The History of PS3 Motherboards - Blu-ray Forum

user friendly · 11-13-2007, 01:47 AM

I put this together in another forum and thought it would be good for here as well and maybe it would interest some people to know that Sony is constantly improving their mobo design with every model.

Since launch back in 06, the PS3 mobo has changed quite a bit in a years time. It seems Sony is still working on a design that they can be happy with, both production and cost wise.

They are now on their 5th motherboard layout and some will be surprised by the fact that the 40GB white (JPN) and the 40GB black (NA) models are actually completely different.

The history is as follows:

20GB:

North American 60GB:

Not much different than the 20GB but there is a slight difference

-------------------------------------------------------------------

European 60GB / North American 80GB:

This is where you start to really see the differences in layout. The most obvious is the Emotion Engine (EE) has been plucked out and is being emulated via software means. The motherboard also looks a lot cleaner on the left side.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

White 40GB / Black 40GB:

This is probably the most surprising out of all the redesigns. Both 40GB models are completely different. The white model (JPN) now has 2x128MB for XDR ram, instead of 4x64MB. Also, the Cell is now 65nm, the RSX is still 90nm though.

--------------------------------------------------------------------

The HDD is installed differently in the White model as well and the back of the unit is different than the Black SKU.

They are perfecting the mobo as much as they can, cutting costs very effectively imo. The cooling method is much different than it used to be on the 60GB model. (pics in the link below)

Click here for more info

I'll refine this if anyone catches any mistakes or has any additions.

Rike255 · 11-13-2007, 02:56 AM

Wow that is very interesting. I'd assume the cooling would be different since the cell was changed to a 65nm process. Takes a lot less power and generates a lot less heat so they could probably knock off of the cooling a little bit.

sj001 · 11-13-2007, 02:59 AM

Very interesting, thanks for the post.

Mr. Joshua · 11-13-2007, 03:06 AM

I'd sure like to see a flat black PS3 here in the USA so hard to keep the dust off that glossy black finish. I dust and I dust and I dust...

Dadds · 11-13-2007, 03:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wsciv123

I'd sure like to see a flat black PS3 here in the USA so hard to keep the dust off that glossy black finish. I dust and I dust and I dust...

thats what i would love to have

Rike255 · 11-13-2007, 05:26 AM

Don't dust it, wipe it with a soft cloth. Dusting just agitates the dust and it'll settle right away again.

If you wipe down the whole area every so often, it cuts down on the dust and you won't have to do it as often. I used to have to do it a lot, but after a while most of the dust is gone and you'll have to do it less.

Wipe down everything, and vacuum what you can. As long as you get rid of all the surrounding dust, there won't be as much to settle on your electronics.

11-13-2007, 01:47 AM	#1
user friendly Active Member Member since:Aug 2007 Location:The Great White North Home Theater Gallery:7 Blu-ray collection:87	The History of PS3 Motherboards I put this together in another forum and thought it would be good for here as well and maybe it would interest some people to know that Sony is constantly improving their mobo design with every model. Since launch back in 06, the PS3 mobo has changed quite a bit in a years time. It seems Sony is still working on a design that they can be happy with, both production and cost wise. They are now on their 5th motherboard layout and some will be surprised by the fact that the 40GB white (JPN) and the 40GB black (NA) models are actually completely different. The history is as follows: 20GB: North American 60GB: Not much different than the 20GB but there is a slight difference ------------------------------------------------------------------- European 60GB / North American 80GB: This is where you start to really see the differences in layout. The most obvious is the Emotion Engine (EE) has been plucked out and is being emulated via software means. The motherboard also looks a lot cleaner on the left side. ------------------------------------------------------------------- White 40GB / Black 40GB: This is probably the most surprising out of all the redesigns. Both 40GB models are completely different. The white model (JPN) now has 2x128MB for XDR ram, instead of 4x64MB. Also, the Cell is now 65nm, the RSX is still 90nm though. -------------------------------------------------------------------- The HDD is installed differently in the White model as well and the back of the unit is different than the Black SKU. They are perfecting the mobo as much as they can, cutting costs very effectively imo. The cooling method is much different than it used to be on the 60GB model. (pics in the link below) Click here for more info I'll refine this if anyone catches any mistakes or has any additions.

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11-13-2007, 02:56 AM	#2
Rike255 Blu-ray Ninja Top contributor Member since:Jul 2007 Location:AB, Canada PSNetwork: Rike255 Home Theater Gallery:44 Blu-ray collection:57	Wow that is very interesting. I'd assume the cooling would be different since the cell was changed to a 65nm process. Takes a lot less power and generates a lot less heat so they could probably knock off of the cooling a little bit.

11-13-2007, 02:59 AM	#3
sj001 Blu-ray Samurai Member since:Aug 2007 Location:Rochester, NY Blu-ray collection:317 DVD collection:17 Trading Score:5	Very interesting, thanks for the post.

11-13-2007, 03:06 AM	#4
Mr. Joshua Blu-ray Guru Member since:May 2007 Home Theater Gallery:6 Blu-ray collection:153	I'd sure like to see a flat black PS3 here in the USA so hard to keep the dust off that glossy black finish. I dust and I dust and I dust...

11-13-2007, 05:26 AM	#6
Rike255 Blu-ray Ninja Top contributor Member since:Jul 2007 Location:AB, Canada PSNetwork: Rike255 Home Theater Gallery:44 Blu-ray collection:57	Don't dust it, wipe it with a soft cloth. Dusting just agitates the dust and it'll settle right away again. If you wipe down the whole area every so often, it cuts down on the dust and you won't have to do it as often. I used to have to do it a lot, but after a while most of the dust is gone and you'll have to do it less. Wipe down everything, and vacuum what you can. As long as you get rid of all the surrounding dust, there won't be as much to settle on your electronics.

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