Cell Processor

[Mr.Suave]

y isnt the cell processor available to pc's?? It sounds like the cell processor is better than the processors out now and it sounds like the PS3 is way better than a pc with its cell processor and its own special GPU. Also it seems the ps3 is a computer. it has harddrives, cd/dvd rw and other things that make it seem like a pc except for keyboard and mouse but it can happen b/c it has usb ports...

 

[vortmax]

because the PS3 has a mobo like none other ever designed. To produce Cell processors to the mass market would first require new tooling to create the new motherboard socket. Not worth it for a single chip. Secondly you can't run standard x86 programs on it. So the entire relm of software would not work on it. Right now it would be kinda like owning an Apple G5 minus an OS (linux might run on it). It's fast, but there's nothing compatable with it.

If you want a PC running cell so bad, just buy a PS3 and use it as one. Hell, it'd be cheaper then trying to build even a Athlon 64 desktop right now.

 

[Thug541]

Hmm me thinks Sony's over hype has fooled some people on this forum.

Remember when the PS2 talked about the amazing power of the Emotion Engine? Remember how at E3 they showed all these fancy pre rendered games that wowed everyone? Remember how the PS2 ended up to be INCREDIBLE difficult to develop for and Sony left out very important process (such as AA) in their fancy chip. Yea...i remember.

All of a sudden at this year's E3 its like De ja vu. I'll admit, I was wowed at first, but i started to sit down and think. And you know....why is it that i think the ps3 is vaporware right now? No one has touched a controller, no one has seen the unit power up....there is no "proof" of the Cell's performance. They have been hyping up the cell for the last 3 years but I don't think a video game is the right medium for this powerful chip. They are depending on the CPU more rather than the GPU. Although they have a very powerful GPU, thats exactly what will be slowing the Cell down. There is too great of a bottleneck between the two to effectively use the cell to its maximum potential. Which is making me lead to believe, the true power will never be tapped in the PS3. I see developers relying more on the GPU then using the very complicated 7 SPE. I think this CEll processor is too complicated and too early in development. I doubt sony has a development kit that will allow developers to effecitvly use the Cell (just like the PS2 before).

Basically, the bottom line in my eyes is, yes the Cell is powerful, I just don't see it giving ps3 the edge they think they are going to get using it. And also, I though floating point calculations were more important to general PC use and not gaming? If anything, i see the Cell being used very well for Physics in the long run.

On to my other reason why i think Xbox360 will steal the lead from Sony this generation. THey have based their development on very familar tools. Developers are going to be able to produce very good looking games long before Sony starts showing theirs. IBM made a hell of a PowerPc chip with these three cores. And there is proven power in that if developers make use of each core.

But trying not to get off topic, I think the Cell will be powerful, at least more powerful than the PowerPC cores, however, I will be amazed if Developers can get over the bottlenecks of the CPU to GPU as well as effectivly develop on the 7SPEs.

 

[Hairy_Lee]

Hmm me thinks Sony's over hype has fooled some people on this forum.

Remember when the PS2 talked about the amazing power of the Emotion Engine? Remember how at E3 they showed all these fancy pre rendered games that wowed everyone? Remember how the PS2 ended up to be INCREDIBLE difficult to develop for and Sony left out very important process (such as AA) in their fancy chip. Yea...i remember.

All of a sudden at this year's E3 its like De ja vu. I'll admit, I was wowed at first, but i started to sit down and think. And you know....why is it that i think the ps3 is vaporware right now? No one has touched a controller, no one has seen the unit power up....there is no "proof" of the Cell's performance. They have been hyping up the cell for the last 3 years but I don't think a video game is the right medium for this powerful chip. They are depending on the CPU more rather than the GPU. Although they have a very powerful GPU, thats exactly what will be slowing the Cell down. There is too great of a bottleneck between the two to effectively use the cell to its maximum potential. Which is making me lead to believe, the true power will never be tapped in the PS3. I see developers relying more on the GPU then using the very complicated 7 SPE. I think this CEll processor is too complicated and too early in development. I doubt sony has a development kit that will allow developers to effecitvly use the Cell (just like the PS2 before).

Basically, the bottom line in my eyes is, yes the Cell is powerful, I just don't see it giving ps3 the edge they think they are going to get using it. And also, I though floating point calculations were more important to general PC use and not gaming? If anything, i see the Cell being used very well for Physics in the long run.

On to my other reason why i think Xbox360 will steal the lead from Sony this generation. THey have based their development on very familar tools. Developers are going to be able to produce very good looking games long before Sony starts showing theirs. IBM made a hell of a PowerPc chip with these three cores. And there is proven power in that if developers make use of each core.

But trying not to get off topic, I think the Cell will be powerful, at least more powerful than the PowerPC cores, however, I will be amazed if Developers can get over the bottlenecks of the CPU to GPU as well as effectivly develop on the 7SPEs.

wise words... i completely forgot about the saga of the PS2 cos of all the hype that got stirred up in the media.
they might be able to boost the gpu power by using the cell chip as a graphics co-processor, although i cant really see anyone doing that early in the system's life

 

[Thug541]

wise words... i completely forgot about the saga of the PS2 cos of all the hype that got stirred up in the media.
they might be able to boost the gpu power by using the cell chip as a graphics co-processor, although i cant really see anyone doing that early in the system's life

Its not really the power of the GPU thats lacking, its basically the speed it communicates with the Cell. The cell moves data at incredible speeds true, but the GPU doesn't come close to that speed. The setup is only as powerful as it's weakest componet....that being the GPU.

Also, I don't know why Sony decided to not have an offcial audio codec or processor. They are leaving it up to the developer to use their own codec and have the Cell process it. I think a unified codec would allow for developers to not only produce the games faster but also produce it with known success. Microsoft is of course using their WM codec, which is very familar in the development world. Basically, Sony has very bold ideas...that get lost in translation casue of difficulties and such. I still love my PS2 however haha, and prob. will get a PS3 at some point as well.