IBM has 45nm Cell in its sights, Sony's PS3 gets first dibs

IBM might be lagging slightly behind the likes of Intel and Microsoft in the 45nm department, but rest assured that a 45nm version of Cell is in the works and most certainly headed for the PS3. Microsoft told us that 45nm for Xbox was in the works last year, and Intel is obviously churning out Penryn chips as we speak, but IBM has finally solidified its own 45nm plans for Cell, and will change over production "soon." The chip will use about 40 percent less power and will be 34 percent smaller than the 65nm version. That means less heat and more reliability, which of course means cost savings for Sony which will (theoretically) be passed on to consumers before too terribly long.

[kismet I @ Feb 7th 2008 10:32AM]

Since when did Microsoft manufacture processors?

[sjdurfey @ Feb 7th 2008 1:33PM]

doesn't IBM manufacture their processors?

[Shadowise @ Feb 7th 2008 10:32AM]

Another reason to wait before I buy a PS3.

[John @ Feb 7th 2008 10:32AM]

I never run out of those.

[djamison @ Feb 7th 2008 10:52AM]

With technology you can either wait forever for the next best thing or bite the bullet and enjoy it in the meantime. Up to you.

[James Ollier @ Feb 7th 2008 10:57AM]

In a quiet, BBC Radio 4 voice:

And that was John's xbox, who died peacefully this evening, as 3/4 of its red face lit up, and its drives and fans spun down.
It was 12 months old. Rest in Peace, my frail old friend.

[|MaguS| @ Feb 7th 2008 10:51AM]

Doesn't MS also use IBM Chips? So wouldn't they have to wait untill IBM started manufacturing chips in 45mm aswell?

[recon @ Feb 7th 2008 12:56PM]

No, not for the main processors, those are Intel chips

[|MaguS| @ Feb 7th 2008 1:06PM]

Actualyl I was right...The Xenon CPU is developed by IBM, it's a Tricore CPU.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xenon_(processor)

[David @ Feb 7th 2008 1:52PM]

Yes. IBM makes the main processors in all 3 game consoles.

[Phil Ringsmuth @ Feb 7th 2008 10:53AM]

So, does this mean that Sony is going to start selling a 45nm SKU with some roll-of-the-dice-sized hard drive with a random feature set from a grab bag?

[Ray-- @ Feb 7th 2008 11:23AM]

you wont see a sku change for something like this. They will make the change but not really mention it to anyone. Functionally nothing will change in the console... all that happens is Sony's margins go up...

[Gremlin @ Feb 7th 2008 10:53AM]

PSThree, here we come!

[NHAnimator @ Feb 7th 2008 11:02AM]

I'm reaching for my wallet... slowly... carefully... wait for it...

What??? $30 for a movie??? Ah, man!

[recon @ Feb 7th 2008 12:59PM]

You can get most now for 15-22 dollars. These prices and price drops are just like those of DVDs when they first appeared on the market.

[Chebwa @ Feb 7th 2008 11:04AM]

"...savings for Sony which will (theoretically) be passed on to consumers before too terribly long."

lol

[SuperDre @ Feb 7th 2008 11:52AM]

I wouldn't mind having to pay the current PS3 (40GB) prices for a version which uses the 45nm Cell.. it would mean even more silent and a lower powerbill.. hehe..
But I guess we eurotrash will not see a version before next year... and that's a long wait...

[Andy @ Feb 7th 2008 12:09PM]

Not bad, if this materializes before the end of the year, and the cost is right, it may mean a second PS3 for our household, unless someone will want to buy a 60gb...

[Khattab @ Feb 7th 2008 12:33PM]

Who send this in? :)

[alexhrose71 @ Feb 7th 2008 12:56PM]

Who taught you engrish ?

:P

[Khattab @ Feb 7th 2008 1:01PM]

Who taught you? :D

Seriously - what's wrong? I don't get it.

[Jagannath A @ Feb 7th 2008 1:15PM]

"who sent this in ?" is correct

[Khattab @ Feb 7th 2008 1:18PM]

*getting red*

Ohhhm - yep,of course you're right. D and T are next to each other on the keyboard ;). At least on mine :D.

[NineT9 @ Feb 7th 2008 1:19PM]

nice this obviously means PS3 is better then the 360 and wii combinedin every aspect

[lawschoolbound @ Feb 7th 2008 1:45PM]

and Microsoft has yet to come out with 65nm graphic chips. I hope they get a move on, I'm planning on getting a 360 this summer and don't want to have buyer's remorse knowing that new chips are coming 'soon'

[Pete @ Feb 7th 2008 1:57PM]

360s are sporting 65nm cores already. Here is how to find one:

http://anandtech.com/gadgets/showdoc.aspx?i=3152&p=3

[lawschoolbound @ Feb 7th 2008 2:04PM]

looks like you're right, but the article says that the graphic chips are probably around 80nm, not 65. However, there has been a dramatic cut in power usage so hopefully I won't have to worry bout the RRD.

[Fiddlesworth @ Feb 7th 2008 1:58PM]

- "nice this obviously means PS3 is better then the 360 and wii combinedin every aspect"

Boring.

The 65nm already runs pretty cool, the top fan speed rarely if ever kicks in on the 40GB PS3. When are we going to see reductions made to nVidia's RSX GPU?

[John @ Feb 7th 2008 2:03PM]

Haha...I thought my PS3 ran hot and was pretty loud (fans) until I got an XBOX 360.

That sucker has redefined my ideas of noise and heat.

[Zeus.:God @ Feb 7th 2008 4:50PM]

Its a more powerful system, thats why.

[Jkswiss @ Feb 7th 2008 10:20PM]

lol

[Sinh Truong @ Feb 7th 2008 2:13PM]

I have both systems and I agree that the 360 is very loud, especially compared to the ps3 which has a very quiet purr. However, the 360's fans are not as loud as the optical drive...

[dean @ Feb 7th 2008 3:13PM]

Nobody has said this yet: Hopefully the Wii will also get 45 nm processor soon too! With that, you could pretty much play the downloaded content on batteries!


Wait.... Make a Wii with only the downloadable contents (new and old software), no optical drive....much smaller circuitry means a package probably down to 1/3 its size....give it a good lithium battery and 4" widescreen LCD.... WiiGo! I have predicted the future. Mark your calendars, lol!