Transmeta aims for silent running

Transmeta today kick-started a drive aiming to tempt hardware firms to incorporate its fanless Efficeon processor technology into forthcoming media centre devices.

The chip firm showed off multiple prototype designs based around its x86 compatible Efficeon architecture at the 2005 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.

Transmeta claimed that the low heat generating fanless processor is ideally suited to power almost silent running, small form factor digital entertainment centres delivering content including television, pictures, music, videos and internet access.

In a bid to tempt potential OEM partners to adopt Efficeon technology, Transmeta previewed a reference design package, scheduled for general availability early in 2005, that will provide partners with full schematics, layout, bill of materials, drivers and a design guide.

The design features an Efficeon 8820 processor, the ATI Radeon 9550 visual processing unit and the ULI M1563 Southbridge integrated in a single motherboard.

The board also features PCI expansion capabilities for TV tuners, 10 USB ports, and outputs necessary to enable high-quality consumer audio and video supporting worldwide and EU-specific standards.

"With our Digital Entertainment Initiative, Transmeta is showing the ability of Efficeon technology to enable a quiet and fanless form factor for the ultimate entertainment experience in the living room," said Matthew Perry, president and chief executive at Transmeta.

"Synergistic with our increased focus on technology licensing, this initiative can clear the path for consumer electronics manufacturers to more rapidly integrate Efficeon technology into their own entertainment products."

The prototype units being displayed publicly will show examples of the Digital Entertainment Initiative with a range of applications, performance levels and price points.

They feature the Efficeon processor running at speeds up to 1.6 GHz and demonstrate different choices in operating systems and interfaces, including Microsoft Media Center Edition 2005 and MythTV based on the ESG's Royal Linux operating system.