Sun buys Processor Startup to improve performance and power consumption

Sun purchased processor start-up Montalvo systems for asynchronous processor core technology, potentially improving performance and power consumption. The ideas makes sense to mix different processor core technologies to meet the different needs.

Montalvo is believed to be working on a low-power processor that aims to compete with chips from Intel and Advanced Micro Devices. The unique feature of Montalvo's design is the use of asynchronous processor cores. Instead of multiple, identical cores found in Intel's chips, Montalvo reportedly plans to use different types of cores, some more powerful than others, on the same chip to improve performance and keep power consumption low.