What about all the hype? The new PS3 processor chip
Last year there was quite a stir about Play Station 3’s revolutionary processor chip, “The Cell.” This processor chip was going to blow everyone’s minds and totally change the way we think about video games. It would make the games so incredibly realistic that it would never be possible to go back to the old systems again.
Now, the PS3 is available and everyone is still waiting for that amazing gaming experience that Cell promised. Sony had said that, in particular, the Cell would give the PS3 better graphics and more detail, and would give it a competitive advantage over the xBox 360 and the Nintendo Wii.
What makes the Cell processor chip so extraordinary? The Cell processor chip is a multicore chip, which means that it has a main processor core that controls multiple sub-processors. This design is a huge improvement over regular processor chips because it is capable of multitasking. With Cell, each chip has multiple cores that control 8 sub-processors. While normal processor chips can perform only 2 tasks at a time, the Cell is capable of up to 10. This means that it runs faster than 4 GHz, 10 times faster than PC processor chips. The Intel chip is the closest, running at 3.8 GHz.
What this means for gamers is that the PS3 processor chip can deliver better graphics. Higher running speed and multitasking can be used to make games even more realistic. This was the cause of all the hype surrounding the launch of the gaming system with the new processor chip.
Unfortunately, many players feel that Cell has not lived up to expectations. Some gamers say that the XBox 360 has better graphics than the PS3. If you compare games made for both systems, like Madden 07, Call Of Duty 3, Need For Speed Carbon and others, you can see that the XBox has better graphics everywhere. You can see some differences in the graphics, but it is difficult to say that the graphics of one system are better than those of others. For example, in some games the backgrounds are lighter or the lighting is better. Most players agree that these differences are hardly noticeable.
It seems to many that PS3 makers are not utilizing the full potential of the chip. Not yet, anyway. Gamers eagerly await the next round of new games that PS3 will release, and they hope that developers will utilize Cell to its full potential.
The Cell was developed by Sony, Toshiba and IBM working together for four years, and plans are underway to use its high-speed multitasking capabilities for new models of digital televisions and other home electronics. The use of Play Station 3 of this new technology is a novelty; for a new processor chip to make its debut with a game console is unusual. Perhaps this is a new trend in the tech industry. This is good news for gamers!