Sun takes over Montalvo x86 technology

Sun has confirmed the overtake of Montalvo, a relatively unknown x86 processor developer. Sun gives no information about the value and conditions.

Montalvo was working on a very energy efficient x86 processor with multiple asymmetric cores. The base of this design, inspired by IBM's Cell, was that the larger cores would only be used when a lot of power was needed from the processor. Despite the many invested millions the chip did not live up to the x86 specification and is therefore unable to compete with Intel and AMD.

According to Sun representative the acquired technology will be used for a new generation microprocessors. Whether Sun means that they will release an x86 processor is unknown.

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