Sony/Toshiba making 45nm Cells in '09, slim PS3 on way?

by Majed Athab { Sep 22nd 2008 at 10:00AM }

The current PS3s already have efficient functionality with the shrunken 65nm Cell processor, but now things are going to get even smaller. Sony and Toshiba have plans on mass producing a 45nm Cell processor starting in 2009. The plan is to integrate them first into PS3s. The result of which will allow PS3s to save power up to 40 percent.

As usual, smaller chips mean less heat, less space, and more reliability. Engadget suggests that this new hardware revision could usher in a price cut and a PS3-slim model. All seems logically sound, though -- even if the chips were produced early in the year -- we still wouldn't see the end product until late 2009 at the very earliest. So if you've been holding out for a PS3 until the slim comes into town ... you've still got a long wait ahead of you buddy.

[Via Engadget]

Tags: 45nm, cell, cell-processor, ps3

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Byron517 @ Sep 22nd 2008 10:05AM

Now I just wish Sony would work on backwards compatibility!! LoL that's a good news though I think a slim PS3 would look sweet!

SuperGayParade @ Sep 22nd 2008 11:44AM

I agree... if my PS3 breaks, and the only new ones are non-BC, I will be very sad

Chin-Poh @ Sep 22nd 2008 12:09PM

Sadly, thats the reality, the new 80gb and 160gb models are like the 40gb, no memory card readers nor PS2 B/C.

: (

Gedaman @ Sep 23rd 2008 8:39PM

Since they're saving money with the new smaller processor it would be nice if they made a slimline model with the same features as the MGS Bundle 80 GB model which I have, but I'm sure they won't do that. I think I'll stick with my current PS3 with the 'limited backwards compatability' (no problems yet!). I'd like to check out Yakuza 2 and like others pick up a good old $5-10 PS2 game from GameStop every now and then. I like the HD upscaling, wireless contollers, HDD memory card saves, and faster load times with my PS3. I traded in my PS2 after I got the MGS Bundle so why should I go back? I'm not getting another slim PlayStation like I did for the PS2 unless they pack it with the 60 GB launch (or MGS 80 GB) model features and reduce the price greatly.

Jon Acheson @ Sep 22nd 2008 10:05AM

Slim would be nice, but backwards compatibility is essential.

The Aggie CEO @ Sep 22nd 2008 10:17AM

that would be a little early to see the slim model PS3.....

the PSOne Slim came out RIIGHT before the PS2 was launched(5-6 years after the PS1 came out).

PS2 Slim came out in 2004(4 years after the Original PS2)

I wouldnt suspect to see a PS3 Slim until 2010(4 years after launch).....

BUT if they move it up a year or so(like they did with the difference between the PS1 & PS2 slim revisions from 5 years to 4 years) then it just MIGHT make it out next year.......

but hell it can only get SO small with the HDD in there........unless they go the SSD route in which case the PS3 Slim would be OUTRAGEOUSLY priced.......

Dan83 @ Sep 22nd 2008 10:23AM

I already have a first gen PS3 but, I want a slim one because they always look better then the "fat" ones, and take up alot less room

T-P-M @ Sep 22nd 2008 10:28AM

65nm -> 45nm isn't going to be really and smaller pysically, it may allow for a smaller heat sink but still there's a lot of other components to consider before they can bring out a slim, probably the bluray drive being the biggest. Production cost is the biggest difference as far as Sony is concerned.

ZeroCorpse @ Sep 22nd 2008 10:54AM

Personally, I'm glad I managed to get an MGS bundle after they were all sold out (eBay, kids). I'll take the backwards compatibility over the slightly cooler chip any day. Of course, having both would be nice, but the older PS3 already runs quieter than the Xbox 360 (BY FAR) and so I consider it a great introduction into the PS3 world for me.

Sometimes, I just want to spend $5 a GameStop for an old PS2 game, and being able to play them on my main setup (instead of needing a separate console, memory card, controllers, etc.) is a winning feature.

dlemay69 @ Sep 22nd 2008 11:24AM

I must be missing something here. I hear reports of how loud the Xbox 360 is, and how much heat it generates, but I see the opposite. I have both systems, and currently, I use my 360 more. When I use my PS3, the temperature in the room where its being used raises at least 4 degrees. I love both these systems, but even after leaving my 360 on for hours, it never gets as hot as the PS3. I also don't have any noise issues. I have the 360 Elite, is this a better model as far as noise is concerned? Anyone else have the same issues as I do?

farfisa @ Sep 22nd 2008 12:29PM

@dlemay69

I'm with you--my 60 gb PS3 gets pretty loud. I don't have a 360 to compare with, but I've read there were two different fans on the launch consoles, and I got the loud one.

I have a few PS2 games I still want to play, and don't have a PS2, so I'd like to keep the BC, but really would prefer a quieter console.

Devin @ Sep 22nd 2008 1:24PM

@dlemay69

First off, my friend's 60GB ($499 version) is soooo much quieter than his 360. No doubt about that. Hell, he got a replacement for his RRoD and it is still just as loud as his old one. It's mainly the DVD-ROM.

Lastly, both consoles put out a lot of heat (probably the same amount), but the reason why the PS3 seems hotter is that it IS moving the heat better than the 360 (hints all of the RRoD issues, etc.). This is why you Think the PS3 runs hotter, when in actuality it's doing its job better.....it should be a good thing in my book.

ZeroCorpse @ Sep 23rd 2008 10:50AM

It's not the fan that makes all the noise on the 360. It's the DVD drive. The BenQ drive is pretty quiet, but the other models really rev up when you're playing certain games. You want loud? Trying playing Oblivion on a launch 360 or ANY 360 without a BenQ drive. Oblivion spins the drive constantly, and it really does sound like a plane taking off.

Some games aren't as demanding of the drive, thus they aren't as loud.

Seeing as I play a lot of Oblivion, though, I like the fact that the PS3's Blu-ray drive is rather quiet, compared to the DVD drive on any of the 360s I owned.

francisco @ Sep 22nd 2008 11:01AM

i like the look of my launch 60gb ps3 already don't want a slim unless my ps3 breaks

SnazzyD @ Sep 22nd 2008 11:02AM

I got one of the last 60GB PS3s because BC was a big priority for me, mostly because there weren't many PS3 games out at the time, and there are plenty of $5-$10 PS2 titles out there.

A year later and I couldn't care less. The PS2 games look shockingly bad on my HDTV, lack the native widescreen aspect ratio, and just generally suck. There are so many awesome games coming out this fall, and there are now $5-$10 PS3 games regularly in the bin.

BC is a dead issue...

Mana Knight @ Sep 22nd 2008 11:18AM

I agree 100%. I just don't use PS2 BC anymore.

Besides, the entire reason Sony removed it is because SOME PS2 chips were required to make PS2 BC (even the software emulated EE still needed the GS and other components). Adding PS2 components within PS3 (they also have to be made to sustain more power because PS3 uses a lot of it, and that also increases the cost of the components) is not cheap. Sony couldn't really make a PS3 with PS2 components for any less than $500, that's why PS2 BC was on its way out. It's like if they kept it, the cost would just keep carrying over making it harder to reduce the price (PS2 components aren't dropping much more in price due to hitting a low point). One reason Xbox 360 can be made cheaply is because it has zero original Xbox components (if it did, it would be expensive).

Anyway, going back to the article, I'm glad to hear 45nm is on the way. I really want the PS3 to use less power (so it doesn't heat up as much).

J Swayze @ Sep 22nd 2008 11:17AM

60gb PS3 FTW

Dude at gamestop said, I should sell mines for double the price, since it’s the mythological unicorn of all PS3's

Mr. Joe @ Sep 22nd 2008 11:40AM

first of all, stop whining about backwards compatibility. if they don't remove old technology, they can't make room for new technology. get it? unless of course they copy the wii and integrate download capabilities even more. but wanting to run old games on new systems is not what the new system is for. you want to play old games, hook up your old systems. i currently have an nes, sega genesis, n64, ps2, wii, and ps3 hooked up to my main tv. stop whining! buy a tower.

as for the smaller chips, bring them on! but i don't see the hdd and other parts getting slimmed to have products by 09, but i guess we'll just have to wait and see.

RasenganFury @ Sep 22nd 2008 11:50AM

I think it's a little too early to release a slim model. I think it should be 2010 at the earliest. The slim models make me envious lol but then again i get to enjoy the ps3 much longer than those who wait for the slim :)

Metal_Gear @ Sep 22nd 2008 12:50PM

I love my huge man of a machine! Grr!

PSone and PS2 were the ones placed on shelves out of the way, but I think the PS3 looks particularly sexy next to my HDTV, so I bought a verticle stand which has an awesome blue light that surrounds my console, and it sits there pround next to my TV so I dont want to get a slimmer one as it wouldn't fit my verticle stand and it wouldn't fit my manly ways...

Also, if your so desperate to play PS2 games, why buy a PS3? >_>