Tweets also said it was POWER7 in Wii U. That particular example doesn't say Wii U's CPU is using eDRAM either.
Actually it does, and its pretty clear.
Lets take a look at the IBM news release and see why:
Here is the quote from IBM's own website:
IBM's unique embedded DRAM, for example, is capable of feeding the multi-core processor large chunks of data to make for a smooth entertainment experience.
key word is "the" as in
the multi-core processor that IBM defined as
The all-new, Power-based microprocessor for the Nintendo WiiU.
It does not say "
(a) multi-core processor"
Which would then imply any multi-core processor not necessarily including the WiiU cpu.
Also, you have to take into consideration the context of the paragraph.
Its starts off with:
The all-new, Power-based microprocessor will pack some of IBM's most advanced technology into an energy-saving silicon package that will power Nintendo's brand new entertainment experience for consumers worldwide.
They clearly state that the CPU will pack advanced technology, not that the CONSOLE will be packed with IBM's most advanced technology. They go further and state what that technology is:
IBM's unique embedded DRAM, for example,
Its their main selling point of the CPU.
It is a clear statement of fact that is in no way vague.
Now if you told me that their statement was talking about the GPU, then I would agree that IBM statement was vague, confusing and open to interpretation.
The facts stated:
The CPU will be a NEW multi-core processor.
The CPU will be placed into a energy-saving silicon package
The CPU will be fed large chunks of data from IBM's unique embedded DRAM.
Why is that vague and not correct?
The only info that the article does not address is
How many cores? What kind of cores?
How much eDRAM?
What kind of energy-saving silicon package?
These are the questions that will lead to the understanding the architecture of the WiiU.
The article does provide a few more clues regarding those questions:
First, Size and location:
IBM plans to produce millions of chips for Nintendo featuring IBM Silicon on Insulator (SOI) technology at 45 nanometers (45 billionths of a meter). The custom-designed chips will be made at IBM's state-of-the-art 300mm semiconductor development and manufacturing facility in East Fishkill, N.Y.
Second, the technology that will make it "power-efficient":
Built on the open, scalable Power Architecture base, IBM custom processors exploit the performance and power advantages of proven silicon-on-insulator (SOI) technology. The inherent advantages of the technology make it a superior choice for performance-driven applications that demand exceptional, power-efficient processing capability – from entertainment consoles to supercomputers.
Notice how IBM linked consoles to supercomputers at the end of the article.
Due to the scaleability of the Power Architecture.
From EDA360:
Tim Fahey wrote to tell me that IBM’s Jeopardy!-playing computer named Watson was powered by SOI. (I wrote about Watson last week, see “Being human is the ultimate app. IBM’s Watson plays Jeopardy!”) Tim heard about IBM’s use of SOI for Watson’s processors on a teleconferencing call with IBM just this morning. A little Googling turned up this new White Paper from IBM that tells all about Watson’s 32-bit SOI processors. They’re Power7 server processors fabricated in IBM’s 45nm SOI process technology. Each processor runs at 3.55GHz and Watson uses a total of 2880 processors in the 90 clustered IBM Power 750 servers that comprise the computer. In this case, SOI is contributing to both the speed and the reduced power consumption of the processors.
But that doesn't mean the WiiU is sporting Power7 cores. No.
And that's why they had to retract the TWEET calling it a POWER7
Here is what IBM had to say:
the POWER line of chips is found only in high-performance servers and workstations from IBM, but
the PowerPC chips are found in everything from embedded devices to supercomputers (you may already own one, especially if you're a gamer, run a home network, or drive a late-model car).
So, no matter how similar in design the WiiU CPU is to the POWER7 CHIP, it can't be called a POWER7, unless IBM has changed their own rules.
So when we look at that ENGADGET article:
Nintendo's new console, the Wii U, was finally unveiled to the world today at E3 2011, and we got a glimpse of its graphical prowess at the company's keynote. Details were scarce about the IBM silicon Nintendo's new HD powerhouse was packing, but we did some digging to get a little more info. IBM tells us that within the Wii U there's a 45nm custom chip with "a lot" of embedded DRAM (shown above). It's a silicon on insulator design and packs the same processor technology found in Watson, the supercomputer that bested a couple of meatbags on Jeopardy awhile back.
People jumping to conclusions that they were talking about POWER7 being WiiU's CPU was not correct. But the two chips are similar as they both use eDRAM, their SOI design, and other processor technology, and the fact its produced at 45nm.
Secondly, what did IBM say about the WiiU processor? Its NEW. A key point I missed myself when I assumed the article was talking about the POWER7.
The POWER7 was the latest, but was not a new processor, neither is BROADWAY.
