I just came across the news that Sony have completed stage 1 of decommissioning the console. (http://www.gameranx.com/updates/id/26410/article/sony-shutting-down-factory-producing-ps3-chips/) Thus I have always be wondering, as technology progresses with the shrinking of the processing chips. Will the last iteration of the PS3 console be able to integrate the RSX and Cell into a single chip? (As it was done before on the Slim PS2 and also done on the xbox360 Trinity model onwards) Firstly is it possible? or its not possible due to legal implication to it? (since Cell patents belongs to IBM?) Roadmaps of the PS2 chip evolution Xbox360 First SOC with IBM (Yes, IBM the patent holder for cell) To be honest, I was looking to purchase an extra PS3 console and I have been holding back since the launch of the CECH-4000,4200 and the most recent 4300 series. News like the decommissioning have startle me, making me thinking that integration of the RSX and CELL into a single SOC is only a dream and not a reality. Thoughts on this matter?
Dang, I was truly hoping that something will work out between sony and ibm on the soc. But that said, I am putting my money on the future CECH-5000 series. In what might been related in the following linkedin profile. (this might be shared before, so I am not certain) https://www.linkedin.com/in/chenguo Staff/Advisory Engineer IBM January 2009 – Present (6 years 3 months)San Jose, CA• SyNAPSE “brain chip” research project (DARPA funded)– (28nm) - Handled top-level integration and sign-off verification for this large-scale, asynchronous chip. - Acted as a key designer of the 6T SRAM array, performing all key timing/functional simulations, running Monte Carlo-like statistical analyses for reliability, and assisting with layout and integration. - As part of bring-up, wrote, simulated, and tested extensive VHDL code for testing of chip via FPGA logic. - Investigated the feasibility of BGA package designs using Cadence Allegro Package Designer. • PS3 Cell processor – migration to 22nm - Responsible for top-level large-block synthesis of the entire SPU (Synergistic Processing Unit). - Achieved route-ability and timing closure through sophisticated synthesis techniques involving detailed floor-planning, custom pre-wires and register placement, custom routing algorithms, and placement boundaries. • XBOX PowerPC chip – migration to 32nm Another IBM fellow profile https://www.linkedin.com/pub/elizabeth-gerhard/45/718/7b7 Custom Array Designer IBM June 2002 – Present (12 years 10 months) High speed custom array designer with roughly ten years of design experience primarily on the IBM games processors for the PlayStation3 and Xbox360. Owned the delivery of arrays in the 90nm, 65nm, 45nm, 32nm, and 22nm technologies as well as led the design hardware characterization work for all arrays on a 32nm product....etc Some other information in Japanese below. http://kamosidhe.hatenablog.com/entry/ps3_thermal_designing_data_and_tdp_speculation
Such integration costs a lot of money. Also nvidia do not want to share all data for chip. I think there won't be any reduction. PS3 declines too fast. Maybe they will do for PS Now if it becomes very popular.
I think that the PS3 will be dicontinued around 2017-2018. I would be suprised if they intruduced a new revision. I think if they did that, it wouldn't be a big change visually ( Something like PS2's SCPH 7000x to SCPH 9000x series ).
I doubt they'll put much more into developing the PS3. Yeah they'll make and sell them for a few more years, but I can't fathom Sony putting R&D money into a dying system.
I agree. They already spent too much money when they released the first "slim" version, making the final retail price more reasonable and that actually managed to save the console. The more recent "super slim" version is more simple and have lower production costs. They'll keep manufacturing it for a couple of years or maybe less, depending on how it sells. Since it's manufactured here in Brazil as well, i can see they shutting down the plant in China to make room for PS4 (just announced more than 20 million consoles sold) and just use the plant in Manaus for producing the PS3 for export as well.
That could happen. I think that the situation will be more or less similiar to the Sega Master System. It will live on in certain regions much longer than in others. And the last game for the PS3 will most likely be a soccer game, but that's just my guess.
That's what happened with the PS2. The PS1 had about a 9 year shelf life, the PS2 was 14, maybe the PS3 can get another 5 years tops.
I can see this happen. PS3 and PS4 is not much different since you got all the features in it. As long PS3 still can access to the Internet.
