It's a milestone folks: the PS3 hardware is finally ready to
generate a profit. The loss-leading console once estimated to cost Sony
more than $800 per (losing between $241 and $307 per console sold back in 2006) has likely turned a corner thanks to a reduction in manufacturing costs. While Sony isn't saying anything on the matter,
PocketNews confirms that the latest PS3 SKU --
CECH-2100A spotted in the FCC back in February -- uses an improved RSX graphics chip based on
smaller 40-nm processes similar to the PS3 Slim's
new 45-nm Cell processor. The result is a 15 percent decrease in console power consumption when compared to the 120GB CECH-2000A PS3 Slim sporting a 65-nm RSX. The cooler running chip allows for a stealthier heat sink and power supply in addition to a smaller cooling unit. Those changes combined with fewer adjoining chips around the shrunken RSX should make the console cheaper to build which is good news to
Sony's sagging bottom line.
Update:
PocketNews has confirmed with Sony that the RSX graphics chip is built using 40-nm processes (not 45-nm). Post updated to reflect the change.
posted April 26th 2010 6:27AM
Too little, too late!
@BurtonBytes Why is it too little to late?
@Den
My feeling is that the large cost premium the PS3 had when it came out initially, when it still sold for a significant loss (relevant really only to Sony), pushed users to look at the Xbox 360. I certainly was a early buyer of the PS3.
Whilst I could not fault the build quality of the unit or the UI, it actually felt to me a sterile environment. I'd have both a PS2, Xbox and Gamecube but the 360 simply seemed like more fun than my PS3. This coupled with news of loosing a lot of exclusive titles and generally having a poorer online experience, especially back when COD4 first came out.
No I'd like to say I'm a real Mac head but I'm not an apologist and Microsoft in my opinion built a better user experience and that elevates the Xbox above some of the hardware issues experienced.
Plus in the UK the Sky player is simply awesome and has kept my kids happy for many many hours.
For me the return of pleasure to pound is greater with the Xbox, especially as it costs far less fr the end user in the first place.
@BurtonBytes so what if it pushed people to the 360 first.....you DO realize that PS3's are selling like hotcakes now right? hard to find in stock for the last few months....so at its current price it is easily knocking down that once 9 million unit lead the 360 had a few years ago.....its more like 4-5 million....and it hasn't even been a full year since the current price drop
@Chris DPSN AggieCEO XBLThe Aggi
Yet again, a fanboy interprets a carefully constructed and educated message as an insult to their preferred system/device. He was only talking about the release price of the PS3 in response to the question above him. He never said that it was a bad system, only that the price/value ratio for him was not equal to that of the 360's.
@BurtonBytes:
Way to suck, Sony. 4 years later and you finally make your first penny on PS3 hardware.
Totally pathetic.
@Jordan yeah and i see you producing a console selling 30million
zzing!
now, if that can translate into another price cut (50 dollars), it'd be great. My 07 PS3 Phat has seen its better days.
Time to wait for Slim SLIM PS3 and price-cut around GT5 launch!!!
Xbox doesn't like this kind of news
@grummy
whys that, It doesnt mean the PS3 is going to be cheaper to the consumer, just that sony will make some money on it. If it's been a loss leader for this long, they need to start to make some serious money of it!
@nabberuk
xbox is market leader in us (as per feb 2010), it's only represent unit sale. Table will turn
@grummy Get a big table, then you can have both.
@nabberuk Actually it does. The unit will take less energy, so throughout the life of the console, you'll be saving money :)
@daftrok ...and stack that on top of the money you save by not paying for online play. ;)
@macserv
Or the time you'll have to do other things while it's downloading its latest hour update the next time you turn it on...
Hmm maybe we'll see a price cut!
And I'll finally buy one.
Okay...but still: Xbox 360 Slim + Natal = WIN.
@mschmidler Natal is a good concept that lacks physical triggers. I put my money on Nintendo and Sony there.. Well, I'm not buying any but if it was a bet.
@mschmidler Unreleased product + Unreleased product = win?
so far no Sonyfanboys : )
@Coke Right, only Xbox fanboys.
@Coke
which are already down in oblivion!
Or they could stick with the current SRP but bundle it with the Move.
I love how my power bill dropped significantly when I switched to the current Slim. On top of that, it's Anynet (Samsung) compatible.
You should turn your system off when you're not playing.
You shouldn't notice a 15% drop in power from 1 appliance. Your saving what, 30 watt/hours per hour of play.
@JoeRodricks If you move from the phat to the slim the power saving is more like 40%. The old 60GB phat consumes around 190w and this new revision consumes around 80w.
Engadget is much faster than Joystiq these days when it comes to game related news.
Is Sony even in the race anymore? Maybe its just me but I don't see a lot of people interested in the PS3 anymore. Its like they just fell of the face of the earth, at least as far as mind share goes.
@AmazingAaron
UHHHHHhhhh.....
have you see all the games that have just been released for it.
Feels good to say that instead of the games that are coming.
@AmazingAaron
I agree, While PS2 was all the rage for the teens it's now the Xbox360. The hardcore still buy the PS3 but for the average consumer it just doesn't seem to get a look in, even with blu-ray support.
@AmazingAaron
Stop living under a rock dude, the PS3 is kicking ass all over the world.
@CarliT
but it should. The higher initial price didn't bother me because I'm not 14 and didn't have to ask my parents to buy it (not that it would be an issue since they used to buy me Macs). Also I enjoy playing games with people my own age as opposed to squeaky voiced 8 year olds calling me a n*****f****t. Blu-Ray support as well as YouTube and other streaming video makes it a great all in one living room device, especially for anyone that's spending their own money on it. But if you like buying cheap, poorly made pcs, and are just buying a cheap game machine for your kids to play WW2 fps on then hell, get an xbox. Plus I hear watching DVDs through HDMI is the wave of the future.
@AmazingAaron
Maybe you should open your eyes then!
@AmazingAaron:
It really is only the PS3 fanbois that think the PS3 is kicking ass all over the world. Dude is right, PS2 was synonymous with video gaming like Nintendo used to be. It's not anymore. 360 is now known as videogaming.
I'm not saying people don't buy PS3s. Those dedicated to Playstation do, but the tables have turned and the PS brand isn't what it used to be.
Besides, 4 years later and Sony may finally make their first penny on PS3 hardware, completely pathetic.
@TheKingOfHyrule:
Dude, fuck off. "My mommy and daddy used to buy me Macs so they could have bought me a PS3 when it was first released"
Nobody gives a fuck, stop thinking so highly of yourself. I'm glad you bought a first release and wasted so much money on it, hopefully you go broke someday like you deserve. I bought a Mac myself, ooooooooooooooo.
@Jordan
so your saying its pathetic that a company would take a cut in revenue so you could play some high quality games? yh thats pretty pathetic considering how its wasted on people like you
I have the original PS3 (fat) 60GB. When Remote Play feature is turned on, a fan stays on even when the PS3 is turned off (this makes a noise which is annoying).
Does anyone know is the PS3 Slim does this? If it does, I hope this newer model doesn't!
W00t happy for them
I'm still happy I bought the fully-equipped original fattie. I'll take all the extras Sony removed over a smaller, cooler chip any day.
@arkweld
no doubt. All of my Playstations (1,2,3,psp) have all been the initial run of hardware and I have never had any type of problem with them, no disc read error, yellow light, or upside down console. For hardware that's gotten tons of use and been moved around numerous times I'd sy that pretty impressive. Ps3 has always been a better value considering it has wireless right out of the box, an Internet browser (Jesus even the wii has one) Blu-Ray drive, makes a sweet htpc, and has games other than fps and sports. PSN could be better, and I would definitely pay for a premium version of it, and I would also like some downloadable games that originally appeared on other platforms (arcade, neo-geo, etc). You can't argue with the PSone library though. The ps3 has been better pricewise even since the 399 price considering it came with a bigger hard drive and free built in wireless as opposed to a $100 adapter. Who besides people in dorm rooms has a console connected on Ethernet? And why be limited to that unless you spend extra money? That's why see owning a PS3 as analagous to owning a Mac: there's a bit of a hardware premium (which has been eliminated in ps3's case), but with that comes more included software, better build quality, and hardware features that should have been included in the first iterations of other consoles, not to mention the convenience of not having to send it for repairs to Microsoft 3-4 times before they finally make a revision to a hardware flaw that the company was aware of before the console even shipped. Just like buying a cheap pc, you save money initially, but lost time due to repairs, and having to go through several replacement machines pretty much negates any benefit. Thank god Microsoft doesn't make pc hardware other than peripherals.
Where do you " I don't see a lot of people interested in the PS3 anymore" people live? Or are you just baiting?
Anyway, good news for THE best built console with THE best customer service, THE best (i.e. critically acclaimed) exclusive games, and now...THE best value for your gaming dollar. Noone can deny all of that even with the few dickish moves Sony has made lately, i.e. removing features..
@Mahapralaya
I don't see the Wii anywhere in this article?
@Mofetti
I said "gaming console" not "toy".
@Mahapralaya
The Wii is a gaming console that came a generation late. Even 720p would be nice...
On the other hand, at least I can surf the web on it (and it has Flash!)
Good luck finding a ps3. I checked every electronics store. They are selling out like hotcakes. I eneded up buying it on amazon and just wait like 5 days for shipping. Even amazon says they are selling out. Limit 3 on amazon.
I can smell some special discounts for the holidays. :-)
Well its about damn time!
I thought they lowered the manufacturing costs to $273 last year when the slim released? Or are they lowereing the costs again?
The 'shortage' could be to get rid of old stock, then throw in the newbies with GT5 to make a killer profit!!!
im glad i held off on that ps3 purchase, its time to scour model numbers :D