Green CPU

[pphaneuf]

Not so long ago, VIA release the C7-D, calling it the first "carbon free processor". What they actually do is that they estimated how much CO₂ emissions a processor would be responsible for during its lifetime (they assume three years) through its consumption of electricity. Then, they work with some regional organizations to "offset" that amount of CO₂ through various projects, such as reforestation, alternative energy and energy conservation.

They also have a TreeMark rating to compare that CO₂ production with competing products, the C7-D being at 4 trees, while their competitors are at something between 18 and 28 trees.

While I find the TreeMark a bit odd (I'd prefer a more "serious looking" rating like those on large appliances), I find it interesting that a company like VIA seems to think there's a market for what's (most likely) otherwise the exact same processor, but more expensive.

Comments

[cpirate.livejournal.com]

Yeah, the TreeMark is a bit lame. It's just another way to represent Watts, except less useful. In particular, it uses the TDP, which is non-standard and sometimes just an upper bound. Also, it doesn't take into account multiple cores; my single-core P4 has (sadly) about the same TDP as a new Core 2 Duo, but the Core 2 Duo only has to fire up half of its circuitry to handle the occasional interrupt under idle conditions, whereas the P4 will be much less efficient and will use a much bigger fraction of the die (not to mention will have to wait for its super-deep pipeline to clear...). Since they list idle time as being 67% of the usage time for 3 years, this probably does make a difference.

But anyway, I guess it doesn't much matter; marketers aren't technical, film at 11. It is nice that they're trying. It's just a shame that their marketing probably won't work on most people walking into a computer store, who'll be told that of course, they need a dual-core CPU so they can do more than one thing at once....

[pphaneuf.livejournal.com]

Just the fact that they seem to think that "this is exactly the same part, more expensive but greener" could possibly sell gives me a little bit of faith in humanity.

As for needing a dual-core CPU, it's just about true, these days, which saddens me a lot.

[sfllaw.livejournal.com]

Well, I'm not sure it's more expensive.

Environmental damage does have a cost, it's just deferred to the future. Which usually makes it much more expensive.

[pphaneuf.livejournal.com]

I was of course, referring to the only kind of "cost" people usually think about, which is sticker price. Some slightly more enlightened ones will think of TCO, but you and I know that this isn't nearly the full story. Thankfully, with the cost of electricity, there's some influence on the TCO, so that's at least that.

[jaramin.livejournal.com]

Though I'm more and more skeptical of homebrewed indicators and the overall idea that all pollution can be offset by investing in something green TM, I'm relieved to see the overall market shifting towards a performance per watt rating, and VIA certainly is an early adopter (heck, Eden was there while people where heating their rooms with Prescott).

[pphaneuf.livejournal.com]

Well, you're right that all pollution can't be offset like that, but it'll at least set them on the right path, where polluting less in the first place will then cost less to offset. Capitalism finally put to good use!