PSP World

Mini 4 Core Cell Processor is Feasible for PSP 2

Many were quick to dismiss rumors that Sony is preparing a successor to the PSP, set to launch in early 2011. One of the main reasons for the skepticism is that the latest rumor from industry insiders has it that the PSP 2 will use a quad core version of the Cell processor currently featured in the Playstation 3. The problem is that the 8-core cell used in the home console is a bulky, power-hungry beast of a chip that would chew through the battery of any mobile device before most players got through the loading screen. Not only would this be a poor idea in a device where battery life is of utmost importance, but it would be overkill as well: imagine the kind of gameplay experiences that could be powered by a such a chip.

But these skeptics are wrong, not only because Sony actually would try something so audacious, but also because the company has been planning to miniaturize its Cell technology for a long time. Even before the PS3 was released, Toshiba and Sony considered the Cell a component that could be adapted to different applications, including mobile devices. The presentation slide below outlines the expected product lifecycle for the Cell chip. We can see it getting smaller and less power-hungry through miniaturization to 65 and then 45 nanometer manufacture. The Mini quad core cell used in the rumored PSP 2 would likely be a 45nm chip and much less power-consumptive than the bog standard CPU found in the home console.

Toshiba and Sony unveiled this product roadmap for the Cell processor at the Japanese CEATEC Show in 2006.

Slapping a quad-core Cell into the next PSP might seem a bit like overkill, but Sony isn't exactly known for taking the conservative approach. And besides, who here wouldn't want to try a Cell powered handheld gaming system?