NVIDIA Reportedly Talking With VIA About Acquisition

H

HardOCP News

[H] News
Joined
Dec 31, 1969
Messages
0
DigiTimes, citing unnamed sources, claims that the rumors of NVIDIA buying VIA are true but a high asking price stopped the deal from happening. Supposedly negotiations are expected to open again with VIA coming back to the table with a lower asking price.

Nvidia and VIA discussed three possible scenarios, including a strategic alliance, acquisition of only VIA's processor division, or the acquisition of the entire company, according to the sources. Though no deal was agreed upon, since VIA continues to see losses, the company is expected to open up negotiations again soon with a lower price, noted the sources.
Click to expand...
 
This sounds just as bad as the AMD/ATI purchases.
 
why does Nvidia want Via?

Seems like a bad purchase. Via's got horrible processors and typically lower end chipsets, so unless Nvidia wants to buy Via to retool their factories for Nvidia parts, I don't see the logic here???

Nvidia would be better off entering an exclusive partnership with Intel....together they could really dominate ATI/AMD.
 
Ockie said:
This sounds just as bad as the AMD/ATI purchases.
Click to expand...


No I see the value here...

AMD made great processors at the time of this acquisition. ATI has always been a top tier video card company. AMD processors re-engineered using ATI's GPU knowledge equals and CPU/GPU combination chip. One that would really put the hurt on the still silo'ed GPU and CPU companies of Nvidia and Intel. The meshing of GPU and CPU is a solid idea and seems unavoidable going forwards. So two industry trendsetters making this merger first seems valid. Nvidia buying a 3rd teir company is what doesn't make much sense to me.
 
This sounds just as bad as the AMD/ATI purchases.
Click to expand...

Not to me....

AMD made great processors at the time of this acquisition. ATI has always been a top teir video card company. AMD processors re-engineered using ATI's GPU knowledge equals a CPU/GPU combination chip. One that would really put the hurt on the still silo'ed GPU and CPU companies of Nvidia and Intel. The meshing of GPU and CPU is a solid idea and seems unavoidable going forwards. So two industry trendsetters making this merger first seems valid. Nvidia buying a 3rd teir company is what doesn't make much sense to me and unless they are getting a steal on the merger -- I object as a stock holder :mad:
 
they probably want their ultra low power cpu+chipset stuff. Or they want to get into the CPU business.
 
To scoop up what remains of the S3 team and compete with Intel on the CPU front. I head the new Via CPU wasn't all that bad.;)
 
 
nv wants a x86 chip via has a license and a very knowledgeable team to back it up basically its going to boil down to this intel/nv/amd will all have their platforms though i do have to say competition in the motherboard market is about to go to crap
 
Archaea said:
why does Nvidia want Via?

Seems like a bad purchase. Via's got horrible processors and typically lower end chipsets, so unless Nvidia wants to buy Via to retool their factories for Nvidia parts, I don't see the logic here???

Nvidia would be better off entering an exclusive partnership with Intel....together they could really dominate ATI/AMD.
Click to expand...

The reason that won't happen is because intel wouldn't do it. They've already invested in getting themself into the GPU market to compete with AMD's FUSION. It'd be too late in the game to partner with Nvidia, ATI and AMD have been working on fusion for a while. (And intel on larrabee)

Really, this actually makes sense to me. Nvidia is the current videocard market leader, but Intel and AMD are about to push intel out of the market with their reintegration of the GPU processes with the CPU.
 
Archaea said:
Seems like a bad purchase. Via's got horrible processors and typically lower end chipsets, so unless Nvidia wants to buy Via to retool their factories for Nvidia parts, I don't see the logic here???
Click to expand...

No way, VIA doesn't have horrible processors; VIA's processors are designed for embedded devices to minimize power consumption and physical size. Performance is not a feature of these processors and VIA isn't ashamed to let you know that. Which is why I simply cannot understand NVIDIA's interest in them. NVIDIA is all about the raw performance, since when did they become interested in small, economical, and environmentally-friendly computer systems?
 
InorganicMatter said:
No way, VIA doesn't have horrible processors; VIA's processors are designed for embedded devices to minimize power consumption and physical size.
Click to expand...

QFT. I always find it hilarious when people use performance as the only benchmark for a mobile device.

InorganicMatter said:
Performance is not a feature of these processors and VIA isn't ashamed to let you know that. Which is why I simply cannot understand NVIDIA's interest in them. NVIDIA is all about the raw performance, since when did they become interested in small, economical, and environmentally-friendly computer systems?
Click to expand...

IIRC, Nvidia is in the process of making it's first step into the mobile phone market. Phones, PDAs, ultra-portables, etc are all systems that have a use for low drain-high-performance CPUs and GPUs. It's very likely they're trying to build a solid position in a market that shows no sign of slowing.
 
Actually, the peices are starting to fit now;

nVidia has been pushing the "GPU" has much more performance over the CPU like for a while now, stating that even low end processorsm mated with a top-teir GPU is a great combination for gaming.

nVidia is looking at liscensing agreement issues to support Nehelim based CPUs and SLI on intel is looking like a problem too.

So here comes this deal, it is either one of two things;

1) a Gamble to pressure Intel to the table for some cross-liscensing for fear of nvidia getting in to the CPU Market..

OR

2) nVidia is going to go in to the CPU Market to further their agenda.. Imagine a CPU "Geared for Games" and just powerful enough for every day tasks...

Some really good things that can come of this, I can see this;

A CGPU, Central & Graphics processing unit, where you buy the motherboard and then choose your CGPU for the performance level instead of having to choose from 500 Discreet graphics cards.


Imagine your MB having Slots for the GCPU, DDR3 and GDDR5. The power consumption would be quite a bit lower and performance would be through the roof..
 
NVIDIAs strength is high powered graphics chips..

VIAs strengths are low power consumption and small form factor boards...

a CPU is much more complex than GPU and harder to code for.

Both companies are not struggling right now.

I see interesting possibilities, especialy with NVIDIA's recent Agea physics processing aquisition.
 
Nemesis999 said:
QFT. I always find it hilarious when people use performance as the only benchmark for a mobile device.



IIRC, Nvidia is in the process of making it's first step into the mobile phone market. Phones, PDAs, ultra-portables, etc are all systems that have a use for low drain-high-performance CPUs and GPUs. It's very likely they're trying to build a solid position in a market that shows no sign of slowing.
Click to expand...


This is exactly what i was thinking when i saw this. Embeded devices are becoming more and more common. I wouldnt be supprised if you started seeing TV's with media extenders embeded, ect. Check out linuxmce.org for an idea of where things are going with home automation / embeded applications
 
Loki008 said:
This is exactly what i was thinking when i saw this. Embeded devices are becoming more and more common. I wouldnt be supprised if you started seeing TV's with media extenders embeded, ect. Check out linuxmce.org for an idea of where things are going with home automation / embeded applications
Click to expand...

Eventually we are going to wind up with "the appliance".. Either from Company A, B, C, or ....

It will do it all, Full computing, TV, Network, gaming.. All in a Cell Phone that you just dock at work or at home to a larger screen..
 
InorganicMatter said:
No way, VIA doesn't have horrible processors; VIA's processors are designed for embedded devices to minimize power consumption and physical size. Performance is not a feature of these processors and VIA isn't ashamed to let you know that. Which is why I simply cannot understand NVIDIA's interest in them. NVIDIA is all about the raw performance, since when did they become interested in small, economical, and environmentally-friendly computer systems?
Click to expand...

But they aren't impressive! A BE-2400 AMD processor can be coupled with an intergrated motherboard and a full PC system can run at less than 60 watts from the wall. Multiple people have done it and a few get near 50 watts.

A Via CPU as I understand has nowhere near the performance of the BE-2400 which is the AMD X2 equavilent of a 4800+ - 5200+.


In my opinion - - Via couldn't compete with speed so they market their low power consumption, trouble is that AMD and Intel could do it if they wanted to and pummel via at their own strong suit --- IF it was worth their time--- which it hasn't been, which is why AMD and Intel haven't gone that direction. Via is a 2nd or 3rd teir company IMO, the weaksause of the chipset and CPU makers.
 
Archaea said:
But they aren't impressive! A BE-2400 AMD processor can be coupled with an intergrated motherboard and a full PC system can run at less than 60 watts from the wall. Multiple people have done it and a few get near 50 watts.

A Via CPU as I understand has nowhere near the performance of the BE-2400 which is the AMD X2 equavilent of a 4800+ - 5200+.
Click to expand...

You're proud of 50 watts? LOL! :p You've never used a VIA CPU. My VIA Mini-ITX HTPC consumes 12 watts. Twelve: 1-2. I'll let that number sink in for a second. It also plays back my media flawlessly because it has got dedicated audio/video decoding hardware built on the motherboard.

VIA fills a very specific market niche. They aren't competing with AMD or Intel, and aren't ashamed to tell you so. Go elsewhere for your gaming parts.
 
Just a few short years ago hardly anyone had a cell phone, now everybody has one. In a few more years everyone will have migrated to a Blackberry/iPhone/WM type device - that's a huge market to sell to. You can't compete against the 800 pound gorilla that's Intel, but you can compete in this segment. Very successfully, too - especially since nobody really cares what CPU is in their phone as long as it works. The days of ARM's dominance in mobile phones could come to an end in such a deal.
 
I just hope to god Nvidia isn't planning on letting Via make all their new motherboards. I've always hated Via Chipset Motherboards.
 
InorganicMatter said:
My VIA Mini-ITX HTPC consumes 12 watts. Twelve: 1-2. I'll let that number sink in for a second. It also plays back my media flawlessly because it has got dedicated audio/video decoding hardware built on the motherboard.
Click to expand...
Mind sharing the specs with us if you feel it isn't too off-topic? I've been looking at building an insanely low power rig for what seems like the longest time, and 12 watts is too enticing a figure to pass up.
 
phide said:
Mind sharing the specs with us if you feel it isn't too off-topic? I've been looking at building an insanely low power rig for what seems like the longest time, and 12 watts is too enticing a figure to pass up.
Click to expand...

It's a VIA C7 on a Jetway motherboard in an el cheapo mITX case and a laptop hard disk. Logicsupply has got the best selection and prices for all things ITX.
 
Pfff BE-2400 with Integrated video? How about a futuristic VIA C-4 TNT EDITION WITH NVIDIA 9800 PRO-Z.A.C. edition!
 
InorganicMatter said:
No way, VIA doesn't have horrible processors; VIA's processors are designed for embedded devices to minimize power consumption and physical size. Performance is not a feature of these processors and VIA isn't ashamed to let you know that. Which is why I simply cannot understand NVIDIA's interest in them. NVIDIA is all about the raw performance, since when did they become interested in small, economical, and environmentally-friendly computer systems?
Click to expand...

It is simple really, Nvidia is having some trouble getting a strong foot hold into the mobile device market. Owning Via and subsequently gaining its contacts should go a long way toward achieving those goals
 
If this happens it could mean no more VIA chipset motherboards EVER :D
 
InorganicMatter said:
You're proud of 50 watts? LOL! :p You've never used a VIA CPU. My VIA Mini-ITX HTPC consumes 12 watts. Twelve: 1-2. I'll let that number sink in for a second. It also plays back my media flawlessly because it has got dedicated audio/video decoding hardware built on the motherboard.

VIA fills a very specific market niche. They aren't competing with AMD or Intel, and aren't ashamed to tell you so. Go elsewhere for your gaming parts.
Click to expand...

I have, I used one about a 1.2Ghz c3 I think it was - bought it for my girlfriend at the time cause it was cheap and it was slower than tolerable.

When you say yours uses 12 watts and the AMD BE-2400 systems use 50-60 watts your comparing apples to oranges. IE Your PC wouldn't use 12 watts if it was configured the same as the HTPC's I'm talking about. I'm referring to PC's with full size hard-drives and HD-DVD ROMS.

Did you actually measure your system at 12 watts? This review says their c7test system used up to 35 watts under full load and even at that it can't play 720p video nor MPEG4 because the processor is too slow. Don't even attempt HD-DVD or Blue-Ray.

http://www.silentpcreview.com/article609-page1.html


Yes it meats a niche market, but IMO I'd rather have a very capable dual core HTPC system capable of light duty gaming, video encoding, whatever else and using an integrated Nvidia 6100 graphics card or likewise (BE-2400 based processor) that uses 50 or 60 watts total system draw, than a C7 setup that can't do much else than DVDs and Mp3's that uses 1/2 the power. HTPCs go to sleep when not in use anyway, and at that point your talking about a watt or two of draw anyway regardless. I just don't see their value.
.

http://www.silentpcreview.com/article609-page1.html
 
It should be interesting... Based on the architectural improvements of the Via CN processor, it should be no slouch. Probably not a core duo killer by any means, but it should at least bring VIA closer on terms of cpu muscle (and at a lower power envelope). Ironically the CN is Via's first Out-of-order "Hi Performance" x86 processor in a while (and still at very low power), but Intel's "Atom" is Intel's first in-order ultra low power x86 processor. Looks like both are looking to get more powerful, low power x86 chips into smaller devices. Via has carved out it's own niche with their low power-low performance processors, and they have been doing it pretty well for some time now. If Nvidia is looking to grab a hold of the small device market and possibly cover their back-side from Intel with their own x86 design, then Nvidia really needs this. Via on the other hand looks to have a pretty good design with the CN and has what is left of S3 Graphics, so I don't see where they need this partnership as bad. It should be interesting to see how this "plays out," hopefully it won't be a repeat of the AMD/ATI disaster (Via and Nvidia both seem to be "on their game" at the moment).
 
hmm.....

VIA has created mobo chipsets for a long time.
Nvidia makes shitty mobo chipsets.
Nvidia/VIA chipsets for all.

Thats how i see this.
Think about it. Its the same thing they did with 3dfx. Bought all the tech and used their reserch in future products. Prolly the same deal. This is a good purchase, if they know what the are doing with it.

They're not buying Intel. Some of you guys are expecting too much. They can do a lot with this. Its a good buy.
 
lucky777 said:
Ummm nForce chipsets > VIA's.
Click to expand...

VIA doesnt do mainstream, anymore. They made awesome mobo chips in the K7 days. nForce chips still suck.
Nvidia is buying technology to benefit their R&D. They did it with 3dfx, they did it with Aegia, and they want to do it with VIA.
 
If you look at nVidia's recent activities, it may also be that they are trying to build a new paradigm for computing where there is no CENTRAL processing unit but rather an array (a cluster, if you will) of related and task specific processors. They already have the GPU, they just bought the PPU, they've already got some in-house video/audio processors. With Via, they could leverage Via's understanding of North/South bridge architectures and I/O interfaces as well as Via's low-cost/low-power processors for those tasks that aren't handled well by the GPU/PPU/VPU/APU.
 
Archaea said:
No I see the value here...

AMD made great processors at the time of this acquisition. ATI has always been a top tier video card company. AMD processors re-engineered using ATI's GPU knowledge equals and CPU/GPU combination chip. One that would really put the hurt on the still silo'ed GPU and CPU companies of Nvidia and Intel. The meshing of GPU and CPU is a solid idea and seems unavoidable going forwards. So two industry trendsetters making this merger first seems valid. Nvidia buying a 3rd teir company is what doesn't make much sense to me.
Click to expand...

Except that now they're drowning in debt and making substandard parts. It may have been a good idea in theory, but given the timing (with the Conroe) and the overpaying for ATi, it turned out much worse than it should've.
 
LeviathanZERO said:
VIA doesnt do mainstream, anymore. They made awesome mobo chips in the K7 days. nForce chips still suck.
Nvidia is buying technology to benefit their R&D. They did it with 3dfx, they did it with Aegia, and they want to do it with VIA.
Click to expand...
Dude... you want to talk K7!?! nForce2 >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Via's crap.
 
This is all about Nvidia getting their hands on x86. They don't care where but Via is the only one left.

Rest assured, if this happens, Via will not be "specializing" in low power/performance cpu's for very long.

Nvidia has the engineering talent and drive to produce x86 cpu right now but no x86 license.

And then there were 3.....................
 
wrangler said:
This is all about Nvidia getting their hands on x86. They don't care where but Via is the only one left.

Rest assured, if this happens, Via will not be "specializing" in low power/performance cpu's for very long.

Nvidia has the engineering talent and drive to produce x86 cpu right now but no x86 license.

And then there were 3.....................
Click to expand...

This is a very interesting quote. What I find particularly interesting about it is that it brings up the points that nVidia already fully understands the x86 spec -- because they're already producing x86 compliant chipsets for Intel CPU's. Really, all they need at this point is the license for x86 so that they have the legal right to produce x86 CPU's of their own. Very interesting, indeed.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top