DailyTech - PS3 Slim Gets New Cell Processor

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Gadgets PS3 Slim Gets New Cell Processor
Jason Mick (Blog) - August 20, 2009 9:03 AM

50 comment(s) - last by .. on Aug 30 at 9:11 AM

Sony's new PS3 Slim (pictured on the right) will feature a new 45 nm Cell processor that should use less power, run cooler, and be cheaper to make. (Source: Aurum3Newtech)

GPU on Sony PS3 Slim may stay the same

Sony on Tuesday announced that it was upping the ante in the next-generation console war, unleashing the slender PS3 slim. Eschewing the original PS3's bulbous design, the new console reportedly will drop Linux support and also won't support PS2 games. The console does bring a greater capacity 120 GB drive onboard, though, a step up from the 80 GB drive in its predecessor (low-end version).

Now another perk of the new console has emerged -- an improved CPU. According to a video posted on Sony's U.S. website, the new console will feature a 45 nm updated version of the Cell processor based on IBM's Power architecture, jointly developed by IBM, Sony, and Toshiba. The new processor will be cooler and use less power, and is also cheaper to make than the 65 nm processor found in the old PS3.

Sony's primary high-graphics competitor, Microsoft, still uses 65 nm GPUs. Heat has proven to be a major concern for the next generation consoles -- Microsoft started on a 90 nm process and suffered from many console failures due to the larger chip's heat.

Sony is very pleased with their new processor. States President and CEO Jack Tretton, CEO of Sony Computer Entertainment of America, "We're extremely pleased that we've been able to meet production efficiencies that have allowed us pass those savings on to customers."

The GPU on the PS3 has not been officially announced, except for that it will be made by NVIDIA. For the sake of compatibility, it will likely be similar or identical to the RSX GPU in the current PS3.

The new console will launch on September 1 in the U.S. and will retail for $299.

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RE: Sweet

By Ammohunt on 8/20/2009 8:02:06 PM , Rating: 5

its a nice option to have when the PS3 has outlived its gaming usefulness. How hard is it to provide linux support?

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RE: Sweet

By jonmcc33 on 8/20/2009 10:51:46 PM , Rating: 5

Nice option for who? Only extreme geeks use Linux anyway. I doubt a "typical console gamer" will even have the comprehension level to install Linux let alone use it.

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RE: Sweet

By Alexstarfire on 8/21/2009 1:41:49 AM , Rating: 1

I suppose only extreme geeks used the PS2 backwards compatibility too? Give me a break. I don't know why they dropped support, but considering the changes one can only assume they did it on purpose.

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RE: Sweet

By epobirs on 8/21/2009 2:56:52 AM , Rating: 2

Lets see, supporting the use of software that generates revenue for the console maker vs. software that doesn't generate revenue for the console maker and has support costs as a bonus.

Which do you think is the more valuable feature from Sony's perspective? They could easily emulate the PS2 well in software on the PS3 but the actual PS2 still sells so well it doesn't make for a worthy investment. I suspect they believe everyone who really cares about PS2 software either has a PS2 or skipped that generation and can be sold PS2 games via PSN download.

Sony has long hoped to displace Microsoft from OS dominance. They tried to push PC apps like an AOL client on the PS2 before it launched but gave up after it became apparent that doing that sort of stuff on a NTSC/PAL display was utter misery. With HD support it seemed worth trying again on the PS3. It didn't attract much interest and did generate some expense, so they've let it die. Sony has killed off a lot of ideas that didn't attract customers or plain didn't work, such as the original 'box of Cell chips, RAm, and little else' concept for the PS3 design.

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RE: Sweet

By SPOOFE on 8/21/2009 3:59:19 PM , Rating: 2

quote:
Which do you think is the more valuable feature from Sony's perspective?

"It was fully intended that you, a PS3 owner, could play games, watch movies, view photos, listen to music, and run a full-featured Linux operating system that transforms your PS3 into a home computer." - Sony

quote:
They could easily emulate the PS2 well in software on the PS3

If that was true then they would. They don't, so your statement must not be true. They are significantly lagging behind a competitor they had every expectation (according to Sony's own official statements) to be soundly besting by now. They would take any advantage they can get, especially if they could do it "easily" as you assert. They don't; ergo, it's not "easy" as you claim.

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RE: Sweet

By dark matter on 8/22/2009 8:46:04 PM , Rating: 2

Alright, you want to run linux on your PS3. You're like 0.5% of the population. Get a grip.

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RE: Sweet

By SPOOFE on 8/23/2009 4:34:07 PM , Rating: 2

I don't recall ever stating that I want to run Linux on a PS3. In fact, I don't recall ever stating that I have a PS3. What I want or don't want is immaterial in light of A: what Sony has stated on the issue, and B: demonstrably inaccurate statements made by a prior poster. But hey, if you want to invent words that only exist in your head, be my guest.

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RE: Sweet

By MrPoletski on 8/26/2009 4:47:50 AM , Rating: 2

quote:
They could easily emulate the PS2 well in software on the PS3 but the actual PS2 still sells so well it doesn't make for a worthy investment.

It's not as easy as you think...

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RE: Sweet

By drnk on 8/21/2009 5:41:24 AM , Rating: 2

Over 135 millions PS2 have been sold since its release 9 years ago so everybody had a chance to buy one.
Now it's time to focus on PS3 and its newer games.
Supporting the backward compatibility makes PS3 more expensive and I don't think there are enough users interested on it to make it worth.
In my opinion Sony meant "Most of people are not interested in backward compatibility, if you are, get a PS2".

Same as backward compatibility is for Linux support.Dropping it maybe makes the PS3 cheaper, if it's true, drop it!
Most of people put a game or a movie in their PS3, not a Linux installation disk!

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RE: Sweet

By Alexstarfire on 8/21/2009 11:07:16 AM , Rating: 1

Keep saying that about this poor excuse for a console. Less and less reasons to buy it every time they issue an "update."

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RE: Sweet

By Shadez on 8/22/2009 7:23:00 AM , Rating: 2

So you are upset it won't let you install linux, and you're going to buy what instead? XBox or Wii? Good luck installing linux there.

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RE: Sweet

By Alexstarfire on 8/22/2009 2:54:24 PM , Rating: 1

I could care less what the PS3 does. I decided long ago that I was never going to own one. It's doesn't mean I excuse Sony for being stupid and cutting even more features from there failure of a console just because they can. Price:Performance ratios don't mean jack crap in the console market. Nintendo proved that without a doubt.

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RE: Sweet

By Shadez on 8/22/2009 6:52:29 PM , Rating: 1

quote:
It's doesn't mean I excuse Sony for being stupid and cutting even more features from there failure of a console

We'll see if its a failure by the end of its life-cycle.

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RE: Sweet

By SPOOFE on 8/23/2009 4:40:45 PM , Rating: 2

It's certainly not where Sony expected it to be by now. Of course, Sony also thought $600 was "too cheap".

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RE: Sweet

By dark matter on 8/22/2009 8:48:20 PM , Rating: 2

Obvious contradiction.

I couldn't care less what the PS3 does

it doesn't excuse excuse Sony for cutting more features.

If you didn't care less then you wouldn't have posted. As you have posted, and continued to flog a stupid argument obviously you do by your very actions.

Therefore you expect us to believe a liar? Right.

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RE: Sweet

By Alexstarfire on 8/23/2009 2:08:17 AM , Rating: 2

Sigh... I'm just going to leave my reply as.... you're dumb. Please, go to school and get an education before trying to make others look stupid.

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RE: Sweet

By MrPoletski on 8/26/2009 5:02:11 AM , Rating: 2

quote:
Sigh... I'm just going to leave my reply as.... you're dumb. Please, go to school and get an education before trying to make others look stupid.

I'm pretty sure he has the ability to talk.

I havent even read you previous argument at all... but please don't misunderstand the meaning of a word then in the next sentence suggest somebody needs to go back to school and get an education because it makes YOU look stupid...

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RE: Sweet

By Belard on 8/22/09, Rating: 0

RE: Sweet

By Alexstarfire on 8/22/2009 2:51:38 PM , Rating: 2

Ummm, what time period are you from, DVD players didn't cost $500 in 1999. They were already quite mainstream by then. Of course I don't know why you even bring it up since no console in 1999 could play DVDs and has no relevancy to what we are talking about now. Ohhh, and if you're DVD player still cost you $50 I hope you got some good features on it. My $30 player Does everything I need, including the ability to play DivX. And that price was about 2 years ago.

And yes, we get the fact that the PS3 can do more out of the box. That's not an argument since it's been true from day 1. The problem is it's value has gone down a lot since day 1 because they've just been removing hardware and features from it. And I find it funny you think removing the PS2 compatibility helped removed $50. If you had looked up the prices of the EE and the GS that they removed, which is what killed the PS2 compatibility, then you'd know it was only about $10 worth of hardware. Which they didn't even drop the price of the PS3 once it was gone. I'm sorry, but I don't have the money to just go around and buy whatever console I want whenever I feel like it. I have a much higher chance of buying a PS2, since I don't have one, than I will ever have of buying a PS3. PS2 is cheaper and has far more games which are actually worth playing. I will never buy a console that has no backwards compatibility just for the hell of it. I'm not some spoiled brat.

Actually, I'd bet there are more than a million consoles that are running Linux right now; though, neither one of us has any way to prove our number. It really depends on why Linux was removed. It seems very unlikely that Linux just got nixed, pardon the pun, accidentally. I mean, the only thing that happened was shrinkage in terms of the package. The PS3 still functions the same so Linux should have no problem running on it like the regular PS3s. There is certainly no price benefit in removing Linux capability. Of course most of the stuff they ended up removing didn't cost much in the first place, yet reduced features and functionality by a good bit.

You can sit there and take all the crap if you want, but the populace has spoken. They don't like the PS3 which is why it's in last place. And this isn't going to help them very much, although the price cut probably will.

And lol, you think Sony cares what people want? They prove that wrong time and time again when they try and screw over consumers.

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