Via is sampling the first chipset for its new C7 series desktop processors. The CN700 IGP chipset features 533MHz frontside (processor) and memory buses, built-in Unichrome graphics, a variety of media interfaces, and a low-power design, the company says.

Via announced its C7 desktop and C7-M mobile chip lines in May. The chips were expected to begin shipping from a IBM fabrication facility using 90nm silicon-on-insulator process technology in Q2, 2005.

In August, Via announced its VN800 chipset for the C7-M mobile processor. The VN800 has a unique twist — it can be used with either the C7-M or Intel's Pentium M, Via says, letting laptop makers keep their options open.

The new CN700 chipset for Via's C7 desktop chips includes a CN700 northbridge, along with a VT8237A southbridge — the same southbridge used in the VN800 mobile chipset.

The CN700 northbridge features a 533MHz frontside (processor) bus, along with a DDR and DDR2-compatible memory bus supporting speeds up to 533MHz. It has built-in Unichrome graphic, along with an AGP port for offboard chipsets and an HDTV interface.

Via's CN700 desktop chipset uses the same southbridge as its VN800 mobile chipset

Claimed features include:

• Supports up to 2GB DDR2 533/400MHz or DDR400/333/266MHz SDRAM
• 533 MB/sec 8-bit V-Link Host Controller supporting V-Map modular architecture
• Chromotion CE video display engine
• MPEG-2 decoder
• Video de-blocking
• Adaptive de-Interlace
• DuoView+
• Full HDTV support up to 1080i / 720p
• Integrated UniChrome Pro Graphics
• Optimized unified memory architecture (UMA)
• 200MHz graphics engine clock with separated 128-bit data paths
• 128-bit 2D and 3D Graphics engine
• 12-bit DVI transmitter
• 24-bit flat panel display interface and dual 12-bit flat panel display interface
• 12-bit interface to external TV encoder for SDTV and HDTV display
• Support for VIA Vinyl Gold 8-channel HD audio controller & integrated VIA Vinyl 6-channel HD audio
• Serial ATA support for up to 4 devices
• Integrated V-RAID 0, RAID 1, and RAID 0+1*, and JBOD (SATA) support
• Parallel ATA133/100/66 support for up to 4 devices
• Support for up to 8 USB 2.0/USB 1.1 ports
• Support for VIA Velocity gigabit Ethernet companion controller & Integrated 10/100 fast ethernet
• Advanced system power management support

VP of product marketing Chewei Lin said, “The CN700 [could] enable a new generation of ultra low power, quiet, compact, stylish, and ultra reliable devices.”

 
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