Sony's production costs on the PlayStation 3 are set to drop once again. During a session at the International Solid-State Circuits Conference (ISSCC) yesterday IBM, which manufactures the PS3's Cell processor, announced that it is switching production of the chip to a 45nm process.
The new chip will use 40% less power than its 65nm predecessor, with its size reduced by 34%. The process is more efficient and cost effective. This will definitely lead to stories about PS3 price cuts going through the roof.
Before we too jump up and down in excitement, SPOnG would like to point something out. The new chip will almost certainly contribute to a price cut - at some point down the line. It's a natural process throughout a console's life cycle for component costs to come down and for retail prices to follow suit. It does not mean, however, that a price cut is imminent.
Back in November, Sony (or, more accurately, Toshiba) reportedly got the size of its RSX graphics processor down from a 90nm process to a 65nm process.
If you're scratching your head and wondering how shaving a few almost incomprehensibly minute units of measurement off a chip's size could result in a price cut, it's mostly about cooling. Basically, the tiny chip generates an obscene amount of heat and much of the PS3's architecture is taken up by a cooling system. Less heat = smaller cooling system = lower production costs.
The other major factor is the production yield. In a nutshell, a smaller production process means less rejected chips, making production more cost effective. You can find a more in-depth discussion of how chip size and price go together here.
Source: Ars Technica
The new chip will use 40% less power than its 65nm predecessor, with its size reduced by 34%. The process is more efficient and cost effective. This will definitely lead to stories about PS3 price cuts going through the roof.
Before we too jump up and down in excitement, SPOnG would like to point something out. The new chip will almost certainly contribute to a price cut - at some point down the line. It's a natural process throughout a console's life cycle for component costs to come down and for retail prices to follow suit. It does not mean, however, that a price cut is imminent.
Back in November, Sony (or, more accurately, Toshiba) reportedly got the size of its RSX graphics processor down from a 90nm process to a 65nm process.
If you're scratching your head and wondering how shaving a few almost incomprehensibly minute units of measurement off a chip's size could result in a price cut, it's mostly about cooling. Basically, the tiny chip generates an obscene amount of heat and much of the PS3's architecture is taken up by a cooling system. Less heat = smaller cooling system = lower production costs.
The other major factor is the production yield. In a nutshell, a smaller production process means less rejected chips, making production more cost effective. You can find a more in-depth discussion of how chip size and price go together here.
Source: Ars Technica
Companies:
Sony
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Comments
SuperSaiyan4 7 Feb 2008 16:55
1/5
Ok fanboy fanboy mode OFF.
Sony need to first of all make some money and if the new 45nm processor means a ton load of savings for their company then good.
What Sony need to do in that case is consider making a slimmer PS3 in that case, since the CPU will give out a lot less heat and consume less power perhaps this will be a quick way of making the console smaller in a quicker time frame.
Another thing is keep the £299 price point but bring back the 60gb or better model.
Costs save on CPU and costs saved on the plastic casing etc because of smaller size I am sure Sony will still be making money and more people will be interested/keen on getting a version that was the 60gb version with BC and 4 usb ports etc not to mention the chrome writing and chrome front.
There is no dispute that for £299 the PS3 is fantastic value but its a damn shame Sony brought out the 40gb imo.
Sony need to first of all make some money and if the new 45nm processor means a ton load of savings for their company then good.
What Sony need to do in that case is consider making a slimmer PS3 in that case, since the CPU will give out a lot less heat and consume less power perhaps this will be a quick way of making the console smaller in a quicker time frame.
Another thing is keep the £299 price point but bring back the 60gb or better model.
Costs save on CPU and costs saved on the plastic casing etc because of smaller size I am sure Sony will still be making money and more people will be interested/keen on getting a version that was the 60gb version with BC and 4 usb ports etc not to mention the chrome writing and chrome front.
There is no dispute that for £299 the PS3 is fantastic value but its a damn shame Sony brought out the 40gb imo.
daz 7 Feb 2008 17:49
2/5
I agree, with the savings surly they could bring back the memory card readers the other 2 USB ports and PS2 BC, I'm one of the lucky ones who got it at launch instead of waiting it's a good job i did because 3 of the USB ports are always taken.
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Plasmoid 7 Feb 2008 18:13
3/5
You kind of missed the point on die shrink's.
The reduction in heat is usually a byproduct and by no means guaranteed from a die shrink. When you shrink the die you also produce the heat in a smaller area, so cooling might actually need to be improved.
The main cost reduction comes from fitting more chips through the manufacturing process at once. The Cell is done on those massive 300mm wafers, and halfing the die area leads twice as many chips per wafer. Twice as many chips = money. Cheaper cooling = some money.
The reduction in heat is usually a byproduct and by no means guaranteed from a die shrink. When you shrink the die you also produce the heat in a smaller area, so cooling might actually need to be improved.
The main cost reduction comes from fitting more chips through the manufacturing process at once. The Cell is done on those massive 300mm wafers, and halfing the die area leads twice as many chips per wafer. Twice as many chips = money. Cheaper cooling = some money.
deleted 7 Feb 2008 23:08
4/5
SuperSaiyan4 wrote:
Another thing is keep the £299 price point but bring back the 60gb or better model.
OK you need to understand that when they removed BC and USB ports smaller HD etc, that was a major contribution to the last price cut, now Sonys looking to get profit by end of this year, so with a 45nm CELL, 65nm RSX and Blue Laser Size reduction and cost they quite possibly do that, so why would they bring back BC? it would once again mean increased costs, costs to the actual hardware the emulation development, and not to mention the hell and chaos that would unfold with consumers not having a clue whats going on, is it BC or not?
Also i beliveve that sony is using the lack of BC to soon start selling PS2 Games ON the PS3 Store. so although yes it would be nice to bring it back that just wont ever happen, i msure we would all agree though that a cheaper ps3 without BC would sell better than a same price with it,
daz 8 Feb 2008 17:45
5/5
haritori wrote:
i msure we would all agree though that a cheaper ps3 without BC would sell better than a same price with it,
2 PS3's at the same price one with BC and one without you saying the one without BC will sell better? if i didn't already have a PS3 i know which one i would get, and it wouldn't be the one without BC