VIA Introduces K8T800 Pro, Intel to Confirm Death of "Tejas", So Long Leo...

Good morning folks.  We've got some major announcements today, some good, some bad, all very interesting.  Let's jump into it and see what is going on...


VIA Raises the Performance Bar for the AMD64 Processor Platform with Introduction of VIA K8T800 Pro Chipset

Asynchronous bus architecture enables power users to fully optimize their system settings for the ultimate PC gaming and entertainment experience

Taipei, Taiwan, May 6, 2004 - VIA Technologies, Inc, a leading innovator and developer of silicon chip technologies and PC platform solutions, today announced the launch of the VIA K8T800 Pro, further expanding its range of market-leading chipset solutions for the AMD64 processor platform.

The VIA K8T800 Pro features an advanced new asynchronous bus architecture, which allows for improved system optimization options and enables power users to squeeze the very most out of their AMD Athlon™ 64 and Athlon 64 FX processor based systems. This new architecture enables the AGP and PCI buses to be locked in the event of the system's front side bus or clock multiplier being tweaked for faster performance, essentially providing a highly stable overclocking platform.

"The new VIA K8T800 Pro builds on the success of the market-leading VIA K8T800," commented Richard Brown, Associate Vice President of Marketing, VIA Technologies, Inc. "With its asynchronous architecture and rich feature set, it sets the new standard for chipset performance and scalability on the AMD64 processor platform, providing the ultimate gaming and entertainment experience for the today's highly demanding power user."

About the VIA K8T800 Pro Chipset
Designed to support a complete range of AMD Athlon 64, Athlon 64 FX, and Opteron processors, the VIA K8T800 Pro leverages VIA's Hyper8 technology to enable a high bandwidth HyperTransport processor-to-chipset link, ensuring that all AMD64 processor-based systems can achieve their full performance potential.

In combination with the market-leading VIA VT8237 South Bridge and a broad array of VIA companion chips, the VIA K8T800 Pro chipset provides the most comprehensive range of storage, multimedia and connectivity features available for the AMD64 processor platform today, including native Serial ATA and V-RAID, 6-channel or 8-channel VIA Vinyl audio, VIA Velocity™ Gigabit Ethernet, USB2.0, and 1394.

The VIA K8T800 Pro is part of VIA's unique Modular Architecture Platform (V-MAP), which minimizes design times and time-to-market for motherboard partners through a flexible, pin-compatible design approach for VIA core-logic solutions. Motherboard partners are able to cover multiple market segments with fewer design resources, and also benefit from a single unified driver base.

The VIA K8T800 Pro is shipping to customers now, and motherboards featuring the chipset will be available from all the world's leading mainboard makers.

About VIA Technologies, Inc.
VIA Technologies, Inc. (TSE 2388) is the foremost fabless supplier of market-leading core logic chipsets, low power x86 processors, advanced connectivity, multimedia, networking and storage silicon, and complete platform solutions that are driving system innovation in the PC and embedded markets. Headquartered in Taipei, Taiwan, VIA's global network links the high tech centers of the US, Europe and Asia, and its customer base includes the world's top OEMs, motherboard vendors and system integrators. www.via.com.tw

 


Arstechnica is reporting that Comcast will fire the entire TechTV staff:

"At the end of March Comcast announced that it had purchased TechTV from Paul Allen's Vulcan Ventures in order to strengthen the channel and fold it in with their own, largely ignored gaming channel, G4. The future of TechTV was uncertain, but hopeful. Now it appears that Comcast may be planning to gut the network, as they've given the entire staff their mandatory 60-days notice in compliance with the WARN act. News of the notice first showed up in the forums at Leoville and was confirmed shortly thereafter by Leo Laporte, longtime TechTV star (if you can call it that) and member of the cast of The Screensavers and Call for Help."

ITWeek reports Samsung unveils multi-file audio players:

"The players are compatible with MP3, WMA, WAV and feature a built-in FM tuner and voice recording capability.  Housed in a 23 x 54 x 23 mm case, and weighing 24g without battery, both models also double as removable storage devices that offer file transfer with a direct USB adapter. One AAA battery is estimated to provide up to 15 hours of playback."

What was a rumor yesterday should be confirmed today. ZDNET reports Intel to shelve new desktop, server chips codenamed Tejas and Jayhawk:

"Intel on Friday is expected disclose further details about its intentions for future desktop and server chip development, which may borrow from its line of processors for mobile computers, the person said. Engineers who have worked on the canceled chips will be reassigned."

BJORN3D takes a look at the Saitek P880 Dual Analog Pad:

"If you haven't looked lately, good gamepads are cheap. I remember paying over $40 for the original Microsoft Sidewinder. Today you can get an excellent and more fully-featured gamepad for half that amount. I did some cursory research on current offerings and headed over to CompUSA for a tryout. Fifteen minutes of trying controllers on for fit and features sent me home with our review subject, the Saitek P880 Dual Analog Pad."

Well, that's it for now!

Tags:  Intel, VIA, CES, Death, Leo, K8, pro, EA, Intro, K