Intel Considering Solar Powered Computer CPU Chip

Last year Intel experimented with a solar powered processor that operated when light hit the CPU and stopped when the light was blocked. The light source was a reading lamp that emitted just enough light to power the chip.

Known as the near-threshold voltage (NTV) CPU and code-named "Claremont." The postage stamp sized chip's voltage ranges from 280 millivolts when the system is running at 3MHz to 1.2 volts when running at approximately 1Ghz.

Intel's chief technology officer Justin Rattner said "It's allowing us to make Intel's product more [power efficient] across the compute continuum" while reaching appropriate performance levels."

The new chip could keep laptops running at the lowest voltage levels when not in use without killing the battery. The design of the new chip is creating a lot of interest and will be featured at the International Solid State Circuits Conference in San Francisco through February 23rd.

Rattner explained the NTV chip is generating energy gains 5 to 10 times higher and they want to expand the use of this improved technology to computer graphics and memory. 

More story details at P.C. World.