There are stories all over about the Cell chip today. These guys say that dev kits are already out as does EE times

My favorite quote... "Sony computer Entertainment CTO Masayuki Chatani, was less modest, saying, "The Cell processor-based workstation will totally change the digital content creation environment."


Hmmm... where did I hear that before. I own a PS2 by the way, but I love the hype these guys and the press churn up.

Dude, the emotion engine owns!!!!!

Actually, as much crap that spews out of Sony's mouth regarding all things technology cell architecure is in a position to really change modern computing.

(For once) Sony is rightfully discussing the merits of their (and IBMs, Toshiba) goods.

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmp...m/tech_cell_dc

Sony, IBM, Toshiba Give Details of 'Cell' Chip

Mon Nov 29, 9:15 AM ET Technology - Reuters

TOKYO (Reuters) - IBM (NYSE:IBM - news), Sony Corp (news - web sites). (6758.T) and Toshiba Corp. (6502.T) on Monday unveiled some key details on the powerful new "Cell" processor the three are jointly producing to run next-generation computers, game consoles and TVs.

Cloaked in secrecy and the object of much speculation since the three conglomerates announced the project in 2001, Cell will be 10 times more powerful than conventional chips and able to shepherd large chunks of data over broadband networks.

In a joint release, the three firms gave a glimpse of their respective plans for Cell-powered products, but were mum on technical details, which will be revealed Feb. 6-10 at the International Solid State Circuits Conference in San Francisco.

IBM, Sony and Toshiba are investing billions of dollars to develop and prepare for mass production of Cell, which is a multicore semiconductor composed of several processors that work together to handle multiple tasks at the same time.

"In the future, all forms of digital content will be converged and fused onto the broadband network," Ken Kutaragi, executive deputy president and COO of Sony, said in the release. "Current PC architecture is nearing its limits."

IBM said it would start pilot production of the microprocessor at its plant in East Fishkill, New York, in the first half of 2005. It will use advanced 300 millimeter silicon wafers, which yield more chips per wafer than the 200 mm kind.

It also announced plans to first use the chip in a workstation it is developing with Sony, targeting the digital content and entertainment industries.

Sony said it would launch home servers and high-definition televisions powered by Cell in 2006, and reiterated plans to use the microchip to power the next-generation PlayStation game console, a working version of which will be unveiled in May.

Toshiba said it planned to launch a high-definition TV using Cell in 2006.


Chris

I read all this, this morning. First round of Cells are supposed to be 4.6GHz. Very tasty!

Speed means nothing. (relatively)

6.4Gb/s buses per path, with multiple paths

That wet your whistle?

This will be the best and greatest gaming machine ever!!!!*


*.. or at least for a couple of weeks..

But can it render Toy Story in real time?

Apparently Osama Bin Laden plans on stealing the technology and taking over the world with it. That's what Sony told me anyway.

Bush told me Osama isn't a concern anymore, so I won't worry about it.

I'm really excited about the next Playstation - I just hope they can come up with some decent launch titles this time.

Some specs from psinext (who got it from the official presentation slide)
______________________________________________
In a teaser for the upcoming joint presentation of the Cell processor at ISSCC (International Solid-State Circuits Conference) 2005 a few new details were released. Our prediction (along with a lot of others nearly a year ago, is true, the clock speed for the initial Cell releases will be roughly 4.6GHz /per PE (Processing Element) @ 1.5V. Furthermore the teaser slide revealed that the PE core will reach an average of 85C degrees, acceptable for home usage (non-controlled environment), and exceptional for server utilization (controlled environment).

The final piece of information revealed, while not new, does re-affirm the fact that the Cell architecture systems will be utilizing 6.4Gb/s buses (per path, w/ multiple paths) between the PE and main memory. EETimes further mentioned that "Workstations fitted with the Cell architecture — a $2 billion endeavor — are already in the hands of game developers." The previous press releases would seem to back up those claims as a prototype has been officially revealed.

While none of the information is shocking in the least, the very fact that details are being "officially" released is a good sign that indeed Sony's plans are progressing on schedule and that soon gamers will have in their hands, the long awaited monolith; the PS3.

With all the proc power, it probably needs 1.21 Jiggawatts or a bolt of lightning to power it.

wlj

It's funny, the hype totally got someone on fatwallet starting a thread predicting the demise of Dell, Intel, and the like...purely from the Sony hype. I made fun of it

85 celsius is really hot! that's close to water boiling!

is 85 right?

Maybe they got their units of measure wrong? It may be 85 watts TDP which is on par with the Athlon64 and Northwood P4's. That doesn't seem impressively low until you realize that the new Prescott P4's at over 3GHz can reach over 100 watts TDP.

fatwalleters aren't the brightest people out there

but they're damn good shoppers.

That fat wallet thread is absolutely hilarious. You should all go read it. Unintentional comedy is off the charts! Heres a link to it....

try this

open your PC case
start playing an intensive 3D game
after 20 minutes touch the CPU and video card heatsinks with your bare skin
scream in agony and run for ice

It whets mine

That guy is a moron (possibly even a 'moran').

To hell with decent launch games - how about having some damn CONSOLES at launch. What a clusterfuck of a launch THAT was.