Via paints processor green

By Tom Sanders on Sep 14, 2006 10:22 AM
Filed under Hardware

Chipmaker promisses to offset carbon dioxide produced to power new chip.

Microprocessor manufacturer Via has unveiled its new C7-D processor.

The Taiwanese company promises to compensate for the carbon dioxide that is produced to power the chip by funding energy conservation, reforestation, and alternative energy projects.

Because this effectively leads to zero carbon dioxide emissions over the life span of the chip, the company touts the C7-D as the "world's first carbon free processor".

"In offsetting of carbon emissions produced through the processors' operation, Via is very excited about contributing to projects around the world that will improve the quality of our environment, and enable us as a company to give back to the community," said Via's marketing chief Richard Brown.

The chip maker has teamed up with Carbon Footprint for the project, a carbon footprint management firm.

The new chip features a low power design that consumes 20 Watt when running at 1.8Ghz, allowing it to be applied in small form factor computer devices without a cooling fan.

The chip is available as of today.