nVidia + Sony = PS3 GPU

Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. and NVIDIA Announce Joint GPU Development for SCEI\'s Next-Generation Computer Entertainment System
Tuesday December 7, 3:11 am ET


TOKYO and SANTA CLARA, Calif., Dec. 7 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. (SCEI) and NVIDIA Corporation (Nasdaq: NVDA - News) today announced that the companies have been collaborating on bringing advanced graphics technology and computer entertainment technology to SCEI\'s highly anticipated next-generation computer entertainment system. Both companies are jointly developing a custom graphics processing unit (GPU) incorporating NVIDIA\'s next-generation GeForce(TM) and SCEI\'s system solutions for next-generation computer entertainment systems featuring the Cell* processor.
(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20020613/NVDALOGO http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20041207/SFTU096 )
This collaboration is made under a broad, multi-year, royalty-bearing agreement. The powerful custom GPU will be the graphics and image processing foundation for a broad range of applications from computer entertainment to broadband applications. The agreement will encompass future Sony digital consumer electronics products.

"In the future, the experience of computer entertainment systems and broadband-ready PCs will be fused together to generate and transfer multi-streams of rich content simultaneously. In this sense, we have found the best way to integrate the state-of-the-art technologies from NVIDIA and SCEI," said Ken Kutaragi, executive deputy president and COO, Sony Corporation, and president and Group CEO, Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. "Our collaboration includes not only the chip development but also a variety of graphics development tools and middleware, essential for efficient content creation."

"We are thrilled to partner with Sony Computer Entertainment to build what will certainly be one of the most important computer entertainment and digital media platforms of the twenty-first century," added Jen-Hsun Huang, president and CEO, NVIDIA. "Over the past two years NVIDIA has worked closely with Sony Computer Entertainment on their next-generation computer entertainment system. In parallel, we have been designing our next-generation GeForce GPU. The combination of the revolutionary Cell processor and NVIDIA\'s graphics technologies will enable the creation of breathtaking imagery that will surprise and captivate consumers."

The custom GPU will be manufactured at Sony Group\'s Nagasaki Fab2 as well as OTSS (joint fabrication facility of Toshiba and Sony).

Note:

"Cell" is the code-name for an advanced microprocessor under development by IBM, Toshiba and Sony Group.
About Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.

Recognized as the global leader and company responsible for the progression of consumer-based computer entertainment, Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. (SCEI) manufacturers, distributes and markets the PlayStation® game console and PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system. PlayStation has revolutionized home entertainment by introducing advanced 3D graphic processing, and PlayStation 2 further enhances the PlayStation legacy as the core of home networked entertainment. SCEI, along with its subsidiary divisions Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc., Sony Computer Entertainment Europe Ltd., and Sony Computer Entertainment Korea Inc. develops, publishes, markets and distributes software, and manages the third party licensing programs for these two platforms in the respective markets worldwide. Headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. is an independent business unit of the Sony Group.

About NVIDIA

NVIDIA Corporation is a worldwide leader in graphics and digital media processors. The Company\'s products enhance the end-user experience on consumer and professional computing devices. NVIDIA graphics processing units (GPUs), media and communications processors (MCPs), and wireless media processors (WMPs) have broad market reach and are incorporated into a variety of platforms, including consumer and enterprise PCs, notebooks, workstations, PDAs, mobile phones, and video game consoles. NVIDIA is headquartered in Santa Clara, California and employs more than 2,000 people worldwide. For more information, visit the Company\'s Web site at http://www.nvidia.com.

Certain statements in this press release including, but not limited to, statements as to the development of the custom GPU, the benefits of the collaboration, the benefits, uses, and capabilities of the custom GPU and computer entertainment systems featuring the Cell processor, the fusion of computer entertainment systems and broadband systems, the agreement between the parties, and the manufacture of the custom GPU are forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause results to be materially different than expectations. Such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to whether SCEI and NVIDIA continue the collaboration, whether SCEI continues to use the NVIDIA custom GPU as the foundation for a broad range of its applications, market acceptance of SCEI\'s next-generation computer entertainment system,, market acceptance of new products and technology, delays in ramping new products into production, manufacturing delays and defects, incompatibility of technologies, reliance on third-party manufacturers, general industry trends including cyclical trends in the semiconductor market, delays in integration of our products, the impact of competitive products and pricing alternatives, and other risks detailed from time to time in the NVIDIA reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission including its Form 10-Q for the quarter ended October 24, 2004. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date hereof. NVIDIA disclaims any obligation to update these forward-looking statements.

NOTE: All company and/or product names may be trade names, trademarks and/or registered trademarks of the respective owners with which they are associated. Features, pricing, availability, and specifications are subject to change without notice.

Well that was.. sort.. of.. unexpected.. or?

I guess its good news, seems PS3 will not take the PS2 route with just a supah powerful CPU and a GPU that does nothing?

Sounds good to me.  I just bought a 6800GT so if the PS3 isn\'t powerful enough I will lok into upgrading the card with my 6800GT.

Cell GPU
Cell CPU

:dance:

Sony are coming to the next Gen packing some fire power.

Sounds good but I\'m going to laugh when the PS3 turns out to be as big as the current Xbox.  Nvidia has yet to prove they can produce a cool chip. That\'s why the Xbox is so big, to displace all the heat.

EDIT: Went around reading some other forums, apparently there have been rumors about this deal for a long time.

I would hardly blame Nvidia for the size of the Xbox

http://www.vanshardware.com/articles/2001/november/011116_Xbox/xboxguts.jpg

that little deal with the fan there is the Xbox GPU.. pretty tidy if you ask me.  Look how big that pentium 3 heatsink is.  I think the Xbox gets it\'s size from the hard drive.  Can\'t shrink those puppies.

this is the smartest thing Sony has done ever getting Nvidia in on designing the gpu.  Bravo!

Originally posted by JBean
I would hardly blame Nvidia for the size of the Xbox

http://www.vanshardware.com/articles/2001/november/011116_Xbox/xboxguts.jpg

that little deal with the fan there is the Xbox GPU.. pretty tidy if you ask me.  Look how big that pentium 3 heatsink is.  I think the Xbox gets it\'s size from the hard drive.  Can\'t shrink those puppies.

this is the smartest thing Sony has done ever getting Nvidia in on designing the gpu.  Bravo!

That and the DVD rom drive...Nvidia\'s are known for being power hungry and producing alot of heat, besides cooling there has to be space for air flow(more than say ATi).  Like I said, I wouldn\'t be suprised if the PS3 is big, as big as the xbox.    

Anyway, so anyone seeing an even stronger convergence of PC\'s and consoles this coming gen? No? me either...

Originally posted by Ginko
Sounds good but I\'m going to laugh when the PS3 turns out to be as big as the current Xbox.  Nvidia has yet to prove they can produce a cool chip. That\'s why the Xbox i
s so big, to displace all the heat.

Build a mini refrigerator for that chip:)

This truely saddens me.

Perhaps it sounds lame but why does sony have to look elswhere for better tech? Not only that but in the same direction as Xbox. So now we have 2 consoles with IBM chips and both that at one point or another needed NVIDIA to do their GPU\'s (as if nvidia and ati dont get enough work in their own fields). Dont get me wrong, i like Pc gaming but i just dont like the two to intermix - well at least like this

<--- Pc/console racist

Sounds lame i know, but i was glad to know that sony could produce the GS and EE with little help. Maybe i just dont like NVIDIA.

*shrugs*

Thers no way for me to explain it w/o it coming out stupid.

well graphics are mainly all Ati & Nvidia do, so they have that market cornered for the most part.  They hold so many patents for graphics techniques and the like that it\'s hard to use common rendering techniques without infringing on some obscure patent.

I could be totally wrong about this, but i\'m pretty sure it had to matter at some level.

If thats the case then thats GAY

Originally posted by Lord Nicon
This truely saddens me.
Thers no way for me to explain it w/o it coming out stupid.

Hahah. Then you are probably a very sad gamer since day 1 of Xbox and GameCube.

Both Ati & Nvidia have \'invaded\'  console territory for some time now. Did console gaming turn into pc-gaming since Xbox and NGC ? Did pc-gaming of recent years harm console games ? No.

You are just anti Nvidia.

Ginko,
I just have to take a look at my PStwo slimline to know PS3 won\'t be a huge dustbuster.

Sony KNOW their priorities :

- Being a SUCCES in Japan, with the Japanese gamers ;

this means ;

- the PS3 needs to have  slick design and no bigger than the PS2. Japanese gaming public hates huge consoles. Just look at Xbox\'s Japan \'succes\'.
- the PS3 games will fail if they resemble Western pc games too much. There will be no danger of pc games having any negative influence on PS3 games becuz of the Nvidia Sony co-op.

Sony knows all this. Why would they all of a friggin\' sudden screw up all that knowledge with PS3 ?
Nividia already make good notebook GPU solutions : Geforce6800 Go and the QuadroFX700 & 1000 both with powermizer technology. They\'ll make sure the PS3 will feature a both powerfull and compact GPU.

I think this is very positive. The 3D industry has been using Nvidia Quadro\'s for a long time now. OpenGL coded games on PS3 might just be a succes versus PC\'s DX9/10 stuff.

Best news in months imo :thepimp:

That is truely amazing news and it has pretty much shocked the industry. No one saw that one coming even though there have been rumours.

The GPU is probably a Cell based design using a lot of Nvidia IP and know-how. This isn\'t an off-the-shelf part like the one in the Xbox.

"Both companies are jointly developing a custom graphics processing unit (GPU) incorporating NVIDIA\'s next-generation GeForce(TM) and SCEI\'s system solutions"

They\'ve been working on the GPU for two years and it seems to be specifically made for the PS3.

The PS3 is going to be a monster.

And Ginko, I doubt it will be as big as the Xbox. I bet it will be the size of the PS2. It\'s on a 65nm process to start with and the GPU will be smaller than a usual nvidia GPU.

Sony is pretty much doing everything right at this point in time, we\'ll have to see how it turns out but they\'ve obviously learned a thing or two from the PS2.

They\'ve got the Collada file format, OpenGL graphics API and a modern GPU.

I\'m so excited!

Okay, perhaps I heard wrong but the PS3 is supposed to be some kind of media center, one that includes a HD, right?

I could see it being slightly smaller than the Xbox, but not by much, not as small as the PS2 anyway.

the PS3 games will fail if they resemble Western pc games too much. There will be no danger of pc games having any negative influence on PS3 games becuz of the Nvidia Sony co-op.

I wasn\'t suggesting it as a negative.  I also didn\'t suggest that all PS3 games would go the way of the PC.  What I do think is that we\'ll be able to see more PC-->Console ports and vice versa.

^ Nah... that ain\'t likely. Sony won\'t commit \'harakiri\' with making a PS3 console bigger than PS2. Remember ; the Japanese gamers are very very disgusted with big consoles.

They know the GameCube, they know the PStwo slimline. They won\'t accept a PS3 bigger than the regular PS2. They\'re just about small devices.  I believe both Sony\'s Vaio notebook knowhow & Nvidia\'s gpu knowledge will lead to a Japan friendly design.

Sony cannot afford to alienate at homebase