IBM/Sony/Toshiba unveil Cell superchip

IBM, Sony and Toshiba have revealed the multi-core architectural design of their jointly-developed 'supercomputer on a chip' Cell processor.

The design features eight synergistic processors, and top clock speeds of greater than 4GHz, the companies claimed.

The multi-core chip is capable of highly scalable floating point processing, and is operating system neutral. It can support multiple platforms simultaneously, according to the firms.

A prototype chip integrates 234 million transistors and is fabricated with 90 nanometre silicon-on-insulator technology.

Initial production of the Cell microprocessors is expected to begin at IBM's 300mm wafer fabrication facility in East Fishkill, New York, followed by Sony Group's Nagasaki fab this year.

IBM, Sony and Toshiba plan to promote Cell-based products including digital televisions, home servers and supercomputers.

"We are proud that Cell, a revolutionary microprocessor with a brand new architecture that leapfrogs the performance of existing processors, has been created through a perfect synergy of IBM, Sony Group and Toshiba's capabilities and talented resources," said Masashi Muromachi, corporate vice president of Toshiba Corporation.

"We are confident that Cell will provide major momentum for the progress of digital convergence as a core device sustaining a whole spectrum of advanced information-rich broadband applications, from consumer electronics and home entertainment through various industrial systems."