OLPC Drops AMD And Goes For Via

By Digital Trends Staff April 21, 2009

OLPC Drops AMD And Goes For Via

As part of a general hardware redesign, One Laptop Per Child (OLPC) will be switching from an AMD processor to one by Via on its Generation 1.5 machine. Currently using the AMD Geode, new models will carry the Via C7-M.

"The design goal is to provide an overall update of the system within the same ID and external appearance," wrote John Watlington, OLPC’s vice president of hardware development . "In order to maximise compatibility with existing software, this refresh will continue with an x86 processor, using a chipset from Via."

The XO Generation 1.5 is due in November, but it’s different from the Gen 2.0, which will utilize and ARM-based processor and is due in 2011, according to ZDNet. The 1.5 will also see RAM rising from 256MB to 1 GB, while its flash storage will increase to 4GB from the current 1GB, with an option for go up to 8GB.

Editors' Recommendations

Digital Trends Staff

Digital Trends has a simple mission: to help readers easily understand how tech affects the way they live. We are your…

Computing

The best processors in 2024: AMD and Intel CPUs duke it out

AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D installed in a motherboard.

AMD and Intel have fought for supremacy for decades, duking it out in a bid to make the best processors you can buy. The competition is fierce, and that's a great thing for PC enthusiasts. In 2024, the list of the best CPUs is larger than ever and packed with options from Team Red and Team Blue.

Intel's bang-for-the-buck king of this generation is the 14600K, but its last-gen flagship the 13900K is still well worth considering. If you're a gamer though, the 7800X3D should be the top of your list. Here's a rundown of those chips and a whole lot more.

Computing

AMD’s new CPU slammed as ‘anti-consumer at best’

The AMD Ryzen 7 5700 propped up against an action figure.

AMD makes some of the best processors, but this one is most likely not one of them. According to a video review of the recently released Ryzen 7 5700, the CPU is not only a letdown -- it's downright misleading. Compared to previous non-X Ryzen processors, the 5700 appears to be significantly cutdown, which affects its performance in a big way.

Historically, AMD's non-X Ryzen CPUs were pretty much the same as their X counterparts, but with slightly lower clock speeds. Take the Ryzen 5 5600 and the Ryzen 5 5600X, for example. Both chips have six cores and 12 threads, as well as 32MB of cache, but the Ryzen 5 5600 has a clock speed of 4.4GHz, while the 5600X hits 4.6GHz. As a result, many chose the non-X part due to it being slightly cheaper while not being a major downgrade.

Computing

AMD has a lot to prove this year

Dr. Lisa Su at the RX 7900 XT launch event.

AMD has clawed its way up from many disasters. Always chasing Nvidia and Intel, the so-called Team Red stayed strong over the years and found its niche in the PC market, a niche that has seemingly worked well, especially over the past few years.

Despite these valiant efforts, this past year has made me worry about the future of AMD, and the beginning of the year so far has only confirmed some of my worries.
Processing the past