New IBM, Sony, Toshiba deal
p2p news / p2pnet: IBM, Sony, and Toshiba are already collaborating on the Cell, a multicore chip comprising a 64-bit Power processor core and multiple synergistic processor cores capable of massive floating point processing and which will power Sony`s PlayStation 3.
Now the three will work together to make, “complex chips with miniscule circuits without running into problems with leaking electrical current or other flaws,” says Red Herring. “The triad plans to focus on developing the 32 nm technology for producing chips.”
The deal, “also reflected the trend of rival chip and electronics companies that pool their resources in developing cutting-edge technologies,” says the story. “The partnership aims to research ways to pack more and smaller transistors on a silicon, the building block of a chip.”
But, “What’s missing from the announcement is discussion of the firm’s plans for 45nm fabrication – suggesting Cell may skip a generation,” says The Register, going on:
“The absence of IBM from the 45nm announcement may explain why all the 32nm R&D appears to be going to happen at IBM, specifically its Thomas J. Watson Research Center in Yorktown Heights, New York and at its 300mm-wafer manufacturing facility in East Fishkill,” says the story.
“Research will also be undertaken at the Center for Semiconductor Research at Albany NanoTech, the companies said.”
Also See:
already collaborating – PlayStation 3 ‘The Cell’ chip, November 29, 2004
Red Herring – IBM, Sony, Toshiba in Alliance, January 13, 2005
The Register – IBM, Sony, Toshiba start work on 32nm Cell, January 12, 2005
