Thursday, January 23, 2003
Taiwan's Via Technologies Inc. here today rolled out a low-power, 1-GHz microprocessor, equipped with new and embedded security features.
The latest VIA C3 processor from the Taipei-based company is built around its “Nehemiah” MPU core and the “CoolStream” advanced-branch prediction architecture. The chip also features the PadLock Data Encryption Engine for data security applications in low-cost PC computing, said Paul Hsu, executive assistant to the president and head of Via's CPU Business Unit.
Via represents the latest processor vendor to incorporate security features in its products. Transmeta Corp. recently rolled out the Crusoe TM5800 processor line--equipped with new and advanced security features. Transmeta's new security technologies will ship with its processors in the second half of 2003.
Last year, Intel Corp. said it is developing a new integrated chip security technology code-named La Grande that will be implemented in its next generation Prescott processor succeeding the Pentium 4.
Meanwhile, Via claims that the PadLock Data Encryption Engine has been integrated into the new generation VIA C3 processor, which will enable greater security over a network or the Internet.
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 750-Kbits per second to as high as 6 million bits per second.
Via's new processor supports clock speeds of 1-GHz and beyond. It includes four new pipeline stages, SSE multimedia instructions, and 64-KB of L2 cache. The chip runs at just over 10 watts at 1-GHz, according to Via.
The new generation VIA C3 processor is available now in a choice of Socket 370 CPGA and Enhanced BGA packages. It is priced at $45 per unit in OEM volumes.
By: DocMemory
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