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IBM’s Cell Processor Impressive, but Not an Intel Killer

April 27th, 2005 Jason Rybka Leave a comment Go to comments

A closely guarded secret for five years, IBM’s Cell processor has finally been unveiled, and the chip is expected to have a major impact on the video game market, reports In-Stat. The goal of Cell developers was to create a new architecture that could process the next generation of broadband media and graphics with greater efficiency than the traditional approaches of ultradeep pipelines and the ganging of numerous complex and power-inefficient, out-of-order RISC or CISC cores, the high-tech market research firm said. The chip will be a major part of Sony’s Next Generation Game Console, and may have other applications, but is unlikely to encroach dramatically on Intel’s territory.

“Some have called Cell an Intel killer, which is completely ridiculous,” said Kevin Krewell, In-Stat analyst. “The only place where the Cell processor can be considered competition for Intel will be where the Sony Next Generation Game Console competes with the Media Center PC.”

A recent report by In-Stat found the following:

  • The total combined PlayStation 3, Xbox 2 & Revolution revenue forecast will rise from $1.1 billion in 2005 to $9.4 billion in 2008.
  • Most of the actual chips in the Cell family are unannounced. The only announced product from the family is the version to be placed in Sony’s PlayStation 3.
  • Overall, Sony will remain the market leader in the next generation of consoles with its release of the PlayStation 3. In-Stat expects both Microsoft and Nintendo to close the gap and release next-generation consoles of their own.

The report, “Cell Processors: Separating Reality from Hype” (#IN0502564ESCA), is the first report published from In-Stat’s new Emerging Semiconductor Chips & Applications service. The report covers the worldwide market for IBM’s Cell processor. It includes technical analysis of the chip, along with a look at how it will fare in various markets.

About In-Stat
In-Stat ( http://www.in-stat.com ) is the leading provider of actionable research, assessments and market forecasts of semiconductors and advanced communications equipment and services. Our forecasts, analysis and insights are derived from both a deep technology understanding and a unique research methodology, which examines each segment of the value chain for each market. Technology vendors, service providers, technology professionals and market specialists, worldwide, rely on In-Stat’s tenured, experienced staff and in-depth research to support critical technology, product and success decisions.

In-Stat is a strategic segment of the $8 billion Reed Elsevier global information network, with access to an expansive worldwide electronic network, extensive technology databases and well-informed personnel. In-Stat analysts gain exceptional insight into geographic marketplaces and specific technologies within markets such as electronics, cable and wireless. As a member of Reed Business Information, In-Stat is a division of the largest business-to-business publisher in the United States.

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