Apple will please missile makers by backing PA Semi's chip

Unleashing the iBomb

By Ashlee Vance in Mountain View • Get more from this author

Posted in Servers, 16th May 2008 00:11 GMT

Free whitepaper – Deploying high-density zones in a low-density data center

Exclusive Apple will indeed support PA Semi's line of PowerPC-based processors, The Register has learned.

PA Semi's staff has started notifying a limited set of customers that the company's existing dual-core processor will enjoy long-term support. Apple will employ a number of old PA Semi staffers just for this task, which is good news for folks making missiles, mine-sweeping gear and storage boxes.

While the information is limited at this point, we believe the military interest in PA Semi's low-power chip may have forced Apple's hand here. Uncle Sam hates to design new missiles only to have the guts ripped out by some dude in a mock turtleneck.

Does all of this mean Apple will create a new version of PA Semi's chip? Nope.

Apple has abandoned any efforts to push the PA Semi architecture forward.

PA Semi was snatched up last month by Apple for close to $300m. Apple has yet to say why it bought the company, which has expertise in low-power processor designs.

With Apple killing off the PA Semi gear, it seems very unlikely that any Macs or iPhones will be appearing soon with PowerPC Inside. Although, the support deal does pave the way for the iBomb.®

Free whitepaper – Guidelines for specification of data center power density