VIA Debuts Solution For 1080p-Capable Netbooks
Making sure not to waste a single moment, VIA is already looking to capitalize on its recently introduced VX855 Media System Processor. Over at the VIA Global Mobility Bazaar (GMB) Tech Forum Spring in Shenzhen, China, the company has showcased its Surfboard C855 Reference Design, which aims to provide netbook makers with an all-encompassing solution to put a 1080p-capable system within a shell designed for a 10" to 12" display.
If you'll recall, the aforementioned VX855 has no troubles handling 1080p material, and currently, no value priced netbook can even come close to playing back 1,920 x 1,080 content without loads of stops, jumps and stutters. The Surfboard C855 is said to include a C7-M ULV processor, the VX855 and "advanced VIA multimedia and connectivity silicon that has been specifically designed for easy integration into devices targeted at the rapidly growing mini-notebook market." VIA's hoping that its design will be snapped up by OEMs looking for a pre-built solution that will reduce their time to market, and given the insatiable desire for 1080p at the lowest level of notebooks, we don't figure it'll have a tough time finding buyers.
In VIA's words: "The VIA Surfboard C855 meets [the demand for HD on netbooks] by providing flawless playback of high bit-rate 1080p HD video, which along with support for internal display resolutions of up to 1,366 x 768 pixels and external display resolutions up to 1,920 x 1,440 pixels, the latest high definition VIA Vinyl Audio, and a wide range of connectivity options, allows for a rich on-the-go multimedia experience."
No question, VIA has a huge edge on rivals like Intel and NVIDIA here, but it's surely just a matter of time before those behemoths catch up and push out HD-capable solutions of their own. Let the HD netbook wars begin!
If you'll recall, the aforementioned VX855 has no troubles handling 1080p material, and currently, no value priced netbook can even come close to playing back 1,920 x 1,080 content without loads of stops, jumps and stutters. The Surfboard C855 is said to include a C7-M ULV processor, the VX855 and "advanced VIA multimedia and connectivity silicon that has been specifically designed for easy integration into devices targeted at the rapidly growing mini-notebook market." VIA's hoping that its design will be snapped up by OEMs looking for a pre-built solution that will reduce their time to market, and given the insatiable desire for 1080p at the lowest level of notebooks, we don't figure it'll have a tough time finding buyers.In VIA's words: "The VIA Surfboard C855 meets [the demand for HD on netbooks] by providing flawless playback of high bit-rate 1080p HD video, which along with support for internal display resolutions of up to 1,366 x 768 pixels and external display resolutions up to 1,920 x 1,440 pixels, the latest high definition VIA Vinyl Audio, and a wide range of connectivity options, allows for a rich on-the-go multimedia experience."
No question, VIA has a huge edge on rivals like Intel and NVIDIA here, but it's surely just a matter of time before those behemoths catch up and push out HD-capable solutions of their own. Let the HD netbook wars begin!
