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After Hours

Sony PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 2 hardware side-by-side

By Bill Detwiler February 6, 2007, 11:00 PM PST on Twitter billdetwiler

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Sony PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 2 hardware side-by-side

PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 2

PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 2

Since unboxing our Sony PlayStation 3, we’ve put it through it’s paces and cracked open the case. We’ve also taken a look under the PlayStation 2’s hood.

It’s only fitting therefore, that we look at the two systems side-by-side.

Sony PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 2 hardware side-by-side

PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 2 boxes - Front

PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 2 boxes - Front

In 2004, Sony redesigned the PlayStation 2’s case and dramatically reduced its size.

The PlayStation 3’s box is significantly larger than the slimline PlayStation 2’s box.

Sony PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 2 hardware side-by-side

PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 2 boxes - Side

PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 2 boxes - Side

The difference in box size is even more noticeable from the side.

Sony PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 2 hardware side-by-side

PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 2 - Front

PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 2 - Front

According to Sony’s Playstation.com Web site, the PlayStation 3’s approximate dimensions are 325mm (W) x 98mm (H) x 274mm (D). The much smaller PlayStation 2 measures in at 230 mm (W) x 28 mm (H) x 152 mm (D).

Sony PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 2 hardware side-by-side

PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 2 - Front (wide)

PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 2 - Front (wide)

Both the PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 2 owe much of there size to the 120mm diameter optical discs that both use as their primary game media. The PS2 uses a pop-up drive (where the case serves as the disc cover), while the PS3 uses a slot-loading drive.

Sony PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 2 hardware side-by-side

PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 2 - Side

PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 2 - Side

The slimline PlayStation 2 is less than half the PlayStation 3’s thickness. While the PlayStation 3 is designed to sit flat and upright, the PlayStation 2 requires a special stand (sold separately) to sit upright.

Sony PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 2 hardware side-by-side

PlayStation 2 weight

PlayStation 2 weight

According to our handy postal scale, the redesigned PlayStation 2 weighs approximately 1 3/4 pounds. Sony’s Playstation.com Web site, listed the PS2’s approximate weight at 900g (1.98 pounds).

Sony PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 2 hardware side-by-side

PlayStation 3 weight

PlayStation 3 weight

In contrast to the lightweight PlayStation 2, our 60GB HDD PlayStation 3 tipped the scale at around 11 pounds. Our scale only goes to 10, so I’m guessing here. According the Sony’s Playstation.com Web site, the PS3 weighs approximately 5kg (11.02 pounds).

Sony PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 2 hardware side-by-side

AV Cables

AV Cables

Unfortunately, Sony hasn’t really changed the PlayStation’s standard AV cable.

The PS3’s AV cable will produce an image at 480i resolution. The S VIDEO Cable (sold separately) will also produce a 480i image. The Component AV Cable (sold separately) will produce 1080p, 1080i, 720p, 480p, and 480i images. The HDMI Cable will produce 1080p, 1080i, 720p, and 480p images.

Solid information on the PlayStation 2’s video capability was a little more difficult to find. From the data that I could find, the PlayStation 2 can produce both 480i and 480p images depending on the game and cables (standard AV or component).

Sony PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 2 hardware side-by-side

DUALSHOCK 2 and SIXAXIS controllers - Top

DUALSHOCK 2 and SIXAXIS controllers - Top

My biggest disappointment with the PlayStation 3 is the controller. Unlike Nintendo’s truly unique Wii Remote, the PS3’s SIXAXIS controller (right) is nearly identical in shape and feel to the PlayStation 2’s DUALSHOCK 2 controller (left). The SIXAXIS controller is wireless and does have some motion sensing capability, but the buttons and overall experience is very similar.

Sony PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 2 hardware side-by-side

DUALSHOCK 2 and SIXAXIS controllers - Front

DUALSHOCK 2 and SIXAXIS controllers - Front

The trigger buttons on the SIXAXIS controller (right), have been slightly redesigned compared to the DUALSHOCK 2 controller (left).

Sony PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 2 hardware side-by-side

DUALSHOCK 2 and SIXAXIS controllers - Side

DUALSHOCK 2 and SIXAXIS controllers - Side

Sony PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 2 hardware side-by-side

PlayStation 2 power adapter (left) and PlayStation 3 power cord (right)

PlayStation 2 power adapter (left) and PlayStation 3 power cord (right)

When Sony redesigned the PlayStation 2’s case in 2004, they switched from an internal power supply to an external power adapter–shown on the left. Unlike the Wii and Xbox 360, the PlayStation 3 uses an internal power supply which requires a significant amount of case real estate.

Sony PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 2 hardware side-by-side

PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 2 - Case top removed

PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 2 - Case top removed

Despite the dramatic size difference between the slimline PlayStation 2 and PlayStation 3, the general internal layout is quite similar. Both optical drives are located on the left side. Both mainboards are located beneath the other internal components. The PS2 and PS3 power buttons are located on the front panels’ left side. The memory and controller ports are located on the front panels’ right side.

Sony PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 2 hardware side-by-side

PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 2 - Case top removed (side-by-side)

PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 2 - Case top removed (side-by-side)

The PlayStation 3’s self-contained Blu-Ray drive and internal power supply take up a tremendous amount of internal space. In contrast, the PlayStation 2’s CD/DVD drive is mounted directly to one of the unit’s metal shields and the power adapter has been move outside the case.

Sony PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 2 hardware side-by-side

PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 2 - Case top removed (side)

PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 2 - Case top removed (side)

The slimline PlayStation 2 is less than half the height of the PlayStation 3.

Sony PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 2 hardware side-by-side

PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 2 - Case top removed (stacked)

PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 2 - Case top removed (stacked)

Sony PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 2 hardware side-by-side

PlayStation 2 and PlayStation 3 optical drive are roughly the same size

PlayStation 2 and PlayStation 3 optical drive are roughly the same size

This is one of my favorite comparison shots.–the PlayStation 2 sitting on top of the PlayStation 3’s Blu-Ray drive.

Sony PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 2 hardware side-by-side

PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 2 - Metal shielding, cooling system, and mainboards

PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 2 - Metal shielding, cooling system, and mainboards

The PlayStation 3’s metal shielding (right) is dominated by the massive cooling system.

Sony PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 2 hardware side-by-side

PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 2 - Cooling fans removed

PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 2 - Cooling fans removed

Even with the fan removed, the PlayStation 3’s cooling system covers most of the metal shield it’s mounted to.

Sony PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 2 hardware side-by-side

PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 2 - Cooling systems

PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 2 - Cooling systems

The PlayStation 2’s cooling system (front) consists of little more than a few fins and a small fan. In contrast, the PlayStation 3’s massive cooling unit, contains a large metal and plastic housing, copper tubing, and fins.

Sony PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 2 hardware side-by-side

PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 2 - Cooling fans

PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 2 - Cooling fans

The PlayStation 3’s massive colling fan (left) dwarfs the PlayStation 2’s tiny fan.

Sony PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 2 hardware side-by-side

PlayStation 3 Blu-Ray drive and PlayStation 2 top metal shield

PlayStation 3 Blu-Ray drive and PlayStation 2 top metal shield

As I mentioned earlier in this gallery, the slimline PlayStation 2’s CD/DVD drive (right) is mounted directly to the top metal shield. Removing the top of the PS2’s case completely exposes the drive’s laser and drive mechanism. The PlayStation 3’s self-contained Blu-Ray drive (left) is larger than the PS2’s entire top metal shield.

Sony PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 2 hardware side-by-side

PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 2 - Mainboards top (side-by-side)

PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 2 - Mainboards top (side-by-side)

The slimline PlayStation 2’s mainboard (left) is much smaller than the PlayStation 3’s mainboard (right). The original PlayStation 2 mainboard was larger than the current slimeline version. During the PS2’s 2004 redesign, Sony consolidated several mainboard components to dramatically reduce the unit size.

Sony PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 2 hardware side-by-side

PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 2 - Mainboards top (stacked)

PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 2 - Mainboards top (stacked)

Sony PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 2 hardware side-by-side

PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 2 - CPUs and GPUs

PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 2 - CPUs and GPUs

The slimeline PlayStation 2’s Emotion Engine (CPU) and Graphics Synthesizer (GPU) are combined into a single chip. The PlayStation 3’s uses IBM’s Cell Broadband Engine (CPU), a Cell Broadband Engine companion chip (located just above the CPU), and Nvidia’s RSX Reality Synthesizer (main GPU).

Sony PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 2 hardware side-by-side

PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 2 - Mainboards bottom (side-by-side)

PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 2 - Mainboards bottom (side-by-side)

Sony PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 2 hardware side-by-side

PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 2 - Mainboards bottom (stacked)

PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 2 - Mainboards bottom (stacked)

Sony PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 2 hardware side-by-side

PlayStation 2 mainboard and the PlayStation 3 Blu-Ray drive

PlayStation 2 mainboard and the PlayStation 3 Blu-Ray drive

This is one of my favorite comparison pictures. After six years of refinements and a major redesign, Sony has made the PlayStation 2’s motherboard smaller than the PlayStation 3’s Blu-Ray drive.

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By Bill Detwiler
Bill Detwiler is the Editor for Technical Content and Ecosystem at Celonis. He is the former Editor in Chief of TechRepublic and previous host of TechRepublic's Dynamic Developer podcast and Cracking Open, CNET and TechRepublic's popular online show.
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