PS3 Cell Yields In The Toilet

**Bad Company** · 07-13-2006, 05:09 AM

http://gizmodo.com/gadgets/home-ente...let-186937.php

In plain English, this means the PS3 Cell processor is so big and complicated, they're having a hard time making enough to satisfy the demand. An IBM Semiconductor VP says they're "lucky to get 10 or 20 percent" out of a chip like the Cell. The other 80-90 percent aren't fit to be used in PS3s, meaning they either get used in another application or thrown away if they can't be.

What this means to you is that the PS3 is probably going to be available in very limited quantities, at least until they can get the yields up. Also, Sony's going to be bleeding money on these chips, since they need to make so many (5 to 1 ratio?) to get one good enough to use in a PS3. Better get your pre-orders in now.

**Kalyx triaD** · 07-13-2006, 06:52 AM

That's what happens when you try to jump a few generations ahead with some over-ambitious console specs. I honestly wish them luck; I wanna play MGS4 despite their stupidity.

**Xero** · 07-13-2006, 01:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kalyx triaD

I wanna play MGS4 despite their stupidity.

That is the only game keeping me from going 360, as I've said before. If that were revealed to be released for the 360 I'd already own one.

**#BROKEN Hasney** · 07-13-2006, 02:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Xero Limit 126

That is the only game keeping me from going 360, as I've said before. If that were revealed to be released for the 360 I'd already own one.

Yeah, it's pissing me off that I won't be able to play MGS4 until the PS3 is going damn cheap

**Boomer** · 07-13-2006, 10:05 AM

This has been news forever.

Sony isn't stupid enough to just let this go. They'll be ready come launch day.

**Kane Knight** · 07-13-2006, 10:10 AM

Probably by releasing defective consoles.

I'm in no rush anyway, what with the news that you probably won't be able to buy used games or sell your games once you have bought them.

**Boomer** · 07-13-2006, 11:33 AM

If Sony uses that patent, I would imagine a major backlash.

**Kane Knight** · 07-13-2006, 11:39 AM

Patent?

**road doggy dogg** · 07-13-2006, 12:34 PM

Yeah wtf I heard about that (not being able to play rented games and ish)

I swear to god companies get more and more retarded each passing year

**Kane Knight** · 07-13-2006, 11:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by road doggy dogg

Yeah wtf I heard about that (not being able to play rented games and ish)

I swear to god companies get more and more retarded each passing year

Sony especially. They're so concerned with intellectual property, they're fucking everyone over in the process. Fucking stupid.

**Joey Slugs** · 07-13-2006, 12:59 PM

360!

DS · 07-13-2006, 03:02 PM

If MGS4 was for both and the PS3 had been out and turned out to be a let down, then I would probably go with a 360 myself. But it's not, and ever since the price was announced the press reports were all negative. It's stupid to even listen to these majority of the time until it's out.

**Xero** · 07-14-2006, 10:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DS

If MGS4 was for both and the PS3 had been out and turned out to be a let down, then I would probably go with a 360 myself. But it's not, and ever since the price was announced the press reports were all negative. It's stupid to even listen to these majority of the time until it's out.

Almost all the games I care about have gone multi-platform. The price point really is ridiculous, considering I don't plan on getting an HDTV anytime soon and wouldn't be taking advantage of Blueray or HD. And quite frankly, more 360 games interest me than PS3 games.

Although I'll wait until I hear about the first few rounds of games, I'm starting to lean more towards the 360.

**Boomer** · 07-13-2006, 11:58 PM

Lemme see if I can find the patent article I read about that technology.

**Boomer** · 07-14-2006, 12:00 AM

http://www.latimes.com/business/la-f...home-headlines

Something like this I read...not the same article

**What Would Kevin Do?** · 07-14-2006, 12:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Article

http://www.latimes.com/business/la-f...home-headlines

It is not unusual for technology companies to patent innovations and then never incorporate them into products

**Boomer** · 07-14-2006, 12:00 AM

Meh...repeat

**Boomer** · 07-14-2006, 09:48 AM

Even so, the idea they patented that at all scares me.

**Kane Knight** · 07-14-2006, 10:11 AM

Keep in mind that this "technology" already exists, so the patent, if any, is likely to only apply to the gaming world or some such. Much like Nintendo patented online scorekeeping though such a patent already existed, just not on a console.

What I had read previously wasn't even about a patent. Sony's been telling retailers that rtental services would not be available nor would resale be possible, because games were going to be the property of Sony or the manufacturer, and you would merely be buying a non-transferable license. This wouldn't completely stop the reselling of games, but you couldn't buy them, say, at Blockbuster, ebay, etc.

**NoJabbaNoBogRoll** · 07-14-2006, 10:27 AM

IT'S RIDGE RACER!

RIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIDGE RACERRR!

**Boomer** · 07-14-2006, 10:36 AM

But then what's the use of buying something at all if it is still the property of Sony? Or am I just getting confused?

**Kane Knight** · 07-14-2006, 10:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Boomer

But then what's the use of buying something at all if it is still the property of Sony? Or am I just getting confused?

You're buying a license to use it. Computer companies have been doing this for years. You buy the right to use an OS or a program, or sometimes even games.

**Boomer** · 07-14-2006, 12:23 PM

Ahh yeah I see. That makes sense. But forcing people to buy games to play them seems a bit ridiculous. Mnay games are tailored for renting only anyway. I used to rent Mario Party because it was no fun playing alone, but with more people it was much more enjoyable.

But isn't renting games kind of like buying a temporary license? Temporary licenses are pretty popular for computer softwar.

**Kane Knight** · 07-14-2006, 02:32 PM

Well, Rental stores are a bit of a different story anyway. They are, or at least used to be, authorised with agreements from the distributors. Otherwise, every rental store in the US would be subject to that FBI warning at the beginning of a video that says it's for home exhibition only, not for sale, rental, or distribution/broadcast.

if that patent argument is true, renting might not be doable this way. If we're talking about just a licensing issue, rentals would be fine...You just couldn't buy the game used, from any retailer. I could, say, sell you my copy, but it would be illegal. Stores and websites like ebay wouldn't do that.

**Boomer** · 07-14-2006, 04:06 PM

Does Sony have any incentives to do this besides forcing more new copies of games into circulation?

**Kane Knight** · 07-14-2006, 04:15 PM

That's pretty much it. They've held the notion for a while that used games are as evil as downloading music.

**road doggy dogg** · 07-14-2006, 04:29 PM

Stupid shit like that is probably going to end up costing Sony more customers in the long run than it will help their sales of people supposedly buying tons of new games due to not having the option of buying used.

**Kane Knight** · 07-14-2006, 07:16 PM

I'm kinda hoping it will.

What worries me, however, is that it won't because all the other companies do it. In music, you have the RIAA, who are behind all the lawsuits and bullshit and copy protection that crashes your computer. Sony's a part of them, but so's pretty much every other major American label.

You have the MPAA, who are the same thing. They're the reason almost all DVDs are copy protected, and are trying to make it a felony to break encryption even for legal purposes.

Then you have video games. Well, we've got Nintendo, who nerfs things specifically to avoid piracy (The smaller, non-proprietary disc of the GCN was done deliberately to thwart piracy, as was their backwards spinningness), XBox uses such that it can generally onbly be cracked by mod chips, and have threatend to pull it from the markets that won't outlaw Mod Chips (I don't think they ever have, but it's still spazztacular). And Sony records their discs with errors in sectors, among a dozen other things. Nintendo's actually been the biggest whore overall in the field, but if Sony does either of the proposed, it'll pole vault into the lead.

Of course, in other fields, nobody can hold a candle to Sony, but generally, when they start doing something, everyone else does as well.

**Destor** · 07-14-2006, 07:40 PM

Wii will concur.

**Destor** · 07-14-2006, 07:40 PM

My fanboy

07-13-2006, 05:09 AM	#1
Bad Company Mad Posts: 26,228	PS3 Cell Yields In The Toilet http://gizmodo.com/gadgets/home-ente...let-186937.php In plain English, this means the PS3 Cell processor is so big and complicated, they're having a hard time making enough to satisfy the demand. An IBM Semiconductor VP says they're "lucky to get 10 or 20 percent" out of a chip like the Cell. The other 80-90 percent aren't fit to be used in PS3s, meaning they either get used in another application or thrown away if they can't be. What this means to you is that the PS3 is probably going to be available in very limited quantities, at least until they can get the yields up. Also, Sony's going to be bleeding money on these chips, since they need to make so many (5 to 1 ratio?) to get one good enough to use in a PS3. Better get your pre-orders in now. badassmofo HALL OF FAME Heyman Inducted 05-08-07 YOUR Hero Inducted 08-08-07 The Naitch Inducted 04-10-07 Pepsi Man Inducted 25-11-07 RIP Funky Fly Inducted 10-12-07 FakeRazor Inducted 14-12-07 DMI Inducted 20-02-08 Vietnamese Crippler Inducted 21-02-08 Weapon X Inducted 20-06-08 Anybody Thrilla Inducted 04-06-11 Kapoutman Inducted 04-06-11 Sixx Inducted 04-06-11 Downunder Inducted 16-06-12 Zelda Inducted 16-06-12

07-13-2006, 06:52 AM	#2
Kalyx triaD Raw Video Footage Posts: 45,950	That's what happens when you try to jump a few generations ahead with some over-ambitious console specs. I honestly wish them luck; I wanna play MGS4 despite their stupidity.

07-13-2006, 10:05 AM	#5
Boomer The Wretched Posts: 4,690	This has been news forever. Sony isn't stupid enough to just let this go. They'll be ready come launch day.

07-13-2006, 10:10 AM	#6
Kane Knight Ron Paul 4 EVA Posts: 152,467	Probably by releasing defective consoles. I'm in no rush anyway, what with the news that you probably won't be able to buy used games or sell your games once you have bought them.

07-13-2006, 11:33 AM	#7
Boomer The Wretched Posts: 4,690	If Sony uses that patent, I would imagine a major backlash.

07-13-2006, 11:39 AM	#8
Kane Knight Ron Paul 4 EVA Posts: 152,467	Patent?

07-13-2006, 12:34 PM	#9
road doggy dogg wekasauce Posts: 106,857	Yeah wtf I heard about that (not being able to play rented games and ish) I swear to god companies get more and more retarded each passing year

07-13-2006, 12:59 PM	#11
Joey Slugs Second City Saint Posts: 5,806	360!

07-13-2006, 03:02 PM	#12
DS look at that hat Posts: 4,520	If MGS4 was for both and the PS3 had been out and turned out to be a let down, then I would probably go with a 360 myself. But it's not, and ever since the price was announced the press reports were all negative. It's stupid to even listen to these majority of the time until it's out.

07-13-2006, 11:58 PM	#14
Boomer The Wretched Posts: 4,690	Lemme see if I can find the patent article I read about that technology.

07-14-2006, 12:00 AM	#15
Boomer The Wretched Posts: 4,690	http://www.latimes.com/business/la-f...home-headlines Something like this I read...not the same article

07-14-2006, 09:48 AM	#18
Boomer The Wretched Posts: 4,690	Even so, the idea they patented that at all scares me.

07-14-2006, 10:11 AM	#19
Kane Knight Ron Paul 4 EVA Posts: 152,467	Keep in mind that this "technology" already exists, so the patent, if any, is likely to only apply to the gaming world or some such. Much like Nintendo patented online scorekeeping though such a patent already existed, just not on a console. What I had read previously wasn't even about a patent. Sony's been telling retailers that rtental services would not be available nor would resale be possible, because games were going to be the property of Sony or the manufacturer, and you would merely be buying a non-transferable license. This wouldn't completely stop the reselling of games, but you couldn't buy them, say, at Blockbuster, ebay, etc.

07-14-2006, 10:27 AM	#20
NoJabbaNoBogRoll Alive Posts: 13,683	IT'S RIDGE RACER! RIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIDGE RACERRR!

07-14-2006, 10:36 AM	#21
Boomer The Wretched Posts: 4,690	But then what's the use of buying something at all if it is still the property of Sony? Or am I just getting confused?

07-14-2006, 12:23 PM	#23
Boomer The Wretched Posts: 4,690	Ahh yeah I see. That makes sense. But forcing people to buy games to play them seems a bit ridiculous. Mnay games are tailored for renting only anyway. I used to rent Mario Party because it was no fun playing alone, but with more people it was much more enjoyable. But isn't renting games kind of like buying a temporary license? Temporary licenses are pretty popular for computer softwar.

07-14-2006, 02:32 PM	#24
Kane Knight Ron Paul 4 EVA Posts: 152,467	Well, Rental stores are a bit of a different story anyway. They are, or at least used to be, authorised with agreements from the distributors. Otherwise, every rental store in the US would be subject to that FBI warning at the beginning of a video that says it's for home exhibition only, not for sale, rental, or distribution/broadcast. if that patent argument is true, renting might not be doable this way. If we're talking about just a licensing issue, rentals would be fine...You just couldn't buy the game used, from any retailer. I could, say, sell you my copy, but it would be illegal. Stores and websites like ebay wouldn't do that.

07-14-2006, 04:06 PM	#25
Boomer The Wretched Posts: 4,690	Does Sony have any incentives to do this besides forcing more new copies of games into circulation?

07-14-2006, 04:15 PM	#26
Kane Knight Ron Paul 4 EVA Posts: 152,467	That's pretty much it. They've held the notion for a while that used games are as evil as downloading music.

07-14-2006, 04:29 PM	#27
road doggy dogg wekasauce Posts: 106,857	Stupid shit like that is probably going to end up costing Sony more customers in the long run than it will help their sales of people supposedly buying tons of new games due to not having the option of buying used.

07-14-2006, 07:16 PM	#28
Kane Knight Ron Paul 4 EVA Posts: 152,467	I'm kinda hoping it will. What worries me, however, is that it won't because all the other companies do it. In music, you have the RIAA, who are behind all the lawsuits and bullshit and copy protection that crashes your computer. Sony's a part of them, but so's pretty much every other major American label. You have the MPAA, who are the same thing. They're the reason almost all DVDs are copy protected, and are trying to make it a felony to break encryption even for legal purposes. Then you have video games. Well, we've got Nintendo, who nerfs things specifically to avoid piracy (The smaller, non-proprietary disc of the GCN was done deliberately to thwart piracy, as was their backwards spinningness), XBox uses such that it can generally onbly be cracked by mod chips, and have threatend to pull it from the markets that won't outlaw Mod Chips (I don't think they ever have, but it's still spazztacular). And Sony records their discs with errors in sectors, among a dozen other things. Nintendo's actually been the biggest whore overall in the field, but if Sony does either of the proposed, it'll pole vault into the lead. Of course, in other fields, nobody can hold a candle to Sony, but generally, when they start doing something, everyone else does as well.

07-14-2006, 07:40 PM	#29
Destor I am the cheese Posts: 51,458	Wii will concur.