Rise, the low-cost CPU contender, has poached its new CFO from Intel. Newboy John Vinnanan (four Ns -count them) will mastermind Rise finances, as the company ramps up production big time in Q2. Rise is keen to exploit the space left by Cyrix, which last week retired hurt from the x.86 CPU market. Rival Winchip supplier IDT could also soon be out of the picture, if US reports that it is reconsidering its finances are correct. That would leave Rise with the low-cost clone field more or less to itself - or at least until Transmeta, the secretive Californian fabless chip company, makes its play for world domination. ® See also: Rise close to announcing fab partner NatSemi exits PC CPU market IDT will produce S370 processor