IBM has successfully miniaturised the Cell processor that you know from Sony’s PlayStation 3. Formerly built upon the 65nm scale, the new version will be based on the 45nm high-k process. What’s this mean? Money, power and heat savings for Sony. And maybe a smaller or cheaper PS3 for you.
Along with the higher processor yields, what’s most attractive is the power/heat savings. These 45nm Cells use 40 percent less power than the current, 65nm Cell. Sure that’s a power savings for customers, but it’s also a major heat savings for designers. The PS3 may not have the red ring of death problem like we’ve seen in the Xbox 360, but a cooler, smaller Cell could fit in a cooler, smaller PS3 (requiring less fans, etc.).
And while Sony has already managed to nearly break even on their console production cost vs. retail prices, the impending redesign could help Sony cut a legit profit from hardware (or allow Sony to cut prices again, instead). We’ll keep an eye out for the new chips, but unless they come bundled in a smaller or cheaper PS3, none of this will really matter to you anyway.
Note: that photo is of the old, fat, ugly, 65nm Cell. [arstechnica]
TV
July 10, 2008 at 7:12 AM
This article is PURE speculation though, and more than half of the times the developers don’t deliver. Yeh, we may start seeing all the 45nm CPU’s and GPU’s, but will we actually see any performance differences, graphical enhancements, and lower prices? I can almost guarantee you not. Sony even said themselves, they have NO plans to lower the price on any of the PS3′s. Maybe we might shave about $5 off of our home electricity bill every month, but a smaller PS3 I highly doubt. All this talk about “smaller” and more “efficient” CPU’s I feel is only progressive talk from Sony to keep having consumers interested in buying their hardware. If you do buy a PS3, get it for the Blu-Ray that is somewhat “cheaper” compared to their OVERLY PRICED regular Blu-Ray players out there that go for $1000.
Report Permalink