Compaq sells Alpha processors to Intel
06/25/2001 5:36:19 PM MDT Albuquerque, Nm
By Dustin D. Brand; Owner AMO
Compaq, known for its computers and Alpha RISC processors, are selling the Alpha Unit to Intel.
COMPAQ will sell it's Alpha processor business to Intel, the companies announced today Monday, June 25th, 2001.
As part of the agreement, Compaq will transfer its entire 64-bit family of processors to Intel's Itanium microprocessor architecture by 2004, Compaq and Intel said in a joint statement.
Compaq will immediately begin to port the Tru64 Unix, OpenVMS, and NonStop Kernel operating systems and development tools over to Intel's Itanium line (Intel's 64-Bit processor line), Compaq and Intel said.
Also announced today, Compaq said it had agreed to a technology-sharing pact to build high-powered computers with chip maker Intel Corp. and would scale back computer lines based on chip technology developed in-house.
This pact will give Intel broad access to Compaq technology used in the Compaq family of computers known as Alpha and Himalaya, servers that are used to run high-powered databases and business operations from stock exchanges to phone networks.
"Compaq will consolidate its entire 64-bit family of servers onto Itanium microprocessor architecture by 2004," Houston-based Compaq said in a statement.
Itanium is Intel's latest generation of chip technology, designed to run powerful computer servers and usher in a new era of mainframe-class power on personal computers. Sixty-four bit processing multiplies the amount of data that can be processed on a computer compared with the more common 32-bit chips.
The deal with Intel frees Compaq to phase out its Alpha server platform, which is based on non-Intel chips and was developed a decade ago by Compaq acquisition Digital Equipment Corp. as the first 64-bit chip family. Compaq said it is transferring significant Alpha microprocessor and development tools to Intel. No financial terms were disclosed.
Related AMO Articles:
Intel may consider cost cuts.
Intel rolls out the Tualatin
Gordon Moore leaves Intel.
Moores Law needs more.
Intel launches fastest Pentium Yet
Intel profit down 64%
Intel cuts prices, AGAIN!
The Intel GIGA PC
Intel retires PIII XEON Line
Intel to release 1GHZ Mobile PIII
Intel cuts prices by 19%