Want a PS3? You may have to wait even longer
07.14.06 - 09:42pm
It looks like the super chip from IBM, Sony, and Toshiba may actually be too complex to easily manufacture. Since each Cell processor contains a single controlling Power Processor Element and then 8 “Synergistic Processor Elements” or SPEs there are a lot of places were mistakes can be made in the manufacturing process. With a tradition PC processor there either one or two processing cores, but with the Cell having essentially 9 cores problems begin to arise very quickly. Intel, IBM, and AMD shoot for achieving the highest success rates in manufacturing and in general a 90% yield rate is considered a realistic goal and success. Reports have come out that the Cell processor is currently achieving yields of 10% to 20%. This rate is for all 8 SPEs and the PPE are operational. Fortunately for Sony and unfortunate for consumers the PS3 only requires 1 PPE and 7 SPEs meaning consumers could end up with partially “defective” chips in their PS3s. While processors ship with minor defects all the time, this is still rather unnerving. The future does not look good for Sony and the Cell processor, they may have just bitten off much more than they can possibly chew. The Cell processor is quite a remarkable piece of machinery but sometimes the market just isn’t ready for huge jumps in technology.
Here is an interesting article on the Cell Processor
It’s not unfortunate for consumers that they decided to roll with 7 SPEs in the PS3. That’s what increases the likelihood of producing enough Cells to get going.
Sure, it’s a small performance hit compared to 8 SPEs, but we compare a console’s performance to other consoles, not some hypothetical standard that this console doesn’t live up to. Looks like Sony knew that 8 functional SPEs would be too tough to pull off early on. The Cells that come out with 8 are set aside for medical imaging and military uses. They have uses for Cells with 6 or fewer SPEs working, too; they’re still powerful. (The PPE is dual-thread by the way). PS3 requires 7 SPEs though; apparently an attempt to balance power with yield. 7 does not mean bad for consumers.
Whether Sony have been too ambitious, time will tell.
To the end user having only 7 functional SPEs compared to 8 won’t make a difference that they can tell, but this just goes to show how much Sony, IBM, and Toshiba are going through to manufacture these processors with decent yields. The design is revolutionary I am just not sure if we need another revolution so quickly.