PS3's RSX GPU Gets 40nm Die Shrink; Even Lighter.
As part of the usual improvements throughout the console life cycle, Sony has updated the design of its PS3 Slim.
The major change this time wasn't a new feature or a new form factor, but rather a die shrink for its Nvidia-designed RSX GPU. The chip has shrunk from 65nm to 40nm, resulting in a reduction in both weight, heat, and power consumption.
A teardown narrated by Japanese site PocketNews examines the power requirements and updated (and simplified) designs for the cooling system. Compared to the original launch console, the new 40nm RSX-packing model CECH-2100A has a heatsink and fan that weighs nearly half of that from the first PlayStation 3 design.
Perhaps equally remarkable is that the new model's cooler weighs significantly less than even the PS3 Slim model unveiled last fall. The latest simpler cooling hardware weighs 408g, while the PS3 Slim's one that launched last year weighs 545g.
Expectedly, the die shrink has reduced power consumption by around 15 percent – an improvement in all powered-states. When powered off, the console still draws 9W.
Check out PocketNews for all the pictures and translated details.
Got a scale handy
They mean the heatsink itself. It sounds like they mean the system, but the linked website clearly shows its just the heatsink.
significant figure fail
In this case, it's more related to cost reduction. The chip could be actually more powerful (sometimes more powerful chips are cheaper to make), but it will more than likely run in practice close to the speed of the original model. Lower power requirements means less powerful of a PSU needed meaning Sony saves more cash. If it weighs less, it may mean that it would be cheaper to ship.
Maybe a possible price drop to $249-279?
Got a scale handy
I checked the link, thanks for that. They really worded that poorly. I was sitting there saying to myself "No way, what?" Lol... XD
Oh don't remind me.. I got sucked in with the idea that my new 9800GTX would be much faster than my 8800gts..
Oh and normally a die shrink in consoles would not result in more performance mostly because they still have to code the game for the older revisions.
With the improved Bose Audio system, higher lift cams and more compact block design the RSX improves fuel economy by fifteen percent whilst maintaining 210hp at the crank. Unfortunately, in the "reduce weight at all costs" phase, the RSX engineers reduced seating to two persons to save on new cooling requirements.