PS3s RSX Chip Shrinks Next Month

November 26, 2007 - According to a report from Nikkei late last week, Toshiba is planning on switching manufacturing of the PlayStation 3's RSX graphics processor to a 65nm process next month. Currently, the chip is manufacturing using a 90nm process, the same as it's been since the system's launch.

A smaller die size for the chip can mean cheaper production costs and less heat, contributing to lower prices for the consumer, and a quieter, more reliable PS3 system.

The latest versions of the system's Cell CPU are being manufactured using a 65nm process. It is widely believed that the switch to 65nm for the Cell is one of the main reasons Sony was able to drop the PS3's price down to $399 in time for the holidays.

Nikkei also reports that Toshiba is planning on beginning manufacturing at 45nm in the latter half of the next fiscal year, and speculates that the RSX and other PlayStation 3 chips are prime candidates for the new line.

Source

We could be seeing another price drop sooner then we think.

45 nm cell next year? :o

$299 here PS3 comes.

I hear the exclusive lineup is shrinking too.rimnet00

not at all,growing actually

I hear the exclusive lineup is shrinking too.rimnet00

Not only a complete fanboy comment, but also terribly wrong. :x

MS is going to make the switch to 65nm for the GPU next year too. So you can say goodbye to the RROD. :D

MS is going to make the switch to 65nm for the GPU next year too. So you can say goodbye to the RROD. :D

PS3_3DO

How come it's taken so long though? They could've saved a hell of a lot of money by not having all those 360's to fix. Plus it would be cheaper so everybody wins.

[QUOTE="PS3_3DO"]

MS is going to make the switch to 65nm for the GPU next year too. So you can say goodbye to the RROD. :D

BZSIN

How come it's taken so long though? They could've saved a hell of a lot of money by not having all those 360's to fix. Plus it would be cheaper so everybody wins.

Because the GPU in the 360 is one complex piece of technology.

MS is going to make the switch to 65nm for the GPU next year too. So you can say goodbye to the RROD. :D

PS3_3DO

lets hope so. the 360 cant be the winner if the RRoD doesnt go away fast.

another price would help i hear the ps3s still arent selling well

i thought 45nm costed more to manifactor? 65nm was only cheaper because of the techinique in putting toghter the metals....

why does make it even smaller for the 360 and ps3 make it cheapers? O.o usually an upgrade costs money...

i thought 45nm costed more to manifactor? 65nm was only cheaper because of the techinique in putting toghter the metals....

why does make it even smaller for the 360 and ps3 make it cheapers? O.o usually an upgrade costs money...

LibertySaint

Actually, smaller chip sizes are far cheaper to make because it allows more chps to be made on the same silicon wafer. It reduces individual cost and allows for more revenue per wafer. Individual costs increase, but are more than offset by volume production efficiencies.

As for the bearing on system wars, all it means is that it's a sign of a cheaper console price coming at some point, which we all knew anyways. This isn't news.

MS is going to make the switch to 65nm for the GPU next year too. So you can say goodbye to the RROD. :D

PS3_3DO

That won't happen until late next year though. Sony has been able to get them both down in size in just over a year with PS3 being on the market. Good stuff.

MS is going to make the switch to 65nm for the GPU next year too. So you can say goodbye to the RROD. :D

PS3_3DO

why so slow? nvidia has had 65nm for quite some time and ati is now on 55nm

[QUOTE="BZSIN"][QUOTE="PS3_3DO"]

MS is going to make the switch to 65nm for the GPU next year too. So you can say goodbye to the RROD. :D

PS3_3DO

How come it's taken so long though? They could've saved a hell of a lot of money by not having all those 360's to fix. Plus it would be cheaper so everybody wins.

Because the GPU in the 360 is one complex piece of technology.

but far far far less compelex that the 8800gt which is 65nm or the hd 3850/70 which is 55nm so explain that.

I think the reason it's $399 is cuz of all the stuff they cut out of it

but hey, what do I know...I don't work for sony PR

November 26, 2007 - According to a report from Nikkei late last week, Toshiba is planning on switching manufacturing of the PlayStation 3's RSX graphics processor to a 65nm process next month. Currently, the chip is manufacturing using a 90nm process, the same as it's been since the system's launch.

A smaller die size for the chip can mean cheaper production costs and less heat, contributing to lower prices for the consumer, and a quieter, more reliable PS3 system.

The latest versions of the system's Cell CPU are being manufactured using a 65nm process. It is widely believed that the switch to 65nm for the Cell is one of the main reasons Sony was able to drop the PS3's price down to $399 in time for the holidays.

Nikkei also reports that Toshiba is planning on beginning manufacturing at 45nm in the latter half of the next fiscal year, and speculates that the RSX and other PlayStation 3 chips are prime candidates for the new line.

Source

We could be seeing another price drop sooner then we think.

-Renegade

This is a good thing? So are you the only fanboy in the world happy to hear that after a little more than a year, the console you spent $600 cut its price in half? I'd feel ripped off and angry.

Not that it matters. Sony dropping its price is just proof that:

a) The console is failing.

b) The 40gb wasn't enough, like you said it would be.

Woo! Great news everybody!

---------------------------------

Hardware isn't the problem. It's the games. Tell me when Sony releases a sub-$400 console with BC, then we'll talk hardware.

[QUOTE="-Renegade"]

November 26, 2007 - According to a report from Nikkei late last week, Toshiba is planning on switching manufacturing of the PlayStation 3's RSX graphics processor to a 65nm process next month. Currently, the chip is manufacturing using a 90nm process, the same as it's been since the system's launch.

A smaller die size for the chip can mean cheaper production costs and less heat, contributing to lower prices for the consumer, and a quieter, more reliable PS3 system.

The latest versions of the system's Cell CPU are being manufactured using a 65nm process. It is widely believed that the switch to 65nm for the Cell is one of the main reasons Sony was able to drop the PS3's price down to $399 in time for the holidays.

Nikkei also reports that Toshiba is planning on beginning manufacturing at 45nm in the latter half of the next fiscal year, and speculates that the RSX and other PlayStation 3 chips are prime candidates for the new line.

Source

We could be seeing another price drop sooner then we think.

Apathetic-Irony

This is a good thing? So are you the only fanboy in the world happy to hear that after a little more than a year, the console you spent $600 cut its price in half? I'd feel ripped off and angry.

Not that it matters. Sony dropping its price is just proof that:

a) The console is failing.

b) The 40gb wasn't enough, like you said it would be.

Woo! Great news everybody!

---------------------------------

Hardware isn't the problem. It's the games. Tell me when Sony releases a sub-$400 console with BC, then we'll talk hardware.

Constant RROD problems and headaches had people feeling ripped off and angry also before they decided they had to extend their warranty.

Introducing the 360 Elite with HDMI and screwing over 7-8 million consumers that could have potentially wanted HDMI would have me feeling ripped off and angry also.

Selective thinking for the lose!

Woo! Great news everbody!

Sony liscenses the RSX from Nvidia, who owns the design. All cost savings from this will go to Nvidia, not Sony. This wont help them produce a cheaper box.

It will produce a box that uses less power and produces less heat though, which is good news.

[QUOTE="PS3_3DO"][QUOTE="BZSIN"][QUOTE="PS3_3DO"]

MS is going to make the switch to 65nm for the GPU next year too. So you can say goodbye to the RROD. :D

imprezawrx500

How come it's taken so long though? They could've saved a hell of a lot of money by not having all those 360's to fix. Plus it would be cheaper so everybody wins.

Because the GPU in the 360 is one complex piece of technology.

but far far far less compelex that the 8800gt which is 65nm or the hd 3850/70 which is 55nm so explain that.

They were designed for it.

Moving a ship to a smaller proces sisnt just slapping the design into a new machine and making it smaller. It involves a lot of electrical work, as many signals are processed differently and current leakage values change.

Its not at all uncommen for more echincal and expensive chips to use new technology first.

no offense to 360 but it's kinda embarassing for MS to not be able to get their chips smaller and more efficent in the same time sony has already accomplished that and now making them 45mmRagashahs

RSX is a G70 core, which Nvidia already shrinked to 65nm with the 76xx series. Its not really a fair comparison.

The PS3 really is the most advanced entertainment system money can buy.CowboyR0y

Actually.. that would be a PC.

[QUOTE="Ragashahs"]no offense to 360 but it's kinda embarassing for MS to not be able to get their chips smaller and more efficent in the same time sony has already accomplished that and now making them 45mmCali3350

RSX is a G70 core, which Nvidia already shrinked to 65nm with the 76xx series. Its not really a fair comparison.

[QUOTE="CowboyR0y"]The PS3 really is the most advanced entertainment system money can buy.user_nat

Actually.. that would be a PC.

I said entertainment system, not headache machine.

[QUOTE="user_nat"]

[QUOTE="CowboyR0y"]The PS3 really is the most advanced entertainment system money can buy.CowboyR0y

Actually.. that would be a PC.

I said entertainment system, not headache machine.

Too bad it fails to entertain...

[QUOTE="PS3_3DO"]

MS is going to make the switch to 65nm for the GPU next year too. So you can say goodbye to the RROD. :D

BZSIN

How come it's taken so long though? They could've saved a hell of a lot of money by not having all those 360's to fix. Plus it would be cheaper so everybody wins.

Neither Microsoft nor Sony make their own chips, they both hire others to manufacture. When the manufacturer feels that it's profitable to switch to a smaller die they'll do it. Just because the x360 was out a year earlier it doesn't mean it will get 65 or 45 nm dies faster that the PS3, it doesn't work that way.

[QUOTE="BZSIN"][QUOTE="PS3_3DO"]

MS is going to make the switch to 65nm for the GPU next year too. So you can say goodbye to the RROD. :D

Pripyat

How come it's taken so long though? They could've saved a hell of a lot of money by not having all those 360's to fix. Plus it would be cheaper so everybody wins.

Neither Microsoft nor Sony make their own chips, they both hire others to manufacture. When the manufacturer feels that it's profitable to switch to a smaller die they'll do it. Just because the x360 was out a year earlier it doesn't mean it will get 65 or 45 nm dies faster that the PS3, it doesn't work that way.

Didn't Sony own the CELL manufacturing lines until recently though? Or is that completely irrelivent? I'm confuzzled :(

[QUOTE="Cali3350"]

[QUOTE="Ragashahs"]no offense to 360 but it's kinda embarassing for MS to not be able to get their chips smaller and more efficent in the same time sony has already accomplished that and now making them 45mmRagashahs

RSX is a G70 core, which Nvidia already shrinked to 65nm with the 76xx series. Its not really a fair comparison.

Well, layout and signalling the Cell is actually quite simple. Its your standard IBM PPE with some arithmetic units added in. On top of that you have IBM working on it, who are the grandmaster daddies of silicon.

[QUOTE="Ragashahs"][QUOTE="Cali3350"]

[QUOTE="Ragashahs"]no offense to 360 but it's kinda embarassing for MS to not be able to get their chips smaller and more efficent in the same time sony has already accomplished that and now making them 45mmCali3350

RSX is a G70 core, which Nvidia already shrinked to 65nm with the 76xx series. Its not really a fair comparison.

Well, layout and signalling the Cell is actually quite simple. Its your standard IBM PPE with some arithmetic units added in. On top of that you have IBM working on it, who are the grandmaster daddies of silicon.

[QUOTE="Cali3350"][QUOTE="Ragashahs"][QUOTE="Cali3350"]

[QUOTE="Ragashahs"]no offense to 360 but it's kinda embarassing for MS to not be able to get their chips smaller and more efficent in the same time sony has already accomplished that and now making them 45mmRagashahs

RSX is a G70 core, which Nvidia already shrinked to 65nm with the 76xx series. Its not really a fair comparison.

Well, layout and signalling the Cell is actually quite simple. Its your standard IBM PPE with some arithmetic units added in. On top of that you have IBM working on it, who are the grandmaster daddies of silicon.

Ati are @55nm while Nvidia is @65nm.