IBM 45nm Microprocessors Power the Nintendo Wii U Gaming System
IBM announced that it will provide the microprocessors that will serve as the heart of the new Wii U system from Nintendo. Unveiled at the E3 2011 trade show, Nintendo plans for its new console to hit store shelves in 2012. The all-new, Power-based microprocessor will pack some of IBM’s most advanced technology into an energy-saving silicon package that will power Nintendo’s brand new entertainment experience for consumers worldwide. IBM’s unique embedded DRAM, for example, is capable of feeding the multi-core processor large chunks of data to make for a smooth entertainment experience. IBM wouldn’t reveal the processor’s clock speeds, but mentioned that it uses the same processor technology found in Watson – the company’s very own supercomputer. According to IBM Watson has a total of 2880 processor cores backed by 16 terabytes of RAM and we know the Wii U should have just a small fraction of that.
IBM plans to produce millions of chips for Nintendo featuring IBM Silicon on Insulator (SOI) technology at 45 nanometers (45 billionths of a meter). The custom-designed chips will be made at IBM’s state-of-the-art 300mm semiconductor development and manufacturing facility in East Fishkill, N.Y. The relationship between IBM and Nintendo dates to May 1999, when IBM was selected to design and manufacture the central microprocessor for the Nintendo GameCube system. Since 2006, IBM has shipped more than 90 million chips for Nintendo Wii systems.
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