Hewlett-Packard is to use ARM-designed chips in a new range of servers, the company announced on Tuesday, as part of its foray into what it calls "hyperscale" computing.

HP claims the server platform, named Redstone, consumes up to 89% less energy and 94% less space than traditional servers, and cut costs by 63%. The Redstone system allows more than 2,800 servers to be fitted into a rack, it says.

According to HP, hyperscale computing environments include cloud computing and on-demand IT services. Paul Santeler, manager of HP’s Hyperscale Business Unit said: “Companies with hyperscale environments are facing a crisis in capacity that requires a fundamental change at the architectural level."

HP is working a Texas-based start-up called Calxeda, which will develop chips based on designs by UK company ARM, for the first Redstone serviers, which will be available "select customers" in the first half of next year. Future models in the Redstone range will include Intel’s Atom procesoores "as well as others," HP said in a statement.

To promote the new range, HP has launched a programme entitled "Project Moonshot", which includes a partner ecosystem and a number of ‘discovery labs’, which will allow customers to try the hardware before they buy. The first discovery lab will open in Houston in January, with additional labs planned across Europe and Asia.

Also yesterday, ARM announced the acquisition of Prolific, a company which makes software that optimises the process of designing integrated circuits.

"This acquisition augments ARM’s strategy to provide innovative physical IP products that will enable the ARM partnership to continue to lead in the implementation of highly integrated, low-power system-on-chip solutions," ARM said in a statement.