in 3dmark03. '03!

Their more modern solutions have some capability, but they're behind intel GMA in terms of drivers, which doesn't indicate good things. The fact that they were still selling C7s with unichrome and unichrome pro graphics still doesn't sit right with me.


We hear things like the dual core nano and a chrome 500 series IGP.... then we never see them. If an OEM picks them up and makes even one or two low end products that are actually sold, maybe they'll see the consumer market as more lucrative and they'll improve drivers and featureset to make them compete with mature low-power platforms like the atom and AMD's fusion.

[TheLaughingMan]

Originally Posted by HalfAHertz

VIA don't just sell processors...they sell complete platform solutions which I think is amazing considering their size. So instead of buying the CPU/RAM/Mobo/PSU/Case separately, you can buy the whole system assembled, tested and packaged.

I don't think VIA makes RAM, but I digress. If you are talking about a complete pre-built system, my point still stands. Any desktop or laptop with a VIA Quadcore and their shit graphics processor version fail.8 will be in a bad spot against practically anything else. Unless they aim for the groin and go after netbooks and low power NAS devices or something.