PlayStation 3

• Cg, Nvidia's C-like shading language.
• COLLADA, an open, XML-based file format for 3D models.
• OpenGL ES 2.0, the embedded version of the popular OpenGL graphics API.
• OpenMAX, a collection of fast, cross-platform tools for general "media acceleration," such as matrix calculations.
• OpenVG, for hardware-accelerated 2D vector graphics.

The list of standards they are reported to be considering includes:

• IPv6, the next generation of the Internet Protocol. E3 Conference, the specifications of the PlayStation 3 are as follows. Cell processor:
  • PowerPC based core (PPU) clocked at 3.2 GHz
  • 1 VMX (IBM's branding for AltiVec) vector unit for the PowerPC core
  • 7 Synergistic Processing Elements or SPEs are programmable vector processor units clocked at 3.2 GHz each (there are eight on the chip, but one kept unused for redundancy, leaving seven usable)
  • 218 GFLOPS floating point performance
  • 512 KiB L2 cache
  • 7 256 KiB SRAM caches for the SPEs
  • 7 128×128 SIMD general purpose register files
  • 234 million transistors PlayStation 2 and PlayStation games, without emulation. It still isn't known how Sony has achieved this (although Sony had developed a single-chip PS2 CPU/GPU solution, used in newer revisions of the "slim" PS2). Compatibility with PS2 online games and games designed for the hard drive support hasn't been elaborated upon.

    Graphics processing unit

    Custom "RSX" design co-developed by Nvidia and Sony:

    • Clocked at 550 MHz
    • 1.8 TFLOPS floating point performance, 356 GFLOPS programmable
    • Full high definition output (up to 1080p) x 2 channels
    • Multi-way programmable parallel floating point shader pipelines
    • 300.4 million transistors
    • 280 shader operations per cycle
    • 154 billion shader operations per second
    • 51 billion dot products per second (When combined with CPU power.)
    • 128-bit pixel precision
    • Vertices Performance: 1.1 billion vertices per second
    • Texture bandwidth: 47.5 GB/sec

    Memory

    • 256 MiB Samsung XDR DRAM clocked at CPU die speed (3.2 GHz)
    • 256 MiB GDDR-3 VRAM clocked at 700 MHz

    Theoretical system bandwidth

    • Main XDR DRAM: 64 bits × 3.2 GHz = 25.6 GB/s
    • GDDR-3 VRAM: 128 bits × 700 MHz × 2 accesses per clock cycle (one per edge) = 22.4 GB/s
    • RSX: 20 GB/s (write), 15 GB/s (read)
    • System Bus: 2.5 GB/s

    Overall floating-point capability

    Missing image
    8784671701491003.jpg

    Sony comparison of PS3 performance in FLOPS with Xbox 360.

    In a slide show at their E3 conference, Sony presented the "overall floating point capability" of the PlayStation 3, and compared it to other gaming hardware. The presentation claimed that the PS3 is capable of 2.18 TFLOPS (CPU and GPU), compared to the Xbox 360's claimed 1.15 TFLOPS, and the floating point performance of an "average" PC of about 0.08 TFLOPS. In their official press release, the same statistic regarding the PS3 was reported to be 2 TFLOPS. It's possible that the figures are rounded estimations. At this stage it is unclear how these numbers were calculated, possibly being nothing more than a creative addition of the theoretical peak floating point capabilities of all the processing units in the Cell CPU and the RSX GPU. Floating point performance is a single-dimensional metric for measuring one computer against another. This means that it should not be taken as the only (or even the single most important) indicator of one game console's capabilities over another's, but rather as a comparison of one facet of their respective performance.

    Audio/Video output

    • Supported screen sizes: 480i, 480p, 720p, 1080i, 1080p
    • Two HDMI outputs (Dual-screen HD gameplay)
    • Optical digital audio output
    • Multiple analog outputs (Composite, S-Video, Component video)

    Sound

    • Dolby Digital 5.1, DTS, LPCM (DSP functionality handled by the Cell processor)

    Storage

    • Blu-ray Disc: PlayStation 3 BD-ROM, BD-Video, BD-ROM, BD-R, BD-RE
    • DVD: PlayStation 2 DVD-ROM, PlayStation 3 DVD-ROM, DVD-Video, DVD-ROM, DVD-R, DVD-RW, DVD+R, DVD+RW
    • CD: PlayStation CD-ROM, PlayStation 2 CD-ROM, CD-DA, CD-DA (ROM), CD-R, CD-RW, SACD, SACD Hybrid (CD layer) SACD HD, DualDisc, DualDisc (audio side), DualDisc (DVD side)
    • Memory Stick standard/Duo and standard/mini slots
    • CompactFlash Type I and II slot
    • SD slot
    • Slot for detachable 2.5" hard drive (drive likely sold seperately)

    Physical Dimensions

    • 320mm(L) x 240mm(W) x 80mm(H)^{Gigabit Ethernet ports (Sony has indicated that the PlayStation 3 might act as a Ethernet hub or switch)}
    • IEEE 802.11 b/g Wi-Fi
    • Bluetooth 2.0
    • USB 2.0 (four front and two rear ports)

    Controller

    Missing image
    ImagePs305.jpg

    The new DualShock 3 controller shown at the 2005 E3.

    SCEI's press release indicates that controller connectivity to the PlayStation 3 can be provided via:

    • Bluetooth (up to 7 controllers)
    • USB 2.0
    • 802.11 b/g Wi-Fi (for the PlayStation Portable)
    • IP networking

    Currently there is some controversy among fans about the new PlayStation 3's controller, which they dubbed Dualshock 3. Many argue it is simply untastefully designed and somewhat of an eyesore, or that the controller itself has poor ergonomics, all aesthetic attributes aside. Its design has been likened to a boomerang by many observers. However, other gamers suggest that the controller, while a little un-traditional in contrast to the Dualshock and Dualshock 2 controllers, will provide greater comfort for extended hours of play, and that eventually everyone will "get used to it." According to the Japanese video game publication Famitsu, Sony Computer Entertainment chief technical officer Masayuki Chatani said that the controller design is a "prototype, so there could be some small adjustments." ^{Edge, SCEE's Chris Deering echoed these statements by describing the E3 controller as "just a design study".}

    Unconfirmed reports suggest that the PS3 may in fact support the older DualShock 2 (and by logical extension DualShock) controllers. The number of ports to support such backward compatibility would most likely be limited to one, although this is also an unconfirmed rumour. The PS3's specifications, and E3 display units, don't support DualShock controller ports.

    Gallery

    
    

    See also

    Video game consoles

    Past consoles

    PlayStation Nintendo 64 Sega Dreamcast

    Current consoles

    PlayStation 2 Xbox Nintendo GameCube

    Future consoles

    PlayStation 3 Xbox 360 Nintendo Revolution

    • List of PlayStation 3 games
    • PlayStation
    • PlayStation 2
    • PSX
    • PlayStation Portable
    • Cell microprocessor

    References

    1. ^  "Xbox 360 set to cost around $300; final pricing decision within months", GamesIndustry.biz, (May 27, 2005)
    2. ^  "Q&A: Sony video game exec predicts PS3 will prevail", Seattle Post-Intelligencer, (May 19, 2005)
    3. ^  "Add-on PlayStation 3 HDD will run Linux", Gamespot, (June 9, 2005)
    4. ^  "IBM Discloses Cell Based Blade Server Board Prototype", Nikkei, (May 25, 2005)
    5. ^ "Juniper Networks on IPv6 and MPLS networking in Asia – Part I." DigiTimes Publication. Accessed on June 10, 2005.
    6. ^ "Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. to launch its next generation computer entertainment system." Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.. Accessed on June 10, 2005.
    7. ^ "Open sourcing of Cell coming to fruition." IT Manager's Journal. Accessed on June 10, 2005.
    8. ^  "From Xbox to Xbox 360, from PS2 to PS3", Nikkei Business Publications, Inc., (June 20, 2005)
    9. ^  "Sony Undecided on Hard Disk", IGN, (June 1, 2005)

    External links

    • IBM's PowerPC chosen as the basis for Playstation 3. CEO SONY Talks
    • PlayStation 3 to be easy on developers, Sony vows News.com
    • Sony may swap proprietary API for 'Open' one EE Times
    • PlayStation 3 announced for 2006 GameSpot
    • PS3 GPU to be designed by nVidia and Sony nVidia
    • IGN PS3 Resource Center
    • Gamespot PlayStation 3: Inside & Out
    • Sony Japan Playstation 3 site (English)
    • BBC News story: Sony shows off new PlayStation 3, 17 May 2005
    • PlayStation 3 Development
    • Tom's Hardware Guide - The Playstation 3: A First Look;

    See also: PlayStation 3, 1080i, 1080p, 1994, 1995