The Sony PlayStation 3 - An Introduction to the PS3 Games Console

The PlayStation 3 is the latest game console from electronics giant Sony. In this article we’ll take a look at the console in detail.

Processing Power

The heart of the PS3 is its Cell Processor which was jointly developed between Sony, Toshiba and IBM, providing the PS3 with over thirty times the power of its predecessor, the PS2. The Cell Processor is not for exclusive use in the PS3, Toshiba will use it in their upmarket range of television sets and IBM will make use of it in their super computers. The graphics side of the console is provided by gaming giant NVidia. The chip employed is closely based on the GeForce 7800 or NV47 series of PC based graphic cards but uses the name RSX or Reality Synthesizer for the PS3. The chip runs at a frequency of 550 MHz and employs 256MB of GDDR3 RAM.

Optical Storage

The PS3 contains a built in 2.5 inch hard disk drive which is used for partial installs of games, saving games and for the storage of download material. The size of the hard drive varies from 20GB to 160GB depending on the specific model although the user can upgrade the hard drive to one up to 500GB in size. The way the hard drive is easily removable without opening up the console appears to indicate that Sony intended this level of user upgradeability. The PS3 also features a built in Blu-ray disk drive allowing the user to watch the latest high definition movies on the console. A separate Blu-ray remote control is available to buy as an extra, although the game controller can be used if so desired.

Control System

The PS3 controllers, although looking the same as the previous PS2 controllers, are actually wireless rechargeable items (the PS2 controllers were wired) using a Bluetooth wireless connection system allowing up to seven players at once per console. Due to licensing issues the DualShock rumble feature of the PS2 was not included on the PS3 at launch, although this is now a standard feature.

Online Gaming

The PS3 console can be connected to the internet using either the CAT5 cable-based Ethernet connection or the integrated wireless connectivity feature which employs the Wi-Fi IEEE 802.11 protocol. Online gaming is conducted through the PSN or PlayStation Network which is free to registered users unlike Microsoft’s rival system, Xbox Live.

Other Features

The PS3 also features up to six USB2 ports (depending on model), an HDMI connection providing up to a 1920 x 1080 resolution progressive picture to a suitably equipped HDTV and an optical audio connection for use with an external home cinema system. The HDMI connection is also able to carry an audio signal, providing it is used with the appropriate receiving equipment. The console comes in black, silver or white, although it is only available in black in the North American and European markets. There are rumours of the imminent release of a Silver PS3 in the United States, although this hasn’t yet been confirmed by Sony.

Rivals

The PS3’s main rivals are the Xbox 360 from Microsoft and the Wii from Nintendo. The Xbox 360 is the closest rival in terms of features and power. Whilst the Xbox does without a Blu-ray drive (it is DVD only) and built in Wi-Fi (available as an add on) it does come in a lot cheaper than the PS3. Note that online game play costs around £40 per year with the Xbox whilst it is free for the PS3. The Nintendo Wii does not possess anywhere near the processing power of the other two systems but it does gain an advantage over them with its unique wireless controller system, making the console more of a fun gaming device which often comes into its own where larger groups of people are present. The cost of the Wii is comparable to the Xbox 360.

The Sony PlayStation 3 can be considered a major upgrade on the previous PlayStation 2 console. It has introduced numerous firsts including an integrated hard drive, Blu-ray disk drive, wireless Bluetooth controllers and integrated Wi-Fi connectivity. Whether it’s the right console for you the feature count, game availability and price should all be taken into account to see if it meets your requirements.

Get Unlimited Downlaods For Your PS3!

Over 1,000,000 Downloads for PS3, Unlimited Movies Downloads For PS3 , Complete Games for your Console Download Wallpapers! Load up your Console with games, music, and movies! CLICK HERE

Technorati Tags: download ps3 games