PlayStation 3 Architecture (2021)

Summary

Supporting imageryModelThe original PlayStation 3 or 'PS3'.Released on 11/11/2006 in Japan, 17/11/2006 in America and 23/03/2007 in EuropeThe PS3 2000/3000 series (a.k.a. 'Slim').Released on 01/09/2009 in Europe and America; and 03/09/2009 in JapanThe PS3 4000 series (a.k.a. 'Super Slim').Released on 09/2012 internationallyMotherboardMotherboardShowing COK-001 revision (the first one), taken from my CECHA12 model.The remaining 128 MB NAND Flash and the connectors for the Blu-ray PATA drive, Wifi/BT daughterboard, front panel and MultiCard reader are fitted on the backMotherboard with important parts labelledDiagramMain architecture diagramA quick introductionIn 2006, Sony unveiled the long-awaited ‘next generation’ video game console, a shiny (albeit heavy) machine whose underlying hardware architecture continues the teachings of the Emotion Engine, that is, focus on vector processing to maximise performance, even at the cost of complexity. Meanwhile, their new ‘super processor’, the Cell Broadband Engine, is conceived during a crisis of innovation and will have to keep up as trends for multimedia services evolve.This write-up takes a deep look at Sony, IBM, Toshiba and Nvidia’s joint project, along with its execution and effect on the industry.On the article’s lengthI’m afraid this article is not the typical ‘lunchtime’ one that I usually write for other consoles in this series. If you are interested in every area of the PlayStation 3, you are in for the whole journey! Having said that, this writing encompasses ~6 years of research and development carried out by countless engineers, so I don’t expect you to digest it all at once. Please take your time (and breaks if needed) and if at the end you are hungry for more, help yourself at the ‘Sources’ section!CPUWelcome to the most recognisable and innovative part of this console.IntroductionThe PS3’s CPU is massively complex, but it’s also a very fascinating work of engineering that intersects complex needs and unusual...