BLX's 32-bit, 266MHz Godson-1 chips have been used primarily in low-power embedded applications, such as appliances and consumer electronics. The new Godson-2, in contrast, could prove powerful enough to compete with Via's x86 chips in the vast market for computing appliances in developing nations such as China. The "Godson" name even seems meant to invite comparison with Via processors, all of which have Biblical names, such as Nehemiah, Isaiah, Mark, Luke, and John.
According to the
EETimes UK, Godson-2 is built using the same 0.18-micron process technology as the Godson-1, suggesting that BLX may be able to offer die-shrunk models with increased performance relatively soon. The chip supports Windows CE, Linux, NetBSD, and VxWorks. BLX
first announced the Godson-2 in March of 2003.
The
EETimes UK article can be found
here. More details about Via's planned 64-bit processor, Isaiah, can be found
here. Also of interest might be Glenn Henry's analysis of the advantages of the x86 architecture in devices with complex interfaces, which he discussed in this
extensive interview at
LinuxDevices.com. Henry is CEO of Via's Texas-based Centaur processor division.
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