Sony gives glimpse of PS3 processor at E3

[.Joker.]

Sony's CTO outlines the functionality of the Cell processor, which will be at the heart of Sony's next-gen console.

At the end of its E3 conference today, Sony gave viewers an oblique glimpse into its next-generation console plans. Toward the end of the press conference, Sony Chief Technical Officer Masa Chinati took to the stage to talk about the Cell processor, the next-generation CPU Sony is developing in conjuction with Toshiba and IBM. The Cell processor is expected to be at the heart of Sony's next-generation console, the PlayStation 3.

Thought it seemed like a footnote coming after the raptly received PSP demonstration, Chinati's brief presentation did offer some insight into Sony's next-gen master plan.

First, the company will manufacture a high-end workstation using the Cell CPU. Planned for release at the end of 2004, the workstation will use the CPU's capabilities to provide users with the tools for complex rendering, physics, modeling, behavior, and analysis.

In outlining how the Cell works, Chinati provided a glimpse of the PS3's CPU. He mentioned the Cell's parallel processing and floating point capabilities, which will allow for "massive data bandwidth."

Second, the Cell workstations will be marketed directly to the game and special-effects industries. The labor in their creation will be divided between Sony and IBM. SCE will develop middleware and other tools for game development and film effects. The Cell chips themselves will be manufactured by IBM, who will also work on the OS.

[.Joker.]

also found this info...on the games.slashdot.org web site.

PS3 and XBox 2 Processors to be Exactly the Same?

from the one-of-these-things-is-not-like-the-other dept.
themuffinking writes "IBM (the manufacturers of some of the parts for the PS3 and Xbox 2) told Alex Albrecht that the processors they are putting in the new PS3 and Xbox2 are going to be the same processor, with the parts around it arranged slightly differently. Alex pried this information out of an IBM employee, likely while interviewing him for the show on which Alex is a cohost, The Screen Savers. Alex equivocates by saying "Now again, this is a rumor... so no Slashdotting". Too late for that, but keep in mind this is just hearsay at this point.

[.Joker.]

PS3 Processor Update



SCE is installing equipment at a new plant to manufacture the "cell" processor for the third Playstation console.

Chief Technology Officer at SCE, Kenshi Manabe has stated that the company is installing equipment at a new plant to manufacture the "cell" processor for the upcoming release of the PlayStation 3 console.

Mass production of the "cell" processor will not begin however, until late 2005. The chip has been developed in cooperation with Toshiba and IBM.


can you say 2nd or 3rd quarter of 2006 for us....

[jackal88]

I read all that shit in a pc mag. IBM just got credited for owning the worlds fastest supercomputer. It's called the Blue Gene/L. It's a quarter of the size of it's predecessor, but 1000 X's faster. BTW IBM is selling it's pc business dubbed "Big Blue" for 2 Billion. Any takers? The PS3 will own your soul. Don't get me wrong, I love X-Box, but I'm copping anything Sony puts out. They're going to go above and beyond!!

[Jester]

To infinity...& beyond...!

[jackal88]

lol^^^

[Bunk]

I've been reading up on Cell technology and it is very impressive. The amount of Instructions per clock cycle that thing can dish is awesome.


Now I know how the innards of the thing are gong to work. So I know every game u play is going to look good. But I haven't heard anything on what the internet capabilities of it will be. I'm not talking about whether it will connect or not, but about a online service that provides voice messaging and/ or all the other game companies have/are working towards..

[jackal88]

I'm sure they've got it covered.