PS3 Revisited
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There have been some significant changes to the PS3 since the first prototype shipped. This article takes a close look at the technology and compares it with Microsoft's Xbox 360. Does the PS3 really have what it takes to dominate the field, or is it all overpriced hype?
After the launch of the PlayStation 2 in 2000, there was little argument that we wouldn't see the Playstation 3 in a few years. The PS2 was a huge hit and the greatest selling console at the time. A year later Microsoft threw its hat into the ring, releasing the Xbox.
Both companies quickly started working on the next generation of video game system, trying to produce the console with the greatest graphics and most advanced system to date. We all know Microsoft's answer was the Xbox 360 which was released over a year ago. The Playstation 3 was released a few months ago; it was still getting the bugs out when the Xbox 360 was released. We'll take a look at what was happening behind the scenes at Sony.
I've done articles talking about the Cell processor and Blu-Ray technologies because they are new experimental hardware that could potentially have a huge impact. The problem for the Playstation 3 was that it was experimental hardware that no one had done before. There is a chance that it will work first time through and everything will be good, but chances are greater that something will come crashing down.
The Cell processor was supposed to be one of the biggest features. It was going to have 8 processors in it, all working for game operation. In reality, due to some bad yields, they dedicated 6 to the games, 1 to the OS, and disabled 1 so they could get enough CPUs to make enough PS3s. The processors with more than one bad core will be shipped off to be used in other electronic devices such as home servers or TVs. While this doesn't scream that the PS3 is a dud, it doesn't help any. You're cutting down 1/8 of the CPU power. If yields improve they could start shipping PS3s with all the cores, but they wouldn't be utilized since there are a million PS3s without it.
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