Enabling a New Generation of Mobile AMD64 Processor-Based Notebooks for Digital Lifestyles on the Go

The VIA K8N800A Mobile chipset is a high-performance, low-power IGP chipset optimized for the new AMD Turion™ 64 mobile processors, as well as the complete range of Mobile AMD Athlon™ 64 and Mobile AMD Sempron™ processors, delivering all the performance, connectivity and advanced power management features required for today’s thin and light, high-performance notebooks. The powerful AMD64 platform combined with leading chipset, graphics and digital media technologies of the VIA K8N800A creates an exceptional computing and entertainment experience anywhere.

At the heart of the VIA K8N800A North Bridge lies the VIA UniChrome™ Pro IGP, delivering a rich visual experience through the implementation of innovative features such as integrated MPEG-2 hardware acceleration for flawless digital media playback and a dual pixel pipeline, 128 bit 2D/3D engine with support for up to 64MB of shared 64/128bit DDR memory for robust multimedia and productivity performance. The VIA K8N800A's highly flexible and scalable architecture also allows support for an external AGP graphics chip.

Leveraging advanced power saving technologies such as Stutter Mode, notebooks based on the VIA K8N800A chipset can provide support for a full range of power saving modes to provide more efficient performance and extend notebook battery life. Furthermore, the VIA K8N800A is fully compliant with AMD PowerNow!™ Technology, further ensuring lower heat dissipation and quieter operation.

VIA's ground breaking Hyper8™ technology provides a fast 800MHz/16-bit HyperTransport link between the VIA K8N800A North Bridge and AMD Turion™ 64 mobile processors, Mobile AMD Athlon™ 64 or Mobile AMD Sempron™ processors, achieving lightening fast data transfers speeds of up to 6.4GB/s.

Combined with the VIA VT8237R Plus South Bridge, the VIA K8N800A chipset provides a comprehensive range of high-performance integrated multimedia, connectivity and storage interface technologies available on the market today. The VIA VT8237R Plus supports both new high-speed Serial ATA Hard Drives as well as Parallel ATA-133 devices, and provides a host of high-bandwidth connectivity options, including support for the VIA Gigabit Ethernet companion chip, integrated 10/100Mbps Fast Ethernet and up to eight high-speed USB 2.0 ports. The VIA VT8237R Plus also supports the VIA Vinyl™ Multi-channel Audio Suite, offering the option of superlative integrated 6- or 8-channel surround sound.

Features of VIA K8N800A

Benefits of VIA K8N800A

Integrated Graphics Technology
The VIA UniChrome Pro IGP delivers exceptional integrated graphics and video playback performance for the latest 3D and digital media applications, without the need for an expensive external AGP graphics card. Integrated MPEG-2 hardware acceleration ensures flawless digital video playback, while reducing workload on the processor and extending battery life, ensuring users can enjoy a truly mobile entertainment experience.

Advanced Power Saving Technologies
To offer efficient power usage and extended battery life the VIA K8N800A features advanced Stutter Mode operation to enable a full range of power saving modes on Mobile AMD 64 processor powered notebooks. Stutter Mode allows the chipset and other system components to bypass the processor and access system memory while in C3 mode, which effectively cuts off the connection between the CPU and chipset when the system is idle. Previously, without Stutter Mode support, Mobile AMD64 processor powered notebooks were unable to operate in C3 mode, and therefore support the full range of power saving modes, unless local frame buffer memory was implemented in the notebook, significantly adding to cost. Furthermore, the VIA K8N800A is fully compliant with AMD PowerNow!™ Technology, helping further extend system battery life and ensuring quieter running notebooks.

VIA Hyper8™ Technology
VIA's ground breaking Hyper8™ technology provides a full 16-bit/800MHz on upstream and downstream buses of HyperTransport link between the VIA K8N800A North Bridge and next generation 64-bit compatible platforms based around AMD Turion™ 64, Mobile AMD Athlon™ 64 and Mobile AMD Sempron™ processors, achieving data transfers speeds of up to 6.4GB/s.

VIA Vinyl Multichannel Audio Suite
Delivering rich, warm surround sound at resolutions as high as 24/96 through up to six- or eight-channel outputs, the VIA Vinyl Audio 6-channel surround sound and VIA Vinyl Gold Audio 8-channel surround sound enables crisp, clear performance, representing the highest levels of audio quality in a mainstream integrated solution.

Unified VIA Hyperion 4in1 Drivers
VIA's unified approach to drivers has been established for eight generations of chipsets, allowing end users to benefit from seamless hardware and software compatibility.

* RAID Level 0+1 requires four Serial ATA drives; support for the two additional drives can only be implemented with two external Serial ATA ports enabled through a SATALite PHY.

Block Diagram

Resources

	VIA K8 Series chipset comparison chart / Download printer friendly .pdf version
	VIA K8N800A press release
	VIA K8 Series presentation
	Hyper8™ Technology Achieving the full performance potential of the chipset. » Learn more ...
	VIA K8N800A image kit