SAN FRANCISCO -- Transmeta Corp. here today announced that it is readying a new line of x86-based microprocessors, including a low-power, 0.13-micron MPU that is geared to break the 1-GHz barrier.

The Santa Clara, Calif.-based company will soon roll out the TM5800, an x86-based part that will initially run at speeds of at least 700-MHz or faster, said David Ditzel, president and chief executive officer of Transmeta.

The TM5800 "will be one of the world's first processors based on a 0.13-micron process," he told the Banc of America Securities technology conference here today.

The company has just received the initial chips from its foundry partner, which is reportedly IBM Corp. Transmeta could bring out the processor at speeds greater than 700-MHz, depending on the results of the initial samples, Ditzel told the conference.

"We won't know until we will get test the chips," he said, adding that the company will begin sampling the product "soon."

The chip, which will be part of the Crusoe family of processor, will eventually run at speeds of 800- to 900-MHz. A 1-GHz version is expected to be rolled out "over the next year," he added.