Mobile CPU Specifications
Cyrix, VIA, and Transmeta Mobile CPUs
Via C3 ('Nehemiah' CPU Core) - 22 January
2003 - VIA Technologies, Inc., a leading innovator and developer of
silicon chip technologies and PC platform solutions, announced its new
generation VIA C3 processor integrating the 'Nehemiah' core. With its
powerful PadLock™ Data Encryption Engine, this next generation
VIA C3 is the first native x86 processor on the market with embedded
security features that enhance the protection of sensitive corporate
and personal data.
Available now at a speed of 1GHz, the new processor core is based on
an advanced new CoolStream processor architecture that delivers all
the necessary performance for running even the most demanding digital
media applications while maintaining ultra low levels of power consumption
and heat dissipation.
PadLock™ Data Encryption Engine
The PadLock Data Encryption Engine has been integrated into the new
generation VIA C3 processor to ensure greater confidentiality, integrity,
and authenticity of electronic data either stored in the computer or
transmitted over a network or the Internet, and enables a host of powerful
new security applications, including heavy-duty data encryption and
safer online transactions.
At its heart is an advanced Random Number Generator (RNG) that uses
random electrical noise on the chip to securely produce random number
values, and features a direct application level interface through a
new x86 instruction. Developers can obtain random numbers directly from
the hardware without having to use separate software drivers, thereby
providing an inherently more secure and efficient solution than combined
hardware/software RNG architectures. The RNG includes several operating
modes, offering performance from 750K bits per second to as high as
6 million bits per second.
CoolStream™ Architecture
Based on the advanced CoolStream architecture, the new generation VIA
C3 processor has a highly efficient design that, when coupled with the
VIA Apollo CLE266 chipset, delivers performance increases of up to 20%
over the current version of the VIA C3 processor in mainstream productivity
applications and up to 73% for 3D graphics applications, while continuing
to deliver the same benefits of low power and minimal heat dissipation.
New performance features include support for clock speeds of 1GHz and
beyond, four new pipeline stages, SSE multimedia instructions, StepAhead™
Advanced Branch Prediction, an efficiency enhanced 64KB Full-Speed Exclusive
L2 cache with 16-way associativity, and a full-speed FPU.
With a typical maximum design power of just over 10 watts at 1GHz,
the processor runs extremely cool and delivers very low levels of energy
consumption.
VIA C3 - Introduced in May, 2001 this was
the second, more powerful low power processor from VIA. The VIA C3,
socket 370 compatible processor, was originally available at speeds
of 700MHz, 733MHz, 750MHz, and 800MHz.
In June 2001 VIA debuted the 800 MHz mobile versionof this CPU. In September
2001 the 866 MHz C3 was introduced and in December 2001 the 933 MHz
C3 was announced.
Per Via, "Built using the industry's most advanced 0.13 and 0.15
manufacturing processes, the VIA C3™ features the world's smallest
x86 processor die size of only 52mm2 to optimize power consumption and
heat dissipation properties. Additional features include 128KB full
speed Level 1 cache and 64KB full speed Level 2 cache, 100/133MHz Front
Side Bus support, and MMX™ and 3DNow! instructions for enhanced
multimedia and Internet performance."
| InfoHQ Comment: The VIA C3 can be expected
to perform about as fast as a Celeron at the same clock speed. |
VIA Cyrix III. VIA Technologies, Inc. on
June 6, 2000 announced the introduction of a new version of the VIA
Cyrix™ III processor running at speeds ranging from 533MHz to 667MHz.
The new VIA Cyrix® III processor was designed by VIA's Centaur Technology
team located in Austin, Texas, and is manufactured using an advanced
0.18 micron process. With a die size of only 76mm2, the new VIA Cyrix®
III processor minimizes power consumption to less than 10 watts, making
it an ideal solution for fanless desktop designs as well as maximizing
battery life in mobile devices. This new CPU is compatible with Intel's
Socket 370 interface.
Available at speeds ranging from 533MHz to 667MHz, the new VIA Cyrix®
III processor also features a large and highly efficient 128KB Level
1 cache, a high-speed 100MHz/133MHz Front Side Bus, and support for
enhanced 3DNow! technology.
The VIA Cyrix® III processor is in production using a 0.18 micron, 6-layer
process.
InfoHQ Comment. From the specs of this chip, it is in the
same class as the AMD K6-2 and Intel Celeron. Whether it is faster
or slower than these CPUs, largely depends on the speed of its floating
point unit. The lack of L2 cache isn't a good performance indicator,
however it does keep cost and heat down.
It appears that Cyrix hopes to aim this CPU at the low power/notebook
market, and that is probably where it will have its best chance
at success. |
Cyrix Media GX- was usually sold at speeds
of 300MHz.
Transmeta Crusoe Processor - Transmeta
has introduced 3 separate families of its ultra low power consumption
Crusoe processors; the TM3200 at speeds of 333, 366, and 400 MHz and
the TM5400/TM5600 versions at a speeds from 500-700 MHz and its latest
generation TM5800 with processors at speeds of 733, 800, 867, 933, and
1000 MHz.
The Transmeta Crusoe processor is unique as it is a generic processor
that executes the x86 instruction set (PC CPU functions) in software
rather than in hardware like all other Mobile PC processors in this
article.
Per Transmeta, the benefits of their "Code Morphing technology"
are:
--" The hardware component is considerably smaller, faster, and
more power efficient than conventional chips.
-- The hardware is fully decoupled from the x86 instruction set architecture,
enabling Transmeta's engineers to take advantage of the latest and best
in hardware design trends without affecting legacy software.
-- The Code Morphing software can evolve separately from hardware. This
means that upgrades to the software portion of the microprocessor can
be rolled out independently of hardware chip revisions."
InfoHQ Comment: The downside to having CPUs execute instructions
in software rather than hardware is that it is much slower. Crusoe
processors have been estimated to be as much as 40% slower than
conventional mobile processors running PC applications.
If you were trying to maximize battery life and reduce heat then
this could be your perfect processor. However, realize that the
700 MHz Crusoe will perform more like a 400 MHz Celeron in all applications. |
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