Cell shrunk to 45 nm :)

[spicynacho]

Cheaper, smaller, more energy efficient PS3's should be just around the corner...

SAN FRANCISCO — At an ISSCC session yesterday afternoon, IBM announced details of a smaller, lower-power version of the Cell BE processor that powers Sony's PlayStation 3. The Cell BE is currently fabricated on IBM's 65nm SOI process, but IBM will soon move the console chip onto the company's much-ballyhooed, next-generation 45nm high-k process.

The 45nm Cell will use about 40 percent less power than its 65nm predecessor, and its die area will be reduced by 34 percent. The greatly reduced power budget will cut down on the amount of active cooling required by the console, which in turn will make it cheaper to produce and more reliable (this means fewer warrantied returns). Also affecting Sony's per-unit cost is the reduction in overall die size. A smaller die means a smaller, cheaper package; it also means that yields will be better and that each chip will cost less overall.

http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post...ll-follow.html

[bkbluray]

Nice! Sony seems to be making all the right moves these days.

[monkeytap]

Originally Posted by spicynacho

Cheaper, smaller, more energy efficient PS3's should be just around the corner...


http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post...ll-follow.html

well that can't be a bad thing.....

[mightypen]

Inevitable, but good news nonetheless.

this + ds3 + bc (not even full) and I will buy.

[bageleaterkkjji]

aww man...now it will consume less power

[CptGreedle]

Great news! Smaller, cheaper PS3s will sell better and boost PS3 and Blu-ray sales.

[xtop]

ps2 in a psp, ps3 in a psp2??

[spicynacho]

Originally Posted by xtop

ps2 in a psp, ps3 in a psp2??

2 Playstations, 1 Cup?

[ezcobar411]

Originally Posted by xtop

ps2 in a psp, ps3 in a psp2??

That would be great. Hopefully that'd bring an end to constant talk of the DS. I hate the DS. lol

[FFObsessed]

I swear, Sony have got the best engineer's in the world. It's crazy how they've reduced so much of the PS3's cost so quickly.

[bageleaterkkjji]

Originally Posted by FFObsessed

I swear, Sony have got the best engineer's in the world. It's crazy how they've reduced so much of the PS3's cost so quickly.

its ibm but still intel has had 45nm processers that use way less energy and are way faster than the 65nm ones so a ps3 one isnt that suprising...what is suprising is that it isnt more powerful

[spicynacho]

Originally Posted by bageleaterkkjji

its ibm but still intel has had 45nm processers that use way less energy and are way faster than the 65nm ones so a ps3 one isnt that suprising...what is suprising is that it isnt more powerful

For the embedded devices world (as opposed to the intel/amd GHz race world) the standard operating procedure is to reduce the RPM's when switching gears rather than slamming on the throttle to keep hauling ass. Besides, for the life of the PS3, the 20 GB model will be the lowest common denominator all developers will be targetting and supporting.

[Luis_A51]

I think its WAY too optimistic to expect smaller PS3s soon. Slimmer models usually come way later on to boost sales of an established product. A price drop right now would be more effective (putting it below the cost of a 360 is huge) and would let them keep that Ace for a while longer.

Plus it takes a lot of time to re-design a unit for a smaller space, and it makes the most sense for them to drop the price in the comming months, in anticipation for games like GTA4 and MGS4, as many PS2 owners will want to make an upgrade then.

[swivel]

Originally Posted by bageleaterkkjji

its ibm but still intel has had 45nm processers that use way less energy and are way faster than the 65nm ones so a ps3 one isnt that suprising...what is suprising is that it isnt more powerful

The reason it isn't more powerful is because it is still the same circuit and same clockspeed. It wouldn't make sense to ratchet up the CPU speed, because the games still have to be developed for the lowest common denominator. All you would do is increase the heat and power consumption, with no benefit.

I can't wait to see the next form-factor. I'll gladly buy a second PS3 when it comes out. Right now I move my PS3 between the living room and my game-room depending on whether or now we are watching a movie or playing Rock-Band. A second PS3 is going to be very nice.

[miokti]

I'm an IC layout designer for cellphones, and there is an on-going migration from 65nm to 45nm processes industry-wide. That is why phones are getting smaller. The same thing can be applied to larger electronic devices. Here's why:

1) Device sizes are smaller, thus you can have a smaller die, thus a smaller chip. If the die is small, that means you can put more of it in the same silicon wafer. Companies pay by the wafer, so they want the die size small so they can get more chips for the same amount they pay. For example, if a die (a die is the raw chip) is 1" square (really big, unrealistic) lets say you can fit 10,000 on a wafer that cost you $10,000 (really cheap, unrealistic). Then you pay to have your die packaged, let's say 10cents each. To break even you have to sell the chip at $1.10 each. Now, let's say your engineers switched to a smaller process and managed to make you die smaller at 0.5inch square (really big reduction, unrealistic). Now you can fit 20,000 on a wafer that you still paid $10,000 for. You can now sell your chips for as low as 60cents to break even. My numbers are exaggerated. Companies make decisions like these based on tenths of cents, but since they sell in volumes of tens of millions, the still make profits.

2) Smaller devices means more devices on-chip and less on the circuit board. On the circuit board, you pay per device. On the chip, you pay by the wafer and processing. Whether you have 1million devices or 10million devices inside the chip, you pay the same. By moving circuits on the circuit-board into the chip, you are saving money and also making the device smaller.

[HMtheJJ]

Originally Posted by FFObsessed

I swear, Sony have got the best engineer's in the world. It's crazy how they've reduced so much of the PS3's cost so quickly.

just look at their company history and high end products they ever produced, there is on one company can touch SONY for being the KING of Consumer Electronics.

give u one example: the 10 year anniversary MD player MZ-E10 is still the world smallest lightest MD player EVER made (excluding the ultra high end Qualia 017), the guys who were on the project told the chief engineer that the prevoius one was small enough, there was no way they could make it smaller. The chief engineer dropped the player in a tank of water and told them if any bubbles came out, meaning there was room to shrink the size of the player and just work on it!!! and then, SONY onc again changed history came out with MZ-E10, one amazing device regardless the purpose of it.

i always get amazed how innovative and beautiful SONY's design are, also the built quality is absolutely the BEST. There is this X-factor about all SONY high end products just so irresistible!

[UTVOL06]

Originally Posted by spicynacho

Cheaper, smaller, more energy efficient PS3's should be just around the corner...



http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post...ll-follow.html

My new computer has the new Intel 45nm CPU in it. Just means cheaper for the consumer and less power consumption.