Playstation 3 Cell Processor Shrunk To 45nm

IBM announced that they will be moving the Cell Broadband Engine microprocessor from its current 65nm. Fabrication to the next generation High-K 45nm.

In addition to reducing the processor's die area by 34 percent, the smaller transistor size will also reduce its power consumption by 40%.

Smaller die size plus requiring less active cooling means that the processor powering the Playstation 3 will have its cost greatly reduced.

But Sony, who has been racking losses for every Playstation 3 sold, might choose not to pass those saving to the consumers. It all comes down to a compromise between cutting down the losses or attracting new customers.