VIA Technologies announced details of the VIA Isaiah Architecture, a new x86 processor architecture for desktop, mobile and ultra mobile PCs. Designed from the ground up by the company’s US-based processor design subsidiary, Centaur Technology Inc., the VIA Isaiah Architecture combines all the latest advances in x86 processor technology, including a 64-bit superscalar speculative out-of-order microarchitecture, high-performance multimedia computation, and a new virtual machine architecture. The first generation of Isaiah-based products will be pin-compatible with the VIA C7 processor family.

The first processors implementing the VIA Isaiah Architecture will use 65 nanometer technology for greater power efficiency.

The VIA Isaiah Architecture has been specifically optimized to meet the rapidly growing demand for smaller and more functional mobile and desktop computing and personal electronics devices, such as portable slim and light notebooks and pocket-sized Ultra Mobile PCs and Ultra Mobile Devices with rich multimedia and wireless broadband capabilities.

Processors implementing the VIA Isaiah Architecture are expected to start shipping in the first half of 2008.