From PC Chipsets to Artificial Intelligence: The Story of VIA Technologies

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. Early Years and Foundation
3. Expansion into Chipset Manufacturing
4. Entry into the x86 Microprocessor Market
5. VIA Chipsets and Processors
6. Legal Battles and Settlements
7. VIA's Collaboration with S3 Graphics
8. VIA's Initiatives and Donations
9. Shift in Focus and Partnerships
10. Current Products and Future Outlook

💡 Introduction

VIA Technologies is a technology company that has played a significant role in the development of chipsets, processors, and other computer hardware components. Founded in 1987 by Cher Wang, VIA Technologies has grown to become one of the major players in the industry. This article explores the history and achievements of VIA Technologies, highlighting its early years, expansion into chipsets and processors, legal battles, collaborations, initiatives, and current product offerings. Join us as we delve into the story of this influential technology company.

Early Years and Foundation

VIA Technologies was founded in 1987 in Fremont, California by Cher Wang. Born in September 1958, Wang was not only known for her strong Christian faith but also for her entrepreneurial spirit. She studied economics at UC Berkeley and obtained her master's degree in 1981. Wang's entrepreneurial journey didn't start with VIA Technologies; she also co-founded HTC Corporation, a well-known mobile phone manufacturer.

Expansion into Chipset Manufacturing

In 1992, VIA Technologies moved its headquarters to Taipei, Taiwan, in order to establish closer partnerships with the growing IT manufacturing base in the country, which happened to be Wang's home country. During the early 90s, VIA Technologies began manufacturing chipsets for processors such as the Intel Pentium, AMD K5, and AMD K6 series. This move solidified VIA's position as a major player in the x86 chipset market, gaining recognition from both customers and manufacturers.

Entry into the x86 Microprocessor Market

In 1999, VIA Technologies acquired Cyrix, a division of National Semiconductor, and entered the x86 microprocessor market. However, many of Cyrix's engineering team members had already moved on to other ventures by the time of the acquisition. VIA Technologies was left with the basic technologies and the Cyrix name for its own in-house products. Chen Wen-ch'i, who had been the President and CEO at VIA Technologies since 1992, oversaw the transition from chipsets to processors and PC platform solutions design.

VIA Chipsets and Processors

VIA Technologies gained a reputation for producing chipsets for various processors, including Intel Pentium, Pentium 4, Celeron, Core, and Core 2 processors. They were also known for their AMD chipset offerings, which were popular among computer enthusiasts. VIA created processors such as the C3, C7, Nano, and the EPIA platform, catering to both general consumers and ultra-mobile PCs. Despite their diverse product lineup, VIA's focus gradually shifted towards their in-house processor designs.

Legal Battles and Settlements

VIA Technologies faced legal challenges from Intel in 1999 when Intel sued VIA for breaching their contract and violating Intel patents. The lawsuit led to the revocation of licenses provided by Intel Technologies to VIA. However, in 2000, VIA and Intel settled the lawsuit, with VIA agreeing to pay Intel a lump sum of money along with ongoing royalty payments to continue using certain Intel patents. This settlement paved the way for VIA to continue its product development and innovation.

VIA's Collaboration with S3 Graphics

In 2001, VIA Technologies established a joint venture with S3 Graphics, a company known for its graphics compression technology. This collaboration aimed to develop integrated graphics solutions for motherboards, which were known as the North bridge chipset. While S3 Graphics as a standalone product was not competitive in the discrete GPU market, its technology found success as an integrated solution. VIA continued to explore collaborations and partnerships to enhance its product offerings.

VIA's Initiatives and Donations

Over the years, VIA Technologies has undertaken various initiatives and made significant donations. In 2005, VIA launched the VIA pc-1 Initiative, focused on developing information and communication technology systems for those without access to computers or the internet. Wang's philanthropic efforts included a donation of $28.1 million to Guangzhou Forerunner College in 2011, providing education to low-income students. VIA also donated HTC Flyer tablet PCs to high schools in Taipei in 2012.

Shift in Focus and Partnerships

In recent years, VIA Technologies has shifted its focus to emerging technologies and markets. The company has ventured into AI-based depth sensing technology, partnering with AI vision startup Lucid for applications such as camera security devices, robotics, and autonomous vehicles. VIA's Pixetto, released in 2020, is an AI education tool that utilizes machine learning and can be programmed with Python.

Current Products and Future Outlook

VIA Technologies continues to produce their own processor designs, offering a range of hardware, software, and cloud infrastructure for smart applications. Their safety systems include AI dash cams, advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), and smart access control systems. VIA's Mobile360 driver monitoring system uses AI to detect signs of distracted driving. While VIA's Zhaoxin processors currently fall behind Intel and AMD in terms of performance, the company remains committed to research and development to enhance its product offerings.

Resources:

• VIA Technologies Official Website
• History of VIA Technologies
• VIA Technologies on Mouser Electronics
• S3 Graphics Official Website