And it isn't even Sony's birthday. That didn't matter to IBM, who just today announced that they managed to make the cell processor, the PlayStation 3's brain, down from 65nm to 45nm.

While it may not sound like anything special unless you are waiting for a Bravia using the processor or for Intel to finally make a quad-quad core processor, PS3 fans can rejoice. Because it's a smaller chip, it'll create less heat and cost less to manufacture, meaning all that research didn't pay for nothing.

Which, of course, leads to the possibility of having a cheaper PS3, or just a better running one that earns Sony a bit more moolah. We'll find out soon enough.

[Via Ars Technica ]