IBM Cell BE PS3 Processor Shrunk to 45nm
 

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 entertainment system. The Cell BE is currently fabricated on IBM's 65nm SOI process, but IBM will soon move the console chip onto the company's 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. 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. All this will help Sony to slash the production cost of every PLAYSTATION3 console. Will this affect end users, only time will show. New price cuts or new PS3 models, haven't been officially announced yet.

Source: Ars Technica

sounds like its time for the PS3 slim :roll:

not new news, as IBM stated they were ready to go to 45nm 360 cpu a while back, so this was expected

lets like ill be waiting for either a integrated hd-dvd xbox 360 or now one of these 45nm chip ps3's

i wonder how small the manufacturing process will go o_O

0.5nm cpu's :laugh:

Why the hell doesn't IBM make an X86 processor again? Seriously, at least help out AMD some -- I'm sure they could find a way for it to be profitable.

When did IBM make x86 processors?

edit...they did make x86 cpu during the late 80's :p

edit2...they did make also till the mid 1990's but there cpu were to rival the Pentium 2. Overall, the would have been more profitable with their powerPC, than the x86. Sadly to say that intel and amd already conquered that sector.

I was waiting for the 45nm Cell processors, but I finally just bit the bullet and bought a 60GB console. Part of it was I was getting impatient, and the other was that I wanted a console with PS2 compatibility and I doubt the new 45nm consoles will.

Yeah, Im with you newtekie1. I want this newer cheaper console, but Ill sacrifice ps2 compatibility and since I dont have a working ps2 anymore, my newer games wont be playable :)(

I read some months ago that according to many specialist they would find a limit around 22nm maybe a little bit smaller, but not much. But some years ago they never thought we could reach 45nm so who know?

EDIT: Anyway, thinking of it better, they said that before I knew anything about high-k process yet. I wonder if those specialist knew it? Maybe it was almost a pair of years ago when I read that, at least!! The time passes so fast...

m8 you did well. 60gb ps3 is the best looking ps3 all time! black pearl :D
some people think 65 or 45nm ps3 will be powerful than 90nm ps3s but its wrong. they are all having identical power. and it must be so.
90nm ps3 are warming a bit much more but actually ps3 is not warming at all.
and about energy efficeny. 90nm ps3 are taking 350-400W. its nothing at all

The 60gb, the 40gb, the 20gb, and the 80gb all look the same.

if I aint wrong that some models (20,40) doesnt have a silver lines?

hopefully they can start making the PS3's cheaper, Id be happy to get one once they step into the 200 to 250 range

I can wait

It's always good to save more money. I just hope they pass it onto the consumer as well.

I retract my previous comment...actually I'm quite surprised (pleasantly though) by this move. Go IBM Go! :rockout: