Via KT400 for AMD ahead

That follow the introduction first of its P4X600 which, as we've said before, will support both the 400MHz and 533MHz front side buses Intel is ready to switch to.

And its Hammer chipset, the K8HTB, with AGP 4X/8X and an 8X V-Link throughput, is set to go sampling this April, with a KM33 for Athlons at 200 and 266MHz and which will include its Zoetrope GFX.

Given the number of chipsets Via will introduce that will support the Pentium 4, it now seems to us that it is a matter of some urgency for the firm to sort out its litigation dispute with Intel. Currently, it does not have a vast swathe of third party support for the P4 chipsets, despite a number of reviewers suggesting it is one of the better platforms for the Intel flagship.

The P4X600 supports 128-bit 266 and 333MHz double data rate (DDR) memory, has a choice of AGP2X/4X and 8X, as well as 8X V-Link, with production slated for the second quarter of this year.

The P4X800 supports DDR II, and will sample during the second half of this year.

Via will also introduce a P4M333 chipset,which as its name suggests supports the DDR-333 memory type, and like the P4M266 comes with integrated graphics (GFX), in this case Zoetrope. That won't sample until the end of this quarter for production at the end of the second quarter this year.

During the same period, the P4M266A will also support Intel's twin 400MHz and 533MHz front side buses (FSBs), but this chipset will support ProSavage8 GFX.

The KT400, which is a followup to the KT333 for the Athlon which Via is expected to launch on the 20th of this month, supports both Athlon XPs and Durons, has twin 200/266MHz front side bus support, support for DDR333 and DDR400 ECC, AGP 4X and AGP8x and will sample next month, with production in the second quarter.

The AMD supporting KM333 is a follow on from its KM266 chipset, and comes with its integrated Zoetrope GFX graphics and an 8X V-Link. µ

See Also
Via Hammers on with Pentium 4 plans