Intel To Make A Greener Microprocessor

crem_d_genes writes "According to the San Jose Mercury News, Intel is planning microprocessors that have a reduced amount of lead in them (reportedly 95% lower). It's about time a company started this - good job - and let's hope other tech companies take the hint. While many places in the US have banned the disposal of computer parts, there have been unintended consequences of the eco-friendly laws. Many 'recycled' computers currently get shipped overseas where parts eventually make their ways into the hands of workers who usually 'burn' the parts to get rid of plastic and recover small amounts of valuable metals. In the process they are exposed to the toxic compounds that are released. In other cases, lead makes its way into drinking water."

So, wait...

[Anonymous Coward]

Superman will now be able to see what's going on inside my CPU?

Haha, just kidding, I own an AMD.

Good job

[SinistarJAB]

Good job, now I can scrounge around dumps for old components!

So...

[scrame]

does that mean my processors wont taste like candy anymore? I guess Ill have to go back to eating the paint I chip off my walls.

Can't dispose of computer parts?

[Anonymous Coward]

many places in the US have banned the disposal of computer parts

What are we supposed to do with our old computers, a beowulf cluster?

Alternative heating.

[AndyFewt]

With the amount of heat the chips give off, you can keep entire rooms warm. My p4 3.2ghz keeps my office warm when its cold. I also have a 1.2ghz p4 sitting next to it but that doesnt give off much heat. Just a thought.

Re:Green friendly?

[the_womble]

AMD fanboys listen up: Yeah, you guys are winning the strongarm race right now

I am confused: I thought StrongARM was an Intel processor [intel.com]

Chemophobes - Metalic lead not a danger

[xtronics]

Lets see - the lead ore is in a toxic lead oxide form - smelted into metallic lead (much safer) - Now it is baned from burying it again??

Too many idiots in this country that think they know science when they are really just confused by some activists statistics.

The "*ell" with it - I'm going up stairs to sleep with my wife - and I will completely ignore the fact that the potassium in her body exposes me to some extra radiation. - Good night!

Re:Alternative heating.

[tarunthegreat]

So basically what you're trying to say is that by creating faster, power-hungry processors, Intel is scoping out new markets that can really use that 'power'(like Siberia..)...while at the same time working for the benefit of mankind, by reducing lead and keeping us warm.... This will be a problem for Bangalore. The temp over there is already on the higher side, it's mostly summer all yr round...

If it gets any greener...

[DatAsian]

it might look like an AMD processor :)

Maybe someone will finally answer my question...

[ChiralSoftware]

I send a lot of things to /dev/null. How do I empty the bit bucket in an environmentally sound way?

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WAP hosting [chiralsoftware.net]

Re:Anybody know how this is done?

[ColaMan]

er, lead-free solder?

Maybe some alloy with cadmium could replace it ;-)

Re:Reduced lead?

[witcomb]

This was the first thing I thought of as well, it is completely insane the amount of power some cpu's are using now. Granted, there are chips which are efficient, but there should be steps taken by all those designing hardware to decrease the power consumption. I mean all components in a computer, hard drives, video cards, etc. But not all blame should be placed on the hardware companies. Those designing software could be more efficient in their usage of the processor. I think most people have become accustom to the fact that cpu's are powerful enough to do whatever we want and if they aren't we will just wait a couple months. I guess things are moving so fast now it is hard for anyone to keep up.

Re:Maybe someone will finally answer my question..

[TeknoHog]

I'm afraid you're confusing /dev/null with the trash /bin. You should be emptying the system /bin as well as the /users' /bin.