When the PlayStation 2 computer entertainment system was announced, the DualShock 2 Analog Controller (SCPH-10010) included with it was almost exactly the same externally as the previous DualShock analog controller, except that it was black (colors came later), had different screw positioning (one fewer), and the DualShock 2 logo was added. Another way to tell the DualShock and the DualShock 2 controllers apart is that the connector that plugs into the console matches that console’s memory card shape; the DualShock’s connector has rounded shoulders and DualShock 2’s is squared off. The analogue sticks were also noticeably stiffer for more accurate movements. Internally, the DualShock 2 was lighter and all of the buttons (except for the Analog mode, L3 and R3 buttons) were readable as analog values (pressure sensitive). The official DUALSHOCK2 analog controller delivers pressure sensitivity on every action button and the enhanced mobility of the analog thumbsticks.

EyeToy USB Camera

The EyeToy USB camera translates for EyeToy compatible games your body movements into the controller input, to map your face onto in-game characters and more! The EyeToy USB camera also has a built-in microphone to record short video messages right onto your Memory Card (8MB) for PlayStation 2.

Memory Cards (8MB) for PlayStation 2

For game saves and other essential information, you’ll need a Memory card for the PlayStation2. Save game progress, hidden characters, high scores, special weapons, hard levels, and custom controller settings. The official Memory Card for the PlayStation 2 system stores up to 8MB of data and features MagicGate encryption. The PlayStation 2 delivers more data-intensive games, so this extra capacity is invaluable.

DVD Remote Control

Play your favorite movies without any wires. The DVD remote has all the features of a standard controller with added enhanced DVD capabilities, plus standard game control functionality. A 8MB Memory Card 8MB is required for use with model numbers SCPH-300001 and SCPH-300001GT.

Multitap for PlayStation2 70000 & 90000 Series

This Multitap for PlayStation®2 (70000 & 90000 series) makes all kind of action possible, including tag matches, multiplayer races and “friendly” games of golf. Plug in up to four controllers and/or memory cards per Multitap for simultaneous use. With two Multitaps (one per controller port) up to eight players can have at it! If you like multiplayer action, then you’ll love this! Plug in up to four controllers and/or memory cards to the Mulitap for simultaneous use. Plug in two Multitaps (one per controller port) to allow up to eight players to join in!

SingStar Microphones

SingStar is the premier music franchise for PlayStation that lets you sing along to favorites songs along with the original artists and videos. The stand alone microphone package comes with two microphones and is compatible with all SingStar titles for PlayStation 2 and too for PlayStation 3 systems.

USB Headset

The USB Headset for the PlayStation 2 computer entertainment system offers voice recognition and online chat for compatible titles. (Also compatible with the PlayStation 3 computer entertainment system.)

Component AV Cable

For use with today’s more sophisticated video equipment that allows component input from high-end gear like the PlayStation2 computer entertainment system, the Component AV Cable delivers impeccable, distortion-free picture quality. Use the Component AV Cable to connect the PlayStation 2 to your TV for to superior quality picture, colors and sound. If your entertainment center is ready, prepare for the leap in detail you’ll see with the Component AV Cable.

Details:

• Features separate left and right audio plugs for connection to an amplifier or hi-fi
• The Component AV Cable is compatible with all TVs and monitors that have Y, CB/PB, CR/PR video inputs

AV Connection Cable

This AV Connection Cable allows you to hook up a camcorder or other video equipment to your PSone console and LCD Screen so you can watch home movies and other videos while you travel! The AV Connection Cable can be used to connect the LCD screen to most Sony camcorders and other video equipment that has an AV output mini-jack. (Check to make sure your camcorder or video source has one of these before purchasing. The AV connection cable is not compatible with all products that have an AV output mini-jack. Compatibility depends on the AV signal layout of the mini-jack and not all AV equipment uses the same AV signal layout as the cable.)

The PSX is a fully functional digital video recorder with RF, S-Video and composite inputs. It is able to tune analog VHF and CATV. It comes with a remote control and can be also linked with a PlayStation Portable to transfer videos and music via USB ports. It also features software for video, photo and audio editing. The PSX supports PlayStation and PlayStation 2 gaming using PlayStation 2-based hardware, with Emotion Engine, Graphics Synthesizer and the I/O processor. It supports online game compatibility using an internal broadband adapter. Games that utilize the PS2 HDD (for example Final Fantasy XI) are supported as well. The PSX doesn’t include a controller. A special ceramic-white, USB DualShock 2 was released separately. However, original DualShocks are fully supported by two joystick ports in the back side and memory cards are also supported via port in the front side. The PSX is also known for its introduction of Sony’s XMB graphical user interface, used later on PlayStation Portable, PlayStation 3, 2008 BRAVIA model TVs and other Sony devices.

The DESR-5000 and DESR-7000 were launch models and featured a 160 GB and 250 GB HDD. Later improved DESR-7000 models were launched in 2004 with bigger hard disk and supporting improved vibration function, and editing tools.

Technical specification

DESR-7700: Hard disk capacity – 250 GB

• CPU and GPU – 90 nm EE+GS
• Recordable media – DVD-R (video mode), DVD-RW (video mode, VR mode)
• Reproducible media – DVD-VIDEO, DVD-R (video mode), DVD-RW (video mode, VR mode), Music CD, CD-R (JPEG), Memory stick, “PlayStation” standard CD-ROM, “PlayStation 2″ standard CD-ROM / DVD-ROM
• Length of video that can be recorded on a 4.7 GB DVD-R/RW: HQ about 1 hour, HSP about 1.5 hours, SP (standard) about 2 hours, LP about 3 hours, EP about 4 hours, SLP about 6 hours
• Length of video that can be recorded on the hard drive: HQ about 53 hours, HSP about 81 hours, SP (standard) About 107 hours, LP about 164 hours, EP about 217 hours, SLP about 325 hours
• Image record system – MPEG2
• Voice record system – Wave (WAVE files) of Linear PCM (at the time of HQ mode)
• Dolby Digital 2 Channel (at the time of HSP, SP, LP, EP, and SLP mode)
• Receiving channel – Ground analog (VHF Low:0-4CH / VHF Med:4-6CH / VHF High:7-13CH /UHF:14-83CH / CATV:CT-7-C99999CH), BS analog (1,3,5,7,9,11,13,15CH)
• Dubbing function – HDD->DVD high-speed Dubbing (12x max)
• Reproduction function – In-variable-speed reproduction
• Simultaneous Record and Playback
• Edit function A-B elimination (GOP)
• Recording function – Electronic program table (EPG)
• High definition and sound quality 3-dimensional Y/C separation – Time Base Correction (TBC), Video D/A converter (12 bits 108 MHz), Ghost reduction tuner, DNR, Variable Bit Rate (VBR) record, Audio D/A converter (24 bits 96 kHz)
• Photograph function – File format: JPEG (DCF standard) – Memory Stick (only Sony digital still cameras), USB (only Sony digital still cameras), Slide show display, Picture rotation (90 degrees, 180 degrees, 270 degrees)
• Music function – File format: ATRAC3, Media: Music CD
• Network function – Firmware upgrade
• PS2 correspondence network service
• Antenna input Ground analog: VHF/UHF 75ohmF type connector – BSIF: 75ohmF
• Input-and-output terminal D terminal output (D1/D2) x1
• Optical digital voice output (SPDIF) x1
• Ethernet 100 base/TX x1
• USB (Ver.1.1) terminal x1
• “Memory Stick” slot x1
• “Memory Card” slot x2
• Controller terminal x2 (DualShock)
• Size: 312 x 88 x 323 mm (12.5″ x 3.5″ x 12.75″)
• Mass: About 5.8 kg (13.75 lb)

DESR-5700: Hard disk capacity – 160 GB

DESR-7000: Hard disk capacity – 250 GB

DESR-7100: Hard disk capacity – 250 GB

DESR-7500: Hard disk capacity – 450 GB

PSP 1000

PSP 2000

PSP 3000

PSP go

Technical Specifications

The following Technical Specifications apply to all PSP’s unless noted for a specific PSP series:

CPU

• MIPS R4000 32bit Core – 1~333 MHz at 1.2V
• 128bit Bus at 2.6GBit/s
• Main Memory: 8MB eDRAM
• I-Cache and D-Cache
• FPU, VFPU (Vector Unit) at 2.6GFlops
• 3D-CG Extended Instructions set

PSP Media Engine

• MIPS R4000 32bit Core – 1~333 MHz at 1.2V
• 128bit Bus at 2.6GBit/s
• Sub Memory: 2MB eDRAM

PSP Graphics Core 1

• 1~166 MHz at 1.2V
• 256bit Bus at 5.3GBit/s
• VRAM 2MB eDRAM
• 3D Curved Surface and 3D Polygon
• Compressed Texture
• Hardware Clipping Morphing, Bone (8)
• Hardware Tessellator
• Bezier, B-Spline (NURBS)
• ex 4×4, 16×16, 64×64 sub-division

PSP Graphics Core 2

• 1~166 MHz at 1.2V
• 256bit Bus at 5.3GBit/s
• VRAM 2MB eDRAM
• Rendering Engine and Surface Engine
• Pixel Fill Rate: 664 Mega pixels/s
• Up to 33 million polygon/s (T&L)
• 24bit Full Color: RGBA

PSP Sound Core

• Built in Stereo Speakers
• Built in Microphone (PSP 3000 and above)
• 128-bit Bus at 166Mhz at 1.2V
• Contains Virtual Mobile Engine (VME)
• Reconfigurable DSP’s
• 5 Giga Operations/s
• 3D Sound, Multi-Channel
• Synthesizer, Effector, Equalizer and more

Universal Media Disc

• Diameter is 60mm
• Laser Diode is 660 nm
• Dual Layer capacity up to 1.8GB
• Transfer Rate up to 11MBit/s
• Read Only
• Shock Proof
• Secure ROM by AES
• Has Unique Disc ID
• Can contain System Software Updates

Power

• 5V DC In AC Adapter
• 5V DC In USB Charge Mode (PSP 2000 and above)
• 1500mAh, 1800mAh, and 2200mAh Battery (PSP 1000, 2000 and 3000 Only)

Mother Board Revisions

The PSP has gone through many board revisons through life of the product. Most mother board revisions are to improve system security, reduce production costs or add features such as a new model of the PSP.

• TA-079 V1: Initial mother board sold with PSP 1000 series.
• TA-079 V2
• TA-079 V3
• TA-081
• TA-082: This mother board implemented a new Ipl that refuses to boot any firmware below 2.50 without modification
• TA-085 V1: Initial mother board for PSP 2000 series
• TA-085 V2: users can not write to the PSP Battery EEPROM
• TA-086: Last mother board for PSP 1000 series
• TA-088 V1
• TA-088 V2a
• TA-088 V2b
• TA-088 V3 Integrated IPL signature checks. All Special Ipl’s for Custom Firmware fail to load on the revision and later
• TA-090 V1: Last mother board for PSP 2000 series; signature check for IPL is absent in this revision
• TA-090 V2: Initial mother board for PSP 3000 series

Technical specifications

• CPU: ARM7T (32-bit RISC Processor)
• Memory: 2K bytes SRAM, 128K bytes Flash RAM
• Graphics: 32×32 dot monochrome LCD
• Sound: 1 miniature speaker (10-bit PCM)
• Switches: 5 input buttons, 1 reset button
• Infrared communication: Bi-directional (supports IrDA based and conventional remote control systems)
• LED indicator: 1 (red)
• Battery: 1 CR-2032 lithium-ion battery
• Dimensions: 64 × 42 × 13.5 mm (length × width × height)
• Weight: Approximately 30g (including battery)
• Other functions: calendar function and identification number

Technical specification

CPU

The PS3 uses the Cell microprocessor, which is made up of one 3.2GHz PowerPC-based “Power Processing Element” (PPE) and six accessible Synergistic Processing Elements (SPEs). A seventh runs in a special mode and is dedicated to aspects of the OS and security, and an eighth is a spare to improve production yields. PlayStation 3′s Cell CPU achieves 204 GFLOPS single precision float and 15 GFLOPS double precision. The PS3 has 256MB of Rambus XDR DRAM, clocked at CPU die speed. As of firmware update 2.01, 32MB of the XDR memory is reserved by the PS3′s XrossMediaBar user interface.

Graphics processing unit

The graphics processing unit, according to Nvidia, is based on the NVIDIA G70 (previously known as NV47) architecture. The GPU makes use of 256MB GDDR3 RAM clocked at 700MHz with an effective transmission rate of 1.4GHz and up to 224MB of the 3.2GHz XDR main memory via the CPU (480MB max).

Connectivity

The PS3 supports numerous SDTV and HDTV resolutions (from 480i / 576i up to 1080p) and connectivity options (such as HDMI 1.3a and component video). In terms of audio, the PS3 supports a number of formats, including 7.1 digital audio, Dolby TrueHD, DTS-HD Master Audio and others; audio output is possible over stereo RCA cables (analog), optical digital cables, or HDMI. For the optical disc drive, a wide variety of DVD and CD formats are supported, as well as Blu-ray Discs. A 20, 40, 60, 80 or 160GB 2.5″ SATA 150 hard disk is pre-installed. In the 60 GB and 80 GB configurations, flash memory can also be used — either Memory Sticks, CompactFlash cards, or SD/MMC cards. All models support USB memory devices; flash drives and external hard drives are both automatically recognized. However, they must be formatted with the FAT32 file system — the PS3 does not support the NTFS file system that is the standard in the Windows NT family. For communication, the system sported four USB 2.0 ports at the front on the 20 and 60 GB models as well as the NTSC 80GB model, but the 40GB and 80GB PAL models only have 2 USB ports. All models (80 & 160 GB) released after August 2008 have been reduced to two USB ports, as well as dropping CompactFlash and SD card support. One Gigabit Ethernet port, Bluetooth 2.0 support, and built-in Wi-Fi are available on the 40, 60, 80, 120, and 160;GB versions.

Form and power consumption

The PlayStation 3 console is approximately 6 kg (approximately 13 pounds), 325 mm (W) × 98 mm (H) × 274 mm (D). The case was designed by Teiyu Goto of Sony, and uses the ‘Spiderman’ font. The power consumption of the initial PlayStation 3 units based on 90 nm Cell CPU ranges from 170–200 watts during normal use, despite having a 380 watt power supply. The power consumption of newer 40GB PlayStation 3 (65 nm process Cell/90 nm RSX) units ranges from 120-140 watts during normal use. The latest 80GB units use both 65 nm Cell and 65 nm RSX, and have further lowered power consumption to between 90-120W. The PS3 Slim reduces this power consumption by another 34% with the use of a 45nm Cell.

Universal power supply

The power supply can operate on both 60 Hz and 50 Hz power grids. It uses a standard C14 IEC connector and a C13 power cord appropriate for the region it is being used in. The power supply on the “fat” models are capable of delivering approximately 380W, although the PS3 has never been measured using this much power. The power supply was reduced to 250 watts in the 120 GB “Slim” model. Japanese PS3 models produced since 2007 are capable of delivering 280W of power, in part due to the energy efficiency of the newer 65 nm-based cell processors.

Backward compatibility

The PlayStation 3 does not include interfaces for legacy PlayStation peripherals, though IGN.com tested a legacy controller using a PS2-to-USB adapter, finding that it is compatible, though most other devices (such as the Guitar Hero controller) may not be compatible. However, with the release of firmware 1.70 for the Playstation 3, Sony has added support for previous Guitar Hero controllers with generic PS2-to-USB adapters (although the whammy bar is not functional). Nyko started production on the “Play Adaptor”, a PS2-to-USB adapter allowing for guitars and other PlayStation 2 peripherals to be used on the PlayStation 3 and was scheduled for release in Q2/2007, but Nyko stated at the end of March that the production of this device had been postponed due to compatibility problems with the PS3. The PS3 supports both the USB EyeToy camera/webcam and SOCOM Headset for video and voice chat. A memory card adapter is available so users can copy their old PS/PS2 game saves to a virtual memory card on the PS3’s hard drive. The PlayStation 3 can also use Memory Sticks to store and save data for PlayStation and PlayStation 2 software. New PlayStation 3 systems no longer support PS2 playback (whether through use of the Emotion Engine & Graphics Synthesizer hardware or through the Graphics Synthesizer and software emulation of the Emotion Engine) or Memory Sticks.

hdmi

Disc drive

The PlayStation 3 disc drive is an all-in-one type allowing the use of different formats:

Blu-ray

The Blu-ray drive is a 2x speed, region coded type allowing the use of:

• PlayStation 3 BD-ROM (DVD region matched, i.e. Zone 1, Zone 2, etc., and All)
• BD-ROM (BD region matched, i.e. Area A, Area B, etc., and All)
• BD-R
• BD-RE (not compatible with BD-RE version 1.0)

DVD

The DVD drive is an 8x speed, region coded type allowing the use of:

• PlayStation 2 DVD-ROM (PlayStation region matched, i.e. NTSC-J, NTSC-U/C, PAL or NTSC-C)
• DVD-ROM
• DVD-Video (DVD region matched, i.e. Zone 1, Zone 2, etc., and All)
• DVD-Audio (DVD-Video content only)
• DVD+R
• DVD+RW
• DVD-R
• DVD-RW
• AVCHD
• DSD Disc
• DualDisc

CD

The Compact Disc drive is a 24x speed, region coded type allowing the use of:

• PlayStation 2 CD-ROM (PlayStation region matched, i.e. NTSC-J, NTSC-U/C, PAL or NTSC-C, compatibility removed in 40GB model, the second 80GB model (CECHF), and the 160 GB model)
• PlayStation CD-ROM (PlayStation region matched, i.e. NTSC-J, NTSC-U or PAL)
• CD-ROM
• CD-R
• CD-RW
• CD-DA
• Super Audio CD (compatibility removed in 40GB, the second 80GB model (CECHF), and the 160GB model)
• Photo CD
• Picture CD
• MP3 CD (MP3, WMA, ATRAC)

Technical specification

The specifications of the PlayStation 2 console are:

CPU:

• 64-bit “Emotion Engine” clocked at 294.912 MHz (299 MHz on newer versions), 10.5 million transistors.
• System Memory: 32 MB(32 × 220 bytes) Direct Rambus or RDRAM
• Memory bus Bandwidth: 3.2 gigabytes per second
• Main processor: MIPS R5900 CPU core, 64 bit, little endian (mipsel)
• Coprocessor: FPU (Floating Point Multiply Accumulator × 1, Floating Point Divider × 1)
• Vector Units: VU0 and VU1 (Floating Point Multiply Accumulator × 9, Floating Point Divider × 1), 32-bit, at 150 MHz. VU0 typically used for polygon transformations optionally (under parallel or serial connection), physics and other gameplay based things (Parallel performs transformations in parallel in the same moment, Serial (series) performs transformations in a series of steps or stages coherent to the design of each VU – Stage 1: VU0 does perspective and cam, boning, animations and movement laws per triangle, Stage 2: VU1 does colors, lights and effects per triangle). VU1 typically used for polygon transformations, lighting and other visual based calculations – Texture matrix able for 2 units (UV/ST)
• Floating Point Performance: 6.2 gigaFLOPS (single precision 32-bit floating point)
• – FPU 0.64 gigaFLOPS
• – VU0 2.44 gigaFLOPS
• – VU1 3.08 gigaFLOPS (with Internal 0.64 gigaFLOP EFU)
• o 3D CG Geometric transformation(VU0+VU1 parallel): 66 million polygons per second
• – 3D CG Geometric transformations under curved surfaces: 16 million polygons per second
• – 3D CG Geometric transformations at peak bones/movements/effects(textures)/lights(VU0+VU1): 15-20 million polygons per second (dependent on if series or parallel T&L)
• – Actual real-world polygons (per frame):500-650k at 30fps, 250-325k at 60fps
• Compressed Image Decoder: MPEG-2
• I/O Processor interconnection: Remote Procedure Call over a serial link, DMA controller for bulk transfer
• Cache memory: Instruction: 16 KB(16 × 210 bytes), Data: 8 KB + 16 KB (ScrP)

Graphics processing unit:

• “Graphics Synthesizer” clocked at 147 MHz
• Pixel pipelines: 16
• Video output resolution: variable from 256×224 to 1280×1024 pixels
• 4 MB (4 × 220 bytes) Embedded DRAM video memory bandwidth at 48 gigabytes per second (main system 32 MB can be dedicated into VRAM for off-screen materials); – Texture buffer bandwidth: 9.6 GB/s, Frame buffer bandwidth: 38.4 GB/s
• DRAM Bus width: 2560-bit (composed of three independent buses: 1024-bit write, 1024-bit read, 512-bit read/write)
• Pixel Configuration: RGB: Alpha:Z Buffer (24:8, 15:1 for RGB, 16, 24, or 32-bit Z buffer)
• Dedicated connection to: Main CPU and VU1
• Overall Pixel fillrate: 16×147 = 2.352 Gpixel/s (rounded to 2.4 Gpixel/s); -  Pixel fillrate: with no texture, flat shaded 2.4(75,000,000 32pixel raster triangles), – Pixel fillrate: with 1 full texture(Diffuse Map), Gouraud shaded 1.2 (37,750,000 32-bit pixel raster triangles), -  Pixel fillrate: with 2 full textures(Diffuse map + specular or alpha or other), Gouraud shaded 0.6 (18,750,000 32-bit pixel raster triangles)
• GS effects: AAx2 (poly sorting required), Bilinear, Trilinear, Multi-pass, Palletizing (4-bit = 6:1 ratio, 8-bit = 4:1)
• Multi-pass rendering ability; -  Four passes = 300 Mpixel/s (300 Mpixels/s divided by 32 pixels = 9,375,000 triangles/s lost every four passes)

Audio:

• “SPU1+SPU2″ (SPU1 is actually the CPU clocked at 8 MHz
• Number of voices: 48 hardware channels of ADPCM on SPU2 plus software-mixed channels
• Sampling Frequency: 44.1 kHz or 48 kHz (selectable)
• Output: Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround sound, DTS (Full motion video only), later games achieved analog 5.1 surround during gameplay through Dolby Pro Logic II

I/O Processor:

• CPU Core: Original PlayStation CPU (MIPS R3000A clocked at 33.8688 MHz or 37.5 MHz)
• Automatically underclocked to 33.8688 MHz to achieve hardware backwards compatibility with original Playstation format games
• Sub Bus: 32-bit
• Connection to SPU and CD/DVD controller

Interfaces:

• 2 proprietary PlayStation controller ports (250 kHz clock for PS1 and 500 kHz for PS2 controllers)
• 2 proprietary Memory Card slots using MagicGate encryption (250 kHz for PS1 cards, up to 2 MHz for PS2 cards)
• Expansion Bay (PCMCIA on early models for PCMCIA Network Adaptor and External Hard Disk Drive) DEV9 port for Network Adaptor
• Modem, Ethernet and Internal Hard Disk Drive (single IDE/ATA channel, possible to hook 2 devices to.)
• FireWire (only in SCPH 10xxx – 3xxxx)
• Infrared remote control port (SCPH 5000x and newer) — IEEE 1394 port removed and Infrared port added in SCPH-50000 and later hardware versions
• 2 USB 1.1 ports with an OHCI-compatible controller

Disc Drive type:

Proprietary interface through a custom micro-controller + DSP chip. 24x speed (PlayStation 2 format CD-ROM, PlayStation format CD-ROM), 4x (Supported DVD formats) — Region-locked with anti-copy protection. Can’t read “Gold Discs” i.e., normal CD-ROMs.

Supported Disc Media:

PlayStation 2 format CD-ROM, PlayStation format CD-ROM, Compact Disc Audio, PlayStation 2 format DVD-ROM (4.7 GB)(some games on DVD9 8.5 GB), DVD Video (4.7 GB), DVD-9 (8.5 GB Double-Layer). Later models (starting with SCPH-50000) are DVD+RW, and DVD-RW compatible.

Compatibility – Hardware and Software

In addition to PS2 software, the PS2 can read both CDs and DVDs and is backward compatible with PlayStation games. The PS2 also supports PlayStation memory cards (for PlayStation game saves only) and controllers, although the memory cards only work with PS1 games and the controllers may not support all functions (such as analog buttons) for PS2 games.

The PS2′s DualShock 2 controller is essentially an upgraded PlayStation DualShock; analog face, shoulder and D-pad buttons replaced the digital buttons of the original. Like its predecessor, the DualShock 2 controller has force feedback, which is commonly called the “vibration” function. The standard PlayStation 2 memory card has an 8MB capacity and uses Sony’s MagicGate encryption. This requirement prevented the production of memory cards by third parties who did not purchase a license for the MagicGate encryption. Memory cards without encryption can be used to store PlayStation game saves, but PlayStation games would be unable to read from or write to the card – such a card could only be used as a backup.

The console also features USB and IEEE 1394 expansion ports. Compatibility with USB and IEEE 1394 devices is dependent on the software supporting the device. For example, the PS2 BIOS will not boot an ISO image from a USB flash drive or operate a USB printer, as the machine’s operating system does not include this functionality. By contrast, Gran Turismo 4 is programmed to save screenshots to a USB mass storage device and print images on certain USB printers. A PlayStation 2 HDD can be installed in an expansion bay on the back of the console, with some exceptions.

Functions

The Playstation console, in addition to playing games, has the ability to read and play audio CDs. The CD player has the ability to shuffle the playback order, play the songs in a programmed order, and repeat one song or the entire disk. This function, as well as a memory card manager, can be accessed by starting the console without inserting a game, therefore accessing a system menu with a dark blue background and buttons that are designed like rainbow graffiti. If a game is put in the system at any time on the menu, the game will immediately start.

Technical specifications

Central processing unit

MIPS R3000A-compatible (R3051) 32bit RISC chip running at 33.8688 MHz

The chip is manufactured by LSI Logic Corp. with technology licensed from SGI. The chip also contains the Geometry Transformation Engine and the Data Decompression Engine.

• Operating performance of 30 MIPS
• Bus bandwidth 132 MB/s
• 4 KB Instruction Cache
• 1 KB non-associative SRAM Data Cache

Geometry transformation engine

This engine is inside the main CPU chip. It gives it additional vector math instructions used for the 3D graphics.

• Operating performance of 66 MIPS
• 360,000 flat-shaded polygons per second
• 180,000 texture mapped and light-sourced polygons per second

Sony originally gave the polygon count as:

• 1 million flat-shaded polygons per second
• 500,000 texture mapped and light-sourced polygons per second

These figures were given as a ballpark figure for performance under optimal circumstances, and so are unrealistic under normal usage.

Data decompression engine

This engine is also inside the main CPU. It is responsible for decompressing images and video. Documented device mode is to read three RLE-encoded 16×16 macroblocks, run IDCT and assemble a single 16×16 RGB macroblock. Output data may be transferred directly to GPU via DMA. It is possible to overwrite IDCT matrix and some additional parameters, however MDEC internal instruction set was never documented.

• Compatible with MJPEG and H.261 files
• Operating Performance of 80 MIPS
• Directly connected to CPU Bus

Graphics processing unit

This chip is separate to the CPU and handles all the 2D graphics processing, which includes the transformed 3D polygons.

• Maximum of 16.7 million colors (24-bit color depth)
• Resolutions from 256×224 to 640×480
• Adjustable frame buffer
• Unlimited color lookup tables
• Maximum of 4000 8×8 pixel sprites with individual scaling and rotation
• Emulation of simultaneous backgrounds (for parallax scrolling)
• Flat or Gouraud shading, and texture mapping

Sound processing unit

Can handle ADPCM sources with up to 24 channels and up to 44.1 kHz sampling rate

Memory

• Main RAM: 2 MB
• Video RAM: 1 MB
• Sound RAM: 512 KB
• CD-ROM Buffer: 32 KB
• Operating System ROM: 512 KB
• PlayStation Memory Cards have 128 KB of space in an EEPROM

CD-ROM drive

• 2x, with a maximum data throughput of 300 KB/s
• XA Mode 2 Compliant
• CD-DA (CD-Digital Audio)

MainBoard: