Will Sony Reduce Prices and Heat with 45nm Chips?

Reportedly we’re going to see smaller 45 nanometer cell processors in 2009 which leads to similar cost savings as we saw in the Xbox 360 hardware. Cost savings appear on the manufacturing side, of course, along with less power consumed by the processor leading to less heat generated by the console.

The Xbox 360 was able to benefit from chip reduction when for stability and overall heat issues, although the stability is still out for debate at the moment. The concept is fairly simple to understand; heat causes problems in closed systems with few fans and a high degree of complex components. Reduce the heat means reducing the overall need to cool and get air flow into the hot little box.

Console hardware is owned by a broad audience, not all of which understand technology and its ability to boil an egg. Consumers toss consoles and their power supplies in closed cases within their entertainment system and restrict air flow further. Any reduction in heat is a good thing for the console developer.

We’re not guaranteed, however, to see cost savings. Microsoft passed the cost savings to the consumer, recently, but went awhile with their lower-cost “Falcon Chipset” received such a cut. They were, more than likely, trying to recover some of the expenses associated with creating the system and cleaning up the disaster that was the red rings of light.

Will Sony do the same? As the year rolls on into 2009 and these processors start to hit store shelves, what benefit will we have, as the buyer? With the 360, people would scamper out with flashlights and manufacturing codes to find the infamous stable Xbox 360PlayStation gamers haven’t had such a need for heat reduction; they’ve got a need for cost reduction.

Sony’s taken a lot of heat for their high priced Trojan blu-ray appliance along with substantial costs for winning the format war. They have a 10-year plan for the PlayStation 3 and price reductions may definitely accelerate their plan of dominance before Microsoft tosses out some next-generation news.

The huge boost in 360 sales prior to their price cut was fairly significant in the market, presumably Sony would get a similar pop in retail. Gamers want cheap PlayStation 3‘s now, not in 2009, but the idea of a price reduction is always a nice incentive for future buyers to consider.

Of course, Sony would never talk to this topic as the threat of consumers holding out for a price drop would be way too high to take such a risk.

Anyone forsee a price drop for PS3? Would that intice you to buy?

(Thanks, Engadget)

0 thoughts on “Will Sony Reduce Prices and Heat with 45nm Chips?”

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Related Post

Episode 672: Ukrainian DevsEpisode 672: Ukrainian Devs

The first episode of 2023 discusses some of the events going on in the Ukraine, as well as the continued modding of Skyrim and new Game Pass games.

  • ZeniMax employees vote to form the biggest videogame union in the US
  • Cult of the Lamb’s first big update will bring new attacks for every weapon
  • Payday 3 lands the first new game announcement of 2023
  • System Shock remake’s March release locked in

Let us know what you think.

Episode 323: What Is Nintendo Thinking?Episode 323: What Is Nintendo Thinking?

Jonah Falcon and Jordan Lund discuss PAX Prime 2013, then delve into this week’s news, Listener Feedback, and discuss the 1990’s developer Psygnosis.

The news this week includes:

  • Nintendo announces 2DS, Wii U price drop
  • Inafune “fought hard” for risk taking at Capcom, creators must be “willing to fail”
  • Godus beta to hit Steam Early Access on 13th September
  • Diablo III‘s new loot system to “cut the legs out” from the auction house
  • Bethesda wants The Elder Scrolls Online available to non-Xbox Live subscribers

The Question of the Week: “How many times have you purchased a new form factor of a console you already owned?”

Episode 456: What’s Coming in 2017Episode 456: What’s Coming in 2017

This week, the gang ponder about the games that are coming in 2017, thinking about what they’re really interested in. The games range from Mass Effect: Andromeda to Injustice 2, among other titles. It’s a long rambling conversation, but at least it’s hope. The Gaming History focuses on the folly that was The Capcom 5.

The news items this week include:

  • Fallout 4 surpasses Skyrim to become Bethesda’s most successful game ever
  • Rainbow Six Siege year two: free loot, better matchmaking, subversive operators
  • E3 2017 will be open to the public

The Question of the Week is “What game are you looking forward to in 2017?”