PS 3 (60GB) Premium Version
Sony unwrapped its answer to Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Nintendo's
Revolution.
The PS3 uses a PowerPC-based Cell processor was already well known,
but Sony also revealed the chip would be clocked at 3.2GHz -
matching Xbox 360's PowerPC-based three-core chip enough to yield
2.18 teraflops, the company claimed twice what Xbox 360 will be
able to pump out, apparently. There's 512KB of on-die L2 cache, and
seven AltiVec vector processing units.
IBM can now rightfully claim PowerPC technology is powering every
single next-generation console, and it will be interesting to see
what differences exist between the CPUs in the PS3, Xbox 360 and
Nintendo Revolution. It'll also be interesting to see how Apple
leverages that fact to promote its own PowerPC-based Macs.
The PS3's CPU is backed by Nvidia's graphics chip, dubbed in this
application the RSX, for "reality simulator". RSX connects directly
to the CPU, with which it shares access to the PS3's 512MB of
system RAM. The memory is split into two banks: 256MB of XDR
clocked at 3.2GHz for the CPU's usage and 256MB of 700MHz GDDR 3
SDRAM for the RSX.
RSX is twice as powerful as two Nvidia GeForce 6800 Ultra chips, a
claim also made for Nvidia' next-generation GPU, the 'G70'. That
suggests that G70 and RSX are essentially the same beast. Either
way, RSX will support HDTV-resolution graphics up to 1080p. The CPU
will handle the audio processing, in Dolby 5.1 with DTS.
Sony PS3 uses the Blu-ray Disc format, with a drive that can handle
BD-ROM, video BDs and PS3's own BD format, along with all the
DVD-RW/+RW media, plus Super Audio CD.
The console also sports a Gigabit Ethernet port, SP/DIF digital
audio output, twin independent HDMI ports, six USB 2.0 ports, plus
SD, CompactFlash and Memory Stick Duo slots - a sign that Sony is
now serious about no long inflicting only its own technologies on
users.
Like the Xbox 360, the PS3's internal 2.5in hard drive is
removable. And like the Microsoft box, the new Sony machine uses
Bluetooth-based wireless controllers. There's 802.11b/g Wi-Fi on
board too.

