Purchasers of the 40GB PS3 may be getting more – or less, depending on how you look at it – than they bargained for. A rumour's doing the rounds that, in addition to a smaller hard drive and fewer USB ports, the cheaper model features a 65nm version of the cell processor, reducing the processor's power usage to 135 watts from 200 watts.
The news comes from technology blog engadget. No source is given, so SPOnG's taking it with a pinch of salt for now, although the move would make sense for Sony. Needless to say, SPOnG has contacted Sony for confirmation and we'll let you know what comes back.
The reason the move would make sense basically comes down to efficiency. A smaller processor means less heat and less noise. Although neither of those have been much of a problem for the PS3, SPOnG's does have a tendency to make the office a tad toasty.
A smaller processor also means a higher production yield, effectively making it cheaper to produce (for more detail, see SPOnG's March report). As such, the smaller processor's inclusion in the PS3 could help to explain the console's massive price drop for the stripped down model. SCEE's president, David Reeves, has said that the cost of hard disk space is neither here nor there, after all, and the extra two USB ports and backwards compatibility were hardly breaking the bank.
It's also reported that a couple of other bits and pieces in the PS3's innards have been changed. The heat pipe has apparently been made smaller, the motherboard updated and a button battery has reportedly been added so the PS3 will keep time while it's disconnected from the mains.
Source: engadget
The news comes from technology blog engadget. No source is given, so SPOnG's taking it with a pinch of salt for now, although the move would make sense for Sony. Needless to say, SPOnG has contacted Sony for confirmation and we'll let you know what comes back.
The reason the move would make sense basically comes down to efficiency. A smaller processor means less heat and less noise. Although neither of those have been much of a problem for the PS3, SPOnG's does have a tendency to make the office a tad toasty.
A smaller processor also means a higher production yield, effectively making it cheaper to produce (for more detail, see SPOnG's March report). As such, the smaller processor's inclusion in the PS3 could help to explain the console's massive price drop for the stripped down model. SCEE's president, David Reeves, has said that the cost of hard disk space is neither here nor there, after all, and the extra two USB ports and backwards compatibility were hardly breaking the bank.
It's also reported that a couple of other bits and pieces in the PS3's innards have been changed. The heat pipe has apparently been made smaller, the motherboard updated and a button battery has reportedly been added so the PS3 will keep time while it's disconnected from the mains.
Source: engadget
Companies:
Sony
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