PS4 To Use A Power7 CPU?
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Article written by Watchful in PS3 Rumours, on Thursday, November 26, 2009 at 10:00.
The PS4 will use an IBM Power7 CPU according to Dutch site PS3Clan.nl. They go further saying that it was Sony’s decision to swap from the Cell BE architecture to IBM Power architecture that prompted IBM to cancel further development of the PowerXCell 8i CPU.
The Power7 is a CPU that has been under development at IBM since April 2006 and is not expected to be released as a product until mid-2010. IBM did reveal some of their design goals and intended specifications back at the wonderfully named Hot Chips conference back in August.
The headlines of those planned specifications are for the chip to initially be manufactured on a 45nm process and run at 4GHz. It will have 4, 6 or 8 cores per chip with each core will be capable of running 4 threads.
So according to the rumours that are floating around we now know both the CPU and GPU for the PS4. They are both plausible, but it will likely be some time before we know whether we can believe them.
Update: The original source for this rumour, like the GPU one, is FGNOnline.
Comments
Please note that all comments are the opinion of the individual author and not TheSixthAxis.
Shadow106 | 26/11/2009 10:06
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I personally think it’s way too early to speculate or comment on the next gen of consoles. With PS3 finally hitting it’s stride now and still alot more to give before it runs out of steam I imagine the PS4 isn’t at the forefront of Sony’s gameplan just yet.
Watchful | 26/11/2009 10:15
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To be deciding on the key components of the new architecture 3 years ahead of release wouldn’t be unreasonable, which would be a pre-Christmas 2012 Japanese release. That puts it six years after PS3’s own release. Strictly rumour for now though.
Shadow106 | 26/11/2009 10:19
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That’s a good point, I didn’t think of it in that way but yeah it does make sense like that.
cheekyMcB | 26/11/2009 10:33
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Though I agree with Watchful I do think that if the CPU is coming out in mid-2010 and the PS4 might be due 2012 then the speculated CPU would be old hat buy the time the console launches. I would have thought any tech company making that sort of product would want to be as cutting edge as possible to ensure a long enough life span to make their money back. Plus it help make their product stand out. For example there have been thousands (probably, it certainly feels like it) of different mp3 players since they came into existence but only a few that are launched every year are special enough to sell well and stand out, most are just run of the mill products made out of what are now standard of-the-shelf components. Sony as much as I love ‘em seem to bring out 30+ different models of mp3 player a year whereas Apple have a core 3 (granted with memory capacity variety this becomes 9-12ish). My point is everyone and their dog knows what iPods are available but you’d be luckey to get anyone to be able to name an individual Sony mp3 player, as like most Sony products they have names like NW120B-160 and such.
cheekyMcB | 26/11/2009 10:34
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Ooops typo! Replace “buy” with “by” above.
bajere | 26/11/2009 10:23
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yes and no really… it takes alot of developing and research to make the modern consoles. It is to early for us (general public) to start thinking about the PS4, but for the R&D dept of Playstation it will be time to start thinking about the PS4 around this time next year.
The PS3 only has a 10 year life cycle, so they will want to release the PS4 around the 8/9 year mark my guess is… a bit like the PS2 and PS3 overlap, but not as much. Selling PS2’s still seems a bit odd to me, people must just be getting them to play old games…in 10 years time new tv’s wont even have a scart probably.lol. ps1,2 and 3 emulators for PS4 should be top of R&D lol
Watchful | 26/11/2009 10:42
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There was only 6 (and a bit) years between Japanese launches of the PS2 and PS3. The PS2 (not 3) was only officially released in Brazil last week. And scart (otherwise known as Euro-AV) is a curious European connector. Most TVs worldwide don’t have them now and never have had.
bajere | 26/11/2009 10:57
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…well if it was only 6 years then i would say R&D time for Sony then. Why so long for a PS2 in Brazil!?!?!
I got my PS3 on UK Launch day, i would be willing to get a PS4 in around 3/4 years time. I feel i would have gotten my moneys worth buy then.
bunimomike | 26/11/2009 11:53
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PS2 in Brazil this week? Oh my god!
I don’t rate their chances for getting PixelJunk Shooters before this Christmas 
the.tcharles | 26/11/2009 18:59
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I am brazilian and I just want to say that now sony released the PS2 here officially, but I have bought one at 2003 and I have already a PS3 too, there are stores and importers here too, the bad thing it is that they have no shame of charging around USD$1200,00 for the hardware and USD$150 per game. And a lot of friends have a PS3 too.
WE ARE NOT LOST IN TIME and WE DON’T LIVE IN THE JUNGLE, not anymore at least, we moved to towns with eletricity around 15 years ago, ok, this last statement was a joke, don’t see us as the simpsons does, I never saw a monkey and we do have all technologies that you guys have.
Amphlett | 26/11/2009 10:06
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It’s all sounding good so far. Let’s hope that they stuff in a few megatons of RAM!
skibadee | 26/11/2009 14:18
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& a few terabytes of harddrive lol.
Amphlett | 26/11/2009 10:08
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Oh no, I just realized that this type of talk will probably get me standing outside GAME at midnight in 2/3 years waiting for another £425 launch model.
Note to self: Must not read these PS4 articles, must not read these PS4 articles, must not read these PS4 articles, must not read these PS4 articles…
andytorr | 26/11/2009 10:09
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There’s a lot of stuff about PS4 lately. I really hope no new consoles arrive in the next 3 years.
double-o-dave | 26/11/2009 10:10
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Highly unlikely – although I can’t back that statement up as I have no clue as to what the hell an IBM Power 7 CPU is apart from it will be manufactured on a 45nm process and run at 4GHz. It will have 4, 6 or 8 cores per chip with each core will be capable of running 4 threads cos thats what it says!
Raen | 26/11/2009 10:19
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Any reason you find it unlikely?
double-o-dave | 26/11/2009 10:28
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I don’t trust Dutch people – although I can’t back that statement up as I don’t know any.
Watchful | 26/11/2009 10:43
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The original source of the rumour, see update, isn’t Dutch.
double-o-dave | 26/11/2009 10:48
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Who wants a brew?
Vandix | 26/11/2009 10:49
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@double-o-dave,
Why don’t you trust us Dutchies? If I might ask…
double-o-dave | 26/11/2009 11:03
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Because I’m finding excuses for my ‘Highly Unlikely’ remark although I can’t back that statement up as I previously explained. Its what us Brits would call a scape goat!
scavenga | 26/11/2009 11:28
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AAAhahahahah, Double-O-Dave, you crack me up!
Funniest thread ever!
That is, until there comes 4, 6 or 8 cores per chip, and each core will be capable of running 4 threads.
double-o-dave | 26/11/2009 11:45
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Oh yeah, good point, it was a copy and paste so you’ll have to blame Watchful for that!
Severn2j | 26/11/2009 10:11
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We’ve just started using Power6 CPUs at work in our mainframes (we build Virtual Servers from them), and they are serious bits if kit, so if its going to be using Power7, then it should be something special indeed..
Snebjnr | 26/11/2009 10:13
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Sounds kinda powerful I guess
Tuffcub | 26/11/2009 10:23
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As long as its powerfull enough to watch Girls Aloud videos on Vidzone then it’s fine by me.
thevulture | 26/11/2009 10:23
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PS4 to Use electricity and come in a box…..rumor.Valve say..they are`nt going to support format, LOL.
Never see the point in all these speculation stories-No matter what hardware the PS4 use`s, unless Sony sort out the development tools from the start, it`s going to be PS2, PS3 all over again-I.e years before games using the hardware`s potential appear, whilst it get`s rougher looking ports from lead platforms that developers can hit the ground running with.
Technical spec`s alone are worthless.
sesameseed | 26/11/2009 10:24
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Ingredients is a much nicer word than components. Think of it that way instead…
superjag86 | 26/11/2009 10:32
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I wonder what this mean’s for backwards compatibility.
I’m sure the CPU side of things could be emulated by a Power7 processor but I hope whatever they decide to do with the graphics chip that it can emulate all the functions of the RSX.
I don’t know what the general feeling on BC is but I’d be reluctant to jump to a ‘PS4′ if it couldn’t play the rather large collection of games I’ve accumulated.
Damigos | 26/11/2009 10:43
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EVEN if Sony, Even IF, was readying the next console by now, i strongly doubt that anything “official”, or correct, or even close to that will be written on the internet or in the magazines. I remember in 2003-2004 when i was reading about the possible hardware that would be included in the PS3, and almost everything turned up to be wrong.
On the other hand, it is very possible actually that is already not only deciding, not only planning but actually WORKING on the next-gen machine (possibly named PS4) IF it is going to be realised in 2012. (Judgement Day..:P) But from now until then its about 2,5 years, so PS3 has yet to see lots and lots of wonderful games to come. I’m not worried yet about that far away, i just have faith that Sony will do it right again
bajere | 26/11/2009 11:28
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I remember seeing PSPs being used as wing mirrors in a car game, and the PS3 having 2 HDMI ports for mulitplayering… yet to see either today
Watchful | 26/11/2009 11:38
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Only the first prototype, seen at E3 in 2005 had two HDMI ports (plus 3 Ethernet ports and 6 USB ports). To the best of my knowledge it was never seen running publicly.
bajere | 26/11/2009 12:33
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i know…that was my point relating to Damigos. never believe ANYTHING until its in the shipping creates!
davidjmclare | 26/11/2009 11:24
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so how does this compare to the ps3 chip? technology is not my forte
Watchful | 26/11/2009 11:33
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Potentially 2-10 times quicker by some measurements of theoretical power. Will depend on the final configuration. (And obviously whether this turns out to be more than rumour.)
davidjmclare | 26/11/2009 12:45
always on easy
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cheers, cant wait for an official announcement of ps4 (of course will be a while yet!) but can wait cos i dont want my ps3 to get outdated!
bunimomike | 26/11/2009 11:55
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It has a “7″ in it so it HAS to be fast. As you can see, I’m quite the uber-geek with my knowledge of hardware.
teflon | 26/11/2009 11:58
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Id say they’d need to go for an 8 core CPU. If that’s possible in something the size of a PS3 phat, then we’d be onto a winner. Those 8 cores should be capable of emulating a Cell by having each core be a PPE or SPE from the Cell.
I guess that would be a good way to go. But, it would take the PS4 down a very different route, and it’d be relying on a more traditional CPU and GPU set up. Obviously that has pro’s and con’s, but I think it’ll confirm lots of people’s opinions that the PS3 was a big fat failure or mistake on Sony’s part.