A new chip in AC-DC power units is designed to cut the power required for laptops. They basically balance the amount of power coming into an electronic device from the wall socket, providing it with only the amount of power it actually needs.

Marvell's greener AC-DC controller chips allow power-supply manufacturers to eliminate up to 20 components. They're good for the environment and should help increase reliability, drive down manufacturing costs and slim down notebook adapter bricks.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency estimates that there are more than 10 billion AC-DC power supplies used in computing, telecommunications and consumer electronics worldwide. But the EPA thinks more efficient power supply designs could significantly reduce energy use, saving nearly $3 billion and about 24 million tons of carbon dioxide emissions per year.

What a simple and Marvell-ous concept, especially if all computer manufacturers embrace the future power cords.