http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/20/ps3-slim-is-cheaper-yes-and-faster-maybe/ Engadget Comments for http://www.engadget.com/media/feedlogo.gif http://www.engadget.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/20/ps3-slim-is-cheaper-yes-and-faster-maybe/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/20/ps3-slim-is-cheaper-yes-and-faster-maybe/
Why should they?]]>Aug 20th 2009 5:38AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/20/ps3-slim-is-cheaper-yes-and-faster-maybe/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/20/ps3-slim-is-cheaper-yes-and-faster-maybe/Aug 20th 2009 5:07AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/20/ps3-slim-is-cheaper-yes-and-faster-maybe/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/20/ps3-slim-is-cheaper-yes-and-faster-maybe/Aug 20th 2009 5:13AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/20/ps3-slim-is-cheaper-yes-and-faster-maybe/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/20/ps3-slim-is-cheaper-yes-and-faster-maybe/
The fundamental basis of the console market is to create a stable platform for developers to maximize their development costs by being able to reuse their existing technology for multiple games over hopefully as long as 9-10 years that a console like the PS2 or PS3 is active in the market.

You don't change the speed of the components. Ever.

You make them more efficient. Less power. Less heat. Quieter.

But you don't change the performance of the hardware. A game that runs on a launch PS3 needs to run exactly the same on the very latest models with die shrunk chips and optimized and upgraded motherboards.

]]>Aug 20th 2009 5:19AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/20/ps3-slim-is-cheaper-yes-and-faster-maybe/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/20/ps3-slim-is-cheaper-yes-and-faster-maybe/
i'm not sure how making the cell processor's speed faster would be a "bad" thing. if anything, it would make the ps3 a more attractive platform to develop (or continue developing) on.

plus, altering core speed doesn't change how a game is run. obviously, a game made to run on windows vista/i7 3.0ghz will still work fine on windows vista/i7 overclocked to 3.5ghz]]>Aug 20th 2009 5:33AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/20/ps3-slim-is-cheaper-yes-and-faster-maybe/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/20/ps3-slim-is-cheaper-yes-and-faster-maybe/Sony did say that the PS3 slim is identical of the PS3 Fat expect the removal of the Install OS option.
And as what yoyo have explained this is not how console gaming works plus why would they waste more R & D to pump the speed specially when it create more heat for no purpose, PS3 bottleneck is the GPU not the CPU to begin with. ]]>Aug 20th 2009 5:42AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/20/ps3-slim-is-cheaper-yes-and-faster-maybe/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/20/ps3-slim-is-cheaper-yes-and-faster-maybe/Aug 20th 2009 5:57AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/20/ps3-slim-is-cheaper-yes-and-faster-maybe/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/20/ps3-slim-is-cheaper-yes-and-faster-maybe/Aug 20th 2009 6:08AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/20/ps3-slim-is-cheaper-yes-and-faster-maybe/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/20/ps3-slim-is-cheaper-yes-and-faster-maybe/
imagine they upgrade a consoles cpu/gpu, so a new developer aims at this new spec for his product, pushes the envelope and releases his product. Now anyone trying to play this game on an older unit gets shafted with stuttering frame rates. If he aims for the lower, standard spec on a game with locked framerate then the new hardware will make little difference.

In short it makes no sense to alter console hardware.]]>Aug 20th 2009 6:27AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/20/ps3-slim-is-cheaper-yes-and-faster-maybe/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/20/ps3-slim-is-cheaper-yes-and-faster-maybe/
That said, I can't imagine "faster" means anything other than clocks-per-Watt, though I wouldn't be heartbroken if they were able to OC a die-shrunk RSX.]]>Aug 20th 2009 8:42AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/20/ps3-slim-is-cheaper-yes-and-faster-maybe/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/20/ps3-slim-is-cheaper-yes-and-faster-maybe/Aug 20th 2009 9:21AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/20/ps3-slim-is-cheaper-yes-and-faster-maybe/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/20/ps3-slim-is-cheaper-yes-and-faster-maybe/Aug 20th 2009 4:57AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/20/ps3-slim-is-cheaper-yes-and-faster-maybe/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/20/ps3-slim-is-cheaper-yes-and-faster-maybe/Aug 20th 2009 5:12AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/20/ps3-slim-is-cheaper-yes-and-faster-maybe/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/20/ps3-slim-is-cheaper-yes-and-faster-maybe/
The existing PS3 models are being phased out but there are still some left in the retail channel.

]]>Aug 20th 2009 5:22AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/20/ps3-slim-is-cheaper-yes-and-faster-maybe/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/20/ps3-slim-is-cheaper-yes-and-faster-maybe/Aug 20th 2009 5:29AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/20/ps3-slim-is-cheaper-yes-and-faster-maybe/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/20/ps3-slim-is-cheaper-yes-and-faster-maybe/Aug 20th 2009 5:49AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/20/ps3-slim-is-cheaper-yes-and-faster-maybe/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/20/ps3-slim-is-cheaper-yes-and-faster-maybe/Aug 20th 2009 5:56AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/20/ps3-slim-is-cheaper-yes-and-faster-maybe/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/20/ps3-slim-is-cheaper-yes-and-faster-maybe/
Without it we would all surely die.]]>Aug 20th 2009 7:18AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/20/ps3-slim-is-cheaper-yes-and-faster-maybe/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/20/ps3-slim-is-cheaper-yes-and-faster-maybe/Aug 20th 2009 8:22AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/20/ps3-slim-is-cheaper-yes-and-faster-maybe/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/20/ps3-slim-is-cheaper-yes-and-faster-maybe/Aug 20th 2009 8:47AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/20/ps3-slim-is-cheaper-yes-and-faster-maybe/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/20/ps3-slim-is-cheaper-yes-and-faster-maybe/
a) Linux
b) It doesn't need a $24 stand
c) It's not butt ugly
d) This rumor is likely a single member of the press who doesn't know what he's talking about, as nobody else has reported this, nor would it make any sense at all.

That last point is most salient to this particular discussion.
]]>Aug 20th 2009 8:54AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/20/ps3-slim-is-cheaper-yes-and-faster-maybe/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/20/ps3-slim-is-cheaper-yes-and-faster-maybe/Aug 20th 2009 9:02AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/20/ps3-slim-is-cheaper-yes-and-faster-maybe/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/20/ps3-slim-is-cheaper-yes-and-faster-maybe/
13.385"(w) x 13.385"(h) x 6.299"(d)
These are the dimensions Amazon is listing. The depth is wrong obviously, but what has me concerned is the part below in parentheses:

"External dimensions (excluding maximum projecting part): Approx. 290 × 65 × 290 mm." From Engadget post.

Does that mean, cords sticking out the back make it bigger (duh), or did Sony just measure the base, and ignore the front overhang?]]>Aug 20th 2009 9:39AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/20/ps3-slim-is-cheaper-yes-and-faster-maybe/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/20/ps3-slim-is-cheaper-yes-and-faster-maybe/Aug 20th 2009 10:03AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/20/ps3-slim-is-cheaper-yes-and-faster-maybe/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/20/ps3-slim-is-cheaper-yes-and-faster-maybe/Aug 20th 2009 10:23AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/20/ps3-slim-is-cheaper-yes-and-faster-maybe/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/20/ps3-slim-is-cheaper-yes-and-faster-maybe/
Why? Well guess what, the failure rate on the PS3 fat was sooo high they just turned OFF one of the cell processors.
If that once off processor is not ON, that is a speed increase.

Keeping in mind, when you program for the PS3 you have to factor in another possible failure of a cell processor, that games that account for this could get a nice speed boost. ]]>Aug 20th 2009 10:38AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/20/ps3-slim-is-cheaper-yes-and-faster-maybe/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/20/ps3-slim-is-cheaper-yes-and-faster-maybe/
One of the cores is turned off at the factory. AMD does the same thing, that's why they have a lot of 3 core chips and Intel has none. The more cores you add, the higher the failure rate of a core. Putting in only processors with 8 working cores significantly adds cost but limiting all chips to 7 allows many more chips to be used lowering costs.

These machines are designed around the graphics chip anyways so a higher clockspeed will do little to nothing to improving the PS3. The bottleneck is found with the Blu-ray drive and RAM. And the NVIDIA chip.]]>Aug 20th 2009 10:54AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/20/ps3-slim-is-cheaper-yes-and-faster-maybe/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/20/ps3-slim-is-cheaper-yes-and-faster-maybe/
"...the failure rate on the PS3 fat was sooo high..."

Compared to what, the 360?

Welcome to the forum Mr. Ballmer, but please keep your comments within the realm of reality.]]>Aug 20th 2009 11:05AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/20/ps3-slim-is-cheaper-yes-and-faster-maybe/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/20/ps3-slim-is-cheaper-yes-and-faster-maybe/
Now the IBM/AMD 45nm process has improved significantly and the chips are smaller, so it makes sense that they may no longer be required to disable one of hte SPDs to get the speed they want. It could also be that they just plain increased the clock speed.]]>Aug 20th 2009 11:38AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/20/ps3-slim-is-cheaper-yes-and-faster-maybe/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/20/ps3-slim-is-cheaper-yes-and-faster-maybe/Aug 20th 2009 11:40AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/20/ps3-slim-is-cheaper-yes-and-faster-maybe/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/20/ps3-slim-is-cheaper-yes-and-faster-maybe/http://games.slashdot.org/story/09/08/20/1527212/Xbox-360-Failure-Rate-Is-542
How timely.]]>Aug 20th 2009 3:09PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/20/ps3-slim-is-cheaper-yes-and-faster-maybe/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/20/ps3-slim-is-cheaper-yes-and-faster-maybe/
then why did he say this:

"... the failure rate on the PS3 fat was sooo high..."?

Sounds like FUD to me. He implied failure of the PS3. Turning off an under-performing core prior to device manufacturing is not the same as "failure" after sale to a consumer.]]>Aug 20th 2009 1:06PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/20/ps3-slim-is-cheaper-yes-and-faster-maybe/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/20/ps3-slim-is-cheaper-yes-and-faster-maybe/
While this is nothing compared to the atrocious rate at which 360s seem to be catching fire /jk, it's still nothing to be proud of. ]]>Aug 20th 2009 2:09PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/20/ps3-slim-is-cheaper-yes-and-faster-maybe/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/20/ps3-slim-is-cheaper-yes-and-faster-maybe/
You're right. He did imply that the PS3s were failing. I guess I should have said, "I believe what Crenor really means is..."]]>Aug 20th 2009 2:24PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/20/ps3-slim-is-cheaper-yes-and-faster-maybe/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/20/ps3-slim-is-cheaper-yes-and-faster-maybe/
Well thats an incredibly measured, respectful and reasonable response.

WTF ;)]]>Aug 20th 2009 2:32PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/20/ps3-slim-is-cheaper-yes-and-faster-maybe/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/20/ps3-slim-is-cheaper-yes-and-faster-maybe/
Not everyone on the interwebs is a close-minded asshole... just most :)]]>Aug 20th 2009 4:40PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/20/ps3-slim-is-cheaper-yes-and-faster-maybe/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/20/ps3-slim-is-cheaper-yes-and-faster-maybe/Aug 20th 2009 4:59AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/20/ps3-slim-is-cheaper-yes-and-faster-maybe/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/20/ps3-slim-is-cheaper-yes-and-faster-maybe/Aug 20th 2009 5:04AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/20/ps3-slim-is-cheaper-yes-and-faster-maybe/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/20/ps3-slim-is-cheaper-yes-and-faster-maybe/
plus you'll look better?]]>Aug 20th 2009 8:01AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/20/ps3-slim-is-cheaper-yes-and-faster-maybe/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/20/ps3-slim-is-cheaper-yes-and-faster-maybe/Aug 20th 2009 5:01AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/20/ps3-slim-is-cheaper-yes-and-faster-maybe/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/20/ps3-slim-is-cheaper-yes-and-faster-maybe/Aug 20th 2009 7:10AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/20/ps3-slim-is-cheaper-yes-and-faster-maybe/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/20/ps3-slim-is-cheaper-yes-and-faster-maybe/Aug 20th 2009 12:44PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/20/ps3-slim-is-cheaper-yes-and-faster-maybe/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/20/ps3-slim-is-cheaper-yes-and-faster-maybe/Aug 20th 2009 5:03AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/20/ps3-slim-is-cheaper-yes-and-faster-maybe/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/20/ps3-slim-is-cheaper-yes-and-faster-maybe/Aug 20th 2009 5:21AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/20/ps3-slim-is-cheaper-yes-and-faster-maybe/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/20/ps3-slim-is-cheaper-yes-and-faster-maybe/Aug 20th 2009 6:36AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/20/ps3-slim-is-cheaper-yes-and-faster-maybe/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/20/ps3-slim-is-cheaper-yes-and-faster-maybe/
I'll end up buying a slim as well, but I'll still be keeping the 60GB for BC. I have my gaming rig and VMWare for Linux. ]]>Aug 20th 2009 9:01AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/20/ps3-slim-is-cheaper-yes-and-faster-maybe/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/20/ps3-slim-is-cheaper-yes-and-faster-maybe/http://arstechnica.com/gaming/news/2008/02/ibm-shrinks-cell-to-45nm-cheaper-ps3s-will-follow.ars

No, the processor is not faster, just more efficient.

- Matt]]>Aug 20th 2009 5:28AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/20/ps3-slim-is-cheaper-yes-and-faster-maybe/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/20/ps3-slim-is-cheaper-yes-and-faster-maybe/
And if it were faster (which again, it isn't ) Sony would not annouce it, because that would hurt classic PS3 sales even more.]]>Aug 20th 2009 5:30AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/20/ps3-slim-is-cheaper-yes-and-faster-maybe/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/20/ps3-slim-is-cheaper-yes-and-faster-maybe/
The extra power efficiency is achieved through the die shrink whilst maintaining the same clock speed. There would be no incentive AT ALL to running at a higher clock speed.]]>Aug 20th 2009 8:57AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/20/ps3-slim-is-cheaper-yes-and-faster-maybe/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/20/ps3-slim-is-cheaper-yes-and-faster-maybe/Aug 20th 2009 5:17AM