Because we need one. Why?
Because the bad news keeps on rolling.
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Cell processor reliability details may surprise you
As Sony's PlayStation 3 console nears its official release, more focus has turned to the technical wizardry that lays inside the actual machine. The Cell processor, developed by IBM, Sony and Toshiba, has gained a great deal of attention over the last year. In an interview with Electronic News however, IBM vice president of Semiconductor and Technology Services Tom Reeves says that his company is lucky if it can get 10% to 20% yields on the Cell processor.
The Cell processor is so complex that IBM even accepts chips that have only four out of the eight cores working. Not all cores end up functional says Reeves. In regards to why the yields are so low, Reeves says "[defects becomes a bigger problem the bigger the chip is. With chips that are one-by-one and silicon germanium, we can get yields of 95 percent. With a chip like the Cell processor, youre lucky to get 10 or 20 percent. If you put logic redundancy on it, you can double that." According to Reeves, Sony will be using Cell processors whether they have all cores functional or not. Reeves says that the PlayStation 3 requires at least seven of the eight cores operational.
According to Reeves, IBM is still debating whether or not to discard the processors that have only six or less cores operational. Because of the design, the processors are still operational and can be used for various applications. IBM says that it will reserve the top chips for applications such as medical imaging and defense applications.
With Reeves' statements, it appears as though Sony will be producing PlayStation 3 consoles with different Cell processors -- some with all eight cores operational and some with just seven. Reeves however does not believe that Sony will offer different pricing for the machines and only time will tell if there will be performance differences. Reeves says however that users will not see any differences in speed. "The PlayStation 3 only uses seven of [the eight cores]. You'd have a spare."
In the interview, Reeves also talks about failure rate as there is a possibility that one of the cores in the Cell will "blow" at any given time. Reeves says that usually, testing during fabrication stages will detect whether a core or more will be problematic. Using electrical "fuses", IBM can "blow" out a core during wafer testing. When asked what would happen if a 7-core PlayStation 3 ends up losing another core during operation, Reeves stated that the user would simply send the unit back for replacement. Unfortunately, this only applies if the console is still under warranty -- if it isn't, the console is dead.
Over the last several months, speculation over the PlayStation 3's official retail costs have caused many gamers to sit up and take notice. Some analysts believe that Sony's new toy will cost too much to compete but Sony has said that the entry price will not affect the PlayStation 3's adoption. Considering the extremely low yields on the Cell processor in conjunction with extensive testing time to make sure final PlayStation 3 consoles ship with reliable processors, the high introductory pricing of the PlayStation 3 begins to show its true reasons. Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. (SCEI) president Ken Kutaragi previously said that if the PlayStation 3 was priced at $599, it would actually be "too cheap."
Wow. It's like watching a train wreck. Except with no loss of life.
Sony Takes Out a $700,000,000 Loan.
Geez, this may be the fall of Sony, for real. >_>
You know, it's like a weird cycle...
Nintendo arrived into the console market with the NES. It was a hit. They fought a console war against the SEGA Genesis, coming out on top in the end. Then, with the N64, they fell from power...by making some bad decisions (Cartridges. Nuff' said.).
Now Sony...
Sony arrived into the console market with the PlayStation. It was a hit. They fought a console war against the Nintendo Gamecube and the Microsoft Xbox, coming out on top in the end. Now, with the PS3, they're poised to fall from power...because they're making some bad decisions. (Price, 'innovation', defective CELL processors, etcetera...)
The difference is, Nintendo has dominated the handheld market for nearly two decades. Sony's PSP has not managed to loose Nintendo's hold.
It's history folks. Those who fail to learn from it will be doomed to repeat it.
Sony is just repeating Nintendo's mistakes.
So by this logic, Xbox 360 might come out on top in this console generation...only to tank with the next one. The Wii and its successor will probably bring Nintendo back on top, etcetera...
Take from it what you will.
Silly Ultra, obviously Sega will be coming back into the console market with a 256-bit system. Duh.
And it'll be named after a guy who flew a plane! Maybe Lindbergh's successor will be named the Earhart! :F
I think Sony have too much market popularity to fall... and, unlike the N64, still have Square on-board.
Nontheless, I do see their market dominance going. This, of course, is a good thing.
I miss the days of just popping in a game into your console and playing it.
No worries about not having the latest expanshun, No worries about the console not liking a certain type of disc when it got sand in its... eye. And the whole Blu Ray V HD DVD is a pile of Mr Bigglesworth Sprites. (is that right?)
Just a second, doesn't IBM make the Gamecube / Wii innards? I'm not doubting his knowledge on all things innards but still. Corporate bitchslapping continues...
Despite of all this doom and gloom, I will guarentee this console will sell out this holiday season--especially in Europe if Singstar is a launch title.
you might be right, how much were the xbox 360's going for this last holiday season? more than $800 i know that much, so if the ps3 is $600 people will buy it, inflated price or not.
On EBay, you mean.
In stores, the highest they went (so far as I know) was $399.
So? they still went for an insane amount. PS3 will do fine for the holiday season. after that, well i guess time will tell, and it ain't looking good.
Yes, since stores can only sell them for that price...
Xbox 360 was $399 at launch, and $299 for the core system.
I thought I heard that due to shortage, some people were paying much, much more for it.
Although I wasn't terribly interested in 360 (and I'm still not) so I may not have that straight.
I thought I heard that due to shortage, some people were paying much, much more for it.
Yeah, on eBay. That doesn't count.
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Yeah, on eBay. That doesn't count.
As Creo has proven, people on Ebay will buy free coins... 
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As Creo has proven, people on Ebay will buy free coins..
Or ghosts in jars.
Or empty PSP boxes...
Lol Internets.
XDXD! Or Xboxes...that are merely cardboard boxes with an X written on it. >_>
I'm sorry, but unless this thing is capable of having Windows or a fairly recent Linux distro installed on it with Firefox and all the trimmings, then they need to shut up about the "computer system" crap. Whoever's supplying the answers is saying it eight times. Overkill.
Isn't the whole point of calling PS3 (and PS2) computers instead of consoles is to get lower import tax. Something like that. I did read somewhere though that the PS3 is running on Linux.
The PS3 will do just fine, IMO. There's a lot of hardcore Sony fans and hardcore gamers that are going to buy one. There's plenty of good games planned for it, and it can play every single game in the Playstation franchise. That's enough to convince me to get one.
And let's say it does fail. So what? I'll still have one, I'll still be able to play dozens of great PS2/PS1 games, and the PS3 games that came out before it failed. As long as I get my hands on MGS4, Heavenly Sword, Mercenaries 2 and Killzone 2, I'm good.
PS3 Manufacturing has just started?
3 months till launch, and they just NOW start manufacturing?
Is that...normal?
Im sure sony can get the job done... and to me yes thats werid
this should have started in like april or may.
Well Ultra, Sony is a mom and pop run organisation.
/Jon Stewart
Whoa! Now this is news. The PS3 is coming out this year?! *stoned* I figured it would become the Halo 2 of consoles, considering the cell processors weren't putting out enough, and get pushed back to a later date. Then pushed back again...and again until like....2986. >_>
HS2K3 I thought we were making progress with your huge graphics sig and then you go and make a huge font and small graphic sig .-.
Hahahaha right you are.
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Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. (SCEI) president Ken Kutaragi previously said that if the PlayStation 3 was priced at $599, it would actually be "too cheap."
Ugh. PS has always come out with the games I like. 'Guess I'm switching to 360, good thing StH will be on it. That's really the only reason I have to even bother with it, so far.
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3 months till launch, and they just NOW start manufacturing?
Is that...normal?
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Microsoft's first Xbox 360 did not roll off the assembly line last year until 69 days before the on sale date of Nov. 22.
One thing I will say about Sony is, they were at least not afraid to show what exactly their E3 demos were running on.
I don't actually have a clear photo but next to every row of demo units they had a stack of these behind glass. Microsoft, on the other hand, did their damndest to hide the fact that their Xbox 360 SDK was running on one of these:
Troy, it's Ultra.
Did you really expect any sort of integrity or research on his part?
Wonderbat, it's a question.
Not that the whole 'wait until 69 days before launch to manufacture thing' worked. How many people had to wait till' March to get a 360?
(I was one. =/)
Okay you crazy PS fans (and haters)! I would like to know whether SquareEnix, the creators of the Kingdom Hearts series will support the PS3 or will they jump ship to the XBox 360 or will they support both consoles?
That's your homework for today. I need links and sources (no Wikipedia links).
I don't remember for sure because I haven't paid a lot of attention, but I thought they announced some new Final Fantasy game for the PS3 a while back. They're also supporting the 360 somewhat as well though, with Project Sylpheed as an example.
EDIT: Oops, "links and sources". Fine, make me work. Don't know any details beyond those two games though, but it does confirm that they are supporting both consoles at least currently.
Final Fantasy XIII for PS3:
www.gamespot.com/ps3/rpg/...index.html
Project Sylpheed for Xbox 360:
Why do both of those games look so bland and uninteresting?
Because they're from SquareEnix? 
*shot* Actually, I don't care about Final Fantasy, but Project Sylpheed has me a bit curious at least. I like space shooter type games, so I'm hoping it turns out decent. I'm just hoping SquareEnix doesn't inject too much of a gooey storyline into it.
Sony have cancelled production of independent Blu-Ray players so they can make enough PS3s.
www.gamesradar.com
HA!
The more and more I read, the more I think Sony's ego has screwed them over. The pricetag alone knocks out most casual gamers (like me).
You do realize tht waiting so long on manufacturing is a selling plot? Having such a low supply from the start means the average consumer gets more desperate so more preorders get made, which makes it worse, and the systems fly off the shelves. It worked with the 360. Remember, people were as messed up about the 360's price and bundle issues when it was coming out too, and looked what happened. It wasn't number 1, but it sold.
It worked with the 360.
Not very well.
They're getting half the expected shipment out on a worldwide release?
...this is even more of a ballsup than XBOX360's launch.
What worries me more is we're down to the last 40 days before the Wii launch (as decoded from their cryptic clue) and we've heard nothing.
This generation of gaming is falling flat on it's face, huh?
Falling now...but it Shall Rise!! =P
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What worries me more is we're down to the last 40 days before the Wii launch (as decoded from their cryptic clue) and we've heard nothing.
We've heard this much, though.
What may change things, however, is the complete commitment of Fox to Blu-Ray over HD.
Awesome the date announcement is this month. Sweet. So I have this and TGS to look forward to. =) BTW nice little quotation there Xag. About the zombies. Hahah!
Thank you.
Anyways...
www.gamesradar.com/gb/ps3/game/news/article.jsp?sectionId=1006&articleId=2006090694342328060&releaseId=20060314132311609002
www.gamesradar.com/gb/ps3/game/news/article.jsp?sectionId=1006&articleId=20060905124054593094&releaseId=20060314132311609002
Sony, Sony. You're convincing no-one with these displays.
In regards to the PAL delay, I hope this at least means that it will be cheaper on release over here. Also this'll be a bit of a kick in the teeth for them, all titles that were meant to be multiformat releases will be exclusives or pushed back for the release. Hopefully the former.
I'd doubt they would choose not to release PS3 multiformat games becuase of a delay.
Would this mean that the PS3s we will get will have fewer bugs?
