More rumours are floating around about Sony’s PS4 today. This time a company named Goto have mentioned that the Cell Broadband Engine (or Cell processor) that is used in the PS3 might be used as a base in the Playstation 4. Of course, there is no official source of this information as Sony have not yet released information about it. According to Goto they believe that Sony is looking at an upgraded PS3 chipset to power the PS4 although I am not convinced my self yet.
If Sony stick with the Cell platform then there are benefits as the main brunt of the work has already been done and it’s just a matter if improving it more. However, would Sony use a technology from today in 4 years time when it is launched?
Goto have also speculated that we could be seeing up to 32 cores in the PS4 next gen console as opposed to 8 in the current PS3. This number was arrived at by using the popular Moore’s Law, although they also think that Sony might just stop at 20 cores and slightly increase the clock speed which would put things just over 2x in performance from the PS4 box.
The main reasoning behind Goto’s claims is that it could take a good number of years (like 4 or so) for Sony to develop a new chip. If they are aiming for a 2011 release date then by using the Cell this might be possible.
My own opinion on this is that what ever they do, we should see a difference in game quality so that we feel we have a need to upgrade from our PS3’s.
Via: IGN
{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }
This is rather obvious… I even saw this coming from the begining. Who would spend $400 million on a chip architechture to use it just for 10 or so years? They had to have this planned, to develop it expensively early on, then continue development with improvements cheaply (as in, low cost) later.
I can see the 20-core PS4 coming, also even a 24-core Cell/BE (to follow up with multiples of eight). If they go for 32 cores… now that would be insanely powerful. The real concern though, would be in the RAM and GPU sector, Sony should actually have a “next-gen” GPU on it and enough RAM to make sure the PS4 has more than enough to take on heavy graphics, physics and instruction processing with ease. I think 1-3 Gb of RAM (either split or unified) should do for a gaming console, and it would make having Linux all the more attractive to those who want an extra computer.
They should release the Playstaion 4 in 2015, because then they could make a really, really, really, really fast game system. Frankly, Sony has lost the video gaming race forever, as they CHOOSE not to release before the competition comes out. They should have been working 24/7 to have the PS3 come out at the same time as xbuks 360, but I guess they were too busy on OTHER more important projects…. hope the other more important projects “work out”.
PowerXCell 32iv. Google it!
Just in time for 2011-12
^ Dude… that’s an IBM side-brand processor for servers, mainframes, and super computers (Roadrunner, anyone?). The Cell/BE by all means can reach that level and still keep within the Cell/BE brand, and not that derivate brand.
If they do it, it would be amazing, but it isn’t going to be extremely needed for the PS4 to have that much extreme power. Sony can make do with two-to-four 3-4 Ghz processors with 8 cores each. Heck, they can make do with three 3.5 Ghz cores with 10 cores each and be much of a powerhouse.
What we truly need in a new console is better graphics processors and significantly more abundant RAM.
i think Sony planned to use the cell for the ps4 from the start also i think they planned a loss on the ps3 i see them looking at the bigger picture tbh i don’t think ps4 can come quick enough for Sony
well guys the release date is sooner than you think… it is to be launched this christmas…. DO SOME RESEARCH WOULD’YA???