X-bit labs

VIA Intros Low-Cost Chipset for AMD64 Platforms.

Category: Chipsets

by Anton Shilov

[ 10/21/2005 | 01:45 PM ]

VIA Technologies has introduced its long-awaited core-logic that features S3 Graphics’ graphics core with DirectX 9.0 functionality as well as advanced input/output (IO) controller. The new K8M890 chipset boosts the company’s ability to compete with products by ATI Technologies and NVIDIA Corp. on the market that has been growing rapidly.

VIA K8M890 chipsets support AMD Athlon 64, AMD Athlon 64 X2, AMD Sempron processors with 1000MHz HyperTransport bus. The K8M890 chip supports external PCI Express x16 graphics cards, but also integrates S3 Graphics DeltaChrome IGP graphics core with two pixel processors that operates at 250MHz. The DeltaChrome IGP also boasts the Chromotion Video Display Engine for enhanced visual output, HDTV output for up to 1920x1080p resolution, advanced 2D/3D graphics capabilities, comprehensive de-interlace support and DuoView technology for dual display output.

The VIA K8M890 can be connected to the recently introduced VIA VT8251 I/O controller using 1GHz Ultra V-Link bus. The new I/O chip supports PCI, PCI Express slots, 4 Serial ATA-II connectors (RAID 0, RAID 1, RAID 0+1, RAID 5 & JBOD supported), 2 Parallel ATA-133 connectors, 10/100Mb/s Ethernet, VIA AC’97 audio, 8 USB 2.0 ports and so on.

By launching the new chipset VIA Technologies hopes to recapture the market of AMD64 platforms. The company has lost the ground to rivals ATI Technologies and NVIDIA Corp., who have been offering entry-level and high-end chipsets for AMD64 processors. In fact, ATI’s RADEON XPRESS 200-series chipsets with integrated DirectX 9.0 graphics core was introduced about a year ago.

In the Q2 2005 NVIDIA commanded 35% of the market, down 20% from the previous quarter, according to data by Mercury Research. ATI commanded 27% of the market in Q2, up from virtually nothing in Q1 2005. VIA Technologies and Silicon Integrated Systems shared the rest 38%.

“The VIA K8M890 builds on VIA’s strong position as the leading supplier of IGP chipsets for the AMD64 platform, and reinforces our commitment to OEMs and system integrators to develop powerful yet versatile platforms,” said Chewei Lin, vice president of product marketing, VIA Technologies.

VIA said that the K8M890 chipset was available for orders and mainboards featuring the chipset would be available from “all the world’s leading motherboard manufacturers” in Q4 of this year.