Transmeta taps Fujitsu to build chip

Transmeta has hired Fujitsu to forge a future Transmeta Efficeon processor. The Santa Clara, Calif.-based chipmaker, which designs low-power processors for notebook PCs and other computers, will launch the first version of its later this month. The chip will run at a frequency of at least 1GHz, according to Transmeta.

Fujitsu will manufacture a follow-on version of that chip with a 90-nanometer process. This is will likely allow Transmeta to tout future Efficeons as being smaller, faster and less power-hungry than the first version of the chip, to be released October 14, which is based on a 130-nanometer manufacturing process. The Fujitsu-built Efficeon will reach volume production in the second half of 2004, the companies said in a statement.