VIA To Release Dual Core Nano in 2010, Quad in 2011

VIA Technologies has reported a net loss of NT$1.44 billion (US$45.011 million) or NT$1.89 per share for the first half of 2010, versus NT$786 million in losses a year ago. Revenues for the period were NT$2.55 billion and gross profit came to NT$1.04 billion on 40.67% gross margin. Operating loss was NT$135 million.

Since VIA is set to launch its dual-core Nano processor using Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company's (TSMC's) 40nm process by the end of 2010 and has already received orders from Singapore and China, the company expects the new products to help reduce its loses and turn to profits in 2011.

VIA's dual-core Nano processor will feature core frequencies of 2GHz, supporting VIA's 1333MHz V4 Bus and a built-in 2MB L2 cache with a maximum TDP of 20W, targeting mainly the notebook market. VIA is also set to launch a quad-core processor by the end of 2011 and will pair the CPU with a new VN11 chipset, which supports DirectX 11.

VIA will also outsource the production of its existing VX1000 northbridges as well as the upcoming VN11 to TSMC.

 So, VIA is once again late to the party. By the end of 2010, AMD "Bobcat" APUs will be around, delivering a better package than anything VIA has historically delivered thus far - worse, in a 20W TDP with no mention of how it will scale down in power envelope. Not to mention that Intel has just released released a dual core Atom specifically targeted at netbooks, the N550.

Quad cores in the end of 2011? Given the track record, I wouldn't hold my breath for it.

Source: Digitimes

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