Amplifying the reasons why Intel Corp may be ready to make a $3m investment in Alliant Computer Systems Corp, Littleton, Massachusetts (CI No 1,272), Alliant is understood to be working on a successor to its 64-bit FX minisupercomputer processors that is to replace the proprietary CPUs – which implement the Motorola 68020 instruction set – with Intel’s 80860 RISC microprocesors. The new version is expected to use up to 16 80860s, and Alliant is expected to have the new machines out in the next 12 months.