Nintendo GameCube vs Sony PlayStation 2

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GameCube compared with PlayStation 2

	NintendoGameCube	SonyPlayStation 2
Overview
Released
Released	May 2002	November 2000
Performance
Type
Type	Home console	Home console
CPU
CPU	IBM Gekko (PowerPC), 485 MHz	Emotion Engine, 294.912 MHz
GPU
GPU	ATI Flipper, 162 MHz	Graphics Synthesizer, 147.456 MHz
Memory
Memory	40 MB (better)	36 MB
Disc drive
Disc drive	Yes	Yes
CPU
CPU	IBM Gekko (PowerPC-based) at 485 MHz (Nintendo UK)	128-bit Emotion Engine at 294.912 MHz (Sony)
GPU
GPU	ATI/Nintendo Flipper at 162 MHz, with 2 MB frame buffer and 1 MB texture cache (Nintendo UK)	Graphics Synthesizer at 147.456 MHz with 4 MB of embedded video DRAM (Sony)
Memory detail
Memory detail	40 MB system memory (24 MB 1T-SRAM main memory plus 16 MB auxiliary DRAM); Flipper also has 3 MB embedded graphics memory (Nintendo UK)	32 MB Direct RDRAM main memory, 4 MB embedded video DRAM, 2 MB I/O processor memory and 2 MB sound memory (Sony)
Storage detail
Storage detail	GameCube Game Discs (8 cm, miniDVD-based, up to 1.5 GB); saves on GameCube memory cards (two slots)	DVD-ROM and CD-ROM drive; saves on 8 MB MagicGate memory cards (two slots). An expansion bay at the back takes a network adaptor
Storage expansion
Storage expansion	Serial ports for the broadband or modem adapter; Hi-Speed port underneath for the Game Boy Player	–
Display and video
Maximum output
Maximum output	576i	–
Built-in screen
Built-in screen	No built-in screen	No built-in screen
Video output
Video output	Analogue AV out (composite or RGB SCART); DOL-001 also has Digital AV out, but PAL games offer 576i or 480i rather than native 480p	AV Multi Out for analogue video, including composite, S-Video, RGB SCART and component with suitable cables
Audio
Audio	Analogue stereo; 16-bit Macronix DSP with 64 channels at 48 kHz (Nintendo UK)	SPU2 sound processor; analogue stereo; DIGITAL OUT (OPTICAL) with Dolby Digital and DTS for DVD films
Design and power
Weight
Weight	1,400 g (better)	2,200 g
Power use
Power use	39 W AC adapter rating (12 V × 3.25 A; Nintendo UK)	50 W (220–240 V)
Colours
Colours	–	Black
Connections
Ports
Ports	4 × controller ports, 2 × memory card slots, analogue and digital AV outputs, 2 × high-speed serial ports, 1 × high-speed parallel port (Nintendo UK)	Front 2 × controller ports, 2 × memory card slots, 2 × USB, 1 × S400 i.LINK; back AV Multi Out, DIGITAL OUT (OPTICAL), expansion bay
Controller
Controller	GameCube controller; WaveBird wireless controller sold separately	DUALSHOCK 2 analogue controller
Backward compatibility
Backward compatibility	–	Most original PlayStation games and PlayStation controllers and memory cards