Taipei, Taiwan, Date, - VIA Technologies, Inc, a leading innovator and developer of core logic chipsets, microprocessors, and multimedia, networking and communications chips, today announced the launch of its latest integrated chipset solution, the VIA ProSavageDDR KM266.

Harnessing industry-leading DDR (Double Data Rate) SDRAM, and the rich 2D/3D quality of the enhanced S3 Graphics ProSavage8(tm) core with effective AGP 8X bandwidth, the VIA ProSavageDDR KM266 raises the performance bar for cost effective desktop computing and provides significant headroom for running the demanding software applications of the future.

The VIA ProSavageDDR KM266 also boasts the latest South Bridge technology with first to market innovations like the introduction of Ultra ATA-133 in the VT8233A. Ultra ATA-133, offering 33% more bandwidth between hard drive and chipset, enables the VIA ProSavage KM266 to deliver more performance in data intensive software applications than rival mainstream desktop platforms. The enhanced IDE controller supports all Ultra-DMA 33/66/100/133 devices including HDDs, CD-ROMS and DVD-ROMs as well as new generation BigDrive(tm) HDDs that break the existing 137GB limit on hard drive capacity and enable an exponential increase in data storage capacity for personal computing devices.

For OEMs and System Integrators, development costs are minimized by the comprehensive S3 Graphics driver set and the flexibility of the VIA Modular Architecture Platform (V-MAP) with a choice of pin compatible South Bridge designs and an optional external AGP port enabling a variety different system configurations based on the same platform.

"The VIA ProSavageDDR KM266 helps unleash the extreme performance of the AMD Athlon(tm) XP processor with QuantiSpeed(tm) architecture, and enables a broader range of system configurations than ever before," commented Richard Brown, Director of Marketing, VIA Technologies, Inc. "This further extends VIA's unparalleled integrated chipset range, delivering even more choice and value to the marketplace."

"VIA continues to provide a wide variety of outstanding chipsets for AMD processor-based platforms," said Rex Meek, director of the Hardware Infrastructure Enablement Group at AMD. "The VIA ProSavageDDR KM266 helps the AMD Athlon XP processor continue to deliver the highest PC application performance for home and business consumers."

"VIA has developed one of the industry's broadest range of IGCs (integrated graphics chipsets) and the launch of the KM266 offers even more choice to system builders" commented Dr. Jon Peddie, President, Jon Peddie Research, the leading market research firm tracking graphics and multimedia. "We think by enabling AMD processor based systems in some new configurations the VIA ProSavageDDR KM266 can help AMD extend its share of the processor market"

The VIA ProSavageDDR KM266 with 200/266MHz Front Side Bus settings, the high performance DDR memory controller from the VIA Apollo KT266A, and the superb performance of the enhanced S3 Graphics ProSavage8(tm) core yields an unbeatable mix of power, flexibility and value. Supporting enhanced 128-bit 3D and 2D engines, effective AGP 8X equivalent internal bandwidth throughput through 128-bit data paths, 32MB of Frame Buffer capability and DVD DXVA Motion Compensation for smooth DVD playback, the integrated S3 Graphics ProSavage8(tm) core provides class leading 2D,3D, video quality and performance. Flexibility is enhanced by an optional external AGP slot to enable future upgrades if required.

Supporting up to 4.0GB of DDR memory, the VIA ProSavageDDR KM266 leverages the power of the AMD Athlon(tm) XP processor to full effect, enabling outstanding multitasking capabilities. Also, the VIA ProSavageDDR KM266 allows corporate and consumer customers to fully exploit Microsoft Windows® XP and Office XP applications, and provides significant headroom for the next generation of software applications and Internet technologies. On industry standard benchmarks the VIA ProSavageDDR KM266 enables performance gains of up to 30% when compared with previous generation VIA ProSavage KM133 systems in the most commonly used applications.

The VIA ProSavageDDR KM266 chipset is manufactured at TSMC in a .22 micron, 3 metal layer process, and is shipping in OEM quantities now. A photo and product backgrounder is available upon request. Please contact VIA Technologies, Inc. for more information or check our website at: http://www.via.com.tw/en/ProSavage%20Chipsets/km266.jsp