RSSSony PS4: It's never too early to wonder
by Tim Conneally
Japanese site PC Watch has started the global rumor mill churning with a report that Sony's Cell BE processor that powers the PS3 could still be a viable chip for the company's next next-gen console.
Without citing sources, PC Watch appears to be saying that a technological leap of the same scale as from the PlayStation 2 to the PS3, may no longer be affordable. As a result, the article says -- showing material from recent presentations on the Cell processor family as evidence -- Sony may be considering elevating what had been called the "PlayStation 3 +" project to PlayStation 4 status.
Yet, when considering the length of time the Cell processor took to create, 2016 and the eighth generation consoles don't seem that far away. The architectural concept of the Cell was drafted in 2000; and in 2001, Sony, Toshiba and IBM opened the STI Design Center where it was ultimately completed four years later.
PC Watch brings up points that are worth considering when looking down that long road. Sony spent a great deal on the development of the Cell BE architecture (IBM says the joint investment in the design center alone amounted to $400 million), so it could stand for a long period of time. It posits that a similar investment for the next generation processor and software stack would simply be too great of an expenditure. Since shrinking the Cell processors from 90 nm to 45 nm, it shows how its design has remained the same, but says it's unlikely to reach the 32nm process.
IBM, however, recently discussed new processes related to 22 nm fabrication, and specifically mentioned the potential use of the technique for the advancements in game consoles, which could have only been a reference to the Cell processor.
As Microsoft's Xbox 360 has surged in sales, actually growing by more than double worldwide thanks to recent price cuts, SCEI does not have enough time to wait for IBM to perfect the 22 nm process if it is looking to release a new console.
Either way, the Cell BE processor offers a scalability that would allow future iterations of Sony's console to use more cores without changing the principal architecture. Sony could soon be put on a path similar to the one taken by Nintendo with the Wii, which was built upon a re-working of the previous generation Gamecube architecture.
25 Comments
@ foxfyre
so your saying everyone with a job and a morgage and trying to make ends meet can afford a peace of technology thats worth half $1000 dollars. just because you have rich parents doesn't mean everyone who is out on there own can't afford luxuries such as this
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bskdopeboy all with Sony's own crappy formats screw 'em
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its almost been more than 2 years and still can't afford to get a PS3 even with the crashbox 360 at $199 still isn't in my eyes IMO not worth it to get it. i will eventually get the PS3 rather than get the crashbox where i will have to keep sensing it back for warranty for all the red ring of death times i will experience with it
@Hocuspokus have you even researched what GPU the crashbox 360 has im sure it is an old ati GPU just like the first crashbox had a crippled nvidia GPU
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While I can't argue against the pricepoint for general families, the answer to your specific dilemma, like too many of the folks here, is to move out of mommy's house and get a job.
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foxfyre
You seem to be under the illusion that I give a continental flying f*ck about anyone of the kids game consoles.
I just love pointing out the reality about just how 'bleeding edge' the PS3 is (not) to the zealot fanboys when they start proclaiming it as some sort of 'awesome supercomputer'.
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Hmmm, the PS3 is, at heart, an ancient 7800/7900 Nvidia.
So I wonder what, by that time when the PS4 come out (if it ever does come out), laughably out-of-date GPU will be in it?
A 'cutting edge' 8800 GTS in 2011/12?
LMAO
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Maybe it will be bigger, uglier and overpriced like my launch day PS3. At least I have true harware BC and all the features they started stripping off the many SKU's they offer now.
As I have said before, there is no finer BD player on the planet than the PS3. Still no games here after almost two years of having one and it cost Sony $309 for me to buy one.
It's only hooked up to my projector at this point for family movie nights.
If MS ever comes out with a new console, they need to avoid all the Sony mistakes and steal the cool ideas.
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I still say BD is doomed for movie purposes, Sony just doesn't know it yet. A third, much cheaper HD movie solution will come at some point.
Movies that cost $35.00 .... come on.
I don't mind paying because I have disposable income but people that can't pay thier mortgage or credit card bills aren't going to shell out $35.00 for a BD when they can get the DVD version for $15.00 or rent it from Netflix and copy it.
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Thinking like this will propel Sony into the tank for gaming consoles and leave it for the ones who know what their doing. So thank you Sony for quietly choosing to leave this market and concentrate on other investments like the next gen of the laser / bloray.. Laser Ray
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...
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Never Sony again - I remembet their root-kit too well.
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He won't buy a Ford because of the Edsel either.
LOL!
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POOPS3 This piece of over priced s*** will never sell major units especially during a global recession. It has a vastly underpowered processor that is supported by a vastly underpowered company in software with a vastly underpowered drive that will be rendered obsolete by 2010 and run by a vastly console sceptical Sony president. If only Nintendo made TV's and music systems. Then it would be good riddance to Sony!.
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Nintendo hit on a good thing. That's all. The Wii is by no means a badass system, it just does what people want.
Good riddance to the PS3, maybe, but not to Sony.
I still own and love the best 'mini' system I've ever heard which was manufactured by Sony.
I dj using Sony MDR-V700's, which are sick.
Call me oldskool, but I still listen to and record using my Sony net minidisk player which is one of the best buys of my life.
I use MDR-EX71's which-... go buy some!
I use a Sony DSC-H3B.
I use a Sony HDR-FX1 (which replaced my Canon XM2!)
My ex-ex phone was a T610.
My ex phone was a cybershot (best phone I've ever had!).
My phone now is a W960.
My 'everyday use' digital cameras are all Sony (can't remember the names).
I've used a Sony GDM-FW900 for the past 2 years, and I'll cry if/when is breaks.
My TV is Sony. My dvd player is sony. My surround sound system is Sony.
My DVD writers are all Sony.
I use Acid pro and Soundforge for music and Vegas Pro 8 for video.
My girlfriend has a Wii.
Good going, Nintendo!
Long live Sony; you've changed my life.
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Tell us more. We really care a lot.
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Mini-Disc with it's whopping storage capacity and slow data access .... wow.
The only other Sony product I own is our camcorder. If Sony does anything right, it's camcorders and CRT TV's, which they don't do anymore.
Almost all broadcast facilities used Sony CRT's, now they use HD LCD and plasma displays from any manufacturer.
Sony is pissed, which is why you are seeing Payton Manning commercials touting thier awesome track record of broadcasters using Sony which is why should should own one.
Look at any of the major networks multiple vertically oriented plasma displays that run in the background behind the newscasters, especially on ESPN, none of them are Sony.
They have lost countless tens, even hundreds of millions in contracts with broadcast companies.
Before LCD and plasma, Sony produced the only CRT monitors that could be shown on camera that didnt show the black bar from the scanlines or have that on camera wave effect. They were obscenely expensive but they had the market cornered already with some patented display process.
Not any more. Plasmas don't have scanlines like CRT, so now they can use the cheapest displays known to man, like Vizio, on camera in TV shows and in movies.
Sony is ****ed three ways from Sunday. Their cash cows have all gone away, hence Blu Ray, the newest Sony proprietary format.
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The biggest difference required would be a multicore CPU, and that's not going to happen. The single core Cell is already obsolete against the triple core Xenon. And yes, the Xenon is a classic PPC, but there's no question this souped up processor has been specifically tailored for games. SPUs are great for crunching Folder@Home numbers, not for running Oblivion.
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Absolute nonsense.
Tell that to IBM's Roadrunner.
And the cell is almost infinitely configurable and upgradeable!
And postioned against a triple core Xeon? You have got to be kidding! That single Xeon processor costs more than the entire PS3 rig with a cell!
So you aere essentially proposing a $1000+ console? Yup, that will fly!
You have no idea how the cell is configured (or able to be agilely configured!) And you clame its not adept at running games? Yup, math is not its strength...LOL!
You sir, are an idiot.
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If they were smart, they would take leverage the power of the PS3 and reconfigure it to serve as a true multi-function/purpose hub for a home entertainment and communications (and even an integrated Smart House) console, with games just being one of many functional modules.
The biggest difference required would be the I/O ports and an upgradeable management environment that could be loaded and upgraded by functional modules to firmware. All relatively easily accomplished with existing technology and minimal additional expense or design work.
And if they were really smart (OK, we are talking about Sony here!), they would make the new features available via an external add-on for exisitng PS3s for a very attractive price in order to leverage the already existing market base, providing it with a leg up over what Apple is planning with their iTV.
The irony is that I actually think that Sony had visions of the basic platform evolving into a standalone computer with the whizbang cell processor. And only using it for games is a waste.
And its not too early at all, as the future progmosis for the existing PS3 with its exorbitant cost compared to the discounted XBox and Wii, not to mention that PS2 still outsells it, renders it currently into an albatross. And selling it as a BR player isn't exactly moving them either! They would do well to leverage existing development costs into a reconfiguration making it a more capable, flexible and compelling configuration for about the same price.
As it is now, it is a vastly over-designed and over-priced gameboy (or worse, just a BR player...).
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so basically you dont know s***
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To the degree that we all know you, we do know Sh!t.
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Hey, if that's all you want why not just get an X360?
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Except that the XBox does not have the full functionality to which I refer.
Duh.
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what it sounds like the PS4 is going to be the same upgrade the wii was from the gamecube. Speaking of which Nintendo did announce also that they will be releasing the Wii HD in 2011.
http://www.whattheyplay..../30/new-wii-due-by-2011/
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it's wayyyyyyyy to early to start thinking of the next next gen consoles. plus just having the shrink down to the 45mn process will make teh ps3 cheaper, cooler, etc. most games dont push teh platform to its limits at all. infact they are still making PS2 games that dont push the older, but reliable, PS2 to its limits even.
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???
They haven't pushed the console?
Thinking like that will leave them behind. Suits the rest of us just fine; the problem isn't they aren't pushing limits it is that they don't have the game titles to support real pwnage.
Its the game play that wins over now not the limits. With that said I do realize that Gears Of War isnt just game play its also Graphics and tech. Still outdoes the POS3
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