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480°

DF - In Theory: Can CPU co-processor boost PS3 power?

The Digial foundry Blog at Eurogamer writes:

"With Ken Kutaragi having departed Sony and Cell development having slowed down somewhat in recent years, it is difficult to imagine what part the innovative architecture has to play in any future console, aside from improving the chances of PS3 backwards compatibility. However, at the very least, the existence of this recent patent application suggests that SCE's engineers are, at least, still investigating the latent potential of the Cell tech."

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Community5680d ago
ConanOBrien5680d ago ShowReplies(3)
andron5680d ago

Me too. They often are more technical than I can really understand, but they also give great insights into how games are made...

toaster5680d ago

Even if there is an external processor, there would not be enough bandwidth to utilize it. USB won't cut it.. lol. Simply: the PS3 motherboard was not engineered with expansion in mind.

Chris3995680d ago

GB LAN port. If you read the article it explains this and details real-time occurrences (Gran Turismo 5 running in super-HD on networked PS3s).

edhe5680d ago

yes but that's using a custom built HDMI connection & TV, it's not feasable to use that set up at home.

If you do something like this you'd have to upgrade the main machine or somehow only use one output on the multiple devices.

The forza stuff that uses multiple 360s i think uses the ethernet port too, but again it outputs 3 different pictures for the screens.

Ju5680d ago (Edited 5680d ago )

Two things here:

First: If each "client" is a full PS3, it also has an RSX which you can utilize to run shader programs.

Second: You would not want to transfer a framebuffer AS IS across those connected machines.

However, using the RSX on the client will limit you to the fact the result will be indeed a framebuffer you need to stitch somewhere - or interconnect with basically a n port HDMI switch (result would be "stitched" by a HDMI "screen composer" == additional HW).

But, since this patent only talks about the (Cell) CPU, it describes a cluster style setup. In such a scenario you would simple have a fast data interconnect and use one stream processor (spu) to encode/decode that stream to increase the bandwidth over a relatively slow (Gigabit Eth) port. You'd loose all shaders on the client unless the encoder/decoder packs/unpacks the framebuffer. Raw data before the render pass are better to pack, though. OTHO, a frame buffer can loose some info to when transmitted (its just pixels after all).

A cluster setup has been demonstrated by the realtime SW raytracer (google it) using 3 PS3s.

Any how, I think the patents outlines possibilities for a new generation CELL based devices, with the scaling down of the CELL (only 4 SPUs) this obviously targets smaller machines than the PS3 but will also allow these "building blocks" easily be scaled beyond the PS3 (can be as fast as XDR shared memory interconnects on a local main board with any amount of those "baby cells") while the SW would run completely transparently across all those devices.

chaos-lockheart5680d ago

leave the tech to Sony, if you guys really know what your talking about, you will be making the ps3s not Sony.

Chris3995680d ago

PS3 has some incredible foresight and design, when you think about it. Even if they don't use this tech (though they probably will in some way), it's amazing that they 'could'.

andron5680d ago (Edited 5680d ago )

In the article Sony actually have it working.

GT5 was demoed in 240 hz using four PS3, but it's doubtful it will be used commercially. Sure would like to see that demo though...

http://www.eurogamer.net/ar...

Chris3995680d ago

Just think that it's cool that the option is even there for a proprietary piece of tech made almost five years ago.

Ken K. was a freakn' visionary.

f00pgames5680d ago

Sure would like to see that demo though...
Me too

Xfanboy5680d ago

$1600 worth of hardware??

edhe5680d ago

Some of the concepts behind the cell were incredible but they never bore fruit because they were too busy downsizing the ps3 business to make it profitable again. Maybe next gen.

ChronoJoe5680d ago

Real old.

This is what Polyphony digital use for there presentations. Stick I think it's 4 PS3s together and you can get ULTRA HD. Obviously they were dev units though so, it's not like anyone can do it.

Parapraxis5680d ago

..and here I was about to run out and buy a few more PS3's =/

:P

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60°

Final Fantasy X 25th Anniversary Website Launches With New Nomura Artwork and Merchandise

Square Enix launches Final Fantasy X 25th anniversary site, revealing new Nomura art, books, music releases, and merchandise.

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Community65d ago
-Foxtrot64d ago

Look I know VIII has its issues and all that but how on earth can the do big anniversary events with new artwork and merchandise for VII, IX and X yet VIII got sweet f*** all.

They could have given it something during its 25th anniversary yet all it got was a single Happy Anniversary post on their social media.

solideagle64d ago

they should know that we are OG fans of VIII as it sold truckload as well. not as much as VII or X. I personally didn't like IX but X and VI are my personal fav.

Shadow Hearts 2 covenant is another game I love. I hope one day someone can make remake, I would be delighted

Relientk7764d ago

Final Fantasy VIII is great and you are always the first to defend it in the comments

40°

15 Years Ago, Mortal Kombat (2011) Saved Gaming’s Biggest Fighting Franchise

A brutal reset, a smarter story, and a return to what made it great—Mortal Kombat (2011) revived the series.

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Community72d ago
italiangamer73d ago

"Gaming’s Biggest Fighting Franchise"

Press X to (seriously) doubt.

DarXyde71d ago

Underrated comment. I used to hate that game so much that any time my siblings asked me to play it, I just picked Hom and shut myself down mid-match.

Soy71d ago

And then MK1 killed it again.

DivineHand12571d ago (Edited 71d ago )

15 years went by so fast. I remember playing through the story mode at launch.

90°

PlayStation legend Shuhei Yoshida says Jim Ryan fired him because he didn't listen to him

Why did Sony push Shuhei Yoshida out of his role leading PlayStation's first-party games? He'd overseen some huge successes. Well, apparently, he didn't listen.

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Relientk7773d ago

Yeah I can see that for sure. Shuhei Yoshida should have been in charge not Jim Ryan.

Cacabunga72d ago

It should be free highway for him now.. but Sony are too stupid to see this, especially that moron Hulst

S2Killinit72d ago (Edited 72d ago )

Wtf why all that anger. PlayStation is dominating on every level. Besides I think there is a little more to hiring a CEO than just who is available. Its not like its a athlete your team wants to buy.

neutralgamer199272d ago

S2Killinit

live service failures, chasing trends, closing studios. yes dominating

Cacabunga72d ago

Sony is Dominating because competition is not existing. Compared to previous gens this is the poorest in terms of software offerings.

Last gen we got Uncharted 4 Lost Legacy and TLOU2 from ND alone.

This is so far a remasters gen, with no competition to lift up the quality

1nsomniac72d ago (Edited 72d ago )

..."PlayStation is dominating on every level"....

...Really???

PlayStation are soon heading into a new generation in the not to distant future. They currently have the worst customer satisfaction they've ever sustained as a company. The company is heading for a huge crash while at the same time they'll need to be planning how they are going to try and win back that favour and the build up to their new releases.

Yes financially they're winning but they're going to have to ride out this complete public corporate disaster. No one has faith in the company or the product anymore. They've damaged their public image so much this generation. Greed can kill anyone.

medman72d ago

Hulst is a disaster......

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blacktiger72d ago

He would've done the same thing and fire Jim Ryan and Shuhei would be the villain. Why?
Because Elite creates the narrative and distraction for gamers, users and citizens.

Outside_ofthe_Box73d ago

More confirmation that Jim Ryan is the culprit for what has happened to Sony. Hulst needs to go too. What sucks is that a lot of the good top heads at Sony are no longer there. I wish that guys that were forced out prematurely by Dumbo Jimbo like Shuhei and Layden came back.

robtion72d ago

Yep. Yoshida was responsible for bringing one of the best games of this generation to playstation (Stellar Blade). He is an actual gamer and is in touch with what gamers want (creative, fun games, not GaaS and agenda pushing). He also seems like a genuinely nice guy if you watch some interviews. Of course they got rid of him.

darthv7272d ago

Makes you wonder if MS even thought about hiring him after Phil and Sarah were leaving. He certainly couldn't make their situation any worse.

Agent7572d ago

Microflop. After Windows XP and Xbox 360, it all went floppy.

S2Killinit72d ago

Floppy 😆
No pun intended

badz14972d ago

Yoshida for President! Jim Ryan was and always be a hack! Sony should get Shu back

Lightning7772d ago

All the gamer/consumer lead heads are gone across PS and Xbox. shuhei gone phil's gone (questionable) but gone. The future of gaming is somewhat uncertain across the board.

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