Was the "ATI got Xbox2 contract" rumor true?

[jvd]

does this mean that the newer ps2's are gonna be QUIETER fan-wise? thats one of the only things that really bug me....

who knows. THe single chip may still get very hot or they may keep the more powerfull fan to increase the life of the ps2s . Or they may have a crap load of the fans that they bought so they will continue to used them till thier stock runs out haha .

 

[KnightBreed]

Out of curiousity, does either Toshiba or Sony have volume production of any 90nm products now? I didn't think they had. I could see them possibly sampling 65nm asic's by the end of 2004, but actual mass production?

SCEI also announced it has integrated the two key PlayStation 2 devices into one chip with 53.5 million transistors using a 90- nm process. Mass production using the 90-nm process will begin this spring, the unit said...

"With the practical product [EE+GS@90nm], we can launch mass production using 90-nm process smoothly," said Yoshihide Fujii, executive vice president of Toshiba Semiconductor Co.

In answer to my question: No, Sony hasn't any 90nm products in volume and won't for some time, which makes the claims of 65nm production in 2004 all that much more unlikely.

 

[Vince]

In answer to my question: No, Sony hasn't any 90nm products in volume and won't for some time, which makes the claims of 65nm production in 2004 all that much more unlikely.

That's quite a leap from "This Spring" (SCE in April) to "Won't for some time" (some guy named Knightbreed). I just love how people think around here.

If you're going to try to deride what they're saying, please attempt to have some tangible evidence to back up your position which is basically calling Sony/Toshiba's statement's lies.

Here, I'll give you an example* of evidence:

e-insite.net[/url], 4.21.2003]Sony Launching 90nm Embedded DRAM

Sony's subsidiary that makes the PlayStation 2, Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. said today that it would be in production on 90nm embedded DRAM process in fiscal 2003...

Sony claims it will be ahead of anyone else in the industry on 90nm embedded DRAM volume production. Production of the chip will start from this spring at Oita TS Semiconductor (OTSS), a joint venture between Sony Computer Entertainment and Toshiba Corp., and in the fall at Sony's own fab in Isahaya City, Nagasaki Prefecture, Japan.

Since 1999, Sony Computer Entertainment and OTSS have jointly invested approximately 300 billion yen starting with a 0.18-micron process. Ramp up of 90nm technology is currently taking place, according to Sony

While Sony is no Intel, they've been well ahead of the pack on the 130nm level having been in production on the new GS in Nagasaki well over 9 months AFAIK. They seem to be doing quite well in being a bit head of the pack (especially compared to TSMC, UMC).

I don't know where it is now, but there was also a 2003 handout from Sony IR's that stated, "Starting 90nm LSI mass production ahead of the industry". And generally, Investor Relations tends not to lie...

*http://www.e-insite.net/electronicnews/index.asp?layout=article&articleid=CA293671

 

[jvd]

vince doesn't fiscal 2003 extend into calander year 2004 . Other than that i believe we will see a full ramp of around x mass of 2003. The .9nm seems to be going well for them . Lets hope it goes well for .65 too .

 

[Vince]

vince doesn't fiscal 2003 extend into calander year 2004 . Other than that i believe we will see a full ramp of around x mass of 2003. The .9nm seems to be going well for them . Lets hope it goes well for .65 too .

Ahh, good point. And yeah, the FY does overlap, but when they blatently state that they're currently ramping up 90nm production (and this in April, 03), I tend to believe them - especially with how carefull companies such as this currently are with their releases.

 

[jvd]

vince doesn't fiscal 2003 extend into calander year 2004 . Other than that i believe we will see a full ramp of around x mass of 2003. The .9nm seems to be going well for them . Lets hope it goes well for .65 too .

Ahh, good point. And yeah, the FY does overlap, but when they blatently state that they're currently ramping up 90nm production (and this in April, 03), I tend to believe them - especially with how carefull companies such as this currently are with their releases.

I agree that it will be done before the end of fiscal year which is what january or febuary ? But i think we may not see it at full production till dec. Sound about right . Adding in any small delays or problems. That is why they gave themselves to the end of the fiscal year so that no one sees any problems. On the flip side if its all ramped up by sept they can come out and claim they did it ahead of schedual even if to them it has allways been sept or august.

 

[zurich]

Knightbreed,

Except for EE&GS@90nm

 

[KnightBreed]

In answer to my question: No, Sony hasn't any 90nm products in volume and won't for some time, which makes the claims of 65nm production in 2004 all that much more unlikely.

That's quite a leap from "This Spring" (SCE in April) to "Won't for some time" (some guy named Knightbreed). I just love how people think around here.

If you're going to try to deride what they're saying, please attempt to have some tangible evidence to back up your position which is basically calling Sony/Toshiba's statement's lies.

My apologies. I didn't see the date of the EETimes article. It being July, I assumed "Spring" meant 2004.