Marvell Chips Cut PC Energy Use

Marvell introduced a new line of energy-saving chips that are designed to cut PC energy use. The controller chips, based on Marvell's digital signal processing (DSP) and power management technologies, will boost energy efficiency by aligning current and voltage coming from the electrical outlet. Typically, more than half the power from the outlet is wasted as heat. With the new chips, design engineers can build power supplies with fewer components. Marvell says the chips will enable smaller, more efficient notebook adapters, and will eventually be used in power supplies for devices like flat-screen TVs and printers. "In addition to the current focus on power supplies for PCs, Marvell's smart energy efficient technology could eventually be used in internal and external power supplies for a wide range of consumer electronics including flat-screen TVs, home entertainment products, and portable devices," Hubie Notohamiprodjo, general manager of Industrial Control and Power Management at Marvell, said in a statement. The Marvell 88EM8041 controller chip for notebook adapters and the Marvell 88EM8011 controller chip for desktop power supplies are in production now.