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Sony PlayStation 2 · Sony Interactive Entertainment / PlayStation official history photograph
Sony · PlayStation
PlayStation 2
Sony's 2000 home console, which plays PS2 games on DVD or CD, most original PlayStation games and DVD films, for collectors and anyone comparing it with the PlayStation and PS3.
Model history · 2 models, 1995–2000
- 1995PlayStationCompare
- 2000PlayStation 2
- Type
- Home console
- Output
- –
- Memory
- 36 MB
- Storage
- –
- Weight
- 2,200 g
Specifications
Report a wrong or missing specPerformance
- Type
- Home console
- CPU
- Emotion Engine, 294.912 MHz
- GPU
- Graphics Synthesizer, 147.456 MHz
- Memory
- 36 MB
- Disc drive
- Yes
- CPU
- 128-bit Emotion Engine at 294.912 MHz (Sony)
- GPU
- Graphics Synthesizer at 147.456 MHz with 4 MB of embedded video DRAM (Sony)
- Memory detail
- 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
- 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
Design and power
- Weight
- 2,200 g
- Power use
- 50 W (220–240 V)
- Colours
- Black
Display and video
- Built-in screen
- No built-in screen
- Video output
- AV Multi Out for analogue video, including composite, S-Video, RGB SCART and component with suitable cables
- Audio
- SPU2 sound processor; analogue stereo; DIGITAL OUT (OPTICAL) with Dolby Digital and DTS for DVD films
Connections
- Ports
- Front 2 × controller ports, 2 × memory card slots, 2 × USB, 1 × S400 i.LINK; back AV Multi Out, DIGITAL OUT (OPTICAL), expansion bay
- Controller
- DUALSHOCK 2 analogue controller
- Backward compatibility
- Most original PlayStation games and PlayStation controllers and memory cards
Pros and cons
Pros
- Plays most original PlayStation games
- Plays DVD films as well as audio CDs
- Optical digital audio output
Cons
- 32 MB of main RAM
- Saves need a separate 8 MB memory card
- No HDMI output
Closest rivals
Model | Type | Output | Memory | Storage | Weight | Released |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Home console | 480p | 24 MB | – | 1,500 g | Oct 1999 | |
| Home console | 576i | 40 MB | – | 1,400 g | May 2002 | |
| Home console | 576i | 64 MB | 8 GB | 4,000 g | Mar 2002 |
Previous model: PlayStation. Newer model: PlayStation 3.
Sources
- sonyinteractive.com/uploads/sites/5/2023/02/990913_5.pdf
- archive.org/details/483-scph-30003
- web.archive.org/web/2012/http://www.scei.co.jp/corporate/data/bizdataeu_e.html
Photo: Sony Interactive Entertainment / PlayStation official history photograph
- Original PlayStation2 with retail box and DualShock2 controller: Sony Interactive Entertainment / PlayStation official history photograph
- Original PlayStation2 disc-tray close-up in supplied artistic background: Sony Interactive Entertainment / PlayStation official history photograph
- Original full-size PlayStation left and original PlayStation2 right, each with controller and retail box; not the compact PS one: Sony Interactive Entertainment / PlayStation official history photograph