It seems a large focus in the technology sector has been placed upon the world of gaming and its eminent future. Most notably placing a great deal of resources on this future are the people at IBM. IBM possesses three contracts for helping create the upcoming gaming consoles for the top three gaming companies: Sony, Microsoft and Nintendo.
Microsoft’s latest version of their game console the Xbox, the Xbox 360, is scheduled to be released for the 2005 holiday season. It is to be powered by a custom PowerPC-based CPU created by IBM. The PowerPC can perform up to 1 teraflop, it can play DVDs, and most forms of optical discs. The machine also has built in WiFi.
Nintendo, makers of the GameCube, has announced their latest game console, Revolution, however they were not as willing to divulge information. It is thought to be the smallest of the new consoles, and it will be powered by an IBM processor, Broadway. The Revolution will play DVDs, but not CDs and will also have built in WiFi and a memory card reader. The console is expected to be released sometime in 2006.
However, the most important of the new consoles is Sony’s contribution. Sony is the maker of the PlayStation, the latest version of the console being PS3, or PlayStation 3. The PS3 utilizes a new processor created by IBM, with Sony and Toshiba, called Cell. Cell is thought to be a super computer on a chip. The new chip can perform 2 teraflops. Yes, 2. PS3 can play Blu-ray Disc ROMs, and HD material. The new console is expected to be public by spring of 2006.
The importance of the PS3 and the Cell however, is the possibilities outside of gaming solutions. It is thought that the Cell bears massive computing power. The chip is small and comprised of a 64-bit Dual-threaded IBM PowerPC core and eight Synergistic Processing Elements. The chip includes built-in dual channel memory controller and is capable of 256Glops, according to IBM. The interface allows for high speed, chip-to-chip communication. With all that the chip comes with, the possible applications are endless. The next giant leap in technology, very likely will involve some such application of the Cell.
