IBM Offers New ‘Cell’ Processor Integration
SAN JOSE, Calif. — IBM says it is working with companies to integrate its highly anticipated Cell microprocessor into third-party products such as industrial computers that are expected to be announced beginning later this year.
The chip, jointly developed with Sony Corp. and Toshiba Corp., will power Sony’s next-generation PlayStation video game console and its designers said last month that it can deliver 10 times the performance of today’s standard PC processors.
The Cell processor is designed for graphics- and network-intensive jobs ranging from video games to complex imaging for the medical, defense, automotive and aerospace industries.
"IBM’s new design services could have significant impact on expanding the number of applications that leverage Cell’s unique capabilities," said Pat Toole, general manager of IBM’s Engineering & Technology Services.
The chip consists of eight "synergistic" processors built around a computing core based on IBM’s Power architecture. The chip’s top frequency is greater than 4 gigahertz.
The Cell has been designed from scratch for networking and high-intensity graphics.
Raj Desai, vice president of the engineering services division, said International Business Marhines Corp. has been working with companies for the past six to nine months and that the chip is already integrated in some applications. He declined to name the companies.
"As early as next quarter, you will start seeing some applications rolled out and some visibility to it," he said. "Right now, those guys are heads-down working."
Sony’s next PlayStation is expected to be available in 2006.
When asked if the Cell processor might run Microsoft Corp.’s Windows, the world’s dominant operating system, Desai questioned why any business would want to do that.
"I just don’t see anybody being interested in running a general purpose set of applications on a processor like this. It’s not meant for it," he said. "The intention of this was never to compete with the standard desktop type of processor."
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