VIA Labs releases new two-port and four-port USB 3.0 host controllers

VIA Labs introduces two new USB 3.0 host controllers, the dual-port VL805 and the quad-port VL806. The VIA VL805 and VIA VL806 allow a PCI Express-equipped platform to interface with multiple SuperSpeed USB peripherals devices simultaneously for blistering fast transfers rates up to 5Gbps while retaining full backwards compatibility with USB 2.0 and 1.1 devices. 

The next generation single chip VIA VL805 and VIA VL806 Host controllers include enhancements for improved performance, seamless cross compatibility and interoperability, and new features such as support for USB Battery Charging and "Charging Downstream Port" which enables both fast data sync and rapid charging with compatible devices. The VIA VL805 and VIA VL806 comply with the Universal Serial Bus 3.0 specification and Intel's eXtensible Host Controller Interface (xHCI) 1.0 specification and add native inbox driver support for Windows 8. VIA VL805 and VL806 host controllers are USB-IF certified and are currently shipping.

"The VIA VL805 host controller is a feature-rich product that offers many tangible enhancements over previous generation devices including higher throughput, charging capabilities, and support for USB Debug Port" said Terrance Shih, Product Manager, VIA Labs, Inc. "With the smallest package design and native support in Windows 8, the VL805 and VL806 provide easy and cost effective ways for motherboard and embedded system manufacturers to bring additional USB 3.0 to their product lines."

Key Features: 

• Compliant to Universal Serial Bus 3.0 Specification Revision 1.0
• Compliant to Universal Serial Bus 2.0 Specification
• ompliant to eXtensible Host Controller Interface (xHCI) Specification Revision 1.0
• Support Legacy USB Function
• In-house USB PHY employs advanced CMOS process to reduce power consumption
• Compliant with PCI Express Base Specification 2.0
• Support Battery Charging 1.2 Specification including DCP and CDP modes
• Firmware update option includes BIOS integration
• Support USB debug mode
• Software:
• Driver Support for Windows 8,7, Vista, and XP
• USB Attached SCSI Protocol (UASP)

• Support various Linux kernels