Although VIA is still using a relatively outdated Savage4 graphics core in its integrated solutions, S3 doesn’t keep its hands in pockets, as it might seem. Even though the company keeps postponing its new products, we will be still able to see some new solutions from S3 very soon, as to The Inquirer. According to the updated company roadmap, S3 is going to finish the development of their new Zoetrope core in the beginning of next year, and the next graphics core aka Columbia should be completed by next June.
As you remember, VIA is planning to use the upcoming Zoetrope core in its next generation P4X333 and KM333 DDR chipsets due in Q2 2002. In fact, Zoetrope is none other but a slightly enhanced Savage2000. This core will work at 166MHz, will feature two rendering pipelines with 2 TMUs on each, will have a hardware T&L and support DuoView technology (dual-monitor support).
As for Columbia, which launching has been delayed for over half a year now, it will be a totally new product also intended for us in VIA’s integrated chipsets as well as for regular add-on graphics cards. Speaking about its features, we should definitely mention the 4 texturing pipelines with 2 TUMs on each, DirectX 9 compatible T&L unit and 128bit DDR SDRAM support. Columbia chips are supposed to be manufactured with 0.13micron technology and to support 300MHz working frequency. The first silicon samples of the new core are expected to be ready by next November. The mass shipments are scheduled for 2003.
This way, if we used to see Columbia as a good chance for S3 to return to the performance graphics cards market, now this is no longer the case. As the launching scheduled has been moved to some later time, S3 can count only on some part of the budget market. However, if they revise and change the specs of their new product, then Columbia may have to compete with the future ATI R400 and NVIDIA NV35...