Intel is planning to integrate its Xeon processors with programmable chips in a bid to make powerful server chips intended for Internet giants like Facebook and Google.
The integration would offer clients more flexibility to optimise their servers.
Incorporating a standard Xeon processor and a field-programmable gate array (FPGA), the new chips would enable being configured whenever required and boost the servers’ capability in dealing with proprietary tasks, such as offering web-search results or updating social networks.
Intel’s data centre division spokesperson, Diane Bryant, told Reuters that the chipmaker plans to develop more than 30 customisable chips this year, while it also considers whether or not to allow data centre operators to self customise the chips, whenever required.
"If they have an application that spends a lot of time on a particular algorithm, they can take that algorithm, take the soft (intellectual property), and load it into the FPGA and accelerate that workload," Bryant added.
In March, Intel also revealed plans to extend its existing contract with programmable chipmaker Altera for developing future components that integrate different kinds of chips.
Earlier this month, Intel rolled out its 14nm Intel Core M design, integrated LTE mobile SoC (SoFIA), as well as the new Devil’s Canyon Intel Core i7 processors, which consumer less power, while help boost processing in tablets and make laptops thinner.
