Via Technologies touts low-power chip

Via Technologies this week revealed details on a new processor core. Via's C5J core, often referred to by the code-name Esther, will be capable of producing chips that run at 2GHz or higher.

Despite being faster than its current processors, the C5J chips will mirror their relatively low heat and power consumption characteristics, consuming a maximum of 3.5 watts at 1GHz, Via said in a statement. The C5J core also incorporates security features, including acceleration of RSA encryption and a so-called no-execute feature for blocking worms and viruses, Via said. The company has hired IBM to produce C5J chips, using IBM's 90-nanometer, silicon-on-insulator process.