Update:

> Cell and Power8 technology? Damn Andreas, that sounds
> far too optimistic.

"IBM intends to produce the Power8 processor, planned for 2013 (in 28 or 22nm), using 3D stack technology, with a directly linked memory and also, probably, a layer of small specialised computing cores adapted for specific intended uses. It is here that the successors of the Synergistic Processing Units of the Cell processors might turn up; the 3D stacks offer lots of room for modularity."
http://www.h-online.com/newsticker/news/item/Processor-Whispers-About-Chancellors-and-3D-Chips-1206912.html

Wow! The info about Power8's inclusion of what could be considered the successors to the SPEs is interesting.
But the 3D stack technology really tops that off. I hadn't expected that for some time.
The announcement about directly linked memory is a little vague, so I'd be interested in seeing how that plays out.

It sounds like Power8 will be a significantly different platform to code for.
And the 2013 date sounds about right for a PlayStation 4 introduction, although I'd be surprised to see use a derivative of this.

Produced at 22 or 28nm? Should allow for better clocking.

> the 2013 date sounds about right for a PlayStation 4
> introduction, although I'd be surprised to see use a
> derivative of this.

Yes, I'm still doubting that there's a connection between IBM's plans for POWER8 and their voiced intention to provide the CPUs for the successors of the current PPC based gaming consoles. On the other hand, a trimmed version of the POWER8 (including SPEs, also for backwards compatibility to PS3 games) may seem as just the right CPU for the PS4.

>On the other hand, a trimmed version of the POWER8 (including SPEs, also for backwards compatibility to PS3 games) may seem as just the right CPU for the PS4.


After that call, I'd never doubt it.