Computing companies ally for low power

The Green Grid project is trying to reduce power consumption in computing data centers by sharing proven ideas and establishing methods to measure problems and progress, the companies said Wedneseday.

The effort comes as computing customers struggle with burgeoning electricity consumption and attendant heating problems. While computing companies are in part to blame through ever-hotter chips and servers, they're also trying to address the problem and to get an edge over competitors.

One major rivalry is between AMD and Intel. AMD's Opteron mainstream server processors consume 95 watts, compared to a range of 110 to 165 watts for Intel's accompanying Xeon. When it comes to servers, Sun Microsystems has built an ad campaign around the idea of using less energy.

The Green Grid effort is open to computing professionals, hardware and software companies, systems integrators and others, but Intel isn't involved.

"We were not asked to join," spokesman Scott McLaughlin said. "We've been involved in a lot of alliances and have a history of developing industry ecosystems. Regardless of who's organizing it, we're always ready to participate as long as it's focused on the customer not just issuing press releases."

Au contraire, countered AMD spokesman Phil Hughes. Although Intel didn't receive a written invitation, AMD representatives verbally invited Intel on March 27, he said.