Due to the removal of various components from the PS3's innards, coupled with smaller chip size, Sony has been able to cut the production cost of the PS3 by half since last year. Each console can now be produced at $400 a unit, rather than the $800 it was costing for each PS3 around November 2006. It's not clear whether this is the case for both the 40GB and the 80GB models, but it seems fair to assume that the 40GB is now selling at cost.
What does this mean for consumers? More wiggle room with regards to pricing. We wouldn't at all be surprised to see a drop in price sometime this year. Don't expect it to come soon though. Sony are still riding a bit of a wave with regards to PS3 sales and with a number of high profile games coming out in the next few months, that can only improve.
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I'm still frustrated over loss of backwards compatibility with the 40 GB, and spotty support with the 80.
I'm hoping the 60 GB models are still floating around when I can finally afford a PS3!
(60 GB is the only model with 100% backwards compatibility)
I'm looking at possibly picking up a PS3 of my own in a couple of weeks, and the BC doesn't matter to me what-so-ever. I just think it's interesting that Sony is on it's way to making profit on their system this year.
I'm still torn between getting an XBox360 or a PS3. The blu ray thing is really affecting me as well. I just wish there were more games that interested me but maybe I'm missing something. I'll make a separate thread as not to hijack this thread.
On Topic: I had heard about another price drop this year and this makes it even more likely to happen. If I do get a PS3 over the 360 then I won't wait as I have very little patience.
Sony will now make money of selling PS3's and hopefully this means another price cut later on this year.
I wish they'd released the american 60gb into europe. All we got was the shitty software emulation. Now we've got nothing.
Sony will now make money of selling PS3's and hopefully this means another price cut later on this year.
I think most people are expecting another cut this year, much later this year, but I'm at the point where it's either crap or get off the pot (again speaking of my personal situation), so I think I'm going to take the plunge first for the Blu Ray player and secondly for the upcoming PS3 titles. Have a media hub to stream my WMC files to my television won't be bad either.
well if another price drop comes this year, i'll probably pick up a PS3 then.. I don't really feel like dropping another $400 on yet another console right now
I wish they'd released the american 60gb into europe. All we got was the shitty software emulation. Now we've got nothing.
i thought the PS3 was region-free. Can't you just import one?
They are region free and have been so far but for the Blu Ray movies they are locked to their specific zone.
Sony will now make money of selling PS3's and hopefully this means another price cut later on this year.
think they have a WAYS to go til they are profitable on the PS3, they lost ons of cash to this point
but if it means another price drop, then thats a good thing
My issue is the lack of backward compatibility. That is the final thing I insist on before I buy one.
And I can't import because transformers are noisy and fire-hazards and the UK is 240V not 110V. Plus I'd only be able to use it on the HDTV because my TV is EuroSCART not composite/component
ps. Is there any chance you could flash a 40PS3 with 80PS3 firmware to get the BC to work?
If you want BC I'd probably jump on it, because current trends look like (IMO) that eventually that will totally be a thing of the past. I really think a lot of people are simply saying, I'll just use my PS2 if I want to play an older game. That's not to take away from your concern, but we've even heard reports of MS stopping work on BC for the any other xbox games.
ps. Is there any chance you could flash a 40PS3 with 80PS3 firmware to get the BC to work?
I posted this in another thread
EE = Emotion Engine (PS2 CPU)
GS = Graphics Synthesizer (PS2 GPU)
I/O Chip = PS1 CPU/GPU
The 20 and 60 GB use a fully hardware mapped EE.GS Rasterizer chip (found in the latest Slim PS2 models), which has the EE and GS chips (formerly separate)rasterized onto one die. This allowed for PS2 software to be run entirely as if on PS2 hardware, making all but a few which had issues with how the Sixaxis was mapped, or quirky programming sequences that referenced objects outside of the Sony PS2 design guidelines.
The 80 GB removed the rasterizer, and instead, included simply the last revision standalone GS chip. The Emotion Engine, being "easy" for Sony to emulate (since they designed it), was emulated by software, while graphics code was executed natively on the GS. A few titles have significant issues, mostly ones that go out of guidelines, or ones that simply push the technology far. Many minor quirks arise from the lack of 100% true (impossible) emulation support.
The 40 GB removed the GS chip, and thus, there is no backward compatibility for PS2 games, as graphics emulation can be tricky, and would most likely perform sub-par. (Screen tearing, etc). The Xbox 360 uses software emulation to run Xbox games which includes GPU emulation, hence why many titles don't work. It was Sony's decision not to waste resources on an emulator, since there's partial support on higher models (not possible for Microsoft, since nVidia ceased production on Xbox GPUs after a contract dispute (partly the unknown reason the 360 was rushed to the market, and Xbox 1's quickly vanished)).
The I/O chip was included in the Playstation 2 to support running Playstation 1 titles. With the power of the cell and flexibility of the PS3's operating system, it's easy to emulate the entire chip, thus why all models from the beginning have used complete software emulation to support running Playstation 1 titles.
Hence, no, since a physical chip is missing.
If you want BC I'd probably jump on it
I wish I could, but the 60GB model was discontinued back in October.
We've not had any stock since about November.
We've ONLY got the 40GB model in europe.
Why don't you try ebay to find the 60gb model you want?
Phht, I want a PS3, but if I get one, i'll get the 80GB.
Phht, I want a PS3, but if I get one, i'll get the 80GB.
Is that because you want BC, Motorstorm packed in, or for another reason?
