Right! My new Cell, RSX, SCC, PS3 thoughts...

Sort of, but nothing quite the same. Intel is buggering about with something called Larrabee. Nvidia with something called CUDA on their GPUs. Links given.

Extract from Larrabee article said:
Comparison with the Cell Broadband Engine

Larrabee's philosophy of using many small, simple cores has similarities to the ideas behind the Cell processor. However, there are differences in implementation.

* The Cell processor includes one main processor which controls many smaller processors. In contrast, all of Larrabee's cores are the same.

* Cell and Larrabee both use a ring bus to communicate between cores.

* The Cell's SPEs each have a local store which is managed expliicitly, and they cannot directly access main memory. In Larrabee each core can access all memory through the automatically-managed coherent cache hierarchy.
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There are others as well, such as from Sun, AMD, etc.

You can see how certain other current processors compare to Cell at certain applications. Here are two.



 
As expected, Toshiba is offering a new (supposed) world's first here at IFA: a true upscaling TV, finally getting rid of the middle man for upconverting those SD sources. The new ZF Series LCDs include Cell processors and Toshiba's home grown Resolution+ technology, which does similar edge and detail enhancement to Toshiba's XDE upscaler -- sharpening detail, smoothing edges, and leaving the rest of the image alone -- but with the added fun of Cell power in the mix. As for the actual displays, Toshiba will be shipping the 40ZF575D (40-inch) and the 46ZF575D (46-inch), both offering 1080p, 30,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio, 6ms response times and Active Vision M100 HD 100Hz 5:5 pulldown processing, along with four HDMI plugs, component video, RGB and PC input. Right now this is just a Europe launch, and we don't have exact ship dates or pricing, but hopefully Toshiba will soon rectify that.

zf-57d.jpg
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http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/08/28/toshibas-new-zf-lcds-include-cell-based-resolution-upscaling/
 
Back to the ZEGO.....

http://pro.sony.com/bbsccms/ext/ZEGO/files/BCU-100_Whitepaper.pdf

This is leading me to believe that the PS3 does have the Toshiba SCC in it, but without the memory that it has on the ZEGO, probably rendering it useless as anthing other than a Southbridge. Total overkill, unless it does have some memory. ZEGO looks to me like what PS3 should have been minus video/audio DACs, and the BD drive. ZEGO cannot output video without you adding a card in there, and then that is DVI-I. It has 1GB of XDR (PS3 has 256MB), RSX keeps its 256MB of GDDR3, SCC has 1GB of DDR2. The Cell has all 8 SPUs available, and the Linux on it can access RSX.
 
Press Release
2008年09月09日

Leadtek, 「CEATEC JAPAN 2008」東芝ブースにて

高性能画像処理カード『WinFast® PxVC1100』を出展いたします。


Leadtek Research Inc.（本社：台湾、日本法人：リードテック ジャパン株式会社）は、2008年9月30日(火)～10月4日(土)の期間に幕張メッセで開催されます CEATEC JAPAN 2008 の東芝ブースにて「WinFast®PxVC1100」を出展いたします。

pxvc1100.jpg


『WinFast® PxVC1100』は、IBM、SONYグループ、東芝が共同で開発した次世代プロセッサである「Cell Broadband EngineTM*1」のRISC型プロセッサコア「SPE(Synergistic Processor Element)*2」を４基、動画圧縮伸張アルゴリズム処理用にMPEG-2およびMPEG4-AVC/H.264のハードウェア・エンコーダ/デコーダの回路、マルチコア処理を司るためのコントロール回路などをワンチップに集積した東芝製メディア ストリーミング プロセッサ「SpursEngineTM*3」を搭載したPCI-Express ×1対応の高性能画像処理カードです。

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　＜WinFast® PxVC1100＞

CEATEC JAPAN 2008 の東芝ブースにおいて、WinFast®PxVC1100を応用したシステムソリューションとして、「専用エンコーダシステム」および「ベアボーンシステム」を展示、ご紹介いたします。

また、10月3日(金)には、「Leadtekより提供する SpursEngineTM 応用各種ソリューションの御紹介」と題したブース内セミナーを行なう予定です。

WinFast®PxVC1100の高性能画像処理能力を直接ご覧いただけるまたとない機会です。
何卒、奮ってご来場ください。



CEATEC JAPAN 2008 幕張メッセ 東芝ブース位置 「ホール8：8K15」

CEATEC JAPAN 2008 事前登録 Web サイト： https://service.ceatecjapan.net/ja/



*1Cell Broadband EngineTM：IBM、SONYグループ、東芝が共同で開発した高性能プロセッサ。マルチコア・アーキテクチャを採用し、超高速データ転送能力により、大容量メディア・アプリケーションを扱うデジタルメディア機器等での応用が可能。

*2 SPE (Synergistic Processor Element)：高性能な浮動小数点演算機能を持ち、独自の命令セット・アーキテクチャを備えて、様々なメディア・アプリケーションを効率的に処理可能なプロセッサコア。

*3 SpursEngineTM：Cell/B.E.TMの高性能マルチコア技術と東芝の映像処理技術を融合し、今後更なる高度化が見込まれるメディアストリーミング処理（画像処理、画像認識などのリアルタイム映像処理）に優れるコプロセッサ（ホストCPUと連携する補助プロセッサ）です。

*SpursEngineTM 及びそのロゴは、株式会社 東芝の商標です。
*Cell Broadband EngineTM は、株式会社ソニー・コンピュータエンタテインメントの商標です。


　■製品仕様
　　・東芝製 メディア ストリーミング プロセッサ 「SpursEngineTM」搭載
　　・メモリ：128MB XDR DRAM 搭載
　　・PCI-Express×1 対応
　　・専用ロープロファイルブラケット付属
　　・サイズ：約68.91 × 167.64 × 14.7mm (1スロット ファンシンク）
　　・バンドルソフト：Corel社「DVD MovieFactory (日本市場製品名：DVD MovieWriter)」、「WinDVD」

　■主な機能
　　・キャプチャ：ビデオ編集、オーサリング
　　・スーパーレゾリューション：SD画質からHD画質への超解像度変換（アップコンバート）
　　・トランスコーディング
　　・DVD/AVCHD ディスクの作成 および 再生



【製品 高解像度 画像】
●WinFast PxVC1100 - Zipファイル

【LEADTEKについて】
Leadtek Research, Inc. は、パソコン関連製品の設計と製造に取り組む専門的な研究開発会社として1986年に設立され、 設立20周年 を迎えました。
我々の「WinFast」ブランドは、パソコン関連製品として世界中で高品質製品の代名詞としても認知されております。

また、その高い技術力と創造性により、テレビ電話などのIPビデオ関連製品、GPSナビゲーションなどのワイアレス製品、健康医療関連製品としてのe-Health製品などの設計・製造にも進出し、ヨーロッパ、北米ではトータル・マルチメディア・コミュニケーション・ソリューションのメーカーとして確固たる地位を築いて参っております。

今後もLEADTEKは、たゆまない技術革新と高い品質保証を我々のスローガンとし、皆様の夢を現実のものにし続ける事を目標に業界のトップ・ランキング・プロバイダーを目指してまいります。
製品の仕様は予告なく変更する場合がありますので、ご了承ください。
記載されておりますブランド名、製品名、会社名は、各社の商標または登録商標です。
Click to expand...

http://www.leadtek.co.jp/news_release/ceatec2008.html
 
It's a PC card for graphics apps.

Leadtek is to exhibit the WinFast PxVC1100 PCI-Express card based on SpursEngine at CEATEC JAPAN 2008 on Sep 30 - Oct 4. It has 128MB XDR DRAM. Its functions by bundled Corel DVD MovieFactory and WinDVD include video authoring, super-resolution upconversion, transcoding and DVD/AVCHD disc authoring/playback.
Click to expand...
 
Sony and Toshiba to begin mass producing 45nm cell processor in 2009 -- cheaper, slimmer PS3s to come?

by Thomas Ricker, posted Sep 22nd 2008 at 7:43AM

Japan's Nikkan is reporting that Sony and Toshiba will begin mass production of the 45nm Cell processor in 2009 -- not this autumn as previously rumored. The smaller chip which costs less than the current 65nm Cell to manufacture also requires 40% less power to run. This opens the door to possible price drops on existing PS3 consoles in 2009 as well as slimmer, cooler running rigs should Sony decide to refresh the industrial design.
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http://www.engadget.com/2008/09/22/sony-and-toshiba-to-begin-mass-producing-45nm-cell-processor-in/
 
what does that mean? will sony scrap cell altogether for their next console?
 
Unknown, all that has been reported so far is "We managed to get hold of an IBM spokesperson an hour ago and they said that only one CPU development cycle is being 'halted' which is the successor to the current PowerXCell-8i cpu. IBM have said they are planning to work on other CPU's in the Cell Processor 'family'". There was always three branches on the Cell's roadmap in any case, one for IBM, one for Sony, and one for Toshiba, as each had different needs from the architecture, which is what Cell is rather than a specific chip. It seems that the Cell in its current form is not what IBM needs and they are going to use the same architecture but reconfigure how it works for their needs. What Sony want to do is unknown.
 
Some clever people have used the Cell to do anti-aliasing in the game Saboteur. A conversation about it has been going on for almost a month now, but people finally think they know what's going on.

If anyone is interested in this geeky stuff.

FSAA on SPU - "Saboteur" AA method. - Beyond3D Forum

Looking at it in motion, I think it's a real leap. It is fair to say that the general make-up of the game means that the 0xAA on 360 isn't at all ugly, but side-by-side with the PS3 version, it's amazing just how smooth this technique looks. It's a blend, not a blur, and it's hugely impressive with just a few "odd" artefacts.
Click to expand...

This is an area where the XB360 always trumped on the poor old PS3 due to its embedded DRAM giving so much bandwidth that AA almost came free if you could fit your buffers into that 10MB of eDRAM. With this game, we have a situation where the AA situation is entirely reversed, with the XB360 version not get any.
 
Weaste some of this I understand, some I do not. Are you basically saying the PS3 is a staggering piece of kit and I should get one instead of my Xbox?
 
No, this thread is more about technology discussion, mainly the Cell processor, that's why you'll see stuff about ROME on IBM Cell Blades, and what Toshiba are doing with SPURS and Cell TV in this thread. Obviously PS3 comes into it, because PS3 uses the Cell processor.

It's an interesting topic because the Cell has sort of lead the way to what we'll see in the future. It has done it in its own quirky way, but everything from PCs to General Processing GPUs in the next consoles, to supercomputing, to the servers that you bank uses, all need to go towards parallel computing (massive multi-core processors) and lower power consumption. This is without taking cloud computing into the equation, which takes the computing onto the network level.
 
Just thought I'd ask since I figure Weaste would know. What region are the PS3 games in UK?? Just got myself the 120GB slim set and was thinking of asking my friend who's coming back from the UK to get me Killzone 2 Platinum Edition from HMV which at 13 pounds, is 2 times cheaper than here. Just wondering whether I'll be able to play the game here in Malaysia or will there be region issues and the likes??
 
Games are region free. The region coding may be there to tell you what might happen if you play them on a standard definition TV. Many NTSC TVs will not take a 50Hz PAL input for example. Playing any PS3 game on a PAL machine on an SD TV gimps it, you'll either get 25fps or 50fps, you can't have the 30fps or the 60fps, or something like that.

Have a read: Standard Def: The Forgotten Generation | DigitalFoundry
 
WeasteDevil said:
Games are region free. The region coding may be there to tell you what might happen if you play them on a standard definition TV. Many NTSC TVs will not take a 50Hz PAL input for example. Playing any PS3 game on a PAL machine on an SD TV gimps it, you'll either get 25fps or 50fps, you can't have the 30fps or the 60fps, or something like that.

Have a read: Standard Def: The Forgotten Generation | DigitalFoundry
Click to expand...

Also, if you are purchasing a game more for its multiplayer aspect and/or DLC, it would be strongly advisable for you to get the right region you're in
 
Really interesting stuff for geeks.

Saboteur's unique PS3 anti-aliasing

December 9th, 2009

If there's one element of multi-platform development that comes up repeatedly in our Face-Off coverage, it's the implementation of anti-aliasing on current-generation HD consoles.

It's often the case that the Xbox 360 version of a game features edge-smoothing, while the PlayStation 3 counterpart will either leave it off altogether, scale it back, or use an NVIDIA specific technique called "quincunx", which refines edges nicely, but blurs the entire texture in the process.

None of these options are particularly attractive (though quincunx has its place in certain scenarios), and neither is blurring the entire screen, which other people do; the so-called Vaseline effect. However, recent games like Brutal Legend and Overlord II on both console platforms have tried out another technique - seeking out just the edges themselves and blurring them, leaving texture detail intact. It's better than nothing but still not actually that good.

The PS3 rendition of Pandemic's The Saboteur is different though. It's special. It's trying something new that's never been seen before on console, or indeed PC, and its results are terrific. In a best-case scenario you get edge-smoothing that is beyond the effect of 16x multi-sampling anti-aliasing, effectively delivering an effect better than the capabilities of high-end GPUs without crippling performance. Compare and contrast with Xbox 360 hardware, which tops out at 4x MSAA.
Click to expand...

Saboteur's unique PS3 anti-aliasing | DigitalFoundry
 
WeasteDevil said:
Games are region free. The region coding may be there to tell you what might happen if you play them on a standard definition TV. Many NTSC TVs will not take a 50Hz PAL input for example. Playing any PS3 game on a PAL machine on an SD TV gimps it, you'll either get 25fps or 50fps, you can't have the 30fps or the 60fps, or something like that.

Have a read: Standard Def: The Forgotten Generation | DigitalFoundry
Click to expand...

I'm planning to play it on a Philips Full HD LCD TV. So should be fine right getting that Killzone 2 from HMV??
 
Thanks Weaste. Now waiting for my friend to swipe a HDMI cable from his workplace then it's on to MGS 4 for me. Cost me a whole month's salary this PS3 but feck it, I'm going to enjoy it.
 
So, what's this, from a Sony patent application?

In recent years, there has been an insatiable desire for faster computer processing data throughputs because cutting-edge computer applications involve real-time, multimedia functionality. Graphics applications are among those that place the highest demands on a processing system because they require such vast numbers of data accesses, data computations, and data manipulations in relatively short periods of time to achieve desirable visual results. These applications require extremely fast processing speeds, such as many thousands of megabits of data per second. While some processing systems employ a single processor to achieve fast processing speeds, others are implemented utilizing multi-processor architectures. In multi-processor systems, a plurality of sub-processors can operate in parallel (or at least in concert) to achieve desired processing results.

Some multiprocessing systems contemplate interconnections via interfaces in a matrix configuration to improve processing throughput and versatility.

Accordingly, there are needs in the art for new methods and apparatus for interconnecting one or more multiprocessor systems with one or more external devices to achieve higher processing capabilities.

Shared-Memory.jpg
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I've sort of suggested this before, but how about a $100 dollar external box with that shown above, say 1GB of memory, and another RSX, connected to the PS3 via the gigabit network cable, with PS4 having it all in a single box?
 
WeasteDevil said:
So, what's this, from a Sony patent application?



I've sort of suggested this before, but how about a $100 dollar external box with that shown above, say 1GB of memory, and another RSX, connected to the PS3 via the gigabit network cable, with PS4 having it all in a single box?
Click to expand...

Yeah I was reading about this earlier in the week. Not sure if it's such a good idea for Sony to do this.
I think it would fracture the market, you would have some users on the original PS3 and others on the new upgraded PS3. I would assume that the games being written for the new upgrade wouldn't be backwards compatible due to the extra processing capabilities.
And if it was to bring the PS3 up to PS4 standard then I can't see many PS4's being sold if you can just buy a 2nd hand ps3 with an upgrade module for less than the cost of a new machine.
 
I agree with you, but hardware has always been a loss leader, with software sales making the money. It would be breaking the mould of the traditional console, yes, and is going towards a more PC like model where you can upgrade, but people would still buy PS4, people would upgrade, and with the amount you can store on a BD and by using the same basic architecture, you could in theory have games running on say PS4 and PS3 with this add-on at 1080p, yet also running on a bog standard PS3 at 720p. It's an interesting concept.
 
I've always thought this was a possibility. Why a gigabit network port back in 2005? Cell was designed to be networked. What Polyphony did with that GT5 build.

The prototype had 3 network ports.

419px-PS3_e3_2005_prototype_AV_out.jpg


And USB at the back. :(
 
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