First Xbox 2 Processors Taped-Out

by Anton Shilov
01/26/2004 | 06:19 AM

A report from over a web-site dedicated to game consoles claims there are first tape-outs using 65nm fabrication process at IBM. Apparently, the first chips are non-other than central processing units for highly anticipated Sony PlayStation 3 and Microsoft Xbox 2 consoles.

As announced previously, both Sony and Microsoft will use technologies developed by IBM in microprocessors for next-generation of their gaming consoles. Some sources suggest that CPUs in the Play Station 3 and Xbox 2 machines will be based on Cell technology, a derivative of PowerPC micro-architecture. Given that PowerPC and Cell architectures are expected to be found in a wide range of applications from consumer electronics to servers, mention of these names gives hardly any details about consoles except the fact that they are 64-bit and are not Intel-based.

“It will be built on a 65nm process,” a source confirmed to TeamXbox web-site. “IBM has already taped out experimental samples at its East Fishkill fab, but it will take between 12 to 18 months for them to deliver commercial parts. Anyway, they are way ahead of Intel.”

“With the new 90nm manufacturing process, IBM broke the 2GHz barrier. The 65nm- technology will allow them to break the 3GHz barrier for sure and get closer to the 5GHz mark,” the source added.

“However, this is not just about clock speed. The more important thing here is what this baby and its specialized cores can do in a single clock cycle,” an anonymous source of TeamXbox said.

Concerns about IBM’s ability to tailor its 64-bit microprocessors for Microsoft consoles did not materialize, in case the information published herein is correct.

Microsoft Corporation is likely to adopt Nintendo’s approach to pay only royalties for technologies the company utilizes in its products, but not to acquire every single chip from every single developer. It is not known who will manufacture semiconductors for Microsoft, but there is likely to be a number of makers. Nevertheless, whatever chips are made outside of certain silicon developers, such as ATI or SiS, IBM has been historically manufacturing its CPUs in its own fabs.