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- Date:
- Thursday , January 24, 2008
- Author:
- Kyle Bennett
- Editor:
- Steve Lynch
- Google +1
VIA's New Centaur Designed Isaiah CPU Architecture
If you would have told me last year that I would be able to sit down and play Crysis on a VIA low power CPU, well, I think I would have to had called BS on that, but I did just that yesterday. That get your attention?
The CN / Isaiah Die
Below is a block diagram and picture of the die that has been drawn off into the areas specified in the graphic.
Marketing Fluff
What would our lives be without a bit of marketing?
VIA Unveils Next-Generation Isaiah x86 Processor Architecture
New architecture provides substantial increases in performance and functionality with leading power efficiency to enable next generation “Small is Beautiful” computing devices
Austin, Texas, US, 24 January 2008 – VIA Technologies, Inc, a leading innovator of x86 silicon and platform technologies, today announced details of the VIA Isaiah Architecture, a new x86 processor architecture that will deliver significant boosts to the functionality and performance of desktop, mobile and ultra mobile PCs while minimizing power requirements, saving on battery life and enabling ultra compact system designs.
Designed from the ground up by the company’s US-based processor design subsidiary, Centaur Technology Inc., the VIA Isaiah Architecture combines all the latest advances in x86 processor technology, including a 64-bit superscalar speculative out-of-order microarchitecture, high-performance multimedia computation, and a new virtual machine architecture. The first generation of Isaiah-based products will be pin-compatible with the VIA C7 processor family, enabling a smooth transition for system builders and providing them with an easy upgrade path for current designs.
Is the CN Real?
In short, is the CN processor some pipe dream or vaporware product we will never see? Absolutely not. Not only did we see we see actual CN processors being "built" in-house at Centaur, we saw hundreds of them running in testing environments. Here is a nice close-up of a CN processor that Centaur sent me home with. Sadly, I have nowhere to put it. (And no, you don’t need to mail me suggestions.)
The Bottom Line
To be frank, I am surprised as you are. VIA and Centaur have a real processor here that will likely be a boon for them in the UMPC space. I think that VIA’s biggest problem is going to be making enough, but with the likes of Fujitsu, IBM, and TSMC behind them, hopefully that will be a hurdle that can be cleared. A 64-bit superscaler out-of-order processor with enough performance to run Crysis crammed into a 60mm^2 area pulling less than 35w that can be dropped into current UMPC devices fitting into the palm of your hand? Sign me up VIA.
Final bugs are being squashed as we speak. Now let's all form a drum circle and pray VIA does not brand it something we will be embarrassed to mention by name when we are telling our geek buddies about our new toy we just got with a new CN processor inside.
Digg
Discussion
Join our HardForum discussion about the new VIA CN processor here.