X-bit labs

ALi to Position M1563 as I/O Processor for Transmeta Efficeon.

Category: Mobile

by Anton Shilov

[ 09/24/2003 | 09:43 AM ]

Being a not really influential player in the chipset market as it used to be years ago, ALi tries to promote its core-logic products for mobile computers, a market where positions of the company are more solid these days. So far ALi has been the only provider of chipsets for Transmeta Crusoe processors designed for thin and low-power mobile computers, but a week ago information about NVIDIA making a core-logic for Transmeta’s next-generation Efficeon processor leaked into the web (see September 17, 2003, news-story for more information). In response, today GZeasy.com web-site told the world that ALi’s M1563 Media Processor will be promoted as a solution for the new Transmeta CPUs.

ALi M1563 is an I/O controller that comes with ALi’s new North Bridges. As ALi utilises HyperTransport technology to connect components of its chipsets, every latest I/O controller from ALi can be connected to Transmeta’s microprocessors. Since the Efficeon chips have built-in PC3200 memory as well as AGP 4x controllers that are typically integrated into North Bridges of chipsets.

Specifications of ALi M1563 are not too impressive, but, generally speaking, they are enough for the vast majority of Efficeon based computers, moreover, the feature-set is practically the same as offered by NVIDIA’s C8000. The I/O controller supports 2 Parallel ATA-66/100/133 ports, up to 6 USB 2.0 ports, AC’97 audio, up to 6 PCI slots, Memory Stick interface, 10/100 Mb/s Fast Ethernet and HomePNA 1.0/2.0 MAC layer. Additional features include Host Signal Processing (HSP) software modem solution, ACPI support, green function, and Real Time Clock.

Well, we can surely see a progress in Transmeta’s business: this year the company is likely to be supported by two chipset makers, while initially it only partnered with one core-logic designer.