The PlayStation 3 was a massive investment for many gamers, especially for those that bought the console at launch. For Sony, the costs were even higher, with billions spent on development, and more spent on selling the console at a loss. So its no wonder the company wants to extend the PS3′s life-cycle, and thus make profit on the platform. Now, a Sony patent has hinted that they will release external processors to make the console even more powerful – without the need for a PS4.

The benefits of  an upgrade to the PS3 are obvious – allowing for a more powerful machine, without having to pay so much for a new console. However, the “PS3 External Processor” has its drawbacks: it wouldn’t give consumers the same experience as a full new console, and would run the risk of both fragmenting and confusing the market.

The patent – from Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. Tokyo, JP – explains the reasoning behind the processing peripheral:

In recent years, there has been an insatiable desire for faster computer processing data throughputs because cutting-edge computer applications involve real-time, multimedia functionality. Graphics applications are among those that place the highest demands on a processing system because they require such vast numbers of data accesses, data computations, and data manipulations in relatively short periods of time to achieve desirable visual results. These applications require extremely fast processing speeds, such as many thousands of megabits of data per second. While some processing systems employ a single processor to achieve fast processing speeds, others are implemented utilizing multi-processor architectures. In multi-processor systems, a plurality of sub-processors can operate in parallel (or at least in concert) to achieve desired processing results.

Coming to the conclusion that:

Accordingly, there are needs in the art for new methods and apparatus for interconnecting one or more multiprocessor systems with one or more external devices to achieve higher processing capabilities.

The patent is shown in a picture:

The dotted area 500, is the external processor, with the patent explaining that the memory it shares (514) with the internal processor could be DRAM, MRAM or SRAM, among others:

PE 500 is closely associated with a shared (main) memory 514 through a high bandwidth memory connection 516. Although the memory 514 preferably is a dynamic random access memory (DRAM), the memory 514 could be implemented using other means, e.g., as a static random access memory (SRAM), a magnetic random access memory (MRAM), an optical memory, a holographic memory, etc.

The patent expressly states that several external processors may be used:

In accordance with an alternative embodiment, two processor elements may be cascaded by each employing its respective BIC in a coherent symmetric multiprocessor (SMP) interface (or BIF) configuration. The coherent SMP interface (BIF) of each processing element is coupled to one another to set up a coherent interface there between.

The patent was filed this August and only recently published, showing that any plans are most likely in the early stages.

Last year, EA’s Chief Creative Officer, Rich Hilleman, told VentureBeat how he “expected we’ll see a PlayStation 3.5 before we see a PlayStation 4 and an Xbox 560 before we see an Xbox 720,” ”

Source

If its priced at under $50 only then it will work. Otherwise it'll end up like the Sega 32x.

I wonder how much it will cost? They will likely start building this in the console itself in the coming year. Sounds cool but yeah it could confuse the market. I can see a future where some games require hthis add on and a random consumer takes home a game like uncharted 3 and will not be able to play it because he would need this add on. I wonder if they could make games that could work on both. Sort of like the PC except if you buy this you will get better performance.

They should of did this internally and not as a add on and called it PS4

Has Sony gone mad?!

Assuming this is true, I'm wondering if current games would get some kind of performance boost ...

It doesn't need to be more powerful 0_o

I think this would work better if they simply held off until the ps4 comes out, then simply allow existing ps3 owners the option of upgrading their ps3 to a ps4 with an addon rather than investing into a whole new console. This way they allow an easy means of backward compatability and a greater chance of adoption as games would be releasing for the addon right alongside the ps4, so it wouldn't suffer from developers being reluctant to take advantage of it. In fact, it would stand a chance at increasing the ps4 userbase substantially in the first year as many would only have to shell out $100-$150 to have a ps4.

I doubt this is for the PS3, sounds like a system for external GPUs most likely for laptops the idea has been floating around for a while. As far as I know the PS3 doesn't have an external bus offering the bandwidth required for a device like this...

By the time the PS4 rolls around the Cell processor will be so inexpensive that they could throw 3 or 4 of them into a console at the same cost as a PS3 is now. I don't see this addon coming to life just because it's so impractical.

The PS3 can already do everything, it only needs to do it better at this point.

Here's how the PS4 should go.
Multiple Cells
Throw out the GPU entirely
Add more XRAM
Faster BD Drive
Wireless N
USB 3.0

The cost of the Cell is going to drop real quickly what with it being put in TVs and what not now. So Sony can utilize a multiple Cell architecture that requires no GPU. Simplifies the hardware, allows for smaller chipsets and maximum performance. I believe this can all be done at a relatively low cost, with some fantastic results.

Can you just do it just like that?

Through the USB ports?

I'm mesmerized....