Stuffo "PlayStation 3 Details"

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PlayStation 3 Details
by Robert Valdes

In our never ending quest to provide you with the latest news that's really important to us, Stuffo
takes a look at Sony's next, next-gen console -- the PS3. As usual, I hit the streets and back alleys to
rough up informants and get the truth. The thing is when I got to our informant's house, he was out.
So I turned over a potted plant on his front porch. Take that, snitch!

The release date for PS3 has not been officially announced. Rumors have the release as early as the
2005 holiday season and as late as sometime in 2007. I like the middle, so let's say late-2006. In any
case that gives us a lot of time to speculate on the PS3, seed false rumors and create really nifty,
convincing 3-D models of our version of the PS3. So sit back and relax as Stuffo separates fact from
fiction and guides you through the world of PS3.

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Could this be PS3? Yes, if we have it our way.

Just The Facts

The biggest news about the PS3 is that it will use a revolutionary new chip, code named Cell. The
Cell chip will function as the PS3's CPU. IBM, Toshiba and Sony have all worked together to develop
the Cell chip. Sony alone has contributed $325 million to the project.

The Cell chip is a dual-core, 64-bit RISC IBM POWER derivative. It will be able to support multiple
operating systems at the same time. The Cell chip has a real-time resource management system to
speed up real-time applications, as well as a flexible on-chip I/O interface. Abstracts from the 2005
ISSCC show claim the Cell processor could run at a muscular 4.6GHz. What this all amounts to is a
game console with super computer-like performance.

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Mmmmm ... split controllers.

This Cell chip won't be exclusive to the PS3. Developers of the chip Be the first ...
expect to see it make its way into a whole array of next-gen Want to be the first on your
consumer electronics. For a more comprehensive and technical look block to have the PS3? The
at the Cell chip, check out this article at GameDailyBiz.com Japanese version of Amazon
has already posted a product
The graphics chips will be supplied by Nvidia; Nvidia and Sony page for the PlayStation 3.
announced the deal on December 7, 2004. This keeps Nvidia in the While there are no pictures,
console game after a fallout between Nvidia and Microsoft over the product information, ordering
graphics chip deal for Xbox. information or English to speak
of on the page, some loyal Sony
fans have already posted a few
Elpida will supply the RAM for PS3. In a Reuters report, Elpida
five-star ratings for the PS3.
states that the PS3 will use the 512 megabit of XDR DRAM, with
Rambus' interface technology.

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Dual wielding!

That's it in the way of confirmed info about the PS3 specs. Now, to the rumor mill ...

Rumor Central
Among the juiciest of rumors surrounding the PS3 are the ones that claim Sony's new console will
function with Blu-ray. Another point of speculation is backwards compatibility.

There are conflicting stories about whether or not the PS3 will be backwards compatible with PS2
and PS games. The backwards compatibility of the PS2 was a huge selling point with many fans and
gave the PS2 an immense catalog at launch. Though the value of backwards compatibility in next-
gen consoles is under debate, we don't think it can hurt the PS3. And, the technology is in place to
make that happen -- even in a Blu-ray player. Let's hope Sony makes the right move.

Another hot topic for the PS3 is launch titles. There's tons of speculation. As I scoured the boards
and rumor mills, a few titles kept coming up as strong possibilities:

Final Fantasy XIII

Tony Hawk's Underground 3
Star Wars Galaxies
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Gran Turismo 5
Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion

Sony is riding the PSP train right now. So that begs the question, "Will the PS3 connect to the PSP."
It would seem that's a strong possibility. The interesting thing is how they would connect. The word
on the street is that it would be via an 802.11 wireless LAN. Potentially, that could mean that the PS3
could also make the wireless connection to a hot spot set up within a user's home. With the race on
to create an all-in-one entertainment console, Sony may steer this capability toward providing users
the opportunity to access the Internet via the PS3.

Want to see this picture again?

Yeah, we knew you would. We like it, too.

Anyone ever seen the Eye Toy? Phil Harrison, vice president for SCEE, told the Australian Financial
Review that Sony is currently investigating integrating motion-sensing technology into the new PS3
console. Boy, oh boy ...

There is a fairly strong suspicion that the next Xbox will be released in multiple forms. Sony might
also be taking that route. In an interview with the official Playstation Web site, David Reeves, SCEE
president and COO, revealed that there may be two versions of the PS3 available at launch. As with

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the Xbox model, the difference would be in functionality and price point. It looks like there may be one
stripped-down gaming machine and one that functions more as a "home server."

Though little is known about the PS3, Sony has given a somewhat half-hearted announcement --
they will debut the hardware (or some version of it) at the 2005 E3 Expo. Stuffo will be at E3 to take a
look. Stay tuned for more information as it becomes available.

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