VIA has decided to update its Nano family of processors by releasing the new Nano X2 E-Series. The VIA Nano X2 E-Series processors combine two 64-bit, superscalar VIA Nano cores on one die, offering enhanced multitasking and superb multimedia performance on a low power budget for embedded products. Available in 1.2+ GHz and 1.6+ GHz, these X2 E-Series processors adopt the VIA VT virtualization technology that allows legacy software and applications to be used in virtual scenarios without impacting performance. The unique VIA AES Security Engine also offers hardware-based data encryption on-the-fly, an essential tool in content protection and system security. Systems and boards featuring VIA Nano X2 E-Series processors will be available in Q2 2011. [Press Release]
The VIA Eden X2 series is claimed as the world’s most power-efficient dual-core processors. Designed for fanless implementation, the VIA Eden X2 processors use the latest 40nm manufacturing process, combining two 64-bit, superscalar VIA Eden cores on one die, offering enhanced multi-tasking and superb multimedia performance on a rigidly low power budget. These processors also include a couple of interesting technologies such as VIA VT virtualization and AES Security Engine. The VIA Eden X2 series is sampling now to project customers with systems and boards featuring the VIA Eden X2 coming in the second quarter of 2011. [VIA]
AMD has announced the availability of five new members of the AMD Opteron 6100 Series processor family for SMBs and enterprise segment. The Opteron 6132 HE is an 8-core chip with a clock frequency of 2.2GHz and TDP of 65W. The Opteron 6140 is also an 8-core chip but offers 2.6GHz core frequency and higher TDP of 80W. The Opteron 6166 HE, 6176, and 6180 SE are all 12-core processors, which have 65W TDP and 1.8GHz core speed, 80W TDP and 2.3GHz core speed, and 105W TDP and 2.5GHz core frequency, respectively. [PCLaunches]
Freescale Semiconductor today introduced the i.MX 6 series of quad-, dual- and single-core applications processors designed to deliver outstanding performance and scalability to manufacturers targeting the hottest-selling smart mobile, automotive infotainment and embedded device categories. The FreeScale i.MX 6 series integrates one, two or four ARM Cortex-A9 cores running at up to 1.2GHz each in order to deliver up to 5x the performance of Freescale’s current generation of applications processors. This performance provides additional headroom for unbounded user experiences in next-generation tablets, smartbooks, smartphones and e-book readers. The i.MX 6 series can deliver up to 24 hours of HD video playback and 30-plus days of device standby time. Integrated power management capabilities reduce the need for external PMICs and help to ensure only those components required for a task are powered. Freescale plans to begin sampling i.MX 6 series devices later this year. [Ubergizmo]
IBM has proudly introduced the z196 superfast processor, which is designed for supercomputers. Running at 5.2GHz, the IBM z196 is based on CISC architecture and contains 1.4 billion transistors on 512 sq. mm chip fabricated on 45-nm PD SOI technology. The chip also features a 64 Kbyte level-1 instruction cache, a 128-Kbyte L1 data cache, a 1.5-Mbyte private L2 cache per core, plus a pair of co-processors used for cryptographic operations. IBM will officially release the z196 processor in September 2010. Read more
VIA has recently unveiled the Nano 3000 series processors, which are actually a competitor to the Intel Atom CPUs. Based on the 64-bit superscalar ‘Isaiah’ architecture, the VIA Nano CPUs support several advanced features including 64-bit support, advanced CPU virtualization technology, SSE4 for enhanced multimedia processing, and the industry-leading encryption and security capabilities integrated in the VIA PadLock Security Engine. VIA’s new Nano 3000 series will be released in Q1 2010. [VIA]
Advanced Micro Devices today released their new quad core Opteron series that consists of five new processors. These energy-efficient processors are using 65nm technology and feature an integrated memory controller in a low 55-watt ACP thermal envelope. The Opteron HE (Highly Efficient) series include 2347 HE ($377), 2346 HE ($255), 2344 HE ($209), 8347 HE ($873), and 8346 HE ($698) processors. The 8347 HE comes with 1900MHz core speed, 512KB L2 cache, and 1000MHz system bus. The 2347 HE provides 1900MHz core speed, 512KB L2cache, 1000MHz system bus, and 1900MHz cache speed. The 2346 HE and 2344 HE also offer the same specification except for 1800- and 1700MHz core speed respectively. [PCLaunches]
