VIA Vinyl Audio strategy drives forward a new level of onboard performance with the VIA Envy24PT, enabling 7.1 multi-channel audio on the latest Albatron and Chaintech motherboards

Taipei, Taiwan, 28 April 2003 - VIA Technologies, Inc., a leading innovator and developer of silicon chip technologies and PC platform solutions, today announced two design wins for the VIA Envy24PT audio controller with new high performance offerings from Chaintech and Albatron.

As part of VIA’s comprehensive Vinyl Audio strategy, the VIA Envy24PT enables a new level of performance for integrated solutions enabling 7.1 (8-channel) audio support, low CPU utilization, and a rich warm audio experience. With up to 24-bit resolutions and 96kHz sample rates for optimum listening, the VIA Envy24PT can support the latest DVD-Video Dolby Digital EX® and DTS ES® soundtracks for enhanced flyover effects, as well as having four simultaneous inbound channels. As with the whole VIA Envy line of audio controllers, the VIA Envy24PT is designed to deliver audio as cleanly and clearly as possible, bit-for-bit accurate.



“We are seeing that customers are using integrated audio on their PC for entertainment applications, and we wanted to better address this new requirement with our new ultra high spec PXE865E Pro II Motherboard,” commented Darryl Chan, Albatron Marketing Director. “Enabling 7.1 surround sound on the PXE865E will allow consumers to experience the latest gaming and movie content creating an unparalleled immersive audio environment.”

“Based on the Zenith series’ spirit to be the utmost motherboard, we planned to provide a solution with the best audio performance possible,” commented Phil Chen, Marketing Manager at Chaintech. “With our latest motherboard the 9CJS Zenith, we integrated the VIA Envy24PT in combination with the VIA Vinyl Audio Six-TRAC to enable a high performance, feature rich audio experience for enhanced multimedia capabilities, as well as traditional emphasis on performance.”

The VIA Envy24PT is a PCI based audio controller that is used in combination with VIA’s Six-TRAC making possible high quality integrated audio solutions. For more information on the VIA Envy24PT please visit our website at: http://www.via.com.tw/en/multimedia/envy24pt.jsp.

About VIA Audio

VIA has developed a broad spectrum of silicon solutions for enhancing the PC audio experience, including the highly respected, studio performance Envy Audio Controllers that are found in today’s leading soundcards. For integrated audio, VIA’s Vinyl Audio strategy aims to raise the quality and standards found on onboard solutions with high quality AC’97 codec and audio controller solutions.

For more information on VIA’s audio products please visit our website at:

http://www.via.com.tw/en/multimedia/audiopartners.jsp.



About Albatron

Founded in 1984, Albatron is a leader in the supply of large screen multimedia monitors, rear projection systems and multimedia plasma displays. The pioneer, innovator and market leader in the graphics industry, Albatron provides top quality products for the corporate presentations, education training, video conferencing, and public information display and flight information industry markets. From this year, Albatron will release Intel Pentium 4 motherboard high-end graphic accelerators. In the future, we will continue to release many more Information Technology products including STB (Set-Top-Box), Plasma Display, and LCD TV Monitor to satisfy the need of customers. The Company has more than 300 employees supporting customers from its headquarters in Taipei, Taiwan, as well as from offices in PRC, Germany, Netherlands, the United Kingdom and the United States. Albatron common shares trade on Taiwan OTC (5386).

About Chaintech

Chaintech Computer Co;LTD, the leading motherboard, graphic card and IA manufacturer, was established in 1986. In the past 17 years, Chaintech has devoted to develop the most innovative and customer-oriented products based on our most professional and experienced R&D team. Pioneered by our R&D team, everyone in Chaintech faces the dynamic and exhilarating IT market with alertness and global view. Chaintech staffs work based on the principle of keeping everything the most up-to-date. Year 2002, Chaintech has won the battle in the retail market by introducing APOGEE and ZENITH series motherboards which highly impressed worldwide media and end users. Chaintech will carry out its mission to create the infinite possibilities of technology and chain the innovation with humanity Chaintech HQ was based in Taipei Taiwan and have 5 other branches in the Netherlands, France, the United States, China, and Korea. Please visit http://www.chaintech.com.tw for more information.

About VIA Technologies, Inc.

VIA Technologies, Inc. is a leading innovator and developer of PC core logic chipsets, microprocessors, and multimedia, optical storage, communication and networking chips. VIA delivers value to the PC industry by designing, marketing, and selling high-performance VIA Apollo core logic chipsets for the full range of PC platforms, and cost-effective VIA C3™ processors for Value PCs and Internet Appliances, as well as developing complete solutions for the PC platform through its VPSD Business Unit. Its customers include the world's top OEMs, mainboard manufacturers, and system integrators. VIA is headquartered in Taipei, Taiwan, at the center of the Greater China high-tech manufacturing engine, and has branch offices in the US, China and Europe. The company is listed on the Taiwan Stock Exchange (TSE2388), and achieved annual revenues of nearly US$1 billion in 2001. Additional information can be found at http://www.via.com.tw.