content: <PAGE>
  
                                    UNITED STATES
                         SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                               Washington, D.C. 20549
  
                                      FORM 8-K
  
                                  CURRENT REPORT
              PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D) OF THE SECURITIES AND
                               EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
  
  
  Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported)   April 27, 2001
                                                    ------------------------------
  
  
                                VIRATA CORPORATION
  --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
              (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)
  
          Delaware                      000-28157                 77-0521696
  --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  (State or Other Jurisdiction         (Commission              (IRS Employer
       of Incorporation)               File Number)           Identification No.)
  
  
   2933 Bunker Hill Lane, Suite 201, Santa Clara, California          95054
  --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  (Address of Principal Executive Offices)                          (Zip Code)
  
  Registrant's telephone number, including area code        (408) 566-1000
                                                     -----------------------------
  
                                  Not Applicable
  --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
           (Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)
  <PAGE>
  
  Item 5.  Other Events.
  
                 On May 8, 2001, Virata Corporation announced the adoption of a
  stockholder rights plan. Pursuant to General Instruction F of Form 8-K, the
  information contained in the documents attached as exhibits to this Current
  Report on Form 8-K is incorporated by reference in this Item 5.
  
  Item 7.  Financial Statements, Pro Forma Financial Information and Exhibits.
  
           (a)  Financial Statements of Businesses Acquired.
  
           Not applicable.
  
           (b)  Pro Forma Financial Information.
  
           Not applicable.
  
           (c)  Exhibits.
  
  Exhibit Number      Description
  --------------      -----------
  
  4.1                 Form of Rights Agreement, dated as of May 2, 2001, between
                      Virata Corporation and American Stock Transfer and Trust
                      Company, as Rights Agent, which includes as Exhibit A the
                      Form of Right Certificate, Form of Assignment and Form of
                      Election to Purchase.
  
  4.2                 Form of Certificate of Designations of Series A Preferred
                      Stock.
  
  20.1                Form of Letter to Stockholders of Virata Corporation
                      regarding the adoption of the Rights Plan, including Summary
                      of Rights Plan.
  
  99.1                Press Release dated May 8, 2001.
  <PAGE>
  
                   Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of
  1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by
  the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
  
  Date: May 8, 2001               VIRATA CORPORATION
  
  
                                  By:         Andrew M. Vought
                                        ------------------------------------------
                                  Name: Andrew M. Vought
                                  Its:  Chief Financial Officer, Senior Vice
                                        President, Finance and Administration, and
                                        Secretary
                                        (Duly Authorized Officer of the
                                        Registrant)
  <PAGE>
  
                                   EXHIBIT INDEX
  
  Exhibit Number      Description
  --------------      -----------
  
  4.1                 Form of Rights Agreement, dated as of May 2, 2001, between
                      Virata Corporation and American Stock Transfer and Trust
                      Company, as Rights Agent, which includes as Exhibit A the
                      Form of Right Certificate, Form of Assignment and Form of
                      Election to Purchase.
  
  4.2                 Form of Certificate of Designations of Series A Preferred
                      Stock.
  
  20.1                Form of Letter to Stockholders of Virata Corporation
                      regarding the adoption of the Rights Plan, including Summary
                      of Rights Plan.
  
  99.1                Press Release dated May 8, 2001.
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metadata_filer: {"company-data": {"conformed-name": "VIRATA CORP", "cik": "0001094371", "assigned-sic": "3674", "irs-number": "770521696", "state-of-incorporation": "DE", "fiscal-year-end": "1231"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "8-K", "act": "34", "file-number": "000-28157", "film-number": "1625909"}, "business-address": {"street1": "2933 BUNKER HILL LN", "street2": "STE 201", "city": "SANTA CLARA", "state": "CA", "zip": "95054", "phone": "4085661000"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "2933 BUNKER HILL LN", "street2": "STE 201", "city": "SANTA CLARA", "state": "CA", "zip": "95054"}}
text: UNITED STATES
                         SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                               Washington, D.C. 20549
  
                                      FORM 8-K
  
                                  CURRENT REPORT
              PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D) OF THE SECURITIES AND
                               EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
  
  Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported)   April 27, 2001
                                                    ------------------------------
  
                                VIRATA CORPORATION
  --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
              (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)
  
          Delaware                      000-28157                 77-0521696
  --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  (State or Other Jurisdiction         (Commission              (IRS Employer
       of Incorporation)               File Number)           Identification No.)
  
   2933 Bunker Hill Lane, Suite 201, Santa Clara, California          95054
  --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  (Address of Principal Executive Offices)                          (Zip Code)
  
  Registrant's telephone number, including area code        (408) 566-1000
                                                     -----------------------------
  
                                  Not Applicable
  --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
           (Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)
  Item 5.  Other Events.
  
                 On May 8, 2001, Virata Corporation announced the adoption of a
  stockholder rights plan. Pursuant to General Instruction F of Form 8-K, the
  information contained in the documents attached as exhibits to this Current
  Report on Form 8-K is incorporated by reference in this Item 5.
  
  Item 7.  Financial Statements, Pro Forma Financial Information and Exhibits.
  
           (a)  Financial Statements of Businesses Acquired.
  
           Not applicable.
  
           (b)  Pro Forma Financial Information.
  
           Not applicable.
  
           (c)  Exhibits.
  
  Exhibit Number      Description
  --------------      -----------
  
  4.1                 Form of Rights Agreement, dated as of May 2, 2001, between
                      Virata Corporation and American Stock Transfer and Trust
                      Company, as Rights Agent, which includes as Exhibit A the
                      Form of Right Certificate, Form of Assignment and Form of
                      Election to Purchase.
  
  4.2                 Form of Certificate of Designations of Series A Preferred
                      Stock.
  
  20.1                Form of Letter to Stockholders of Virata Corporation
                      regarding the adoption of the Rights Plan, including Summary
                      of Rights Plan.
  
  99.1                Press Release dated May 8, 2001.
  Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of
  1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by
  the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
  
  Date: May 8, 2001               VIRATA CORPORATION
  
                                  By:         Andrew M. Vought
                                        ------------------------------------------
                                  Name: Andrew M. Vought
                                  Its:  Chief Financial Officer, Senior Vice
                                        President, Finance and Administration, and
                                        Secretary
                                        (Duly Authorized Officer of the
                                        Registrant)
  EXHIBIT INDEX
  
  Exhibit Number      Description
  --------------      -----------
  
  4.1                 Form of Rights Agreement, dated as of May 2, 2001, between
                      Virata Corporation and American Stock Transfer and Trust
                      Company, as Rights Agent, which includes as Exhibit A the
                      Form of Right Certificate, Form of Assignment and Form of
                      Election to Purchase.
  
  4.2                 Form of Certificate of Designations of Series A Preferred
                      Stock.
  
  20.1                Form of Letter to Stockholders of Virata Corporation
                      regarding the adoption of the Rights Plan, including Summary
                      of Rights Plan.
  
  99.1                Press Release dated May 8, 2001.