Via Technologies launched its Apollo P4X266E chipset for Intel's Pentium 4 processor on Wednesday. The chipset offers support for both the 533MHz and 400MHz front-side bus used by the newest members of the Pentium 4 family, as well as support for Celeron processors that use a 478-pin chip package. The front-side bus connects the chipset with the processor in a PC.
The P4X266E is an upgraded version of the P4X266A chipset launched by Via last year. It is the company's second chipset to support both the 533MHz and 400Mhz front-side bus. In March, the company announced the Apollo P4X333, which includes support for the 533MHz front-side bus as well as 333MHz DDR (double data rate) SDRAM (synchronous dynamic RAM).
The chipset is the main interface between the components of a PC, such as memory, peripherals and the processor. Pricing information on the Apollo P4X266E was not available.
In addition, the company offers two other Pentium 4 chipsets that support the 400MHz front-side bus used with earlier versions of the Pentium 4: the Apollo P4X266 and the P4M266, which includes integrated graphics support.
Via is currently involved in legal action with Intel in several countries over licensing of the 400MHz front-side bus that is used with the Pentium 4 processor. No additional legal action has so far been brought about by addition of support for the 533MHz front-side bus to Via's Pentium 4 chipset line.
