VIA’s CN700 chipset on prowl

Leading entrant into the -nation’s Information Technology (IT) market, VIA Technologies Inc of Taiwan has announced its CN700 IGP chipset, featuring leading digital media technologies and advanced low power design to enable system design innovation across a wide range of VIA C7 processor-powered devices.

Some of the processor-powered devices capable of using this include
mini Personal Computers (PCs), fanless embedded commercial systems and stylish,
quiet home entertainment centers for the living room.

Public relations contact at VIA, Mr. Richard Brown, said the integrated S3 Graphics UniChrome Pro IGP core ensures exceptional second and third dimension (2D/3D) graphics performance and a truly High Definition (HD) experience.

This is in addition to its flexible display outputs for Cathode Ray Tube (CRT) and Liquid Crystal Display (LCD), as well as standard definition and High Definition Television (HDTV) up to 1080 pixel resolution with a compatible Digital Visual Interface (DVI) or TV encoder, while the signature hardware The MPEG Home Page.

This is the home page of the Moving Picture Experts Group (MPEG-2) decoding and the intelligent video rendering techniques of the Chromotion CE Video Display Engine deliver smooth video playback.

Supporting the VIA version four bus up to 533 Mega Hertz (MHz), the VIA CN700 IGP chipset leverages support for both DDR2 and DDR memory modules with built-in system and graphics power management, to deliver a highly flexible solution for developers looking to design powerful and feature-rich yet compact and quiet desktop and embedded devices.

“The VIA CN700 chipset was specifically designed to enable the VIA C7 processor platform to deliver great system and digital media performance without compromise,” commented Chewei Lin, Vice President of Product Marketing, VIA Technologies, Inc said,“With its integrated S3 Graphics UniChrome Pro core, and featuring support for the latest DDR2 memory and the high bandwidth V4 bus, the CN700 is equipped with all the right tools to enable a new generation of ultra low power, quiet, compact, stylish and ultra reliable devices.”

Combined with the VIA VT8237A South Bridge, the VIA CN700 offers a comprehensive range of integrated storage, multimedia and connectivity options, including native Serial ATA and multiple configuration V-RAID, support for VIA Vinyl High Definition Audio, and high-throughput Gigabit Ethernet with the VIA Velocity controller.

He noted that though pricing of this product is available upon request, the product is expected to be available in volume quantities in first quarter of 2006.