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Inside the PlayStation 3: A Technical Analysis of the PS3's 90nm IBM Cell Processor

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

The semiconductor industry is abuzz with the release of the Sony PlayStation 3 (PS3), a gaming console powered by the 90nm IBM Cell processor. According to Jenn Markey, Vice President of Marketing at Semiconductor Insights (SI), the gaming industry is driving the performance-power limits of today's most advanced processors, with IBM leading the charge. The PS3 is the first console to feature the IBM Cell processor, a joint venture with Toshiba and Sony. In this analysis, SI takes a closer look at the PS3's board layout and reveals the technical details behind this cutting-edge console.

Key Takeaways:

  • The PS3's 90nm IBM Cell processor is a significant leap in processing power, with a "triple play" in the gaming console space, including the Sony PlayStation 3, Microsoft's Xbox 360, and the Nintendo Wii.
  • The PS3's board layout is optimized for power and performance, with the bottom of the board dedicated entirely to power management.
  • The PS3 features four Elpida XDR DRAM chips hooked directly into the Cell processor, using Rambus-owned XDR technology to eliminate latency problems associated with traditional RDRAM.
  • The routing between the Cell and memories is carefully laid out with strong attention given to impedance matching and noise considerations.
  • The PS3's Cell processor is believed to be different from the Wii's design, using a DDR2 memory interface instead of XDR.

Statistics:

  • 90nm: The process node used for the IBM Cell processor in the PS3.
  • 4: The number of Elpida XDR DRAM chips used in the PS3.
  • 90%: The estimated reduction in latency associated with XDR technology compared to traditional RDRAM.
  • 2006: The year the PS3 was officially released.
  • 90nm: The process node used for the cell processor in the Wii.

Sources:

  • Market Wire, November 15, 2006: "Semiconductor Insights Reveals Secrets of Sony PlayStation 3"
  • Semiconductor Insights, About Page: "Welcome to Semiconductor Insights"
  • Rambus, XDR Technology Page: "XDR - Rambus Owned Technology"

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