Via readies Isaiah chip to compete with AMD and Intel
Is the end of the Intel-AMD duopoly nigh? Via Technologies is hoping this may be the case when it announces the “Isaiah” processor later this month.
The company’s first high-performance x86 chip will be targeted at the mainstream PC market–another first for the Taipei-based chip supplier. Via processors have historically appeared in ultrasmall mobile devices (such as the OQO), embedded computers, or thin-client computers.
“It puts us into the mainstream market for the first time,” said Richard Brown, vice president, corporate marketing at Via.
Isaiah, like Via processors before it, will still hew to the lower-power line, however.
Other differences include: Atom uses a more simple “in-order execution” design compared to Isaiah’s Superscalar, out-of-order design.
Because of this more sophisticated design, Isaiah may deliver higher performance than Atom, though independent benchmarking will be the final judge.
Via subsidiary Centaur Technology designed the processor. “Centaur has been working on this for the last three years. It’s between two and four times the performance of C7 (Via’s current processor). So, it’ very, very close to (Intel’s) Core 2. Core 2 solo (single core),” Brown said.
Full Article: CNet
While it is good to have more competition in the market, Via is still a few years behind AMD and Intel. The Core Solo that they are equating it to was released in the beginning of 2006. However, if they can put pressure on the ultra portable market, that’s great. I have been hesitant to purchase a device with a Via chip because it has been relatively unknown, but I will keep my eye on their future performance.