X-bit labs

SiS Brings Yet Another Athlon XP-M Mobile Chipset.

Category: Mobile

by Anton Shilov

[ 12/17/2003 | 06:44 AM ]

Silicon Integrated Systems on Tuesday unveiled a yet another core-logic for mobile AMD Athlon XP-M processors. Despite of the fact that such chips are approaching the end of active lifetime to free the market space for more powerful mobile AMD64 CPUs, SiS now proposes to build more Athlon XP-M notebooks with its new core-logic inside.

The main feature of SiS’ new M741 is ability to connect SiS162 WLAN controller creating a Centrino-like platform, but built around AMD chips. The M741 builds-in graphics core, single-channel PC3200 memory controller, support for CPUs with 333MHz FSB and AGP 8x. SiS963 will be coupled with SiSM741 as the South Bridge, which integrates 2-channel parallel ATA, 6 built-in USB 2.0 ports, full 5.1 channel surround sound, V90 modem and 10/100Mb/s Ethernet network.

On the whole, SiS now offers a fully-integrated solution for mobile computers powered by AMD Athlon XP-M processors. At this time Silicon Integrated Systems is the only company, who presents this sort of platform that includes chipset with integrated graphics and a WLAN chip for AMD CPUs. The approach resembles Centrino strategy Intel has been successfully using for a number of months, though, SiS does not promote any special brands for its M741 and satellite controllers.

In early April this year AMD and VIA reportedly had plans to offer an alternative for Intel Centrino, but based on technologies developed by other companies. The most crucial part of this should have probably been a new brand-name representing modern mobile technologies in the market. Neither AMD nor VIA have actually done anything. The same applies to Transmeta, who develops CPUs that work with ALi’s or NVIDIA’s chipsets. Looks like SiS is ahead of all these companies with its new product. Unfortunately, given the lack of marketing for SiS M741, end-users will hardly be looking forward specifically for devices based on M741 and Athlon XP-M CPUs.