Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com Joystiq http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://www.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com en-us Copyright 2013 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[PS3 Slim sports cooler, cheaper (faster?) 45nm Cell processor]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/08/20/ps3-slim-sports-cooler-cheaper-faster-45nm-cell-processor/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/08/20/ps3-slim-sports-cooler-cheaper-faster-45nm-cell-processor/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/08/20/ps3-slim-sports-cooler-cheaper-faster-45nm-cell-processor/#comments
Sure, it was to be expected. News that the PS3 Slim would not only be smaller (33% according to Sony; it's slim!), but use less power (34% less), weigh less (36% lighter), and cost less (a solid Benjamin!) all pointed to one thing: black magic.

Turns out, our hunch was wrong (at least in part). IBM has revealed that the Cell processor under the newly matte-ified hood of the PS3 Slim was "manufactured using an advanced 45-nanometer manufacturing process" that will deliver "many performance improvements while drawing less power than earlier chips." Of course, smaller chips are cheaper to produce and would, at least in part, contribute to the Slim's slimmer pricetag. There's no word on any size or cost reductions for the PS3's Nvidia-built RSX graphics chip; however, historically, it has lagged behind reductions in the CPU.

In addition to IBM's claim of "performance improvements" IDG News Service reports that the Slim "adds hardware enhancements that make it speedier" though, curiously, Sony never mentioned any performance improvements coming with the Slim. Since gaming consoles are engineered to a specification - so developers aren't programming for a moving target - we're thoroughly skeptical of of any user-facing performance improvements. Lucky for us, we've got a Slim at our disposal, so we'll throw some fire at it and see how it responds.

JoystiqPS3 Slim sports cooler, cheaper (faster?) 45nm Cell processor originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 20 Aug 2009 11:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>45nmCellIBMPS3-SlimThu, 20 Aug 2009 11:58:00 EST<![CDATA[45nm Cell processors coming in 2009]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/22/45nm-cell-processors-coming-in-2009/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/22/45nm-cell-processors-coming-in-2009/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/22/45nm-cell-processors-coming-in-2009/#commentsFiled under:

Sony, Toshiba and IBM will start mass production on a 45nm version of the Cell processor in 2009, according to Japan's Nikkan. We first heard about the 45 nm shrinkage in February 2008, when Ars Technica reported the smaller chips would run off only 80 watts of power (compared to the 200 watts of the 90nm Cell when the PlayStation 3 first launched).

There is no reported time frame indicating when in 2009 production will begin. The new chip will also be cheaper to produce, meaning Sony is approximately 200% more likely to use these for PS3 production as soon as feasibly possible.

[Via Engadget]

Joystiq45nm Cell processors coming in 2009 originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 22 Sep 2008 15:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>45nmcellcell-processoribmPS3sonytoshibaMon, 22 Sep 2008 15:40:00 EST<![CDATA[Sony/Toshiba making 45nm Cells in '09, slim PS3 on way?]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/22/sony-toshiba-making-45nm-cells-in-09-slim-ps3-on-way/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/22/sony-toshiba-making-45nm-cells-in-09-slim-ps3-on-way/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/22/sony-toshiba-making-45nm-cells-in-09-slim-ps3-on-way/#commentsFiled under: ,

The current PS3s already have efficient functionality with the shrunken 65nm Cell processor, but now things are going to get even smaller. Sony and Toshiba have plans on mass producing a 45nm Cell processor starting in 2009. The plan is to integrate them first into PS3s. The result of which will allow PS3s to save power up to 40 percent.

As usual, smaller chips mean less heat, less space, and more reliability. Engadget suggests that this new hardware revision could usher in a price cut and a PS3-slim model. All seems logically sound, though -- even if the chips were produced early in the year -- we still wouldn't see the end product until late 2009 at the very earliest. So if you've been holding out for a PS3 until the slim comes into town ... you've still got a long wait ahead of you buddy.

[Via Engadget]

JoystiqSony/Toshiba making 45nm Cells in '09, slim PS3 on way? originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 22 Sep 2008 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>45nmcellcell-processorps3Mon, 22 Sep 2008 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Analysts: PlayStation 3 profitable by August, smaller chips likely]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/21/analysts-playstation-3-profitable-by-august-smaller-chips-like/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/21/analysts-playstation-3-profitable-by-august-smaller-chips-like/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/21/analysts-playstation-3-profitable-by-august-smaller-chips-like/#commentsFiled under: ,


Sony is gunning for PS3 profitability this fiscal year - which, coincidentally, began this month - and it's hoping to get there by reducing the cost of key components, of course. The PS3's Cell CPU has already been shrunk from a big ol' 90nm to a relatively svelte 65nm, and there's an additional 45nm die-shrink in the works, which should be making its way to the PS3 "soon." A smaller Blu-ray laser could further erode the console's high cost. Notably absent from any speculation on cost reduction thus far: the system's 90nm RSX GPU.

Reputed Japanese financial services firm Nikko Citigroup upgraded its rating on Sony this morning, pointing out that the PS3 may cross over the profitability hurdle as early as this August. While Nikko CG didn't attribute this to a specific cost reduction, it's a safe assumption that a 45nm Cell CPU and a sub-90nm RSX GPU would be the key ingredients to a deliciously profitable PlayStation 3. Next step: that rumored PS3 slim. Start holding your breath ... now!

[Via Engadget]

JoystiqAnalysts: PlayStation 3 profitable by August, smaller chips likely originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 21 Apr 2008 17:13:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>45nmCellprofitabilityPS3RSXSonyMon, 21 Apr 2008 17:13:00 EST<![CDATA[Cell down to 45nm, PS3 production costs to slim too]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/07/cell-down-to-45nm-ps3-production-costs-to-slim-too/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/07/cell-down-to-45nm-ps3-production-costs-to-slim-too/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/07/cell-down-to-45nm-ps3-production-costs-to-slim-too/#commentsFiled under: ,

45nm
IBM's Cell processor continues to shed those nanometers, soon down to a bony 45nm, reports Ars Technica. Of course, the smaller you become, the less energy you consume, and after trimming off 34% of its die area, the new Cell is practically starving itself. Can you believe this thing lives off a mere 80 watts? And to think, some of us have PS3s bulging with 90nm chips that scarf up 200 watts!

Not only are we talking less power consumption, the 45nm chip will be cheaper to produce than the current 65nm version, and when coupled with the incredible shrinking Blu-ray laser, Sony is poised to make PlayStation 3 manufacturing actually profitable - imagine that! Question is: when do all these savings get passed on to the consumer?

JoystiqCell down to 45nm, PS3 production costs to slim too originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 07 Feb 2008 13:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>45nmcellibmPS3Thu, 07 Feb 2008 13:55:00 EST<![CDATA[New 45nm Cell processor boasts greater efficiency]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/01/30/new-45nm-cell-processor-boasts-greater-efficiency/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/01/30/new-45nm-cell-processor-boasts-greater-efficiency/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/01/30/new-45nm-cell-processor-boasts-greater-efficiency/#commentsFiled under:

What's all this talk about a 65nm Cell processor? That's so 2007! At the ISSCC -- that's the International Solid State Circuits Conference -- Sony is going to unveil its newest creation, the 45nm Cell chip (not pictured above ... it's practically invisible). This form of the processor will consume 40% less energy than the 65nm chip. Sony is working on getting the chip out there, but we've no idea if there are plans to incorporate it into the next wave of PS3 machines. Still, it's very cool to see a chip so very, very small able to do so many, many things.

[via SimplyGaming]

JoystiqNew 45nm Cell processor boasts greater efficiency originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 30 Jan 2008 23:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>45nmcellcell-processorsonyWed, 30 Jan 2008 23:00:00 EST<![CDATA[65nm 360 chips in production 'last two quarters' - 45nm on the way]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/08/01/65nm-360-chips-in-production-last-two-quarters-45nm-on-the-w/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/08/01/65nm-360-chips-in-production-last-two-quarters-45nm-on-the-w/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/08/01/65nm-360-chips-in-production-last-two-quarters-45nm-on-the-w/#commentsFiled under: ,

Though we're pretty confident the Xbox 360 price drop is coming sooner than "this Fall" - more like August 12th, if you want to be specific - we've had the entire Fall season marked on our Microsoft Executive Swimsuit calendar with "65nm chips" reminders. Those weary of the dreaded RROD have been looking forward to the smaller, cooler (and cheaper!) chips being included in the new systems, codenamed Falcon, but the extremely paranoid may want to hold off for the 45nm version.

"As 65nm just started production in the last two quarters, you would expect 45nm to [begin production] about 18 months from that timeframe," said the President of Microsoft manufacturing partner, Charted Semiconductor. That means production on those new even smaller and even cooler chips won't begin until late 2008, early 2009. If that's too long to hold off, take comfort in knowing that those 65nm chips have been produced for some time, and should be making their way to retail Xbox 360s soon (astronotip: Fall starts on Sept. 23 this year, so mark your various themed calendars).

Joystiq65nm 360 chips in production 'last two quarters' - 45nm on the way originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 01 Aug 2007 11:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>45nm65nmCPUFalconGPUXbox-360XenonWed, 01 Aug 2007 11:56:00 EST<![CDATA[IBM moves to 65nm Cell chip production]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/13/ibm-moves-to-65nm-cell-chip-production/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/13/ibm-moves-to-65nm-cell-chip-production/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/13/ibm-moves-to-65nm-cell-chip-production/#commentsFiled under: ,

IBM announced today that it is beginning production a 65nm version of the Cell processor, which is a good bit smaller than the 90nm version used today. A smaller chip could also lower power consumption and lower production costs.

This news should not, however, get your hopes up for a price drop in the near future. The PlayStation 3 continues to be a hefty loss leader for Sony, estimated to cost $840 to manufacture. Sony is also gearing up to rip the PS2 hardware out of the PS3s to help with the European launch.

Historically, consoles have never seen a price drop in its first year. Will the rumored 2009 price drop, coinciding with the 45nm Cell chip, prove fruitful? It's certainly a lot more likely than seeing the console slash prices anytime soon.

[Via Engadget; thanks, Michael Chomiczewski]

JoystiqIBM moves to 65nm Cell chip production originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 13 Mar 2007 14:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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