Thursday, February 22nd 2007
Sony 65nm SOI Cell Broadband Engine Details
ISSCC (International Solid-State Circuits Conference) seems to be packed with interesting stuff this year. Earlier today, we reported how Samsung demonstrated 4 GHz GDDR4 memory modules at the conference, and now, VR-Zone reports that the Cell Broadband Engine is in for a die-shrink. The 'new' 65nm chip will replace the current 90nm units that can be found in PS3s. It is smaller as compared to the 90nm version, thus it is cheaper to produce and emits less heat. Also, the SRAM on the 65nm Cell B.E is improved. Sony engineers managed to run the 65nm Cell B.E. chip at 6GHz with just 1.3V. Sony is expected to continue using Cell B.E. architecture into their next generation PlayStation 4 and there is a possibility that IBM's eDRAM technology will be employed.
Source:
VR-Zone
20 Comments on Sony 65nm SOI Cell Broadband Engine Details
It emits less heat due to A decrease in Watts does change heat output! And we presume that with a lower V there is a lower W and hence less heat.
Incorrect. A die shrink does not decrease power UNLESS it operates at lower volts. Typically a die shrink also reduces resistance, so if there is the SAME voltage, power and heat will actually be HIGHER. Go back to your physics formulas, and think Pentium Prescott if you need an example.
The new cell is lower power ONLY because they are running at a lower voltage. The die shrink ALLOWS them to run at the lower voltage (within design/manufacture/silicon specs).
However, with consoles they don't have to increase the performance, so the heat output decreases.
If you want an example of that, look at all the AMD chips that went through a die shrink and came out at the same clock speeds, using less voltage to stay stable, and putting out less heat.
My point was not incorrect, it was 100% correct. A die shrink means less voltage is needed to maintain performance, which means less power, which means less heat. You are arguing about nothing. A die shrink CAN mean less heat, it just depends on how that die shrink is use. In this case it will certainly mean the Cell processors in the PS3s will put out less heat.
This forum is about sharing knowledge or correcting misunderstandings. Stop trying to defend your position. I accept you speed read my OP and misunderstood. Thats OK.
Die shrinks are generally understood to either increase performance or lower heat output.
You are also falling into this futile discussion. Nobody is arguing that USUALLY die shrinks result in less power. The scientific point is this: the shrink itself DOESNT decrease power. In fact, at the SAME VOLTS a die shrink would INCREASE power. The FACT is that decreasing voltage allows for LESS POWER... and LESS POWER = LESS HEAT.
YAWN. Will people please start reading at the BEGINNING of the thread rather than wasting everyones time by jumping in on the last comment and getting the wrong end of the stick. :banghead: :banghead: :banghead:
Die shrink=Less heat. Let me explain it again:
Die shrink=Less Voltage Required to maintain stablity
Less Voltage Required to maintain stablity=Same clock speeds with lower voltage
Same clock speed with lower voltage=Less power for the same performance
Less power for the same performance=Less heat for the same performance
Less heat for the same performance=Less heat
Therefore we can use the transitive property of logic to say that Die shrink=Less heat.
There needs to be a corresponding reduction in voltage to offset current leakage. And while this can sometimes be done with the same "technology" usually a new fabrication process is required, and sometimes new dielectric.
The cell uses less power BECAUSE they reduced voltage NOT BECAUSE they shrunk it.
Power is a function of Watts is a function of V x A. That is the transitive relationship.
Power is not a function of die size.
There is a CORRELATION between chips we see in the market... their die size... and the power. But there is not "a functional relationship".
What it all comes down to is smaller gates = less insulation = more leakage
However because everything is smaller it uses less voltage so things even out a little nicer. In any event as far as i'm concerned die shrinks are a good thing usually :D
However, it's pretty unusual to find that character type here, on an enthusiasts tech forum, frequented by the inquisitive, experimental, knowledge searching/sharing people. While people OFTEN get the wrong idea... it shouldn't downtown like it did in the last couple of posts.
I hope newtekie calms down. The phrases I read are typical of teenage insults probably he had directed at him in the past... which hurt... Expressions like "don't speak to me like a child" and "lie right in their face" are women's tongue. He probably got a roasting once from his sister or mum... (I know I have) and the expressions are being reused with the same emotional intent.
I've seen newtekie in other threads. He's usually pretty sensible. I think he's just having a bad day. I've not taken offence. He shouldn't either.
newtekie: if something I wrote offended you, then please understand it was not mean to be an insult. Perhaps just a poor choice of words. Sorry.