Another Server Maker Chooses Transmeta

FiberCycle will use Transmeta's technology for high-density, multiple-CPU servers.

Chip maker Transmeta has picked up another server customer for its low-power chip, announcing Wednesday that FiberCycle will use its processors for ultra high-density servers.

Transmeta uses a software-centric approach to lower the power consumption of its chips. While Transmeta processors have found their way into laptops and other Internet-enabled devices, the company has failed to make much headway in the server market. It took until late February for the release of the first Transmeta-based servers by Rebel.com.

FiberCycle will use Transmeta's Crusoe processor in its WebBunker family of Content Acceleration Systems. By using the low-power technology, FiberCycle expects it can provide clients with data center servers able to handle heavy increases in Web traffic without pulling more energy.

Compressing Chip Space

Like Transmeta, FiberCycle uses a combination of hardware and software to pack more processing power into a small space. The company claims its WebBunker technology can put as many as 504 processors in a data center rack. This compares to more traditional similar systems, which use between 40 and 84 processors, according to the company. Each WebBunker unit can hold 12 processors, each with 512MB of memory, in a chassis 3.5 inches high and 14 inches deep.

The WebBunker systems should be available by April of this year. FiberCycle will charge $10,900 per six-CPU system.