PS3 Cell Processor fabrication is problematic says IBM

[Bratwurst]

Story at Daily Tech. (http://www.dailytech.com/article.aspx?newsid=3295)

Normally I am not one of those guys quick to regurgitate a news blurb to get some big thread snowballing but holy crap, whatever you do, don't get a PS3 at launch.* The gist of this article suggests that if you've got 7 of 8 cores in the cell processor functional from purchase and one more goes after the warranty, you're out of luck. Even if it's covered by warranty that's a pain in the ass to have to return for repair. This isn't in the same league as replacing a DVD drive like in the PS2 or Xbox either, you'd have to stick in a new motherboard.

What experience I have with solid state electronics dictates that the longer an IC operates the more it has been 'tested' and most of the problem cells will have been weeded out in post production, but who wants to take that risk?

*I don't buy launch hardware, ever, as a general rule of thumb anyway.

[Ascending Wordsmith]

In the interview, Reeves also talks about failure rate as there is a possibility that one of the cores in the Cell will "blow" at any given time.

It'd be my luck to be playing a PS3 game with a nearly unbeatable boss, and just after I kill him, one of my seven functional cores dies as soon as my warranty expires.

[Mr.FoodMonster]

I'm wondering why they aren't going to swap it out for the newly announced Core 2 Duo thats coming out at the end of the month.

[Anthony1]

Just another reason to camp out in front of Costco. They have the best return policy known to man.

[Felixthegamer]

I wasn't going to pick one up at launch, but this news doesn't sit too well. I hope it is not too much trouble for the early adopters though

[Ed Oscuro]

Just another reason to camp out in front of Costco. They have the best return policy known to man.
I like that line of reasoning LOL

Anyhow, in fairness to Sony if your PS3 has a core blow out after use then you just use the warranty and get that fixed.

For my part, I'm pretty shocked that hardware just keeps getting worse and worse in reliability. An NES will continue to work even half rusted, the media didn't "scratch" and the things are generally reliable. Then there were discs, and now even the processors are liable to go. Simple reason for it; game systems don't use proven designs that have been refined for years, but brand-new components designed right to the limits of the fab process. Still bothers the hell out of me.

[Darren870]

Simple reason for it; game systems don't use proven designs that have been refined for years, but brand-new components designed right to the limits of the fab process.

I think you mean Microsoft and Sony, because nintendo surely makes quality products with those designs and technology that has worked for years.

[Anthony1]

Simple reason for it; game systems don't use proven designs that have been refined for years, but brand-new components designed right to the limits of the fab process.

I think you mean Microsoft and Sony, because nintendo surely makes quality products with those designs and technology that has worked for years.



Oh my goodness.... A Ed Oscuro quote was misquoted as coming from me!!! Da Horrah!!! LOL

[unwinddesign]

Doesn't matter, I'll still buy one at launch. I'm expecting my 360 to blow out eventually, and when it does, I'll buy a new one. Doesn't bother me.

[Half Japanese]

Doesn't matter, I'll still buy one at launch. I'm expecting my 360 to blow out eventually, and when it does, I'll buy a new one. Doesn't bother me.

Question: is money a suitable replacement for toilet paper, or do you wipe with it for show?

[XYXZYZ]

Doesn't matter, I'll still buy one at launch. I'm expecting my 360 to blow out eventually, and when it does, I'll buy a new one. Doesn't bother me.

O_O

[Ed Oscuro]

Simple reason for it; game systems don't use proven designs that have been refined for years, but brand-new components designed right to the limits of the fab process.
I think you mean Microsoft and Sony, because nintendo surely makes quality products with those designs and technology that has worked for years.
Here's an interesting point. It seems Nintendo's R&D department has done a good job beating the technology curve while releasing a good product. Last round they seemed to have done better than Sony, and the Xbox's Thompson drive is notorious for having trouble (mine's starting to go, finally). It should be noted that the vast majority of failures on these sytems was due to the optical drive, however, and Nintendo really wasn't far behind - the GameCube had a type of media similar to the Dreamcast, but that alone doesn't account for the difference.

This time around, however, Nintendo will be using a proven (i.e. not bleeding-edge) system (with respect to processing power) that very likely won't produce the amount of heat the PS3 does, nor use anywhere near as much power. Nintendo has chosen to widen the gap technologically.

[unwinddesign]

Doesn't matter, I'll still buy one at launch. I'm expecting my 360 to blow out eventually, and when it does, I'll buy a new one. Doesn't bother me.

Question: is money a suitable replacement for toilet paper, or do you wipe with it for show?

No. I'll enjoy my PS3 while it lasts. I'll probably buy the extended warranty on the PS3, though, since Sony systems have generally been prone to problems.

But honestly, the internet blows this shit way out of proportion. My launch PS2 was fine until I a) droppped it down the stairs and then b) yanked it off a 4 foot high cabinet onto a hard tile floor. Then it bit the dust. So I'm not terribly worried about it.

[Zadoc]

The problem with Sony is that they just wanted too much from the PS3. They've invest all of this time and money into an eight core processor that will not only cause problems for early adoptors, but for at least a year to come. Like Microsoft, Sony could have used reliable technology, such as a duel-core processor, but decided not to.

They also didn't need Blu-ray, but want so badly to "win the format wars" that they'll drive the price of the PS3 to the moon.

Can you say, Coleco Adam?

[Anexanhume]

I'm wondering why they aren't going to swap it out for the newly announced Core 2 Duo thats coming out at the end of the month.

:hmm:

Except for the fact that the architectures are wildly different and they don't even understand each other's instruction set architectures.

[Wavelflack]

Here's an interesting point. It seems Nintendo's R&D department has done a good job beating the technology curve while releasing a good product. Last round they seemed to have done better than Sony, and the Xbox's Thompson drive is notorious for having trouble (mine's starting to go, finally). It should be noted that the vast majority of failures on these sytems was due to the optical drive, however, and Nintendo really wasn't far behind - the GameCube had a type of media similar to the Dreamcast, but that alone doesn't account for the difference.

Then again, even a Yugo would last forever if you only drove it a few days a month..

[hezeuschrist]

I'm wondering why they aren't going to swap it out for the newly announced Core 2 Duo thats coming out at the end of the month.

You can't be serious.