![[Transmeta Logo]](transmetalogo.jpg){kind=small}
by: Stan Cook
Transmeta: The Corporation Click on this link to find out about the Transmeta Corporation
Transmeta's Crusoe Processor: Click here to find out about the Crusoe Processor
Crusoe Technology: Click here to take a look at the technology involved with the Crusoe Processor
Gateway & AOL set to run Crusoe Processor: Click here to read about it.
Forbes.com talks about the new Crusoe Processor: Click to find out.
Overview of Transmeta and the Crusoe Processor:
In 1995, Transmeta set out to research and design radically new product that could change the way mobile computing is used today. As people started to become power hungry for the fastest processors on the market, processor manufacturers stayed with the original processor and continued to make it faster and more powerful. The problem with making these processors faster is that the faster and hotter they get, more power is used. For mobile computing needs, this poses a huge problem. Laptops, web pads, and palm pilots, etc. use very small batteries therefore; making the unplugged life very short. Transmeta decided to do more than make the processors faster, they decided to totally redesign it to make it better. Traditional processors use many transistors in which to carry out computing instructions which cause more power to be used while working. Transmeta decided to reduce the number of transistors in traditional processors by using a software layer around the central processor. Replacing these transistors makes Transmeta's processor run cooler while using much less power making batter life up to many times greater than traditional processors. Traditional processors run on instruction sets called x86 technology. The software layer around the Crusoe processor gives x86 programs the impression that they are running on x86 hardware but the software is actually morphing x86 instructions into VLIW(very long instruction words) in which require a smaller amount of transistors and causes for better performance. x86 machines also have power settings in which the machine is either at full speed while using programs, or suspended or off when not working. Transmeta's Crusoe processor can adjust its power settings while on the fly making power conservation a huge factor. This is called a speedjump in which can reduce the processor's speed from 700mhz to 200mhz causing a reduction of power usage from 1,65V to 1,1V.
The only downside that I see with the new Crusoe processor deals with memory. The Code Morphing Software is as told placed in a 512kB flash-chip. This code is expanded into the main memory before usage and takes then 2MB of space. Still no need to worry since the default memory-configuration for laptops is getting near to 64MB. However in order to speed up the translations Crusoe uses part of the main memory for caching. This will be ranging from 6 to 14MB, so that will make the total memory usage from 8 to 16MB. Now 16MB is already looking a bit different since this memory cannot be used anymore. But still, if you take a 64MB system the remaining memory sounds more than enough for things like internet browsing, word-processing, etc. The real ugly part is that the Code Morphing Software uses more memory to run the same code compared to the 'classic' situation. It turns out that the Code Morphing Software required about 6 times as much memory. Memory could be a reason for the Crusoe to fail.
Transmeta also has no proven results as far as consumers are concerned. They have published some things such as benchmarks and articles comparing power-usage but these results are pretty meaningless. Although speed may not surpass traditional processors, the Crusoe chip does have a possible success story ahead if it performs well with a great deal of power conservation.
Associated links and references:
www.transmeta.com www.pcworld.com www.pcworld2.com
http://biz.yahoo.com/fo/000605/mu2813.html
http://arstechnica.com/cpu/1q00/crusoe/crusoe-1.html