Sony says the 40GB PS3 is still using 90nm chips

We'd been hearing that Sony's new 40GB PS3 featured a revised design with a 65nm Cell processor and improved cooling, but sadly it looks like those reports were in error -- a Sony spokesperson has told Heise Online that the 40GB model continues to use 90mn processors, but does feature an updated design with a lower power consumption of just 120 to 140 watts, compared to 180 to 200 watts for the older models. Sony says its still planning on moving to 65nm processors in the near future, but for now, it looks like the PS3 is 90nm across the board.

[Thanks, Khattab]

[Chris @ Nov 3rd 2007 2:17AM]

Is it possible removing the Graphics Synthesizer helped cut down power consumption? Is there a power usage difference in the 60/20 gig models and the 80 gig?

[excelsium @ Nov 3rd 2007 2:24AM]

So the 65nm will feature even lower power consumption :>

[Khattab @ Nov 3rd 2007 12:44PM]

That's exactly what I thought of. I Hope to see a 65nm PS3 around spring '08 with about 80 watts power consumption with a Dual-Shock 3.

That's the moment I'm going to sell my 60GB model.


Greetz outta Germany.

[Evan @ Nov 3rd 2007 2:44AM]

It seems like early adopters of the PS3 actually ended up with the best systems. While not the best price at least it had all the features originally touted.

Interesting that the PS3 continues to get less and less features while the 360 actually continues to get more.

The one feature Sony is improving is power consumption. I guess thats something.

[shuyin198x @ Nov 3rd 2007 3:54AM]

Please enlighten us, what exact features are the 360 getting more of?
I'm sure resolving heat issues does not count as one :D
A system is defined for its games which the ps3 is lacking.Your jibes seem unjustified, system wise the ps3 still seem to be better quality wise.If power/heat weren't a problem then why did MS address the problem?

[Fruition @ Nov 3rd 2007 5:25AM]

The 80gb contains nearly all of the features the 60gb did, except less PS2 backwards-compatibility, being that they're now working off emulation.

I agree the 60 was better, but besides the emotion engine, there is nothing the 80gb lost. Your post suggests there was an alarming amount of features they scrapped when designing the 80gb, which is simply not the case.

Sure, if you're talking about the 40 gig, they lost some more, but the 40gb is not meant to replace the 60gb, the 80gb is.

[Jon @ Nov 3rd 2007 5:27AM]

The only feature lost is PS2 back compact. But as a PS3 games machine all the relevant features needed to enjoy a PS3 game still remains. And that is what matters to people who will buy this.

[ssuk @ Nov 3rd 2007 5:41AM]

The 360 had had:
* Increased HDD capacity in Elite models, with the option to buy the bigger 120GB HDD seperately. (standard in Elite)
* Increased online support with the use of Windows Live Messanger (Standard in ALL UNITS)
* HDMI output across the board on all new Xbox 360 units
* 65nm chips on all new Xbox 360 units (Standard in Premium/Pro, Elite models)
* External HD-DVD drive (Optional Extra)
* Low-power consumption download feature (Standard on ALL UNITS)
* Video rental services (USA Only) (Standard on ALL UNITS)
* Ability to watch incomplete movies you've downloaded off the market place (Standard on ALL UNITS)

And the price of the Xbox 360 still dropped without the removal of features or internal components.

[JJ @ Nov 3rd 2007 6:54AM]

Well ssulk hardware wise the only things that would hold water is the smaller chips, the HDMI and the larger HDD...
Smaller chips wise, sony should have that on allt he systems within a few months (shorter in terms of life span than the 360 did.. and without the RROD problems to boot to necessitate the change).
it came standard with HDMI a year ago (Which at the time MS said wasnt needed, but i'm glad they added it)
and the larger HDD... well sony has that too and unlike MS, you can use any standard laptop harddrive to replace the current one i believe... and you dont have to pay over priced first party branded prices either.

Everything else you mentioned is well software, which can and probably will get added later (minus windows messenger... dont see how that expands online support, PS3 actually has a browser, which i guess can count as expanded online support in a way).

Then of course the optional HDDVD drive (I dont see how add ons count as offering more at a lower price...)but in that regards Blu ray comes with the system.

So all in all i'd say they're neck in neck (with the PS3 offering a bit more in terms of price with the 40gb...minus of course backwards compat.)

[bob @ Nov 3rd 2007 9:02AM]

hugely inflated prices for prephirals = 360 , cant even use a standard hard drive , why? so u can pay £65 !!! for a 20 gb one from microsoft. great.
and then your system dies ... and it sounds like a full blown pc with fans whirring like crazy.
please give me a nicely designed piece of hardware that works and does not force me to buy overpriced addons .

[Abno @ Nov 3rd 2007 9:29AM]

I know you're talking about hardware features, but it should be taken into account that the feature set is actually growing on all PS3 models via firmware updates.

[Evan @ Nov 3rd 2007 8:13PM]

Eek I wasn't flaming the system. I was just talking specifically about system hardware, not accessories. (though I guess the 360 hdd could be an accessory)

60 GB had the emotion engine and more usb ports than the new 40 GB coming out now.

360 has gotten hdmi, 1080p out, and larger hdd.

If I was going to get a PS3 I would have wanted the 60 GB because with the PS3 it is so simple to change the HDD. This GB shuffling is pointless from my POV.

Both systems have improved drastically via firmware no doubt. The point of my post was the early adoption thing and I made the mistake of saying something 360 related and everyone misses the whole point.

[Sam @ Nov 3rd 2007 2:48AM]

sweet a cooler ps3 without backwards compatability!
wait...

[bob @ Nov 3rd 2007 9:01AM]

why do you want to play outdated games? u probably have too much time on your hands

[Chris Macdonald @ Nov 3rd 2007 9:17AM]

hey bob, we're reading and commenting on a gadget blog. We all have too much time on our hands.

[waiownsyou @ Nov 3rd 2007 4:40AM]

I still don't understand the white scuff marks on those PS3 images...

[Jon @ Nov 3rd 2007 5:19AM]

I think it is meant to represent frost. Cooler PS3 = frost. At least that is what I think the Engadget editor thought when he posted this badly photoshopped picture.

[totencough @ Nov 3rd 2007 6:34AM]

What Jon said, bad photoshopping job. Look, the frost overlaps the controller on the right side, and it cut off Marty's brother's hair!

[MikeG @ Nov 3rd 2007 6:39AM]

Who cares? It runs cool, it stays quiet, and power consumption is just a fad that will pass soon enough just like any other (:P)

[Relax @ Nov 3rd 2007 7:14AM]

I did a research

You know HIV that causes AIDS?
it is 120 nm in diameter
source:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hiv#Structure_and_genome

this 90nm processor is smaller than a virus
WTF? OMFG? zOMG!!!!!!!

[buddy @ Nov 4th 2007 1:18AM]

uh for those of you that don't know, 90 nm refers to the "process" that is to say the smallest feature on the chip is 90 nm... the chip its self is huge..

think of it as lego blocks building a computer chip. A single piece of lego is your feature size, but different parts of a chip (transistors) are built up from individual blocks. so a transistor may be built on the scale of 5x5 or something like that. now multiply that feature size by thousands to cover all the different parts of your chip.

Reducing the overall feature size (shrink down your legos) reduces the size of the chip, in turn reducing, costs, power consumption and heat. However its not a free ride as issues become more apparent as we move things closer and closer together.

For reference in the 90s the original pentium had a feature size of 800nm.

[Maestro @ Nov 3rd 2007 9:49AM]

It stays cooler by never being turned on.

[mirakutea @ Nov 3rd 2007 10:12AM]

http://arstechnica.com/articles/paedia/cpu/moore.ars/2

The feature size is the size of the smallest feature that the fab's equipment can etch onto the surface of a wafer. So when you hear that the P4 has moved to a "13 micron process," it means that the smallest feature that the P4's new fab can etch is 13 microns across. (Note that the abbreviation for micron is the Greek character mu, which is usually written as a "u" in the standard ASCII character set. So "13 microns" = "13u".) A feature could be a wire, a transistor, or some other such circuit component. You'll usually see the terms "feature size" and "transistor size" used interchangeably, because the most important feature on an integrated circuit is the transistor.

The PS3s Cell processor has 10s-100s millions of features maybe over a billion depending on which features your counting :>

[doug @ Nov 3rd 2007 1:31PM]

so, I just plunked down my $399 for the 40gb (mostly for the sake of the blu-ray, and the dang thing does not have component out.

the HDMI cable/dongle converts to composite - red, yellow white, thus sacrificing hi-def. given that almost NOBODY is going to buy a PS3 and hook it up through the lo-def inputs on their TV (I mean, even s-video is better), it would have been MUCH better to include the HDMI/component dongle/cable instead.

Instead, they nickel and dime you by having to get a $20 accessory that should have been the box in the first place.

[Luther @ Nov 3rd 2007 1:44PM]

At least it's not the $40 Microsoft is charging, or the $30 that Nintendo is charging for their component cables. I suppose it's standard practice to include the worst cable or no cable at all in electronics, but I agree that it would have been much nicer to have some HD cable included. I do think Sony did it right in that component cables for PS1/PS2 work exactly the same with PS3. The amount of non-proprietary things you can use with the PS3 is a big plus over the 360.

[Ecmslee @ Nov 3rd 2007 4:09PM]

Uh.. The 360 Premium and Elites come with composite, component, and HDMI cables.

[why not the LS2LS7? @ Nov 3rd 2007 4:30PM]

The premium lacks the cable necessary to get optical audio out when using HDMI for video.

I agree with the other poster. As an owner of a 360 and PS3, the difference in accessory strategy is glaringly obvious.

I carry my GH3 game saves to work on a Lexar USB memory key. On 360, even though it has USB ports, you have to buy an overpriced, undercapacity MS memory card.

Official GT5 steering wheel? The excellent Logitech GT25 (and I can use my G25 I bought for my PC months ago). Official Forza 2 steering wheel? MS 360 Wireless Racing Wheel which isn't very good anyway.

If I want to upgrade my hard drive in my PS3, I can get a cheap 2.5" SATA drive from newegg. 100GB for $60 or so. If I want a bigger HD on my 360 I have to get a MS official HDD. $180 for 120GB.

And don't forget to buy the rechargable battery accessory for your MS controller!

I'm tired of it. MS, wise up.

[Nam @ Nov 3rd 2007 4:47PM]

Ugh,Sony should've just lied and said it was 65nm as another incentive to buy the thing. We were all thinking it was 65nm anyways...