VIA PT890 chipset launched - Windows Vista ready

VIA today announced the VIA PT890 chipset, further broadening VIA's range of Microsoft Windows Vista-ready core logic solutions. Supporting the full range of Intel processors up to 1066MHz FSB, the VIA PT890 provides an outstanding balance of system performance with high bandwidth PCI Express connectivity, advanced DDR2 memory support, comprehensive feature set and solid reliability. Together with either a S3 Graphics Chrome S25 or Chrome S27 graphics card featuring DirectX 9.0 and the Chromotion 3.0 Video Engine, system builders can design VIA PT890 systems capable of delivering the full Windows Vista Premium experience.

Utilizing the 533MB/s VIA V-Link interface, the VIA PT890 connects to the latest VIA South Bridge solutions such as the VIA VT8237A, with its integrated VIA Vinyl Multichannel Audio Suite, delivering rich, high definition audio at resolutions as high as 32-bit/192kHz, while the VIA Advanced Connectivity Suite offers a wide range of high-bandwidth connectivity options, including support for up to eight high-speed USB 2.0 ports and high-throughput 10/100 Mb/s Fast Ethernet.

In addition to supporting the full range of Intel processors up to 1066MHz FSB, the VIA PT890 also features VIA's unique StepUp memory technology to provide support for both DDR and DDR2 memory standards on the same motherboard, allowing motherboard makers the option of implementing either standard depending on the demands of their target market at any given time.

Optimized to work seamlessly with the latest PCI Express graphics cards, the VIA PT890 includes support for x16 PCI Express connectivity, delivering up to 4GB/s of dedicated graphics bandwidth per direction. The VIA PT890 also features additional x1 PCI Express peripheral support, providing 250MB/s per direction bandwidth to PCI Express peripheral devices such as Gigabit Ethernet and HDTV tuner cards.

The VIA PT890 is part of VIA's unique Modular Architecture Platform (V-Map) strategy, which minimizes time-to-market for motherboard partners through a flexible, pin-compatible design approach for VIA core-logic solutions. Motherboard partners are able to cover multiple market segments with a single design, and also benefit from a single unified driver base.

The VIA PT890 chipset is available now.