Centaur Technology: Designing VIA x86 Processors

In 1995, Centaur Technology, based in Austin, Texas, set out to prove that a small team of microprocessor engineers could design an affordable x86 processor for the neglected sub-$1000 PC market. At the time, it was a visionary idea.

In August 1999, Centaur was purchased by VIA Technologies, Inc. Now, some nine years later, Centaur has successfully designed the world's smallest x86 processors, has shipped products based on thirteen different cores and upgrades, and consistently provides the fastest design cycle in the industry: from concept to completion in about 9 months, 1/3 the time of its competitors.

Centaur Technology team

Centaur has redefined the performance/dollar and performance/watt equations for the underserved desktop and laptop marketplace, while helping create an entirely-new segment for fanless x86 processors in embedded devices.

With the recent launch of the 64-bit superscalar, speculative out-of-order VIA Nano processors based on the VIA Isaiah Architecture, designed to deliver significant boosts to the functionality and performance of desktop, mobile and ultra mobile PCs while minimizing power requirements, Centaur has once again raised the industry bar for performance and power efficiency.

As a company with less than 100 engineers and microprocessor designers, to be able to put together CPUs from conception to actually testing complete versions in-house is an amazing feat. Click here for a quick pictorial tour of Centaur's in-house testing facility.

Please watch these two videos about the philosophy and inner workings of Centaur Technology, filmed during the design of the VIA Isaiah Architecture in early 2008:

• Centaur's Glenn Henry Introduces the New VIA Isaiah Architecture
• Glenn Henry Talks about Life at Centaur
• Glenn's Private Computer Museum at Centaur