Hardware Test: PS3 Slim

By Richard Leadbetter Published 2 September, 2009

Smaller, cooler, cheaper, faster, better.

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It's here, and I'm excited, and not just because I have a new piece of tech to dissect. When Sony redesigns its hardware, it tends to go the extra mile. It's not just about cutting costs, it's about making the whole device, and thus the brand, more attractive and "cooler". PSone and PS2 Slim delivered the goods, and who can forget the PSP-2000? Smaller, slimmer, obviously cheaper in terms of build quality but with more RAM and more functionality, like the very useful TV output. Can Sony deliver the goods with its new PlayStation 3?

With PS3 Slim, the stakes are much higher. What was previously the unassailable number one gaming brand is under intense pressure from Xbox 360, and in turn both Microsoft and Sony's efforts are being outsold significantly by Nintendo's Wii. Rewind three years: would anyone have dared suggest that Sony would be lagging behind in last position in the console race at this stage in the lifecycle? Could anyone have guessed that Sony would be outmanoeuvred in terms of gaming innovation, pricing and platform exclusives?

PS3 Slim's mission briefing is a tall order. It has to retain the premium/quality elements of its forebears and it still has to physically justify being the most expensive console on the marketplace, but at the same time, it has to achieve this while being significantly cheaper to produce. The good news is that in just about all senses, with just one or two minor reservations, I would say that it is a case of "mission accomplished".

First things first then: the unboxing. Package contents are surprisingly minimalistic. When you open an Xbox 360 Elite box, you're set upon by multiple bags of goodies, separate compartments and a perception that you're getting more than just a console. PS3 Slim on the other hand is limited to just the console, a thin 'n' floppy manual, power and USB cables and - horror of horrors - a composite video cable and SCART adaptor. Yup, the exact same AV cable we got at the launch of the PS2. It's as if HDTV never happened.

'Hardware Test: PS3 Slim' Screenshot pic1
'Hardware Test: PS3 Slim' Screenshot pic2
'Hardware Test: PS3 Slim' Screenshot pic3
'Hardware Test: PS3 Slim' Screenshot pic4

Unboxing the PS3 Slim in the Digital Foundry labs. Nice packaging, lovely console, but a bit short on the accessories...

If I can source a single, perfectly good, 1080p-capable HDMI cable for a few quid from eBay, I'm sure that Sony bulk-buying millions of the things can get a significantly better deal. A component cable that doubles up as a composite cable (a la Xbox 360) wouldn't have cost the earth either. The bottom line is that HD shouldn't be an optional extra here, it should be a core factor of every one of PS3's defining moments. It should come as standard. For similar reasons, Microsoft ditching the HDMI cable from the Elite is of approximate lunacy.

So, with that out of the way, it's time to check out the console itself. I like it. The old PS3 design was of its time and the Slim works for me as the natural successor - more functional, less flashy. Side by side with the old PS3 stacked vertically, it's about the same depth, but obviously a good deal slimmer and a couple of inches shorter. I never liked the original PS3's touch-sensitive power and eject buttons. There was always the sense that they acted in a purely advisory fashion - with the Slim you get good quality push-button replacements. Tactile, responsive, and securely mounted. In short, cheaper but better.

Ports and connections: taking a look at the rear of the unit we see the typical LAN, HDMI, Toslink and PlayStation AV ports, alongside a smaller two-pin power socket that replaces the "kettle lead" arrangement of the original. The front of the unit offers up twin USBs and a hidden cover for the removable hard disk. Swapping out the 2.5" laptop drive is simplicity itself. A compartment on the bottom of the unit hides the magic blue screw, which once removed, allows you to remove the HDD tray. Swap hard disks and you're away: all you need is a standard cross-head screwdriver.

Perhaps the most surprising thing about the PS3 Slim's form factor is that it confirms all of those wacky and zany leaks that date back from several months ago. The packaging is a match, the console itself is identical. That story of a PS3 Slim materialising in a Philippines marketplace? Amazingly it was all true.

Part of this feature was going to be all about dismantling the machine and seeing what lurks within. However, iFixit's teardown is remarkably good, and well worth checking out. There are a number great little facts in that feature to tease out - firstly that the cooling fan Sony has employed is the largest iFixit has ever seen in a consumer device of that size and draws a max of 12 volts at 1.2 amps, effectively putting it up there with aftermarket fans on desktop PCs. Secondly, that the power supply is multi-voltage (the PS3 Slim's manual suggests it isn't), so importing US or Japanese models shouldn't be a problem. The PSU is also interesting in that if my sums are right it is rated for around 216 watts - even in hardcore use with everything at max, I couldn't get anything more than 101 watts out of my machine. Compare and contrast with the Jasper Xbox 360, which draws roughly the same amount of power from a PSU rated for 150 watts.

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Comments (130) Latest comment 2 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • Obiwanshinobi #1 2 years ago

    So, everyone is excited?

  • Rev.StuartCampbell #2 2 years ago

    "Looking at the PS3 Slim as a final retail product, it's difficult to imagine just how much more they could have done on the tech side to make this happen."

    They could have put the BC back in, the retards.

  • Psychotext #3 2 years ago

    Yet another comparison where it's tested against a launch PS3. It's like the newer fat models don't exist.

  • speedjack #4 2 years ago

    Good for Sony - MS take note.

    (Hopefully all the Sony fanboys will now stop screaming about 360 bias in every Digital Foundry article).

  • ps3owner #5 2 years ago

    but I like my Fat PS3... :'(

  • Darrengamer #6 2 years ago

    Smaller, cheaper, same.

  • Darrengamer #7 2 years ago

    Smaller, cheaper, exactly the same.

  • Toadie48 #8 2 years ago

    Remove compulsory intsalations Sony, they suck. Part from that great system :D.
    Edited by 2 at 02/09/09 @ 14:59

  • Ged42 #9 2 years ago

    Glad Sony have learnt from all these YLODs

    /drums fingers waiting for another refurb 60GB to be delivered.

  • Sonic_D #10 2 years ago

    This has come along at the right time for me and I will pick one up soon. Will probably buy most multi-format games for the 360 still though, unless there are some clear advantages to playing on the PS3.

  • insincere_dave #11 2 years ago

    Someone give me a shout once the PS3 Slim v2 is out for under £150.

  • DrDamn #12 2 years ago

    Nice article. I think the time comparison vids are a little ott though. A little graph would have done the trick and taken a lot less time and bandwidth.

  • elephant_stone #13 2 years ago

    Good article!

  • JohnnyWashnGo #14 2 years ago

    Is 'PS3 Slim' the actual name of the product now?
    I am sure that I recall Sony saying that is was not a slim PS3, just a newer version of the existing PS3.

    Anyway, those power consumption differences are almost compelling enough for me to get a new PS3. My question would be, can I expect my 80gb PS3 from a year ago to have the same thirst for energy as a launch PS3? I assume so seeing as the hardware is similar.

  • Toadie48 #15 2 years ago

    @ JohnnyWashnGo
    'Is 'PS3 Slim' the actual name of the product now?
    I am sure that I recall Sony saying that is was not a slim PS3, just a newer version of the existing PS3.'

    Yh I think it is just PS3 aswell, cause on IGN.com the Playstation editor Chris said that its just the PS3, not slim in his PS3 unboxing video. So I think it's just PS3.

  • chessboxer #16 2 years ago

    As soon as 1TB HDD's are available to buy, I'll be getting a slim and putting my launch unit to bed.

  • laudy #17 2 years ago

    I can't believe Leadbetter would complain about no HDMI cables...at present, I don't think enough folk have an HDTV. What kind of furore would there have been if all you had was an HDMI cable?

    Both Microsoft and Sony, I feel, made the right decision in not throwing in HDMI cables. Whether both companies could afford to put both sets of cables in the box is open to debate, but it's not as if you can't use component cables on an HDTV...
    Edited by 1 at 02/09/09 @ 14:37

  • Adam128 #18 2 years ago

    Nice article, I agree with DrDamn that the videos were a little overkill though. Sitting watching a HD video of a loading bar made me start to question my life!

  • JahB #19 2 years ago

    I can't believe Leadbetter would complain about no HDMI cables...at present, I don't think enough folk have an HDTV. What kind of furore would there have been if all you had was an HDMI cable

    i can't believe people without an HDTV would buy either a PS3 or an Xbox 360. it kinda beats the point of having an "HD" console

  • laudy #20 2 years ago

    @ JahB

    Agreed, but I started off on SD and I daresay there are a lot of other users out there who did (and continue to do) the same...

    It just came across as a bit silly to suggest that a massive group of users should simply be ignored. Who knows, like me, these users will actually purchase an HDTV as time goes on to reap the full benefits...

  • cianchristopher #21 2 years ago

    Built in WiFi is a very cool feature if you need it - but I find the WiFi on the PS3 to be not quite as good as that on the 360 (although that doesn't mean I'm agreeing with MS's fucking stupid price for it).

    I used to have to wait upwards of 10 minutes to complete a 50mb download on the PS3 whereas the Xbox 360 could download over 500mb in that time (both wireless).

    Now I'm fortunate enough in my new house to have my modem/router positioned beside the TV so both consoles are wired. The difference in download speed between the two is marginal at best.

  • Anufea #22 2 years ago

    I wish I could join in the unreserved praise... In a quiet living room environment the slim's fan noise really gets on my nerves during video playback. It's definitely quieter than any past PS3 model but the smaller fan leads to higher fan speeds leads to a quite audible tone, a constant beeping that I really don't want to hear when I should be just hearing the movie's audio.

    Maybe my slim is just broken but I'm afraid not - directly after starting it up the fan is wonderfully quiet, but during the first 5 minutes of video playback it gradually turns faster and faster and stays at an unpleasant level. Sucks when you don't have any carpet or cabinet in your living room to muffle the noise somewhat :/

  • Freek #23 2 years ago

    He putt forward the sensible composite/component hybrid cable that the 360 has/used to have. That is the solution that should be standard on these consoles. And why they don't do it is a mystery.
    Totally valid complaint.
    Edited by 1 at 02/09/09 @ 14:49

  • cianchristopher #24 2 years ago

    I recently bought a 160gb (the one with the four free PSN games) PS3 as my launch 60gb died in June (I worked it like a slave, mind!)...
    I don't miss the chrome trim on the launch, nor the two extra USB ports or even PS2 BC.
    I'm wondering if there would be a big difference between a launch model (release date Mar '07) and the 160gb (release date Oct '08) in terms of power consumption and loading/installation speeds....
    Presumably as the 160gb version features a 45nm Cell and either a 65nm or 45nm RSX the power consumption (and reliability) would be better than the 90nm Cell and 90nm RSX in the launch....

  • jonsaan #25 2 years ago

    Amazing what 50 quid can do for public perception. It really is. I wonder if Sony will swap out my recently purchased old model for a slim.

    No, I don't think so either. :(

  • JahB #26 2 years ago

    Agreed, but I started off on SD and I daresay there are a lot of other users out there who did (and continue to do) the same...

    but why would you then buy a ps3/360? you're severely reducing the experience for yourself
    Edited by 1 at 02/09/09 @ 14:55

  • laudy #27 2 years ago

    @ Freek

    Indeed that is a valid complaint. I think that this, however, is not:

    "The bottom line is that HD shouldn't be an optional extra here, it should be a core factor of every one of PS3's defining moments. It should come as standard. For similar reasons, Microsoft ditching the HDMI cable from the Elite is of approximate lunacy."

  • superdelphinus #28 2 years ago

    i think they slimmed it in the wrong direction. That thing would look pretty weird in a stack of things - it's too thin. Why didn't they make it thin in the other direction?! more ps2 type shape

  • peterfll #29 2 years ago

    Good article, interesting reading.

  • laudy #30 2 years ago

    @ JahB

    Agreed again, but in my case, I didn't know what I was missing until i tried it on an HDTV. I don't think MS or Sony would be too chuffed if those with SD didn't buy their consoles...

  • Anufea #31 2 years ago

    @lord: It doesn't have side vents, but the air flow could benefit nonetheless: http://www.ifixit.com/Teardown/PlayStation-3-Slim/1121/2
    Will try as soon as I get home, would definitely be a big improvement if the fan stayed at a lower speed! Thanks for pointing that out.

  • bogmonster #32 2 years ago

    didnt the ps2 have problems with the slim? could this happen with ps3 slim?
    looks quite good though if ya wanna shave sexconds of ur loading time :S

  • Miths #33 2 years ago

    I just received my Slim today (my old 40 GB model YLOD'ed this past Saturday). So far I don't really see anything I that's likely to make me enjoy my Slim more than the old model - aside from saving a few bucks on the electric bill.

    I don't think it looks better than the old model - if anything the opposite - and it looks like I'll need to get a hold of one those stands as it's simply taking up a bit too much space next to the TV and external DAC in it's current horizontal position. I had the old one standing vertically as well.

    A major potential plus could have been the noise level though (I absolutely hate excessive fan/disc/HDD noise), but so far it seems like the Slim is about on par with my old 40 GB model, ie. very nearly inaudible most of the time (I've yet to get around to really pushing the Slim though, on my old model DVD upscaling was one of the things that could really kick the fan into gear very quickly - but "into gear" still meant a hell of a lot more quiet than my 360 idling).
    The disc drive seems a bit louder in the Slim when it's doing a lot of seeking, eg. during a game install.

  • aids #34 2 years ago

    MS, please do something about the xbox.

  • jeff #35 2 years ago

    great article,thanks.

  • kangarootoo #36 2 years ago

    @Rev. Stuart Campbell

    "They could have put the BC back in, the retards."

    I know it hard for you to accept, but very few people out there in the world really care about BC. They just don't.

    How much extra do you think it would cost to put BC back in, and how many gamers would happily pay that extra amount for a feature many of them won't benefit from?
    Edited by 1 at 02/09/09 @ 15:12

  • Kenshin001 #37 2 years ago

    "The PS3 Slim is put up against the launch unit in multiple scenarios, while basic measurements were also taken from a first-edition Xbox 360 Jasper for direct like-for-like comparison against PS3 Slim's nearest rival."

    This is a bit vague. Were the conditions exactly the same for all consoles ie. were they all put in a 30 degree room or only the PS3s? Would like to see a proper comparison of launch models of both (60GB vs. Pro) and the new versions (Slim vs. Elite) regarding power usage, heat dissipation and temperature after use since the consoles are prone to failure.

  • jonsaan #38 2 years ago

    One thing I don't think you cover too well is this. I have a 60GB BC PS3 that is like a portable heater it gets so hot. My purchased last month (facepalm) old style PS3 is massively cooler and quieter. So there were already considerable changes under the hood before we went slim. IMO.

  • Gyruss #39 2 years ago

    "The bottom line is that HD shouldn't be an optional extra here, it should be a core factor of every one of PS3's defining moments. It should come as standard. For similar reasons, Microsoft ditching the HDMI cable from the Elite is of approximate lunacy."

    This. After the "more HD than thou" dick measuring that went on between MS and Sony a a couple of years ago, it beggars belief.

  • chessboxer #40 2 years ago

    @ cianchristopher

    errr, the 160GB had a 65nm Cell and RSX, just like the 80GB. The only difference between the two was the size of the HDD.

  • spookyzombie #41 2 years ago

    Question regarding the hard drive. I've already put a 320gb in my 'fat' PS3. If I bought a Slim and put the 320gb into that, would it work straight away or would it prompt me to format?

  • lambtron #42 2 years ago

    "I know it hard for you to accept, but very few people out there in the world really care about BC. They just don't."

    People keep saying this but I think there is little evidence either way. I know for the majority of people I know it's an issue. But that's completely anecdotal.

  • laudy #43 2 years ago

    Hi Donnie,

    Please can you just post these lacklustre figures you often mention, perhaps then folk won't just minus you before reaaching the end of your post...jeez

  • Rufus #44 2 years ago

    Really interesting, well written article. Considering I don't have a PS3/360 (I said to myself I wouldnt buy one until I had finished the games I already have for earlier machines) its great to read this kind of article and see how each machine compares. Thank you Richard!

  • chessboxer #45 2 years ago

    @ spookyzombie

    It would prompt you to re-format. The encrypted file system used by the PS3 can only be read by the PS3 that created the partition. What you would have to do is to back-up the HDD (using the untility in System Settings) to an external FAT32 formatted drive. Put your 320GB into a Slim, format it, then restore from the external.

  • El-Dev #46 2 years ago

    @Donnie
    "sony were rushed into cutting the ps3 size down before its time due to the lackluste sales figures in its first 2 years"

    As of 27 Aug 2009 360 has sold 31m units, 11.2m of these were sold for fiscal year 2009. If we deduct them that leaves 19.8m sold between Nov 05 and May 08.

    Ps3 launched Nov 06 and as of May 2009 had sold 22m.


  • darc #47 2 years ago

    What I don't get is that Sony is planning (read: hoping) to sell existing inventory of fat PS3's for the exact same price as the slim. That seems like a pretty hard sell to me. With possible exception of PS3 Unix geeks (both of them), who in the world would *choose* the 80G fat over the 120G slim, for the same money.

    Reminds me of when of when I went into buy my PS2 a couple of years ago. The shopkeeper "assumed" (read: tried to play off) that I'd prefer a used PS2 fat over a brand new PS2 slim, at a massive savings of $10. Right... Caught him on that just before he rang it up.

  • darc #48 2 years ago

    Random other thought: is anyone here running a solid-state drive in a PS3 yet?

  • Balfa #49 2 years ago

    @lord "Also, I'm totally underwhelmed by the shrinking. Compare a PS2 Slimline to a PS3 Slim, it's absolutely no contest. PS3 Slim is still HUGE."

    While it's certainly true that the shrink isn't as significant, you're getting a smaller, probably more reliable console with a few extra features for less cash. Would you want them to devote more resources to shrinking it further and pay a premium for the extra shrinkage? I doubt it.

    Also, don't forget that the PS2 slim had an external PSU, which accounted for a rather considerable portion of the shrink.

    And yeah, consider the lifecycle of the PSP, it wouldn't at all surprise me if there's a further shrink in the form factor later on.

  • Gaiduku #50 2 years ago

    Excellent article...... also slightly annoying because now i can really see myself shelling out £250 in the next few months..... which i really cannot afford.

  • patchbox360 #51 2 years ago

    hmmm.... i'll wait until this new model proves reliable

  • Bigglesworth #52 2 years ago

    @JahB
    Sorry, my brain must be stuck in 1st gear or something today. Are you seriously suggesting that people shouldn't buy a PS3 or a 360 just because they don't have a HDTV to run it on?

  • altitude2k #53 2 years ago

    Bought one of these, and even with blu-ray, wifi and smaller size.....I still prefer my 360.

    The whole thing just doesn't look as pretty, and the controller feels a bit cheap in comparison to that of the 360. While there's a lot of options and things you can play with on the XMB, it just doesn't feel as sleek and well-structured like NXE.

    Regardless, to have it purely as a blu-ray player makes the purchase worthwhile. Just a shame that Ken will make a loss from my purchase, as I probably won't be buying enough games for them to recoup the loss they make on producing it.
    Edited by 1 at 02/09/09 @ 15:53

  • darc #54 2 years ago

    Anyway, I'll probably buy one on impulse soon, assuming local shops can keep them in stock. If nothing else, it will open up another shelf full of rentals to pick through, and there are some exclusives I've been dying to check out (Uncharted, Little Big Planet, Demon's Souls etc.)

    Blu-Ray was kind of a draw for a while, but it's a moving target. Between Netflix and on-demand, I stream most of what we watch anyway. Sony has *maybe* 2 or 3 years to capitalize on the Blu-Ray advantage (something a niche to begin with) before streaming options render it moot.

    Built in wi-fi is a major plus, I've gotta say. I own two 360's, which means I'm $200 into those stupid little dongles MS sells for the 360 already!

    @altitude - it's hard to beat a 360. I can't even seem to build a PC I like better! :)
    Edited by 1 at 02/09/09 @ 15:52

  • Gaiduku #55 2 years ago

    @Bigglesworth:

    A few years ago when both these two systems came out i would have said that HD was simply a nice luxury . However, now it really isn't that expensive to go HD and...... in my honest opinion...... vital if you want to get the best out of your next gen console.

    For the first 18 months of owning my 360 i played it on a small non-HD tv and thought it was good enough - but the moment i plugged it into to my monitor i just saw the immense change it makes..... i see no point getting a next gen console now if you don't plan to go HD.

  • Retroid #56 2 years ago

    kangarootoo: "I know it hard for you to accept, but very few people out there in the world really care about BC. They just don't."

    I take it you've not noticed PS1 games being flogged for a tidy profit on PSN, despite the disk-based versions still working too.

  • El-Dev #57 2 years ago

    @Donnie, did you criticise MS's lacklustre sales throughout the last 3 years? Especially as a machine that was nearly twice as expensive has tracked better than it.

  • chessboxer #58 2 years ago

    @ donnie080208

    The general consensus is no, it doesn't matter how much you pay for your lead (my 3m HDMI lead cost £8). Unfortunately your TV is too small to really notice any differences that may exist.

    The PS2 wasn't a runaway success until it received a big price drop. The Wii has far outsold the PS2 during the same timescales.

    @ darc

    You are worrying over nothing. The 80GB/160GB PS3's aren't being manufactured anymore. It's not the same situation as the PSP3000/PSP Go which will be manufactured and sold side by side.

    Shops still have stock and many people prefer the look of the Phat over the Slim. Once the stock is gone, only the Slim will be available.

    The same thing happened when the 40GB PS3 was released and shops still had stock of the launch models. In the US the 80GB MGS4 bundle (included software/hardware BC like the EU models) was manufactured and sold until late last year.

  • kangarootoo #59 2 years ago

    @ donnie080208

    Let me get this right. You are complaining that the slim version of this gen isn't as slim as the slim version of last gen? Christ, talk about pickiong your targets.

    Are you suggesting that Sony should have delayed release by a few years, so that the new slim could have been even more slim? Perhaps in another 3 years they will do another EVEN SLIMMER version. Will that make you happy? Hmmm?

  • darc #60 2 years ago

    "You are worrying over nothing. The 80GB/160GB PS3's aren't being manufactured anymore. It's not the same situation as the PSP3000/PSP Go which will be manufactured and sold side by side."

    I can assure you I'm not worried at all :) I just think it's a curiosity. I guess you're right, though, Sony can keep a lot of variations in the stores and they'll move because most people don't care much one way or the other.

    "...and many people prefer the look of the Phat over the Slim."

    That's just weird. ;)

  • paulf #61 2 years ago

    so basically you're saying that if i play it for 20 years then it will pay for itself in saved electricity bills? sold :)

  • gourry #62 2 years ago

    I walked into Currys today and noticed they wanted £54 for a 'Premium' HDMI cable.

  • Rev.StuartCampbell #63 2 years ago

    "As soon as 1TB HDD's are available to buy, I'll be getting a slim"

    So you'll be buying a Slim about a year ago?

  • spookyzombie #64 2 years ago

    Thanks for the info chessboxer.

  • chessboxer #65 2 years ago

    @ Rev. Stuart Campbell

    No, I'll be buying a Slim before Christmas because you cannot currently buy a 1TB 2.5" SATA HDD. Western Digital announced that they have made the very first one about 6 weeks ago. It will go on sale soon but until it does, I will make do with the limited free space on my 500GB currently in my launch unit.

  • JahB #66 2 years ago

    donnie, can you just go away and die?

    you're trolling every single comments section that i'm reading

  • mingster #67 2 years ago

    The amazing prices of HDMI leads in some shops is just shocking.
    Some sell for £30 plus and they are exactly the same as a £3 lead.
    They probably make more on an HDMI lead than they do on selling a PS3.

  • laudy #68 2 years ago

    "its blatently obvious that the slim is a reaction to this. thats why its not that small, and its several years earlier than normal"

    no it is not.

  • JahB #69 2 years ago

    the slim is not real slim because its a early unplanned (from gens start)release

    and how on earth do you know that? are you kaz hirai in disguise? what an idiot

  • Skurmedel #70 2 years ago

    I got mine last night. I've never had a PS3 before but I do have a 360. There were many things that impressed me and some that didn't.

    The machine itself is clearly well built, and it doesn't make much noise (or heat). When gaming it makes some noise, the BD drive being the loudest component. It's still very silent, and only makes itself heard in silent passages especially compared to the jet engine 360. It doesn't seem to get louder during movie playback.

    It froze a couple of times in Uncharted but that seems to be down to the game and not the machine, it were still downloading and shuffling data in the background.

    Annoying things: include a fucking stand with the machine! It's a piece of plastic and there is room in the box.

    Other not so impressive stuff were the PSN Store (but obviously nothing to do with Slim); how hard can it be to organize the stuff better? Anyway, I'm happy with what I bought, I think it'll serve me particularly well as a movie player.

    edit: grr typo
    Edited by 1 at 02/09/09 @ 16:48

  • Syrok #71 2 years ago

    "However, according to Japanese interviews with Sony, the new Panasonic HDMI controller is not an HDMI 1.4 chip, so there'll be no support for 3D Blu-rays or networking. However, there is nothing to stop Sony fitting a newer chip in a future model that does support these things and keeps PS3 at the top of its game as the best value, premium-level Blu-ray player."

    Next year maybe. :)

  • Skurmedel #72 2 years ago

    I should also note that the HDMI-CEC (Bravia Sync) doesn't work very well with my Samsung, basically the TV can auto-power on the PS3 when I switch to its input. But that's about it.

    I guess you better make sure you have a Sony TV if you want to rely on that function.
    Edited by 1 at 02/09/09 @ 16:51

  • Skurmedel #73 2 years ago

    In my eyes it's the lack of exclusives they need to work on (and the multiplayer framework), but that's strictly from my perspective. I have a freedom of choice, most people are not sad bachelors with too much money to spend :)

    The best thing for any consumer however, would be no exclusives at all on both consoles. Then we could decide on external factors...
    Edited by 1 at 02/09/09 @ 17:07

  • kangarootoo #74 2 years ago

    @donnie080208

    I know dude, I just think you are focussing on the name a bit too much. People should concern themselves with features and not really care whether they think it qualifies for a Weight Watcher of the Year award.

    And you have developed a rep for yourself as a bit of a 360 fanboy, though JahB is just as bad :)

  • chessboxer #75 2 years ago

    @ Skurmedel

    The problem you're experiencing with Uncharted is firmware related (it didn't exist before 3.00). It should be resolved in the next firmware release which will be here sooner rather than later.

  • Skurmedel #76 2 years ago

    svd_grasshopper: Wouldn't the best thing for the world be if they too did? So you could get a nice power-efficient machine whatever you chose to play on?

    chessboxer: Ok thanks, it had me worried there for a bit but it seems I'm not alone when it comes to Uncharted.
    Edited by 2 at 02/09/09 @ 17:12

  • soviet_ #77 2 years ago

    I bought an old 80gb PS3 at the weekend as I don't like the design of the Slim, looks cheap. The absolutley dire PLAYSTATION 3 in huge Spiderman font scrawled on the side of it almost made me wait for a Slim though.

    I know it's been commented on a 1000 times before but really, whichever "designer" thought it was a good idea to ruin the aesthetic of their shiny new product never should work in any sort of design field again. It almost makes me embarrassed to look at it. Why not have the new PS3 logo from the start? It looks so much better and is a clear evolution of the now classic PS2 logo.

    Sorry for rant, it still boggles my mind thinking about it. (I'm a graphic designer, surprisingly)

  • munki83 #78 2 years ago

    I got myself a fat ps3 at the weekend with killzone (awesome) virtua tennis (boring), terminator salvation (never opened) and terminator 3 on bluray(god help me) for £255. I could of waited for the slim but I like the chunkiness of the old one and I'm fortunate enough that the awful logo is facing away from me so I never have to see it. Anyway I'm enjoying my playstation 3 already got a pile of games to work my way though and I'm looking forward to the real ps3 slim

  • hiscore #79 2 years ago

    @ Richard Leadbetter: Have you tested framerate performance and vsync consistency on PS3 slim or did you assume it would be similar/identical to former PS3 models' performances?

    Is it technically possible that Sony would "overclock" the newer 65nm (later 45nm) gpu to obtain better performance to compete with Xbox 360 (framerates/vsync) now that heat has dropped significantly?

    What are you're thoughts on this matter?

    Thanks.

  • DarkBytes #80 2 years ago

    hmm
    interesting enough,

    I got my new ps3 today ( old one on ebay , what a salg) anyhow I have a fairly high end bravia HD panel, I switched on the HDMI sync on both units and whilst it does the standbyte , channel switch stuuf ( and displayes the ps3 user on the TV display menu ! sweet ) I cannot navigate the XMB at all , neither can I use the play pause ff rew controls on the remote to control dvd etc , so wtf tbh

  • Skurmedel #81 2 years ago

    DarkBytes: Haha, I'll tell that to a pal that was thinking on upgrading his "fat" for the Bravia sync, just to keep him from buying it in vain.

  • Lukey__b #82 2 years ago

    Lack of a HD cable aint that big a deal if you think about it.

    I think that somewhere like 50% of next gen HD console users don't use it with a HD TV. So when they decide to release a updated console they're thinking "Who's going to buy this, who we trying to buy it?" Answer, someone who hasn't already got one mostly.

    Ok, thats obvious... but it's important. I'd bet that 90% of people who have a HD TV and care at all about gaming either have a PS3 already or 360 or both. Out of the PS3 group and the 360 group, the 360 group are far more likely to buy the new PS3 slim (cus they aint got one), either way all groups probably have a HDMI cable already (probs several). ANyway... wafflin on a bit. Basicly the majority of purchasers will either have a HDMI cable or wont have a HDMI TV anyway. Yes one would be nice.... but it's hardly limited thinking by Sony not to put one in.... they are just stingy.

  • eiocreative #83 2 years ago

    The problem with the PS3 is that god god awful controller!

  • makeamazing #84 2 years ago

    Stop being a girl eiocreative, theres nothing wrong with the controller... more like theres a problem with your girly hands ;)

  • eiocreative #85 2 years ago

    Girly! I wish! Then I could maybe hold the bloody thing! It's too small! I don't care about the pros and cons of each console, the 360 Controller IS a better controller! Better for racing, better for FPS! Ok, the D-PAD is shocking but in every other way it's hands down better.

    Notice how I typed IS in capitals so winning any future argument.
    Edited by 1 at 02/09/09 @ 19:30

  • darren1976 #86 2 years ago

    Seriously thinking of getting the PS3 slim. Already have a 360 elite which i love but been playing a bit of wipeout pure on my psp and it has me hankering after Wipeout HD on the PS3!

    Also interested in some of the exclusives such as Uncharted and Killzone! I have a Wii I could trade in along with some 360 games which mean I coulld get it for about £150.

    What other exclusives can the PS3 users recommend? I'll be sticking to the 360 for any multi-platform releases because of xbox live but nice to have both consoles ;)

  • makeamazing #87 2 years ago

    the 360 Controller IS a better controller!

    Well that IS a matter of opinion. I personally dont like the Xbox controller, it feels cheap. Perhaps you need to buy a wii or something and get a controller with plastic addons to make it feel bigger ;)

  • eiocreative #88 2 years ago

    @darren1976, shame about that bloody controller eh!!

  • makeamazing #89 2 years ago

    What other exclusives can the PS3 users recommend?

    @Darren, Yep Killzone and Uncharted are great, obviously as you say Wipeout (and the new addon)... even though its a strange game, i would say Flower is really good. I would also recommend infamous... if you like platformers or have kids then LBP (its good but can get a bit boring after a while, though my kids love making levels with it even after all this time).

  • DarkBytes #90 2 years ago

    all controllers are bastard shite , cause they dont make left handed ones

    ( and no changing the button assignments and sticks , isnt the same thing , unless u can change direction pad for four main buttons , which is you never get to do in any game)
    Edited by 1 at 02/09/09 @ 19:36

  • eiocreative #91 2 years ago

    @makeamazing, alas something's are just a matter of fact. Those PS3 sticks are soft and useless, the triggers are shite too. They are undeniable facts. I'd rather control a game with the Sony Bravia TV Remote Control, maybe that's what the fancy HDMI integration is getting at??

  • makeamazing #92 2 years ago

    alas something's are just a matter of fact.

    @eiocreative i dont mind you having a differing opinion, but when people start sprouting their opinions as fact, well sorry you've just lost the discussion and joined the "Muppet Club" ;)

  • Boe_roundhall.org #93 2 years ago

    Richard Leadbetter sounds like an fan boy, he opened the box and found it had no bags unlike the XBOX360 box which has many and is edged out of being green because it's less environmentally friendly than the new PS3 slim.

    Say it the way it is, Sony sells status and microsoft's XBOX department sells bullshit both of which are marketed in a cynical fasion, it's an exercise in masicism to love these brands.

  • StooMonster #94 2 years ago

    Lukey__b: Lack of a HD cable aint that big a deal if you think about it.

    There's been research that shows that most people are unlikely to ever buy after-market cables, so what comes in the box is of paramount importance if you wish people to use HD output.

    Most people will hook up their console with composite if that's the cable in the box, especially considering that multiple recent surveys have shown that only 50% of PS3/360 are connected to HDTV anyway.

    * Most people does not mean the likes of tech-savvy people who visit sites like this, it means mass-market.

  • Skurmedel #95 2 years ago

    boe, are you high? I just got one and I can agree with pretty much everything he says.

  • MinerWilly #96 2 years ago

    I dont understand how it can be any quieter than my 40gig PS3 ,mine makes no sound at all . I am happy to keep it particularly as I plan on putting either a 320 or 500gig drive in soon . Also if i wanted to trade up I have to pay something like £100 . BUT i signed up to Continuous Play (Sonys PS Insurance Policy ) so if my PS3 PHAT should pack in one day I will most likely be offered a Slim at no extra cost !!

  • MeBrains #97 2 years ago

    @balsaboy72: because balsaboy72, it still does give free bluetooth, blueray, wireless, HDMI1.3,online play,a completely newly designed processor - good or great for gaming is another discussion - all for free in comparison to some other consoles...

    that is not difficult is it?! ;)

    edit: or are there competing consoles which offer all of what your said out of the box?!!
    Edited by 1 at 02/09/09 @ 21:53

  • Praetorianer #98 2 years ago

    Whoa I didn't know that the launch PS3 was such a energy hole!

  • zedzee #99 2 years ago

    No BC, no buy.

  • MeBrains #100 2 years ago

    balsa: comparing to that original console there is €300 off! So, no, I do not think you can complain for the price they are asking now. Wii for example is only €50 cheaper than the PS3 Slim and it is _old_ technology. Nintendo has not reduced its price up to now ffs. 360 for example is only €100 off since its original price and it _still_ is unreliable...

    for this price, I am sure I would indeed choose the slim - the ommitence of Linux is something I regret. I would have liked to at least try installing... I do not really care about BC. I made the move from PS1 to PS2 and I hardly ever reverted to playing BC with the next console.

  • eiocreative #101 2 years ago

    @makeamazing, err, no, I still don't see how the statement "the PS3 controller is shit" can be taken as anything other than a fact.

    fact
    Noun:
    a truth that can be proved from experience or observation.

    Yepp, it's shit!

  • Skurmedel #102 2 years ago

    eio, you need to brush up on the concepts "objective" and "subjective" I think.

  • Alkeno #103 2 years ago

    So it is smaller (although I still find it rather big), quieter, cooler, well built and cheaper... on my book that is a good job, Sony.

    I might be getting on someday, not now. I rather wait a few months just in case something goes wrong and all the early adopters start getting WLOD (whichever LED of death!).

  • dom6918 #104 2 years ago

    Annoyed..i have the fat version that i like to play blu rays on..(in true HD audio with an Onkyo HD amp and 7.1)..reading that the slim pushes the audio to the receiver to process is what i wanted in the first place...my PS3 needs to go on a diet (or even ebay so i can pick up a slim!)

  • SleepyMagpie #105 2 years ago

    "DMC4 installs in 18 minutes, 42 seconds versus 21 minutes, 23 seconds on the "Fat" - a whopping great 2 minutes, 41 seconds advantage."

    What the **** are you on?! Happy pills?

    It's still outrageous to have to wait close to 19 minutes for an install on a console!

  • brod #106 2 years ago

    "Is 'PS3 Slim' the actual name of the product now?
    I am sure that I recall Sony saying that is was not a slim PS3, just a newer version of the existing PS3. "

    The real PS3 Slim will come in a couple of years (after PS2 is discontinued), be significantly smaller (think PS2 slim size), and have full PS2 BC.

  • Rizzler1 #107 2 years ago

    Wow ps3 slim any1 noticed since the update the other day when u start up a downloaded game theres no playstation 3 logo ?

  • bigbadbeasty #108 2 years ago

    "Could anyone have guessed that Sony would be outmanoeuvred in terms of gaming innovation..."

    *Cough* Yeah I think in that area some of us could.

    Regardless, good to see that the machine is a bit more frisky in performance, and more energy efficient. Still not sure that the matte finish looks as good, I think I will need to see one in the flesh (plastic) before I can make a full judgement.

  • brombeer #109 2 years ago

    Like someone mentioned before: how can it be better when there's little left from the original PLAYSTATION 3? Even de boxart of the games gets rebranded (see lionk below), so this generation you'll get TWO different PLAYSTATION 3 game boxes. And the new one is as hideous as the Glitter Barbie XMB disaster I have to look at now each day.

    It feels more like a desperate attempt to reel in the casual gamers (which already have been reeled in by Nintendo). It's uncanny how the box of the PS3 matches that of the PS2; the font; the logo; the boxart. Perhaps Sony thinks that those consumers didn't know the PLAYSTATION 3 is the successor of the PS2, but know they do because it has similar branding? To me it's clear that Sony is clueless where to go with the PLAYSTATION 3 and is really desperate to gain more souls. For me personally, this is the last Sony console. I feel raped and ripped off.

    Edit: added link to new PS3 boxart

    http://ww w.gamingbolt.com/apps/blog/show...
    Edited by 2 at 03/09/09 @ 08:07

  • Goodfella #110 2 years ago

    And the new one is as hideous as the Glitter Barbie XMB disaster I have to look at now each day

    No you don't, you can turn it off in Themes. Stop crying like a spoilt baby.

  • Skurmedel #111 2 years ago

    Amazing how anybody can be raped by a new boxart... that's quite an image you have conjured up there.

  • Beek4257 #112 2 years ago

    @darren1976
    I'd like to add MGS: Guns of the patriots (it's an acquired taste though).
    And maybe a Singstar-game, depending on your drinking habits: no drink = no sale / drink = Singstar / hammered = Singstar ABBA. ;-)
    Edited by 1 at 03/09/09 @ 11:55

  • jefranklin18 #113 2 years ago

    @Beek4257

    Sounds like my household re SingStar, although now they have a Blondie pack to download I may not need to be that hammered.

  • gjgjg #114 2 years ago

    sigh, ill this upgrading and none on that carpy* fisherprice controller...
    ill get one when they upgrade that - or dev's start to use ps3 as the lead console, and not port them from xbox versions. all that power and only a handfull of games that use it...

  • darc #115 2 years ago

    Totally forgot about Flower and Wipeout... then there's Heavy Rain next year... yeah, it's almost inevitable that I'll pick one up. I'll just have to fill up a garbage bag with old games to sell back, that'll take the edge off.

    "The real PS3 Slim will come in a couple of years (after PS2 is discontinued), be significantly smaller (think PS2 slim size), and have full PS2 BC."

    It's tough to speculate, with things changing as fast as they are. We're just as likely to see all these consoles go away in favor of streaming, emulated, "cloud-computed" services in a few years. Which would be fantastic from a consumer's point of view, actually. Buy your preferred controller, turn on your TV (or your PC if you're really nostalgic for sitting at a desk with a backache LOL), rent whatever games you like - from any vendor from any year - and go. It's not that far off.
    Edited by 2 at 03/09/09 @ 17:00

  • VMerken #116 2 years ago

    That's pretty much a nightmare, darc, really. With the way pricing mechanisms are going, expect to be paying a premium for every minute you play on whatever game you selected. Games which you can no longer physically own/sell/lend to a friend/etc. An eternal cinema visit. Using kangarootooean statistics, if large companies have the opening to gouge us, they will likely gouge us.

    As for me and the new PS3, I'll gladly keep using the PAL launch model with (almost) all the bells and whistles of the NTSC launch model until it croaks. I'm one of those BC people you know, one of those rare outliers on the kangarootooean bell curve.
    Edited by 1 at 03/09/09 @ 19:18

  • Retroid #117 2 years ago

    brod: "The real PS3 Slim will come in a couple of years (after PS2 is discontinued), be significantly smaller (think PS2 slim size), and have full PS2 BC."

    As Radiohead once said, "Nice dream".

  • gammonbanter #118 2 years ago

    The power saving and noise reduction promised in this article was enough to convince me! It's sitting in the corner of the living room now!

  • darc #119 2 years ago

    @VMerken - maybe, maybe not. It's all speculation, of course. But there are already precursors to this, where pricing and licensing models are concerned, in the way of Steam, XBLA, GoG, etc. The technology is apples to oranges, I understand, but there's no reason consumers can't demand the same sort of pay-once licensing models vs. a timed rental approach. (Yes, I acknowldge that I chose the word "rent" myself in my original post. You can sub in "purchase" or "lease" there if you'd like. :)

    The bottom line with regards to backward compatibility is there will come a point - soon - when the hardware will far outstrip the requirements of gaming as we now understand it. There will be the matter of coding software layers to emulate legacy platforms, and then it will boil down to distribution of content, and payment for intellectual property. So, maybe, we won't need to concern ourselves as to whether we're running a Playstation 2, 3, 4 or whether Sony or Microsoft builds it, or whether it's in our living room or in a server farm in San Jose.

    Something like the convergence of Flash games and interactive television, but sufficiently advanced as to emulate what are consoles are doing now.

  • cyber_nicco #120 2 years ago

    My slim was just delivered a few minutes ago. When I go home from work this afternoon and see what all the fuss is about. I still doubt it will replace my Elite as my primary gaming machine, but it does have games I want to play and I'll be taking advantage of Netflix Blu-Ray movies.

    By the way, Doesn't the PS3 have a browser in it? Does it accept any sort of extensions or plug-ins? I ask because I am wondering if I could play streaming Netflix movies as if I was on my PC. I have a feeling that the answer is no...

  • SeesThroughAll #121 2 years ago

    By the way, Doesn't the PS3 have a browser in it? Does it accept any sort of extensions or plug-ins? I ask because I am wondering if I could play streaming Netflix movies as if I was on my PC. I have a feeling that the answer is no...

    The PS3 browser has limited Flash support (just about enough to watch YouTube and similar sites).

  • cyber_nicco #122 2 years ago

    Okay, thanks, SeesThroughAll.

  • Grayvern #123 2 years ago

    Im happy it's more matt the surfice of my launch PS3 is scratched all to hell and looks horrible due to it. Shiny consumer electronics are a symptom of general consumer ignorance.

    Id like to get one but theres the nagging feeling of the few PS2 games I missed and the fact ive got an old non hdmi 360 and a 20gig HDD. And when you add up the cost of the 120gig HDD and a new wirless controller because mines getting a bit long in the tooth then well I may as well but an Elite instead.

    Also card readers are a plus but most devices you can probably plug in with an usb and then transfer over. And the use of two usb ports is not a lot.

  • MeBrains #124 2 years ago

    @GammonBarter: "It's sitting in the corner of the living room now!"

    shouldn't it be hooked up to the telly instead?! :|

  • SuspectedDog #125 2 years ago

    is it Ps2 compatible then???

  • riceNpea #126 2 years ago

    i have ps3 fat. im going to buy the slim. then the ps3 chubby adolescent. then the ps3 spotty granny. then the ps3 inapproprate touching uncle

  • SeesThroughAll #127 2 years ago

    SPAMMERS AHOY!!!

  • ueue #128 2 years ago

    There are a lot of breakdowns of 360, and Microsoft wants to make the fabrication article on the breakdown of PS3. Eurogamer seems to want also to support Microsoft. The article on 360 hardware doesn't include the breakdown article (breakdown of the truth).

    Hardware Test: Xbox 360 Elite

    Sony tackles BBC over 'PS3 failure' report

    Watchdog PS3 segment falls flat

  • ClevBeast #129 2 years ago

    It's not often i read an acticle of this nature from start to finish but i thought that was well written and informative. It has also made me wonder whether i should be buying a slim or changing the HD in my fat one as i had previously planned

  • Preident_Obama #130 2 years ago

    Hey guys, just to say thanks for voting for me as your Presdent, it means a lot.

    In return, I plan to give PS3 Slims to all Americans this Christmas. Any American who is found with an XBOX 360 in their possession by December 24th 2009 will, however, be executed on the spot.

    I hope you all have a greay day.

    "Barry"