The Cell just got smaller

Author: Brett Thomas
Published: 14th March 2007
Comments (14) Stumble
The Cell just got smaller

"The red pill makes you small" - the Cell Processor just got a die shrink. Who's celebrating? You'd be surprised...

Look out, world - Sony's heart just got a little smaller. Ba-dah-bum. Pshh! Thank you, thank you... I'll be here all week.

Anyhow, done with the jokes and onto the news - IBM has dropped a quiet little press release into the water this week detailing the Cell processor getting a die shrink. The heart of the PS3 is now a mere 65nm... fabrication process, at least.

IBM developed the chip in a three-way venture with Sony and its long-time chip-making ally Toshiba, and by many counts it is one of the most powerful processors made. The die-shrink to 65nm will likely have all of the usual benefits of lower heat and lower power-draw, as well as a higher yield per wafer. And that means one thing - cheaper chips.

Though IBM has made its obligatory press releases, the company that should be really blowing its horn on the announcement hasn't said much of anything. Sony has kept perfectly silent about the release, which is odd since it powers the company's baby - and a technical improvement would be some good news right now.

This could mean that though the Cell gets a shrink, the price to a consumer won't - and that wouldn't be good news. This could just be a strategy to get a little more profitability out of a currently losing proposition, or it could be something worse for Sony than just some bad press. If the company committed to certain numbers of units at a certain price, Sony may not see the benefits of the shrink itself until way down the line. If so, all the company has is some new temperature specs to show for it.

IBM, on the other hand, is going to enjoy this in every way possible. The Cell isn't only the PS3's baby - IBM also uses the powerful little chip design in its Blade servers. And the worst thing for Sony would be the best thing for IBM - it could maximise its profits on the chip fabrication for a while before it has to re-negotiate its contract.

Do you have a thought on the die shrink? Happy your upcoming PS3 may not be as hot as a George Foreman grill to match the looks? Let us know your thoughts in our forums.
Quote riggs 14th March 2007, 12:12
Quote:
Originally Posted by Article
This could mean that though the Cell gets a shrink, the price to a consumer won't - and that wouldn't be good news.
The price will probably go up for us Europeans...

Sony probably hasn't mentioned this as consumers would expect a price reduction. "Ok, so it's costing them a little less to manufacture...so why's the price still the same?"
Quote zero0ne 14th March 2007, 14:52
Are there any reviews of the Cell chips performance in the blade servers? (compared to what they were using before?)

I am curious as to how well they work in the server environment.
Quote Stuey 14th March 2007, 16:52
This just in: The PS3's popularity has increased! Just kidding!

On a serious note, Sony's still bleeding due to high production costs. Even if costs are reduced low enough to offer them a profit on the hardware, they'll still bleed due to mediocre sales.
Quote Spaceraver 14th March 2007, 17:58
Sony needs to bleed anyway. No pr0n allowd on their precious little blu ray and they make a load of overpriced crap like TV's and they are infact one of the leaders in the DRM war between us and the **AA's. They bend over backwards to have a good standing with those people and it makes me sick..
Quote JaredC01 14th March 2007, 18:10
Quote:
Originally Posted by Spaceraver
Sony needs to bleed anyway. No pr0n allowd on their precious little blu ray and they make a load of overpriced crap like TV's and they are infact one of the leaders in the DRM war between us and the **AA's. They bend over backwards to have a good standing with those people and it makes me sick..
You do realize that Sony has their own record label? That would explain the DRM portion of your post :P

On the note of the die shrink... Go IBM. Piss off Sony :)
Quote neocleous 14th March 2007, 18:37
What a shame someone is screwing Sony on price!

My heart bleeds for them!
Quote Lord_A 14th March 2007, 19:32
Quote:
Originally Posted by Brett Thomas
Look out, world - Sony's heart just got a little smaller. Ba-dah-bum. Pshh! Thank you, thank you... I'll be here all week.



I think it would be a while until Sony runs out of its current stock of PS3 units, so no smaller Cell chips in the near future.
Quote devdevil85 14th March 2007, 20:53
You guys have no idea how long it will take until they start shipping new PS3's with 65nm. Xbox360 still isn't out yet with it so there's no real reason yet for Sony to do it yet. I bet by the time they do start shipping them, the price will either drop or it may actually be worth it to the middle-class citizen once new games and media come out.
Quote Lord_A 14th March 2007, 21:04
Quote:
Originally Posted by devdevil85
You guys have no idea how long it will take until they start shipping new PS3's with 65nm. Xbox360 still isn't out yet with it so there's no real reason yet for Sony to do it yet. I bet by the time they do start shipping them, the price will either drop or it may actually be worth it to the middle-class citizen once new games and media come out.

It's in Sonys best interest to switch to it ASAP as it means lower costs for them, plus less heat which should mean a quiter console.
Quote Swafeman 14th March 2007, 23:35
aye, sony of course didnt release this as itll be greeted by everyone goin, wow its cheaper! (seing as its one of the most exspensive parts, if not the most exspensive parts), thus the ps3 will be cheaper!

but this is sony, and that wont happen, itll just cusion to the blow to them if they need to reduce the price due to serious lack of sales
Quote devdevil85 15th March 2007, 00:31
Quote:
Originally Posted by Swafeman
they need to reduce the price due to serious lack of sales

in order to back this statement up, do you have any serious evidence showing that there is this "serious lack of sales"?

And also, Sony will of course ship the new PS3's ASAP, but for right now, they need to sell the rest of their supply before they do that.
Quote rowin4kicks 15th March 2007, 09:30
well i thought the wii and 360 outstriped the ps3 on xmas sales (one of the bigger times of the year for consoles)?

hopefully in 4 or so years they can shrink down the ps3 into a little baby ps3 like they have done previously
Quote Narvi 15th March 2007, 11:41
Considering they are selling the console at a LOSS, I doubt they're going to drop the price.
Quote devdevil85 15th March 2007, 15:19
Quote:
Originally Posted by Narvi
Considering they are selling the console at a LOSS, I doubt they're going to drop the price.

exactly.....
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