Hi Gang,

I've Just been browsing the net and found this article:


VIA Launches PCI Express Chipset for VIA Processor Platforms

VIA CN800 IGP chipset offers PCI Express and DDR2 support and combines with the VIA C7-D Processor for the ideal platform for desktop solutions

Taipei, Taiwan, 7 November 2006 - VIA Technologies, Inc, a leading innovator and developer of silicon chip technologies and PC platform solutions, today announced the VIA CN800 digital media IGP chipset, a highly integrated core logic solution that offers PCI Express and DDR2 memory support, as well as a host of rich digital media features including the VIA UniChromeâ„¢ Pro graphics IGP with hardware MPEG-2 playback and DuoView+â„¢ for dual monitor output.
Designed as the companion chipset for the world's first carbon-free processor, the VIA C7-D processor, the VIA CN800 digital media IGP chipset blends rich integration with power efficiency to enable a new generation of corporate desktop solutions.
The VIA CN800 digital media IGP chipset boasts a comprehensive suite of bandwidth efficient and rich digital media features including PCI Express support, DDR/DDR2 memory support, the ultra-efficient VIA V4 bus, the VIA UniChrome Pro IGP with Chromotion CE video display engine for smooth digital media playback, DuoView+™ for multi-screen display, and support for LVDS/DVI interfaces. When coupled with a DirectX 9.0 compatible PCI Express video graphics card, such as the S3 Graphics Chrome S20 series graphics accelerators, the platform enables OEM and system integrators to design corporate desktop computers that are optimized for Microsoft® Windows Vista™ Premium edition.
"Increasingly, enterprise is demanding computing products that are both environmentally friendly and deliver all the performance required for everyday productivity," commented Chewei Lin, Vice President of Product Marketing, VIA Technologies, Inc. "With its support of the high bandwidth PCI Express, DDR2 and the ultra-efficient VIA V4 bus, corporate desktop computing products based on the VIA CN800 will offer a smooth desktop user experience, as well as make possible innovative, power-efficient, quiet and ultra-reliable designs."
When combined with the VIA VT8237R Plus South Bridge, the VIA CN800 offers an unparalleled range of integrated storage, multimedia and connectivity options, that includes native Parallel and Serial ATA, multiple configuration V-RAID,VIA Vinyl Multi-channel Audio, eight USB2.0 ports and high-throughput Gigabit Ethernet with the VIA Velocity controller.


Now, I'll admit that most of that has gone over my head but I'm sure one or two of you guys will find it.....interesting reading

Smirnoff

Thanks Smirnoff

The Via CN800 Northbridge replaces the CN700 in Via's C7 based system. The Via C7 CPU, successor to the C3 (or Cyrix 3), which was hard launched mid 2005 but didn't see the shelves until a year later. Because of low performance compared to conventional desktop hardware of the same price, the Via's range of CPUs only saw popularity only in embedded systems or small form factor enthusiasts.

Currently Via offer several embedded solutions in Mini ITX format under the EPIA product range. These solutions are ultra-low propfile, highly integrated motherboard/CPU combinations that require only RAM and a Hard Disk Drive to become fully functional desktops.

The major feature CN800 brings is PCI Express. If Via produce a board with a PCI Express X16 slot, gaming with an EPIA, something that is infeasible when using the integrated graphics core, would finally be possible.

pleasure syphus.

Thought i'd better post something good for a change. lol

Smirnoff