Shock as SCE announced NVIDIA partnership
Yet still the PlayStation 3 fails to achieve tangibility
In a shock joint announcement made this morning in California, Sony Computer Entertainment revealed that it has enlisted erstwhile Xbox GPU partner NVIDIA to help the PlayStation 3 pump the polygons required for the next generation of hardware.
According to the release, “…both companies are jointly developing a custom graphics processing unit incorporating NVIDIA's next-generation GeForce and SCEI's system solutions for next-generation computer entertainment systems featuring the Cell* processor,” filling in the ever-present GPU void in Sony’s published information regarding its as-yet unnamed new home console.
However, how this places the PlayStation 3 in terms of lifecycle remains unclear. It is now assured that the new Xbox will be on sale well before the competition, making good Microsoft’s claim, first made by J Allard in an exclusive SPOnG interview during X02.
“In the future, the experience of computer entertainment systems and broadband-ready PCs will be fused together to generate and transfer multi-streams of rich content simultaneously. In this sense, we have found the best way to integrate the state-of-the-art technologies from NVIDIA and SCEI," said Ken Kutaragi, executive deputy president and COO, Sony Corporation, and president and Group CEO, Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. "Our collaboration includes not only the chip development but also a variety of graphics development tools and middleware, essential for efficient content creation,” comments that no doubt seek to bolster recent claims echoing from IBM that the PlayStation 3 will be developer-friendly.
"We are thrilled to partner with Sony Computer Entertainment to build what will certainly be one of the most important computer entertainment and digital media platforms of the twenty-first century," added Jen-Hsun Huang, president and CEO, NVIDIA. "Over the past two years NVIDIA has worked closely with Sony Computer Entertainment on their next-generation computer entertainment system. In parallel, we have been designing our next-generation GeForce GPU. The combination of the revolutionary Cell processor and NVIDIA's graphics technologies will enable the creation of breathtaking imagery that will surprise and captivate consumers."
As to whether NVIDIA finds working with Sony easier that it did partnering Microsoft will be seen when the GPU goes into production next year at the Toshiba/Sony co-owned Nagasaki Fab2 manufacturing facility.
According to the release, “…both companies are jointly developing a custom graphics processing unit incorporating NVIDIA's next-generation GeForce and SCEI's system solutions for next-generation computer entertainment systems featuring the Cell* processor,” filling in the ever-present GPU void in Sony’s published information regarding its as-yet unnamed new home console.
However, how this places the PlayStation 3 in terms of lifecycle remains unclear. It is now assured that the new Xbox will be on sale well before the competition, making good Microsoft’s claim, first made by J Allard in an exclusive SPOnG interview during X02.
“In the future, the experience of computer entertainment systems and broadband-ready PCs will be fused together to generate and transfer multi-streams of rich content simultaneously. In this sense, we have found the best way to integrate the state-of-the-art technologies from NVIDIA and SCEI," said Ken Kutaragi, executive deputy president and COO, Sony Corporation, and president and Group CEO, Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. "Our collaboration includes not only the chip development but also a variety of graphics development tools and middleware, essential for efficient content creation,” comments that no doubt seek to bolster recent claims echoing from IBM that the PlayStation 3 will be developer-friendly.
"We are thrilled to partner with Sony Computer Entertainment to build what will certainly be one of the most important computer entertainment and digital media platforms of the twenty-first century," added Jen-Hsun Huang, president and CEO, NVIDIA. "Over the past two years NVIDIA has worked closely with Sony Computer Entertainment on their next-generation computer entertainment system. In parallel, we have been designing our next-generation GeForce GPU. The combination of the revolutionary Cell processor and NVIDIA's graphics technologies will enable the creation of breathtaking imagery that will surprise and captivate consumers."
As to whether NVIDIA finds working with Sony easier that it did partnering Microsoft will be seen when the GPU goes into production next year at the Toshiba/Sony co-owned Nagasaki Fab2 manufacturing facility.
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Comments
LUPOS 7 Dec 2004 20:24
1/6
Call me ignorant, but doesnt the Cell processor seem to be just a multi core chip? I mean i'm sure it is set up in such a way as to work more efficinatly than a standar multi Proc unit, but M$ are supposidly using a 3core chip for the nextbox as well. does anyoen know any other details about the cell that make it more impressive? Oh and uh, thus far it seems Ati is still tops when it comes to designing fast efficent chip sets so im glad nintendo and M$ are both sticking with them. The fact that current top of the line Geforce cards usually take up two Slots doesnt say much for the PS3 having an apealing form factor.
Ditto 8 Dec 2004 09:18
2/6
LUPOS wrote:
Call me ignorant, but doesnt the Cell processor seem to be just a multi core chip? I mean i'm sure it is set up in such a way as to work more efficinatly than a standar multi Proc unit, but M$ are supposidly using a 3core chip for the nextbox as well. does anyoen know any other details about the cell that make it more impressive?
I put a post up in the Gaming forum regarding this chip - take alook at that. I think I linked to a Register article talking about the technics of the chip. The Cell processor is a very advanced system which uses IBMs latest Power architecture used in their latest "super-servers". Several interesting points:
* It's 64 bit.
* Independant multi-core - each core can run a different operating system. Also includes multi-threading.
* Derived from Power - hence better supported and easier to develop for.
* Security features, power conservation features, I/O memory bandwidth. 90nm so easy/cheap to mass manufacture.
This processor really is a next-generation piece of kit, and I'm really excited about it. Not just that, it's been designed from the ground for games and home entertainment in mind - they're not just sticking a PowerPC chip in a box (I'm taking bets on what M$ will do... ;) ).
While normally a bit negative about Sony's domination of the market, I must say that I am very impressed that they're pumping so much money into exciting new develoopment, and I look forward to seeing just what Cell can do.
Oh and uh, thus far it seems Ati is still tops when it comes to designing fast efficent chip sets so im glad nintendo and M$ are both sticking with them. The fact that current top of the line Geforce cards usually take up two Slots doesnt say much for the PS3 having an apealing form factor.
Yeah, I'm not surprised Sony are using nVidia, however I don't think it's a great move. ATi seem to be able to design better hardware, and much more importantly better software than nVidia. They are always working with software to make their hardware perform better. An interesting point to note is that ATi have developed software which gives their cards a degree ofcompliance with nVidia-optimised PC games, and it is possible that this could be used in the next-generation Xbox.
Hope all of this is useful :).
[8 Dec 2004, 10:34: Message edited by 'config']
Here is the posting Adam refers to.
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config 8 Dec 2004 10:45
3/6
Adam M wrote:
Yeah, I'm not surprised Sony are using nVidia, however I don't think it's a great move. ATi seem to be able to design better hardware, and much more importantly better software than nVidia. They are always working with software to make their hardware perform better. An interesting point to note is that ATi have developed software which gives their cards a degree ofcompliance with nVidia-optimised PC games, and it is possible that this could be used in the next-generation Xbox.
I'm really undecided about which company's GPUs are better. For a while I thought ATi were taking the reins, but the X800 didn't do too well in the benchmarks when it was released.
TBH, I think nVidia took its eye of the ball when it was concentrating on getting screwed by MS for the Xbox GPU.
I have a relatively modest ATi All in Wonder 9000 in my machine at home - mainly because nVidia didn't offer a ViVo card bundled with a remote control. Now I wish I'd gone 3rd party for the remote and got an nVidia, as I'm less than impressed at gaming performance and the ATi PVR software not to smart and is geared to desktop usage (despite their Eazylook system)
LUPOS 8 Dec 2004 13:37
4/6
Adam M wrote:
Hope all of this is useful :).
Yes VERY! Thanks.
saurian 8 Dec 2004 14:01
5/6
How the hell have Sony managed to get this far behind the competition ???
config 9 Dec 2004 09:40
6/6
saurian wrote:
How the hell have Sony managed to get this far behind the competition ???
TROLL!