Cell Architecture Explained: Introduction
Cell Architecture Explained: Introduction
Introduction
Note: Please see the Updates & Clarifications section for recently released details on the Cell.
Designed for the PlayStation 3, Sony, Toshiba and IBM's new "Cell processor" promises seemingly obscene computing capabilities for what will rapidly become a very low price. In these articles I look at what the Cell architecture is, then I go on to look at the profound implications this new chip has, not for the games market, but for the entire computer industry. Has the PC finally met it's match?
To date the details disclosed by the STI group (Sony, Toshiba, IBM) have been very vague to say the least. Except that is for the patent application* which describes the system in minute detail. Unfortunately this is very difficult to read so the details haven't made it out into general circulation even in the technical community.
I have managed to decipher the patent and in parts 1 and 2 I describe the details of the Cell architecture, from the cell processor to the "software cells" it operates on.
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To me it's not looking good as a chip for general computing PCs, meaning I doubt it'll be in the next G5 or G6. But I can see it in a media PC or set top device, and all three gaming consoles will be using them next time around.