14 DAY TRIAL // According to the latest news, VIA is set to launch a dual-core version of its Nano processor sometime before the end of 2009, while also preparing it for mass production starting with 2010. The chip has been rumored for quite a while now, but this time all seems to be on track for the said release. Also, it appears that during spring next year we might see a sample of the company's Nano-E chip, which would feature a FSB raised from 800MHz to 1333MHz.
The VIA dual-core low-power processor still has a long way ahead until it makes it to the market, which doesn't seem like a good thing for the company. By that time, Intel's Atom chip will be comfortably leading the market. VIA has work to do on both the CPU and the chipset, yet they should hurry up a little, otherwise there might be no room left for them.
On the other hand, VIA has been talking a lot about the performance of its Nano chip, and it is also expected to bring some innovation to the market, which may change the odds in its favor. At the moment, VIA does not look too well on the market, especially given the fact that it has lost one of its largest partners, Hewlett-Packard, in favor of Intel' Atom.
The news about the future dual-core Nano chip comes along with a roadmap picture which seems to be rather legit. Even so, the image does not reveal too much of VIA's plans with the CPU, only that the chip will feature a “new process technology” and will bring “further performance enhancements”. The capabilities of the chip will be unveiled in December next year, as soon as the first samples of the processor emerge.