IBM Still Developing Cell Processor; Loves Games
Imagine if all the next-generation consoles used a Cell-based architecture.
There was a huge buzz about the Cell Broadband Engine chip surrounding the time of the PlayStation 3 launch. It was a radical chip that was co-designed by the brains at IBM, Sony and Toshiba.
While the Cell/B.E. has its widest and strongest use in the PlayStation 3, IBM says that the processor is still being worked on for future applications.
"I think you'll see [Cell] integrated into our future Power road map. That's the way to think about it as opposed to a separate line -- it'll just get integrated into the next line of things that we do," said Jai Menon, CTO of IBM's Systems and Technology Group. "But certainly, we're working with all of the game folks to provide our capabilities into those next-generation machines."
IBM right now has its hand in all the gaming consoles, with PowerPC-based chips inside the Wii and Xbox 360 and the Cell inside the PS3. There are strong bets that IBM will continue its relationship with one of those platform holders into the next generation.
IBM also offers Cell processors for the industrial market in its blade servers, but it's clear that the gaming business is bringing in enough cash to make it worthwhile. Menon said that IBM has a great desire to stay in the video game hardware business.
Another avenue is cloud play. Perhaps what IBM is thinking of is similar to OnLive of Gaikai – or maybe it's what Sony was preaching with the PS3 being able to tap into the power of a Cell-powered TV or toaster.
"Some of this consumer stuff is also a cloud play. There are giant servers out there that provide some of the gaming capability. Some of that will come through cloud-based offerings as well," Menon added.
The Cell may not have been the most developer-friendly architecture when it was introduced in the PS3, but we'd be surprised to not see some form of it live on in a future games console.

Good luck loading your Windows/Mac OSX on it. The only desktop OS I've heard that could run on Cell is Ubuntu.
Ubuntu is almost synonymous with Linux these days. I used to try out different distros back in the day (Suse, Debian, Fedora). Now I lean toward Ubuntu because there is so much help in the forums for Ubuntu. If you really wanted to get strict on the naming, then you would have to say Linux/GNU OS.
And I think it is time for something to challenge the x86 / x86-64 in the general consumer computer market, and a Power ISA processor could do that. Clearly Microsoft and Apple (as well as the Linux world) are keen on using Power-based processors, since Microsoft uses it in their XBox, and Apple previously had been using Power-based processors for years. (To be honest the only reason why I think Apple moved to x86 processors is because they can sell the "we can run Windows too!" point)
If Power.org is smart about it, and manages to get the major operating systems on board, they could easily make a huge mark on the PC market. I personally wouldn't mind seeing CPUs with the IBM/Freescale logo on it inside my computer. (And if AMD is smart about it, they'll use their previous relationship with IBM to get some Power-based CPUs with their logo on it.)
comparing the Cell processor to either Intel or AMDs current x86 line up would yield extremely poor performance for the former.
I'd actually be surprised if the PS4, whenever it arrives, uses the same architecture. Unless it's aiming to be backwards-compatible, unlikely as that may be.
Anyhow,
I am hoping the same thing, I wouldn't mind making a HTPC outta one or even have it in my car.
lolWUT?? ps3 >>>> crapbox in terms of graphics. Xbox is for the poor people, hence more will have one than a ps3 and will therefore claim to not see a difference in graphics...
While I agree that PS3 has higher quality display than Xbox, Xbox is certainly not for the poor people. All consoles are expensive. >.
I remember following these consoles prior to launch and Sony was promising the world with their cell processor. What do they say "under promise, over deliver" .... Sony did the exact opposite.
I'm not saying the PS3 is bad by any means, but for all the hype I don't see any discernible difference between what the Xbox 360 can do and the PS3.
Not to burst your bubble, but actually most games look better on xbox, some more than others. Very few look better on PS3, FF does, and the games made exclusively for it do as well, but thats pretty much it.
WTF!?!?! does it get so hot that you can toast bread? =))
That has to be subjective. PS3 outputs at 1080p, while Xbox is only capable of 720p/1080i.
As time goes on I expect that we will continue to see improvement in the graphics on the PS3. I'm looking forward to seeing what else the PS3 can do!