Microsoft licensed microchip technology from IBM

[Tuttle]

"I dont see where the problem is with the inq putting out an opinion about what processor IBM might provide MS with"

Except that there is a statement from IBM explicitly stating it will be a PPC chip.

There is still hope in wintel land that MS hasn't dumped x86, but it looks like a done deal from the public statements from both companies.

 

[StefanS]

XBox 2 will use Cell



j/k

who knows, but you might be right!!!! The Inq thinks that IBM was choosen because it might be able to provide one of 3 types of processors
-G5/PPC variant
-AMD64
-Cell Processor

It sure makes things interesting.

later,
epic

I am pretty sure that Cell or a derivative of Cell won't power XBox2. Cell is codeveloped by Sony and IBM which means both companies own the rights to its tech and I am pretty sure Sony is going to allow Cell in Xbox2...

 

[V3]

Cell is codeveloped by Sony and IBM which means both companies own the rights to its tech and I am pretty sure Sony is going to allow Cell in Xbox2...

Cell is mostly IBM though. So maybe Xbox2 can't have Cell that is in PS3, but that doesn't stop IBM from making other form of Cell.

 

[StefanS]

Cell is codeveloped by Sony and IBM which means both companies own the rights to its tech and I am pretty sure Sony is going to allow Cell in Xbox2...

Cell is mostly IBM though. So maybe Xbox2 can't have Cell that is in PS3, but that doesn't stop IBM from making other form of Cell.

IBM would have to work around patents filed by Sony. I mean, it's possible...
But how long it is going to take design such a Cell chip?
Secondly, it could be very risky business:
If Sony would take legal action for allegde patent right infringement, could Xbox2 production be halted?

 

[V3]

If Sony would take legal action for allegde patent right infringement, could Xbox2 production be halted?

Its parthnership to develop the technology, but I don't think the end product is under such restrained to be limited use.

If its benefit to IBM to use it in Xbox2, than by all mean they should. In parthnership, its not only Sony, that should benefit. What kind of crap would that be.

 

[epicstruggle]

Except that there is a statement from IBM explicitly stating it will be a PPC chip.

There is still hope in wintel land that MS hasn't dumped x86, but it looks like a done deal from the public statements from both companies.

Exactly where did IBM state that MS was going to use a PPC chip? Please if anyone has a statement from IBM stating this, please enlighten me.

Id love to see MS use a cell like chip. Wouldnt that bunch sony's shorts.

later,
epic

 

[Brimstone]

I thought the Operating System for the PS3 was going to be open source? If thats the case Microsoft could certainly make their own custom flavor of the Linux like Cell operating system and port over their technologies like Direct X and Windows Media Player. Or I guess they could just make a new Windows OS for a Cell based X-Box 2. Maybe someone could clairify what the status of the Cell OS is?

I thought once Microsoft announced its fab partner, things would become more in focus with what the X-Box 2 will look like. It's funny that the partnership between Microsoft and IBM raises more questions than it answers. Wasn't their a quote from an IBM offical a while back stating that they would sell Cell technology to anyone intrested in buying it? If anyone remembers the quote I'm referring to, could you repost it?

 

[DeadmeatGA]

Maybe someone could clairify what the status of the Cell OS is?

CellOS is basically a modified Linux with an ability to construct a process on an attached slave processor instead of itself.

Wasn't their a quote from an IBM offical a while back stating that they would sell Cell technology to anyone intrested in buying it? If anyone remembers the quote I'm referring to, could you repost it?

I don't think anybody else wants to touch CELL.

 

[Vince]

CellOS is basically a modified Linux with an ability to construct a process on an attached slave processor instead of itself.

You know this how? Care to list a source?

I don't think anybody else wants to touch CELL.

Oh right... thank you master debater and coder for your input. Since, believe me, we all respect what you say to the extreme... I'm guessing it's due to that huge history of non-biased and non-fallicious comments you made during the pre-PS2 time that all turned out true.

 

[Wunderchu]

AFAIK,

IBM does have the right to manufacture Cell for whatever product they choose to manufacture it for... :

Under the agreement, SCEI, IBM and Toshiba will each manufacture the product for a variety of consumer applications.

(source: http://www-3.ibm.com/chips/news/2001/0312_sony-toshiba.html )

 

[epicstruggle]

AFAIK,

IBM does have the right to manufacture Cell for whatever product they choose to manufacture it for... :

Under the agreement, SCEI, IBM and Toshiba will each manufacture the product for a variety of consumer applications.

(source: http://www-3.ibm.com/chips/news/2001/0312_sony-toshiba.html )

thanks, this sure makes things interesting.

HOW cool would it be if MS's version of cell is better than Sony's. Does anyone have any idea how ATI's tech/ip might be integrated.

later
epic

 

[Brimstone]

In a separate agreement, IBM will transfer the latest SOI technologies to Sony and Toshiba. The development work will be conducted by a team of scientists and engineers from all parties at the IBM Semiconductor Research and Development Center (SRDC) in East Fishkill, N.Y. Each party then will have the ability to build the advanced chips in its own manufacturing facilities, products and applications, and for its own semiconductor business customers. A significant portion of IBM's soon-to-be-completed, 300 mm wafer manufacturing facility in East Fishkill will be dedicated to these new processes.

LINK

Is it known what the technology roadmap for East Fishkill is? What micron level the East Fishkills fabrication process be at in 2005?

 

[London Geezer]

of course this is all speculation, but many seem to forget that Cell is nothing less and nothing more than an ARCHITECTURE.
If IBM (under terms of agreement) were to decide to have another implementation of the architecture, then it would be possible to see Cell in other consoles. Will it happen? HELL NO!!!!
MS likes to play safe, and they're not gonna touch Cell even with rubber gloves.
MS wants backwards compatibility, and i really would LOVE to see Xbox code being emulated by Cell. Possible, maybe, but at what cost? (in terms of PAIN IN THE A$$)

 

[Tuttle]

http://www.wired.com/news/games/0,2101,61065,00.html

I'm not sure why the speculation is still going on. It is clear that it is going to be some form of stripped down Power4/970(ish) chip.

I've read estimates that Apple pays 200-300 per 970. I don't think anyone knows the exact figure outside of Apple and IBM.

People have been waiting for multi-core chips as the next big thing for the PPC line, but I can't imagine something like that would be affordable to put in a console.

I can't imagine how it can possibly compete with the PS3 Cell performance, but they had to do something. Another XBox with just a faster Celeron and GPU would be DOA.

 

[MfA]

IBM is the powerhouse as far as architectural design and implementation goes, I doubt Sony will have as many Cell related patents as IBM does ... they will both want cross licensing deals, you would think Sony would have negotiated a non competition clause for the short term for the console market though. They might not have done most of the research but they sure as hell funded it.

 

[Tuttle]

you would think Sony would have negotiated a non competition clause for the short term for the console market though.

Or some Sony corporate lawyers are going to be out looking for new jobs soon.

 

[cthellis42]

They could likely stick a PowerPC 970 in there if they still like bleeding money... Guess it all depends on the timeframe of launch.

But hey, what happens if Virginia Tech wants to build ANOTHER supercomputer out of 2200 Xbox2's on the cheap and everyone else clues in on it!

 

[London Geezer]

They could likely stick a PowerPC 970 in there if they still like bleeding money... Guess it all depends on the timeframe of launch.

But hey, what happens if Virginia Tech wants to build ANOTHER supercomputer out of 2200 Xbox2's on the cheap and everyone else clues in on it!

next thing u know, Saddam will be battling it off with Bush, one will use 2000 PS3's and Bush will use 2000 Xbox2's (MS represents the american pride i guess)

heheheh who wins the war depends on how many Flops those things can push!!!

ok it's not funny to talk about those things.... but put in there war-modified AIBOs and AIMOs and we're pretty close to a Terminator scenario (the future one)

 

[PC-Engine]

They could likely stick a PowerPC 970 in there if they still like bleeding money... Guess it all depends on the timeframe of launch.

But hey, what happens if Virginia Tech wants to build ANOTHER supercomputer out of 2200 Xbox2's on the cheap and everyone else clues in on it!

next thing u know, Saddam will be battling it off with Bush, one will use 2000 PS3's and Bush will use 2000 Xbox2's (MS represents the american pride i guess)

heheheh who wins the war depends on how many Flops those things can push!!!

ok it's not funny to talk about those things.... but put in there war-modified AIBOs and AIMOs and we're pretty close to a Terminator scenario (the future one)

LMAO...now that's funny

 

[London Geezer]

*imagines modified AIBOs with side-attached missile launchers running around the USA bombing the shit out of everything starting with the MS headquarters but leaving the Sony headquarters up*