(Nikkei BP Group)
(No.1 High-Tech News Site in Japanese)
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| Taiwan's VIA Technologies to Develop New Chip Sets
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October 27, 1998 (TOKYO) -- Taiwan-based VIA Technologies Inc. unveiled
a roadmap in Tokyo for its future chip-set products.
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The company hopes to introduce chip sets that will enable it to compete
head on with Intel Corp.
In early 1999, VIA Technologies will begin marketing the Apollo MVP4
for low-end personal computers, a chip set that integrates U.S.-based
Trident Microsystems Inc.'s graphics accelerator (with a code name of
Porsche) on the Northbridge PCI system controller. This chip set is
designed for socket 7 application.
The MVP4 will compete with the chip set 810 for Celeron, which Intel
is developing under the code name Whitney and slated to be available
in the second half of 1999. The chip set 810 also integrates a 3D graphics
accelerator on the Northbridge.
VIA Technologies and Trident said the MVP4 has many integrated features,
such as functions and performance for 3D image processing, secondary
cache and functions to replay DVD content.
Also, VIA Technologies announced that it has already acquired a Direct
Rambus license for its main memory interface, and that it is developing
a chip set conforming to the Virtual Channel Memory standard proposed
by NEC Corp.
VIA Technologies is using new main memory interfaces for its chip sets,
such as the double data rate (DDR) synchronous dynamic random access
memory (SDRAM). And the company will comply with the Rambus standard
and the Virtual Channel, company officials said.
NEC said that the Virtual Channel SDRAM allows a 143MHz machine access
to a main memory with a CAS delay of 2 clocks.
As for the Virtual Channel, VIA Technologies will use its revised Apollo
MVP3 chip set for the existing socket 7, called the Stepping CE and
slated to be produced at the end of 1999. This will allow the socket
7 access to a main memory with a clock frequency of up to 143MHz.
Also, the company will develop a chip set for slot 1. A semiconductor
maker that obtained a license from Intel has already decided to produce
it, and VIA Technologies is negotiating with Intel Corp. for the license.
VIA Technologies will start marketing a chip set for socket 1 after
reaching an agreement with Intel.
VIA Technologies said that it is developing a chip set conforming to
the AMD-K7, a microprocessor using the next generation x86 core announced
by Advanced Micro Devices Inc. (AMD) on Oct. 13.
The company said it will expand its chip set lines for the x86 microprocessor,
including microprocessors compatible with x86.
(Nikkei Byte)
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