Taiwanese chip supplier Via Technologies will ship its smallest PC processor and motherboard before the end of the year.
Small enough to fit on the end of a finger, the Nano-BGA (Ball Grid Array) version of Via's 1GHz C3 processor measures 15mm by 15mm and was unveiled by the company's chief executive officer, Wen-chi Chen, during a keynote speech at the Via Technology Forum, at the Computex exhibition in Taiwan.
The Nano-BGA C3 uses the same silicon dye found in Via's existing C3 chips. However, the tiny Nano-BGA package that encases the silicon core of the chip has allowed Via to make it smaller.
The Nano-BGA C3 will be paired with a motherboard form factor, the Nano-ITX, which is smaller than existing PC motherboards. Tiny motherboards like the Nano-ITX are crucial components for devices such as computer-equipped TVs and home entertainment systems.
The Nano-ITX motherboard measures 120 mm by 120 mm, substantially smaller than the Mini-ITX motherboard form factor, the smallest PC motherboard form factor measuring 170 mm by 170 mm.
Both the Nano-BGA chip and the Nano-ITX board ship in volume by the first quarter of next year. Pricing was not disclosed.
Sumner Lemon writes for IDG News Service
