Sony has unveiled the next generation of its best-selling PlayStation hardware, promising a piece of kit far more powerful than Microsoft's recently unveiled Xbox 360.
Although the ultimate proof will be in the software, the systems' specs are impressive. The PlayStation 3 -- slated for a Spring 2006 release in the U.S. -- runs on the highly-vaunted CELL chip. The PS3's CELL consists of a 64-bit PowerPC core running at 3.2 GHz and enhanced by eight 32-bit "synergistic processing units," capable of performing 216 gigaflops. NVIDIA is providing the 550 MHz GPU, which is rated at 1.8 teraflops.
The PS3 hardware features several forms of connectivity, including 1000BASE-T Ethernet and 802.11 b/g Wi-Fi (the same standard used by the PSP), as well as USB 2.0 and a variety of flash memory inputs such as Sony's proprietary Memory Stick. The oddly-shaped wireless controllers will connect to the system via Bluetooth. The machine will support TVs running in 1080p progressive scan mode, meaning Sony will be tagging along for Microsoft's bold foray into the "HD era."
Do you want all of the PS3's specs? Pictures? Screenshots of upcoming games? Then read the rest of 1UP.com's story on the PS3: "PlayStation 3 Revealed Also, be sure to check out the Xbox 360 page at 1UP.
