Sony · PlayStation

PlayStation 3

Released March 2007

Sony's original 2006 PlayStation 3, the large first model with a Blu-ray drive and a 60 GB hard drive in the UK, for anyone comparing it with the PS2, PS4 or Xbox 360.

Model history · 3 models, 1995–2007

1995PlayStation Compare
2000PlayStation 2 Compare
2007PlayStation 3

Type: Home console
Output: 1080p
Memory: 512 MB
Storage: 60 GB
Weight: 5,000 g

What reviewers say

Reviewers were impressed by its power, Blu-ray drive and broad media features, and liked the comfortable Sixaxis controller, though IGN missed rumble. IGN found the launch games and online service underwhelming; Trusted Reviews, reviewing the European model, criticised its late arrival, high price and reduced PS2 compatibility, and the lack of a bundled HDMI cable.

From ign.com and trustedreviews.com

Specifications

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Performance

Type: Home console
CPU: Cell Broadband Engine, 3.2 GHz
GPU: RSX Reality Synthesizer
Memory: 512 MB
Storage: 60 GB
Disc drive: Yes
CPU: Cell Broadband Engine at 3.2 GHz, with one PowerPC-based core and seven active synergistic processing elements (Sony)
GPU: RSX graphics processor, codeveloped by NVIDIA and Sony
Memory detail: 256 MB XDR main RAM and 256 MB GDDR3 video RAM
Storage detail: 60 GB 2.5-inch Serial ATA hard drive, user-replaceable; Blu-ray, DVD and CD drive (read only)
Storage expansion: Memory Stick, SD and CompactFlash card slots; USB storage

Display and video

Maximum output: 1080p
Built-in screen: No built-in screen
Video output: HDMI out; AV Multi Out (composite, S-Video, component); 576i, 576p, 720p, 1080i and 1080p on the UK model
Audio: DIGITAL OUT (OPTICAL); Dolby Digital 5.1, DTS 5.1 and up to 7.1-channel linear PCM over HDMI (Sony)

Design and power

Weight: 5,000 g
Colours: Black

Connections

Ports: 4 × USB 2.0, HDMI out, AV Multi Out, DIGITAL OUT (OPTICAL), Gigabit Ethernet (10BASE-T, 100BASE-TX, 1000BASE-T), memory card slots
Wi-Fi and Bluetooth: Wi-Fi (IEEE 802.11 b/g), Bluetooth 2.0 (EDR); up to 7 Bluetooth controllers
Controller: SIXAXIS wireless controller at launch; later bundles came with DUALSHOCK 3
Backward compatibility: PlayStation games; the UK and European model plays some PS2 games through partial software emulation (its PS2 Emotion Engine chip was removed)

Pros and cons

Pros

Blu-ray drive, and output up to 1080p over HDMI
Built-in Wi-Fi, Bluetooth controllers and Gigabit Ethernet
Four USB ports and memory card readers on the first models

Cons

Heavy, at about 5 kg
256 MB of main RAM plus 256 MB of video RAM, split in two pools
The UK model plays only some PS2 games, through partial software emulation

Closest rivals

Model	Type	Output	Memory	Storage	Weight	Released
MicrosoftXbox 360	Home console	1080p	512 MB	20 GB	3,500 g	Dec 2005
SonyPlayStation 3 Slim	Home console	1080p	512 MB	120 GB – 250 GB	3,200 g	Sept 2009
NintendoWii	Home console	480p	88 MB	512 MB	1,220 g	Dec 2006

Previous model: PlayStation 2. Newer model: PlayStation 4.

Sources

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