The Cell processor a new "next generation" processor the chip It has the power to do 1 Teraflop or 1 trillion calculations per (1 Thz) second roughly 100 times more than a pentium 4 running at 2.5Ghz, the project is under development by the triumvirate IBM,Toshiba and Sony, as of right now the Playstation 3 is the only hard set plans for the new chip, but in due time it will be put into computers (IBM) the chip would have between 4 and 16 general purpose processor cores per chip, with each "core" performing seperate task like one core would process graphics while another works on audio, the PS3 would have the full 16 core version while say a H-d tv would only have 4-6,
This idea isnt comepletely new, there are some other chip makers that have multiple processor cores but none are very efficient; so far the chip is being engineered to work with a range of operating systems including Linux, but they may have to design a whole new operating system just for "Cell" to take full advantage of its multi processor abilities
IBM is expected to start manufacturing the chip as soon as late this year or early 2005, but too bad the PS3 wont be out that soon :(, on another side note because only Toshiba,IBM and Sony have access rights to the chip it will only be in the PS3 and no other console will have the chip and as a die hard Playstation fan only I'd like to take the time to say this WHOOO!!! :D
it really makes the PS2 look pittiful with its 200Mgz processor lol
Originally posted by Helios
it really makes the PS2 look pittiful with its 200Mgz processor
lol haha lol
Just think about it compared to the good ol' 286 :D I just got done playing a few games on it a minute ago.... wow, stuff sure has changed over 15 years.... Can't beat some of those classics, still.
Thanks for the info; I usually avoid reading tech updates because I get all giddy about products that I won't even see for several years. That's ok, though :D
I'm glad to hear they'll (hopefully) support Linux :D
(arrg....stupid microsoft and their world-domination.....)
yeah those old classics were great especially the Sega ones and Sega had so many Add ons that never got big like "Sega Cd"
Its good to see PS2 continue the tradition with making add ons for its console
Originally posted by PsycikPsycho
Thanks for the info; I usually avoid reading tech updates because I get all giddy about products that I won't even see for several years. That's ok, though :D
I'm glad to hear they'll (hopefully) support Linux :D
(arrg....stupid microsoft and their world-domination.....)
Yeah its kinda like that with me too reading about all these cool new things and they wont be out for a while but I just cant get enough of them trying to find out as much as possible about :D
and did you know the PS2 can support Linux too just go to http://www.us.playstation.com/peripherals.aspx?id=SCPH-97047 for more information
This reminds me of the Dreamcast. I'm pretty sure they won't be able to stop other companies from manufacturing these chips. Microsoft is a powerful company, and will surely want to implement this in their Xbox 2 or 3. Personally I do not use consoles, but am excited to see this develop for pc even when I have no idea what to do with it. Sure, I can run Kazaa, GTA:VC and Republic: The Revolution at the same time, but I think the Hardware is going ahead of the software lately.
Nevertheless, an exciting technology which we have to keep our eyes on. I can't wait how far we get to calculating pi this time ;).
HU
Well to ley you know since IBM will be producing the chips for computers long before PS3 thats something to look for maybe at the end of this year even though who knows how much something like that would cost because im sure I would get it as soon as possible but If there werent any games made to utilize its full power there would be no point
but Like you said the hardware lately is getting far ahead of the software kind of a switch around from past years, programs are now gonna have to be designed in a new way now
whats really amazing I didnt know before now but after reading "official" reports, the avergae supercomputer can do about 500 Gigaflops or 500 billion calculations per second, this "Cell" chip can do about 1 teraflop/ 1 trillion calculations per second its truly amazing how much power this one chip has and these are only the begging stages this is a big jump in computing power from the highest pentium 4 at 3.4 Ghz to 1 Thz
"TAKE THAT MOORES LAW" lol lol
Hmm.. Let's just hope we won't have to apply Murphy's law. Let's not forget, although they might be developing this technology, we don't know whether it will work properly, or whether it will be too expensive for the home user. I don't intend to pay one thousand dollars just for the chip.
There are limits to my excessive lifestyle ;)
HU
well I doubt its going to be that unreasonable after all its getting put in a game console no body is going to pay for a game console that cost 3-400 or more so it has to be realistically priced if they hope to make profit