March 17th, 2009
VIA introduces HD performance for netbooks
VIA, the X86 processor platform manufacturer, today announced its Surfboard C855 Reference Design, a compact mainboard incorporating the VIA C7-M ULV processor and the new VIA VX855 unified IGP chipset that has been specifically designed for easy integration into devices targeted at the rapidly growing mini-notebook, or netbook, market.
Unveiled today at the VIA Global Mobility Bazaar Tech Forum Spring in Shenzhen, China, the VIA Surfboard C855 offers smooth playback of high bit-rate 1080p HD video and 8-channel HD audio.
Though the netbook market started as an underpowered affair, the rise of HD video has resulted in a growing demand for better netbook components that can handle multimedia.
The VIA Surfboard C855 provides playback of high bit-rate 1080p video, supports internal display resolutions of up to 1366 x 768 pixels and external display resolutions up to 1920 x 1440 pixels, and supports high definition VIA Vinyl Audio.
“A key advantage of the VIA Surfboard C855 is the head start it affords mini-notebook system developers or those seeking to enter the market,” said Richard Brown, Vice President of Marketing, VIA Technologies, Inc. “Not only is VIA in the unique position of being able to offer customers a complete, ready-to-build solution, but the new board’s HD capabilities mean VIA-based mini-notebooks will provide a superior multi-media entertainment experience.”
Designed for 10 to 12 inch netbooks, the VIA Surfboard C855 Reference Design comes with a VIA C7-M ULV processor supporting an 800MHz FSB, a VIA VX855 media system processor, the VIA Chrome9 HCM IGP with hardware acceleration (support for H.264, MPEG-2/4, VC-1 and WMV9), all while utilizing less than 40 percent of CPU resources.
It also supports Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, GPS and 3G.
Full specs, after the jump:
Andrew J. Nusca is an associate editor for ZDNet and SmartPlanet.
See his full profile and disclosure of his industry affiliations.
Email Andrew Nusca 
Follow on Twitter
Subscribe to The ToyBox via Email alerts or RSS.
