Understanding the Cell Processor

Addis · 17-03-2005, 07:32 PM

Anandtech has an article detailing on how the Sony/IBM/Toshiba Cell microprocessor, the CPU to be used in the PS3 and some interesting, albeit long features on CMOS workings.

Cell is just as much of a multi-core processor as the upcoming multi-core CPUs from AMD and Intel, the only difference being that Cell's architecture doesn't have an entirely homogeneous set of cores.

Cell's Execution Cores
The Cell architecture debuted in a configuration of 9 independent cores: one PowerPC Processing Element (PPE) and eight Synergistic Processing Elements (SPEs). The PPE and SPEs are obviously different, but all eight SPEs are identical to one another.

The PPE is IBM's major contribution to the Cell project; it also appears to be very similar to the core being used in the next Xbox console.

Anandtech

Exfoliate · 17-03-2005, 10:17 PM

Awesome article Addis, I was actually just about to go research this same topic myself. Imagine how sweet those PS3 games are going to look and play though...

ninja fetus · 18-03-2005, 03:55 AM

Xbox2 uses 3, 3.5ghz IBM 64-bit processors with an x850 512mb video I believe.

Addis · 18-03-2005, 09:15 AM

Really? Wow have you got a link?

ninja fetus · 18-03-2005, 09:36 AM

http://news.teamxbox.com/xbox/5388/X...Leaked-Update-
Subject to change. The video card has been changed to x850.

Addis · 18-03-2005, 11:00 AM

With that seems very powerful. And would be a very expensive powerhouse.
A big change from the modded Celeron 733 isn't it.

Exfoliate · 18-03-2005, 11:38 AM

Yeah, to me the Xbox seemed a little on the less impressive side of technological achievements, when compared to the PS2, which was ground breaking in it's day. The Xbox simply used an existing 32-bit processor and (what was then) a very awesome videocard.

17-03-2005, 07:32 PM	#1 (permalink) Top
Addis The King Join Date: Jan 2004 Age: 18 Male Posts: 5,255 Times Helpful: 403 My Mood: Drunk Status: Offline My Computer	Understanding the Cell Processor Anandtech has an article detailing on how the Sony/IBM/Toshiba Cell microprocessor, the CPU to be used in the PS3 and some interesting, albeit long features on CMOS workings. Cell is just as much of a multi-core processor as the upcoming multi-core CPUs from AMD and Intel, the only difference being that Cell's architecture doesn't have an entirely homogeneous set of cores. Cell's Execution Cores The Cell architecture debuted in a configuration of 9 independent cores: one PowerPC Processing Element (PPE) and eight Synergistic Processing Elements (SPEs). The PPE and SPEs are obviously different, but all eight SPEs are identical to one another. The PPE is IBM's major contribution to the Cell project; it also appears to be very similar to the core being used in the next Xbox console. Anandtech __________________ Never trust a program you don't have the source code for. My website \| Powerful Desktop Linux \| Linux for human beings \| Linux for power users \| Linux for ricers

17-03-2005, 10:17 PM	#2 (permalink) Top
Exfoliate Captain Dial-up Join Date: Jan 2005 Age: 19 Male Posts: 4,258 Times Helpful: 223 Status: Offline My Computer	Awesome article Addis, I was actually just about to go research this same topic myself. Imagine how sweet those PS3 games are going to look and play though... __________________

18-03-2005, 09:15 AM	#4 (permalink) Top
Addis The King Join Date: Jan 2004 Age: 18 Male Posts: 5,255 Times Helpful: 403 My Mood: Drunk Status: Offline My Computer	Really? Wow have you got a link? __________________ Never trust a program you don't have the source code for. My website \| Powerful Desktop Linux \| Linux for human beings \| Linux for power users \| Linux for ricers

18-03-2005, 11:00 AM	#6 (permalink) Top
Addis The King Join Date: Jan 2004 Age: 18 Male Posts: 5,255 Times Helpful: 403 My Mood: Drunk Status: Offline My Computer	With that seems very powerful. And would be a very expensive powerhouse. A big change from the modded Celeron 733 isn't it. __________________ Never trust a program you don't have the source code for. My website \| Powerful Desktop Linux \| Linux for human beings \| Linux for power users \| Linux for ricers

18-03-2005, 11:38 AM	#7 (permalink) Top
Exfoliate Captain Dial-up Join Date: Jan 2005 Age: 19 Male Posts: 4,258 Times Helpful: 223 Status: Offline My Computer	Yeah, to me the Xbox seemed a little on the less impressive side of technological achievements, when compared to the PS2, which was ground breaking in it's day. The Xbox simply used an existing 32-bit processor and (what was then) a very awesome videocard. __________________

18-03-2005, 03:55 AM	#3 (permalink) Top
ninja fetus I'm a thugged out gangsta Join Date: Mar 2004 Age: 18 Male Posts: 3,525 Times Helpful: 70 Status: Offline My Computer	Xbox2 uses 3, 3.5ghz IBM 64-bit processors with an x850 512mb video I believe.

18-03-2005, 09:36 AM	#5 (permalink) Top
ninja fetus I'm a thugged out gangsta Join Date: Mar 2004 Age: 18 Male Posts: 3,525 Times Helpful: 70 Status: Offline My Computer	http://news.teamxbox.com/xbox/5388/X...Leaked-Update- Subject to change. The video card has been changed to x850.

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