X-bit labs

Transmeta Efficeon Notebooks Put Into Action.

Category: Mobile

by Anton Shilov

[ 12/09/2003 | 09:22 AM ]

Transmeta Corporation – a developer of processors for mobile PCs – may celebrate the first design win for its Efficeon processor uncovered this Fall. Sharp decided to offer the Efficeon 1.0GHz chip in its Muramasa PC-MM2-5NE.

The notebook is build around Transmeta Efficeon 8600 CPU with 128KB instruction cache, 64KB data cache and 1MB L2 cache. The chip also features single-channel DDR SDRAM controller supporting memory at up to 400MHz bin. Even though the CPU boasts with a bit improved architecture over its predecessor – the Crusoe chip – the Efficeon featured in Muramasa PC-MM2-5NE currently runs only at 1.0GHz.

Sharp Muramasa PC-MM2-5NE is build upon ALi/ULi M1563M logic and is equipped with 256MB of memory, MOBILITY RADEON graphics adapter, 20GB HGST hard disk drive, 802.11b/g WLAN connectivity and 10.4” TFT display. With the largest battery available, Sharp Muramasa PC-MM2-5NE can theoretically work up to 11 hours at batter power and only 3.5 hours using standard battery. The weight of the PC-MM2-5NE is about 1.0 – 1.20Kg and is in-line with thin and light notebook conceptions.

Pricing of the first Transmeta Efficeon notebook – the Muramasa PC-MM2-5NE – is about $1700, a little bit lower compared to Intel Centrino notebooks powered by ULV Pentium M processors.

This year Intel Centrino notebooks have seen a great success for their ability to offer excellent performance and relatively long run at batter power. Besides, Wi-Fi connectivity is gaining momentum these days and also helps to boost success of Centrino. Basically, Centrino may restrict success of other mobile technologies, including Efficeon. It took nearly 2 months for a single notebook maker to adopt Efficeon microprocessor from Transmeta, while Intel Centrino notebooks were available just after the formal product launch. It remains to see whether other PC makers will touch the Efficeon.