[Shin-Ra]

40GB PS3 features 65nm chips, lower power consumption

It's been revealed that the new 40GB PlayStation 3 features more than just a cut down hard disk drive. Sony has also thought to stick the 65nm version of the Cell inside the new console, reducing the power usage down to around 135 Watts (down from 200 Watts.) That means the console also runs cooler and quieter, which is always a plus for a device that usually resides in the living room. Sony also jiggled around a few other components by making the heat pipe smaller, swapping out the motherboard for a new version, and added a button battery to keep time when the system is off. Looks like potential PS3 purchasers will be looking forward to a less noticeable din then.

Originally Posted by ps3andlovinit

via.. http://playstation-disorder.com/comm...p?blog_id=996&

For those that have links blocked at work here is the meat of the article..

"There have been speculations already that the new 40GB model already supports the new smaller and cheaper 65nm Cell. So far this has not been confirmed by Sony or any other unofficial source. Now, the German c't magazine talks about this in its newest Monday edition and actually confirms the 65nm Cell (on the right) being used. It is still unclear for me if this is also true for the RSX. At least c't says so.
This would of course explain the lower power consumption that is even listed by Sony, which is about 60 Watt less than the former models. But that's not all, the new model is almost half as loud as the old model making it barely recognizable with its 0.5 - 0.8 Sone. The new revision also features a smaller heatpipe, a revised Southbridge (CXD2984GB) and a battery cell for the system clock."

Hopefully we can get official confirmation at some point .. as this may be of interest to some of you that find the current models too noisy in comparison to a standalone.

Cooler, quieter hardware's always a good thing, especially for a Blu-ray player.