Just two days after announcing it has released an open source model for a new UMPC platform based on its own CPUs and motherboards, Via announced a new Nano processor based on its "Isaiah" architecture.

Via Technologies' low-power x86 Nano processor will be offered alongside its existing, venerable C7 while directly competing with Intel's Atom. The Nano processor family boasts at least four times the performance of the C7, while staying within the same power range and remaining pin-compatible.

With Isaiah available in single-core only at the moment, Via has left the door open for the Isaiah architecture to support dual-core CPUs once the need arises.

The Nano L-series (low-power) will focus mainly for small desktops and notebooks, with its fastest 1.8 GHz chip requiring only 25W TDP. Meanwhile, the U-series (ultra-low power) has been designed for UMPCs and mini-notebook products, with its lowest-power model requiring only 5W TDP, clocked at 1.0 GHz.

While the C7 was manufactured by IBM using 90 nm processor technology, the Nano will be fabricated by Fujitsu using 65 nm technology.

Via has not publicly released pricing for its Nano line, which makes it somewhat difficult to compare it to Intel at the moment. Starting at 800 MHz for $45 and with a thermal envelope of only 2.5 W, the Atom line goes up to 1.86 GHz with a price of $160.

Product lines targeted for the Nano include Hewlett-Packard's 2133 Mini-Note PC and Everex' gBook. Via said it still plans to ship C7 and Eden processors to OEMs wanting lower-cost CPUs. Its open-source OpenBook now uses a C7-M processor, but will likely end up using a Nano processor at some point in the future.

The new line of processors are available to OEMs and motherboard vendors now, with actual products shipping with Nano processors expected in Q3. Via is believed to be working on a dual-core processor but will keep it under wraps for now.