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.
February 8, 2008 - 9:00pm
