VIA Eyeing STMicro?s Graphics Chip Division?

[AGodspeed]

http://www.digitimes.com/NewsShow/Article.asp?datePublish=2002/03/06&pages=01&seq=2

In response to a recent rumor that it is planning to acquire the graphics chip division of STMicroelectronics (ST), chipset designer VIA Technologies on March 5 only confirmed that it has indeed been in contact with some international graphics chip companies, but refused to comment further on the progress of the plan, and more importantly, the identity of the candidates.

 

[AGodspeed]

No one is interested, eh?

 

[GoodRevrnd]

Bump

 

[nortexoid]

saw that on another page..interesting...wonder how the S3 engineers feel about that.

they could definitely use some help.

 

[GoodRevrnd]

But seriously, it's not too surprising to see VIA do this. In some respects they probably need to acquire some graphics chipset to include onboard in order to stay competitive with the nForce, especially after all the hype it got. However, I don't see VIA being able to pull some '3rd-rate' (at least in the public eye) graphics vendor together to produce an onboard chipset that would be competitive. One could argue it may be viable for the OEM-builder, but recently VIA has gotten attention as a higher end chipset, and including a sub-standard graphics chipset would do more harm than good. I say VIA should stick to their current path of performace chipset and funnel that would-be graphics energy into making the chipset Revision A the first time around.

 

[RanDum72]

So what is VIA going to do with the Kyro? Nothing really came out with its acquisition of S3 graphics.

 

[ElFenix]

VIA has quite a few integrated graphics chipsets already, so its not that nothing came out of the S3 aquisitions. we, as enthusiasts, just don't care for integrated graphics (yes, even the nforce's integrated graphics blow ass). i would not be surprised at all if VIA's integrated line outsold non-integrated chipsets.


also, the S3 aqusition may have provided VIA with access to intel's patents.

 

[RanDum72]

what I mean is did they improve on it? The most powerful S3 part was the Savage 2000 and their integrated video chipsets are mostly based on the savage 4 with a little here and there cannibalized from the Savage 2000. If they have made an improved chip over the 2000, then we can say that they are making progress but so far no improvement.

 

[ElFenix]

i dunno if they improved on the graphics core other than mix and match some pieces... last i heard (not too long ago) was that they were gonna do a GFMX type thing. but i dunno whether it was them or someone else i heard that about, or when. and for most people the graphics that have been produced were fine.

 

[Aquaman]

But even if they buy STMicroelectronics (ST), they still have to negotiate with Power VR for the Kryo (since I think STM is liscensing the tech from power vr).

Cheers,
Aquaman

 

[Athlon4all]

S3 did give VIA something. True most people using KM133A/PL133 series won't care about this, but ProSavage was the fastest On-board video (both Intel and AMD CPU's) avialable. That's why I went with a KM133 rather than SiS 730S, I do think that this totally makes sense. I think that VIA if they do acquire the K2, they do have a chance. Kyro 2 makes very good use of very little bandwidth (faster than a GF2GTS with the same meory as a MX400), will it compete with nForce? Definately in price department, and it's got potential. We'll see I guess.

 

[Gstanfor]

<< So what is VIA going to do with the Kyro? Nothing really came out with its acquisition of S3 graphics. >>


I have no idea how they might use kyro. In fact it would be a bad tactical move on VIA's part to use Kyro



<< Nothing really came out with its acquisition of S3 graphics. >>


Nothing obvious in the way of graphics perhaps, but they did acquire patents and intellectual property from S3 that has allowed them to fight effectively against Intel on the issue of P4 licensing. This is why replacing current S3 graphic capability with kyro would be a tactical blunder (at least on Intel platforms) IMO.

Greg

 

[vedin]

Um, sorry, but why would it make VIA look bad to adopt a Kyro design on thier integrated boards? S3 blows in comparison on every level. Kyro has better 2d, D3D, OpenGL, and in most cases is more compatable. But it's like I said before in other posts, VIA couldn't easily screw up a Kyro chip design, as they wouldn't be making the design to begin with. They wouldn't own the design or anything, PowerVR/Imagiteh would. So the technology that they would (Mind you it's still a totally unfounded rumor), be manufactoring wouldn't even be controlled by them. All they would do is the same thing STM did, make the chips. Granted, VIA would get the last word in about what micron process it would be on, and how many megahertz and such, but the tech wouldn't be theirs to play with.

 

[nortexoid]

like i said, VIA needs to catch up w/ SIS (the 650 and 740 w/ integrated SIS 315 grahpics core) and nvidia (the nfarce 420/440), and the kyro acquisition is certainly a start...

S3 is going nowhere in the graphics dept....let's not kid ourselvs...if they used the entire savage 2k core, it might be decent - but they didn't/can't.

so far, the best integrated grahpics chipset is coming from SIS, if you ask me...next nvidia....VIA wants the low/mid end computer market, and to get it, S3 just isn't cutting nowadays...especialy w/ SIS, ATI, and nVidia all making respectable integrated chipsets....

VIA is some sorry ass sheeat.

 

[Gstanfor]

Vedin, notexoid, like I posted above graphics capability was not the main reason why VIA purchased S3, nor is it the main reason why they put S3 graphics designs in their chipsets.

S3's patents and IP give VIA the legal loophole/leverage they need to produce P4 motherboards. Unless and until Intel grants VIA a license independent of those pertaining to S3 VIA will continue to use the S3 teghnology on P4 boards however lame and lack lustre it may be.

Greg