PlayStation Portable: Meaning (information, definition, explanation, facts)

The PlayStation Portable, officially known as the PSP, is a not yet released handheld game console by Sony Computer Entertainment. The PSP was unveiled during E3 2004 on May 11th, 2004 at a Sony press conference.

Compared with the current specifications of the upcoming Nintendo DS, the PSP hardware is more powerful but less innovative. Both handhelds feature WiFi for wireless gaming and connection to wireless networks. The PSP features 32 MB of main memory, eight times that of the Nintendo DS, and provides richer storage options by supporting Sony Memory Sticks and "Universal Media Discs" instead of cartridges. On the other hand, the Nintendo DS features dual displays, the lower one a touch screen, as well as a built-in microphone for speech recognition.

With USB 2.0 and Memory Stick support onboard, Sony has created a portable sporting enough connectivity to serve as a portable music and video player as well as games machine. Wi-Fi support allows the PSP to connect to wireless networks, other PSP units, and according to several industry insiders, Sony's upcoming PlayStation 3.

The PSP is expected to cost around $200 when released in North America, although Sony has not released any official pricing details. The official release dates are late 2004 in Japan, March 2005 in North America and Europe, and mid 2005 in South Korea.

Official Specifications

These specifications were released by Sony Computer Entertainment America in a press release release dated May 11th, 2004.

PSP Console

• Product Name: PlayStation Portable (PSP)
• Color: Black
• Dimensions: Approx. 170 mm (L) x 74 mm (W) x 23 mm (D)
• Weight: Approx. 260 g (including battery)
• CPU: PSP CPU (System clock frequency] 1~333MHz)
• Main Memory: 32[[Megabyte
• Embedded DRAM: 4MB
• Display:
  • 4.3 inch, 16:9 widescreen TFT LCD
  • 480 x 272 pixels (16.77 million colors)
  • Max. 200 cd/m2 (with brightness control)
• Speakers: Built-in stereo speakers
• Main Input/Output:
  • IEEE 802.11b (Wi-Fi)
  • USB 2.0 (Target)
  • Memory Stick™ PRO Duo
  • IrDA
  • IR Remote (SIRCS)
• Disc Drive: UMD Drive (Playback only)
• Profile: see below
• Main Connectors:
  • DC OUT 5V
  • Terminals for charging built-in battery
  • Headphone/Microphone/Control connector
• Keys/Switches:
  • Directional buttons (Up/Down/Right/Left) Analog pad
  • Enter keys (Triangle, Circle, Cross, Square)
  • Left, Right keys
  • START, SELECT, HOME
  • POWER On/Hold/Off switch
  • Brightness control, Sound Mode, Volume +/-
  • Wireless LAN On/Off switch
  • UMD Eject
• Power: Built-in lithium-ion battery, AC adaptor
• Access Control: Region Code, Parental Control
• Accessories:
  • Stand
  • Headphone with remote commander
  • Headphone with remote commander and microphone
  • External battery pack
  • Case
  • Strap
  • USB Camera for PSP (Demonstrated at E3 2004)
  • USB GPS for PSP (Demonstrated at E3 2004)
  • USB Keyboard for PSP (Demonstrated at E3 2004)

Universal Media Disc

Specifications for the Universal Media Disc were released simultaneously.

• Dimensions: Approx. 65 mm (W) x 64 mm (D) x 4.2 mm (H)
• Weight: Approx. 10 g
• Disc Diameter: 60 mm
• Maximum Capacity: 1.8GB (Single-sided, dual layer)
• Laser wavelength: 660nm (Red laser)
• Encryption: AES 128bit
• Profile:
  • PSP Game (full function)
  • UMD Audio (codec ATRAC3plus™, PCM, (MPEG4 AVC))
  • UMD Video (codec MPEG4 AVC, ATRAC3plus™, Caption PNG)

These are unofficial specifications reported by PSP.ign.com.

UMD (Universal Media Disc)

• Transfer Rate: 11Mbps
• Shock Proof
• Unique Disc ID

PSP CPU CORE

• R4000 32bit Core
• 128 bit Bus
• 1 - 333 MHz @ 1.2V
• Main Memory: 32MB(eDRAM)
• Bus Bandwidth: 2.6 GB/s
• I-Cache, D-Cache
• FPU, VFPU (Vector Unit) @ 2.6GFlops
• 3D-CG Extended Instructions

PSP Media Engine

• MIPS R4000 32bit Core
• 128 bit Bus
• 1 - 333 MHz @ 1.2V
• Sub Memory: 2 MB(eDRAM) @ 2.6 GB/s
• I-Cache, D-Cache
• 90nm CMOS-

PSP Graphics Core 1

• 3D Curved Surface + 3D Polygon
• Compressed Texture
• Hardware Clipping, Morphing, Bone(8)
• Hardware Tessellator
• Bezier, B-Spline(NURBS)
  • ex 4x4, 16x16, 64x64 sub-division

PSP Graphics Core 2

• 'Rendering Engine' + 'Surface Engine'
• 256 bit Bus, 1-166 MHz @ 1.2 V
• VRAM: 2 MB (eDRAM)
• Bus Bandwidth: 5.3 GB/s
• Pixel Fill Rate: 664 M pixels/s
  • max 33 M polygon/s (T&L)
• 24bit Full Color:RGBA

PSP Sound Core

• Reconfigurable DSPs
• 128 bit Bus
• 166 MHz @1.2V
• 5 giga operations/s
• CODEC
  • 3D Sound, Multi-Channel
  • Synthesizer, Effecter, etc

AVC Decoder

• AVC(H.264) Decoder
  • Main Profile
  • Baseline Profile
• @Level1,Level2,Level3
  • 2 Hours (High Quality) - DVD movie
  • 4 Hours (Standard Quality) - CS Digital