A Step in a right direction

Kudos to Intel for harnessing solar energy.

But no grand prize. The real savings in datacenters will come when Intel acknowledges that processors developed for the desktop waste substantial power in speculative hardware, overdesign, and "engineering past the point of diminishing returns."

Fundamentally, the modern out-of-order desktop microprocessor is designed to squeeze the last tiny bit of performance out of each nanoacre of silicon, power and energy be damned. Harnessing solar energy at 1kW per square meter of array (at best) vs. machine room densities of 10kW or greater per square meter of floor space suggests some very large arrays for each of those containerized server rooms.

The best green power solution is not to waste the power in the first place.