Rumor: 160GB Playstation 3 Model Coming?

ComNetSlash reports in this post:

"Thanks to one of our reliable insiders, [-JuNka-], we have news that Sony is planning to introduce a beefed up 160GB Playstation 3 console. The following post was left by a member on the Pro Evolution Soccer forums:

From inside Sony Computer Entertainment International's Japan offices I present to you leaked information on the new 160gb Playstation 3 model that will be appearing in the near future."

Sony PlayStation 3 Code: CECHG06 (SPECIFICATION)

* 160gb 2.5 SATA 5400rpm HDD
* CELL Broadband Engine (65nm process) @ 3.2ghz
* PPU x1, SPE x8
* RSX GPU (65nm process) @ 550mhz
* Blu-Ray Optical Disc Drive @ 2x
* Memory Card Reader- Memory Stick Duo, Compact Flash, Secure
* Digital
* 6x USB 2.0 ports
* 2x HDMI 1.3 ports
* 3x Gigabit ethernet ports
* DUALSHOCK 3 controller

"At the moment the unit is only confirmed for release in Japan. A date has not been fully specified but is expected after November"

[ShiftyLookingCow]

2x HDMI 1.3 ports?

[nasim]

EUROPE will be won this OCTOBER,

Now JAPAN falls to PS3 domination

NA left but would soon be overtaken by ps3 STORM

:)

[Lord Anubis]

Because with the PS3 you can split audio and video they want you to be able to use a dedicated HDMI for audio and video.

Also, split the image for a monitor and use optical for audio. (btw I'm speculating on the last part)

But this isn't what Ken Kutaragi Promised us for the AV PS3.

[WAR_MACHINE77]

Dear god guys lets all stop this stuff. We just finally got official confirmation on the 40 gig so everyone has to start a new rumor?

[gta_cb]

this isnt a flame comment, but you remember when all the PSfanboys was saying that microsoft are stupid for having the Elite, Premium and Core. now we are getting a new SKU every couple of months for the PS series! lol

[grifter024]

Yes I totally agree with you 2.1 most of them were saying it was a bad move to bring out more and more SKU's and was going to be Msofts downfall...but now we have the shoe on the other foot and we now have 5! Dare I say it again 5 ps3's coming out ....that is if this pans out or not. I dont want to start a flame war or anything but seriously if you guys can complain about the 3 Sku's well if you count the Halo3 Sku 4 SKu's for the 360 cant you guys like maybe make a petition and maybe try to make them stop with over inflating the market with a new model of the ps3 every couple of months? I thought you didnt need the HDD anyway! I thought the BR disk had enough storage for the game and you didnt really need even 80 gigs worth of space on your hdd! I know its so you can save stuff from your marketplace but still the 360 has been out longer and I dont think anyone has filled up the 120 gig yet I think its just Sony's little my storage device is bigger then yours mentality but with all that aside I think if we hear a 125gig and 140gig ps3 coming out it will totally seem like a desperate attempt to stay in the news.

[gta_cb]

yeh i agree, although i doubt it will do any good, they mite say "we are trying to reach a wider audience".... anyway if this does come out and i do get a PS3 i will be getting a cheaper model. i brought the premium Xbox 360 because it was a better deal then the Core, but i wont buy the Elite either. if my Xbox 360 breaks i mite ask to pay the difference there and then, but i wont just go out and buy one.

[pwnsause]

ROFLMAO, this is becoming so funny!!!

[Ri0tSquad]

your an idiot if you think this is true. Thanks for the laugh tho

[pwnsause]

this is either fake, or they are releasing what was the actual original PS3 (prototype) with the HDMI ports and integrated router, you guys remember that??

[Lord Anubis]

I was hoping it was the AV PS3.

[xaphanze]

what he heck? When will this models stop?
So next week ill be buying the 60GB ps3. Next thing I know a new model is released with extraordinary specs. Frankly, I would feel let down.

[BIadestarX]

ok enough! Both Microsoft and Sony need to stop making new SKUs... and simply dropping prices... specially when the SKU specs are different... now people will need a college education to know which one to buy... enough! Concentrate on the game.. and making the console cheaper! no more SKU!

[xplosneer]

Besides us who are all up to date this just seriously confuses people.
Also this is in someone's dreams cause it would literally be twice as expensive. Whatever.

[Barreldragon00]

But i think that this is most likey fake they just annouced a 40gig PS3 there is no reason to make a new one. The only way i see this coming true is if it only comes out in Japan (other then that its pointless)

[joydestroy]

seriously, if you're a casual gamer and walk into a store to buy a PS3 or 360, you really wouldn't know which one to fvcking buy.

it really is getting ridiculous.

[DJ]

SKUS! 40GB and 80GB are enough. I hope to god this isn't true, because it looks idiotic; 3 internet ports? Pbbt.

[the greatest]

split screens on 2 42in lcd
sounds nice

[Chris_GTR1]

i thought the price was what scared people away from buying it... making a 160 gb version? thats just retarded.

[socomnick]

Why does sony launch so many skus

[BaMYouRDeaD]

Sony, how about trying to create a cheaper model instead of a more expensive one. This may be a good idea once the PS3 gets to an established price, and the parts become less costly. I think they're on the right track with the 40GB, not so much with this.

P.S. Although I'd be glad to have one of these ;)

[MUGEN]

"3x Gigabit ethernet ports "
this rumor or should i say "someone's wish" is downright stupid, who the hell would need 3 ethernet ports.

[bdwins]

I read the 3x ethernet port and knew right away that this is fake.

[Lord Anubis]

the three ethernet ports would have been used to make the PS3 a router. Those were the original plans for the original PS3.

Also, the AV PS3 is not designed for the consumer its for serious people into audio and video. This is why you are confused and calling it fake.

[Bolts]

Anyone with half a brain can upgrade the hard drive on the PS3 so 160 gig doesn't impress me. The extra HDMI and ethernet ports is also pointless. I'm not seeing what I need to see, more RAM and a new GPU. Untill those two issues are addressed this new PS3 doesn't qualify as "beefed up" at all, the only thing it does is rape your wallet.

[xplosneer]

That would pretty much outdate all the current PS3's and make that a PS4.

[friendly user]

They will never change the GPU or add more RAM. That just would never happen.

Anyways, I can't believe the poster felt the need to post this obvious fake. This site needs some quality control.

[friendly user]

dp :(

[Monkeynator]

More RAM could be done if it was fully backwards compatible. Then in order for a game to make use of the extra resources SONY would have to enforce backwards compatibility. In other words the games would have to detect the amount of ram and load the appropriate amount of textures or adjust texture/geometry quality. Games do that now on PCs. Everyone with the older PS3 would still be able to run the games even though the quality would be a bit lower.

The downside to this is that developers may get lazy and give the low end consoles a horrible experience. The current memory footprint is good enough for the type of games we expect, but only if someone works at making good use of it. This could be done but only if SONY enforces a minimum quality level for the standard consoles.

[Proxy]

Yeah, lets release an upgraded PS3.5, make all our earlier adopters pissed off that their playing second rate games, and send a clear message that "If you WAIT, you'll be able to buy something BETTER for CHEAPER!" (I guess that's the way technology is though.)

I can see the PS4 headlines now; "PS4 sales 17 units in its first month. Poll indicates consumers are WAITING for the better and cheaper version, and don't want to get screwed like they did last gen."

Those computers are looking more and more apealing.

[gerrard]

What its needs is a better middleware and support from Sony so that it'll make it easier for third party developers to get to grips how the PS3 works. As for this new SKU, why, its not really needed yet (maybe in a year or two's time when hd material gets into full flow), what is needed right now is for Sony to conentrate on getting the games sorted out, they've done half the battle of bringging out the cheaper SKU, so there's no need for a more expensive one right now.

[Kratchet]

3 ethernet ports? thats totally fake, if its real it would upwards if $800

[jaja1434]

RUMOR- Bunny adds 2nd Pancake to top of head

Just you wait...its coming.

[Bolts]

I saw this coming a mile away. All nextgen bunnies are dual pancaked.

[pawnfish]

Gah!
They have made the last SPE available! 8 instead of 7.
Maybe they are going to use it to make the picture across 2 screens?
who knows?
Xmb in one screen, game in another
ps3 = multitasking machine:D
Also, Kenny did promise an AV-centric ps3 in the near future?

[Blasphemy]

3 Ethernet ports? I call fake on this one.

[WilliamRLBaker]

if they actually released the originally planed ps3 that thing was filled with worthless crap.

and they will have 5 sku's under their belt after this one.
so much for oh we only need one sku.

[Lumbo]

The Pro Evo soccer forum as source .. OK, ill believe it right away. Except that this looks way to much like a made up mix from the pre production specs with a randomly added HDD size

[MikeGdaGod]

what the f*ck can you do with three ethernet ports and two HDMI ports????

[Maddens Raiders]

Isn't this the AV model that KK was touting back in 2005? I mean it does have the dual HDMI ports, 6 USB's and all the readers. What were you hoping for? btw is this really *real, or just someone's wet dream? And why are they still implementing the slower HDD if the 7200 is in the 40GB?

[Maddens Raiders]

is this really being released (in Japan!)? If they're going to release all of these specs. then why not bring the 20GB back and just sell the damn thing for 200 bucks with no game and a controller?

[Jamaicangmr]

Ok so they freed up the extra SPE makin it 8, Added and extra HDMI port, added 2 extra USB 2.0 ports and the not one but 2 extra Ethernet ports?

This is ones way too easy to see through. 1st off this one would be more powerful than the exsisting models. If they updated the CELL this is the 1st sign that this is fake. Then addin 2 f'ing Ehternet ports this is even more stupid.

Even though the person stated that this would be only for Japan. Unless it's a Special SKU like the PSX or something i dont see this happen.

FAKE!

[jXales]

sometimes some people are just so uninformed.

The current CELL also has 8 SPE's. One is disabled for quality control, if one dies, the disabled takes it's place so there is always 7 functioning, this cuts costs hardware failures which seemed to have paid off seeing as the ps3 has 1 % failure rate which is good.

second out of the 7 working spe's one is reserved for OS at all times. that leaves 6 SPE's for developers.

Always has had 8 and for this gen always will.
Now when will people understand that consoles do NOT get upgraded CPU and GPU or RAM performance wise. Or if they do, it will not be for gaming purposes as games have to work on ALL SKU's! also the limited ones.

That is one problem microsoft is facing now with games coming that will soon require a HDD to play. Big mistake!

[Jamaicangmr]

So what did i say why am not even misinformed but "Uninformed" on the matter? I know that they made one SPE redundant basically on stanby but at no point are there 8 available SPE's that my point. This stated 8, so that lead me to believe that if this rumour is true that means they will "UPDATE" (Key word)Not UPGRADE the CELL. Which is the basis for me sayin this is stupid because that would in fact make this CELL more powerful than the one's currently available in the PS3.

I don't see how am "Uninformed" on this at all.

[mikeslemonade]

Fake! How can you leak something with so much information for a product that doesn't come out for 2 months?

[7ero H3LL]

now their will be 4 ps3 consoles to chose from.

they said back in 2005 that their not stupid to even try selling multiple models like what MS is doing (now look at this).

let me guess their is going to be another one with a 200 gig hard drive that can be upgraded(both ps3 and 360).

right now their are 3 models for 360 and 3 for ps3 why add a 4th?

[CBaoth]

The only SKU coming to Japan is the $399 unit. Let's suspend our notion of common sense for the purpose of this article/rumor and look at the Japanese sales chart. In Japan, last month a total of 231,569 hardware units were sold by the big 3. However, only 18% of those purchases were next-gen consoles (42,463). Looking at the numbers alone, Japanese gamers have clearly gravitated towards portable gaming (the reason Square and others want to concentrate on foreign markets for console profit). In fact, of the 30 best selling titles on the software chart, only 9 titles are next-gen software. And did you know Japan is the only region left that hasn't seen a price reduction - since SCEE's announcement covers the EU and AU markets? Surely, Sony isn't asking Japanese customers to buy a bigger, more expensive SKU when they're having trouble selling their 60 gig SKU. I'm also speculating that's why BC was removed in favor of keeping wi-fi - the new cross functionality between PSP/PS3 is aimed specifically at Japan's growing portable gaming market. Like every other market, by mid 2008, there will be 2 SKUs for ppl to choose: the 40 and the 80 gig models.

[whoelse]

This has got to stop. Maybe in 1-2 years, Sony do release this but frankly i dont believe this report at all and sounds so fake.

Forget it guys and buy a 40GB or 60Gb or 80GB.

[Dogswithguns]

I dont really need that many gigs. I hope not.

[Monkeynator]

I actually have a 400GB HDD because I re-encode my DVDs and store them on the PS3. It makes life convenient to have my videos on there without rifling through the stack of DVDs. Additionally I have a better gaming experience than the average PS3 gamer since my upgraded HDD is faster, and thus some games that have stutter issues while accessing HDD are mitigated.

[feejo]

I will just wait.

[mirroredderorrim]

fake, and...IMO the next Playstation should come upgradeable. meaning a board that supports 45nm/23nm, etc. and graphics chip. Would be nice if you could extend the life of your console by being able to easily upgrade your parts. They could make it really simple, like snap in pieces, heh.

Just a thought.

[Monkeynator]

It would just be a computer at that point.

[SafeRat]

I'd love this model! No particular reason why, just that i always need the latest thing :)

[mirroredderorrim]

What do you think consoles are, especially now at days?
Computers.

[SafeRat]

If it included smaller 65nm chips I'd have a reason too.

[skynidas]

i really think is fake

[chrisin3]

Actually, the 20 GB is probably more expensive to manufacture than the 40 GB. The 20 GB has FULL Backwards Compatibility and 4 USB slots. The only thing the 40 GB has that the 20 doesn't is 20 gigs.

[Drano]

Seems to me like Sony is trying to give an illusion of choice to their customers, giving more tools to the sellers to get the job done, just like "The 40GB is stripped down, if you want something optimal you could always go for the 160GB model, but it's a bit expensive, I would go for the 60GB or the 80GB.". The number of SKUs is getting too high but in a way, that forces the customer to get informed about the product and then know the product... probably giving him/her more reasons to invest in it. Masses Manipulation.

If that's what they think, they could as well just give a couple price drops : that would work even better.

[kn]

No way is Sony going to add a 5th sku in as many months. At this rate, they would be better off going the dell model and let people order their PS3 direct with the features they want. Backward compatible? Y/N. Hard Drive size? Rumble? Y/N, card reader? Y/N, and so on...

[E305]

Good idea!

[BIadestarX]

It does sound kind of fake... "3x Gigabit ethernet ports"?... but then again... it does sound like the specs of a server... maybe this SKU is aim at universities or to people interested in using the PS3 as a server ala @Folding.... I can't imagine how much this would cost if true.

[Monkeynator]

They already have CELL based servers out there. Unless it was particularly cheaper, a super PS3 would be unnecessary for server usage... at which point it would still not really be a server class machine.

[Ju]

That sounds totally fake! Except, its if it is not a plain PS3 as such.

Didn't Sony show the CELL based computer recently ? That would be my dream come true. A CELL computer which can play PS3 games. This sounds more like it. But I am pretty sure it will be closer to $1000 (if not more). But with 512 or 1Gig RAM, that would blow every high end PC out of the water.

My inner child hopes that this is true (but my adult sides refuses to believe).

[Dpa]

The only way this is not a fake is if the console is a specialist model to be used to host custom game servers or run linux. Theres no way a model like this would be released to the gaming market.

[Dpa]

Sorry, double post.

[akumous]

There is no way Sony would be on their right mind if they do this. This is utterly retarded to the highest degree possible. I really think they should be one model instead of several. Look at Nintendo, they only have one version of the Wii and that is selling like hot cakes as opposed to Sony's and MS's million iterations.

Sony should focus on the 40g and the 80g while tweaking the emulation software to work with older games. They also need to focus on getting more fun content to their console...Sony tell me it ain't so that you have another version in the works, its becoming retarded now..

[E305]

I was with you all the way until you compared the Wii to the 360 and PS3.

[Azailex Sorrow]

If this is true, the price is probably going to be $700, but then again it would make the 360elite look like crap..

I think sony knos what there doing, and if they dont there in a tight noodle..

Whatever sony dose, im 100% behind them, but tht dos'nt mean ill get it!

[DEADEND]

Yo if this is true I am so getting this new model, 2 HDMI ports and 6 USB ports that is so sweet :) I can't wait for it to come out. But I think it won't be avaliable until next year around the time of the next price cut(during the release of MGS4) around Q2 08.

[akumous]

E305, try to understand what I am trying to convey here. Nintendo has one unit, which means cost of production isn't up the roof like Sony and Ms. I bet it cost them more probably not necessary money but time...No it will cost them more to manufacture, market, and package, these multiple systems.

I have both a 360 and a PS3 and I love them both for what they have to offer. But if a game is coming out for both systems I would much prefer to get it for the PS3 because it is more reliable than the 360. The 360 is a ticking time bomb, and Halo 3 was the last game I purchased for it.

I would love for Sony to be in a better position because it has a promising unit but nonsense like this questions Sony's ability to lead the next gen wars.

[Ju]

What some people forget, is, there will only be one SKU in the future: The recently introduced Eur.399 model. The current EU version (which is basically the same as the US 80GB model) will phase out (like the $499 one did here in the US). Looks like the US has still 80GB stocks but as soon as they're gone, the US (and Japan?) will get the cost reduced PS3 (which looks like is the only one in production at this point).

If you would have been at the E3 in 2006, you could actually have seen the "beefed up" PS3 models. They were dev systems build in 19" racks. 10 in each rack. Behind a glass wall. With 2xHDMI. And 3 Ethernet ports. So, I would guess, these boards have existed all the time. If that's true, Sony might build a product out of it. The 8 SPUs is not a problem - every IBM blade server uses 8 SPUs. I would guess, they want to run something more then game OS on that board (most likely Linux). I have no idea if the dev systems have more then 256MB RAM, the CELL's XDR interface can support 1GB per CELL (or even 2), Blades usually come with 512 or 1GB AFAIK. So, that is technically possible.

I do not believe that this machine is targeted at the gaming community (alone), but who ever works in development (and research) would appreciate this machine. Heck, even homebrew would be cool. Use linux to develop on it, and run it on the normal PS3 with a down sized kernel and no services, but just the minimum to run your code. (BTW: Amiga did that before with the A1200 "home computer" and the more serious desktop models (A3000/A4000)).

---if that is true what so ever---(std::disclaimer)

[Proxy]

I could see you being right, it's not to far fetched.

However, I also consider that if they're still selling these consoles at a loss, then the LAST thing they want is someone using it as some kind of server, or any other non-gaming use.

They sell at a loss, and make a profit by selling games, and in the end they've come out in the green. Take the games out of the equation and they never get out of the red. (We all know this.)

[Ju]

Hm, yes. But eventually they will make a profit with the HW alone (like they do with the PS2). I think it is just a matter of time, when the PS3 will break even. And I am pretty sure, if this "hi end" ps3 really should come out, they will position it to be profitable anyway - the price for such a beast is pretty meaningless (unless it would be say > $1500). If you want to play game, there is your PS3. This machine would not change a single thing in your gaming experience.
With an additional product, which actually makes some money, they could spread the CELL cpu a bit more, IMO.

[Blasphemy]

This looks like someone took the specs of the original model planned and added one to each number.

[Daytona]

Please, I'm so tired of all the sony lies. There doing this there trying everything just to sell a console or three.

Running around like chickens w/there heads cut off, "what do I do, what do I do?"

[djt23]

how many ver of ps3 people have to get

[IRONMAN_X57]

if they do, WOOOOOOOOOOOOOWWWWWWWWWW!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!! NO SENCE

[HondaSIRowner]

If it's true then Sony has a beast thats waiting to be unleashed.

[btkadams]

sounds like a tank. i might buy it for my room or something in a couple years. but im fine with what i got for now.

[Nameless]

At least sony Droids has lost all rights to complain about Microsoft & their multiple skus.

[Mikey_Gee]

this is SKU # what ???????

[PlayStation360]

I believe it's the 5th:

PS3
20gb (discontinued I think)
40gb (about to be released)
60gb
80gb

360
core
Premium
Elite
Halo3 (Limited Edition)

[zslash]

Um... this rumor came from nowhere and on a site no-one has ever heard of.

I'm calling fake.

[Gahigiddy]

8 SPEs?
Sorry, that gave it away right there.

Games made for this console couldn't run on other SKUs, and they're not gonna limit games to a high end model, so what would be the point of 8 SPEs?

There ya go, false.

[Ju]

The current PS3 has 8 (!) spus. One is disabled (production yields) the second is used exclusively by the game os (hypervisor). 6 remain. Also, there is no rule how many SPUs a CELL would have. You can allocate them dynamically. So, a low cost might as well have 4 or less, a future high end more then 8.

[Says you]

Already makes the CrappyBox 360 elite look like crap considering infact the console that doesnt work for 1 sec already makes itself look like crap! considering it doesnt work!.

[Mikey_Gee]

Could you say that again. But this time in English !!

Thanks

[romemac7]

you all know am a big sony fanboy but this is as fake as they come i say. come on look at the specification on this lol!!! someone dream by the look of it lol. 3 Ethernet ports for what!!! 2 hdmi ports FOR WHAT !!!AND 8x SPE WTF FOR WHAT!!!!!! come on now no way sony make something like this, just think how much it cost like $2000 lol. and i guess game made on this ps3 not going to play on the anther ps3 lol right. as if sony well do that.

[badkolo]

didnt ken say a while back, wouldnt it be nice to be able to upgrade your ps3 and add more ram,memory etc, and make it ass beefed up as oyu want, will that ever happen or was that just hype.

[Tyrael]

this generation of gaming is really starting to piss me off

Microsoft, do something about your huge failure rate
Sony, quit making multiple and expensive SKUs
Nintendo, get your d*mn balls back and make a competitive console

[segasage]

a 100+ gig version of the PS3.

this is a rumor but come one who ya kiddin...

hmmm

20
40
60
80
???

All too predictable..ofcourse whenever sony denies something it is probably coming. let's see what they say about this one.

I remember everyone blabbering about xbox offering HDMI and it's sku's, at least it was an upgrade, Sony taking sh@t away, is cruel to its PS2 fanbase.

just wait..well no need to you all that, you are quite familiar with that. I have no probs with UPGRADED SKU's. DOWNGRADED ONE SUCKS @SS as with Sony's POS 40 gigger..

[makingdamage]

Sorry but this has nothing to do with the topic but I have a problem and maybe someone here can help me. I want to play 2 players on split-screen i warhawk but when another player tries to jump in it says "split-screen not actived". What is wrong? Can´t find any option where I can turn split-screen on.

[chrisin3]

http://boardsus.playstation...

note this: Split-Screen is only enabled if the host allowed it and if you’re in an unranked game. Once you join a server with enabled split-screen, grab your second SIXAXIS controller and press the "PS" button, and then "Start". Second player should join in the matter of seconds.

[makingdamage]

Thanx a lot crisin3! I´ll try it out.

[ld_ruiz69]

Yeah it seems Sony is following Microsoft's path by adding multiple SKU's but it also has the 65nm CPU which is more efficient. This would be like the second gen of PS3's. Btw this would be SKU #5 but not all are out at the same time at least

[HateBoy]

Can anyone say: UNLIKELY? The specs don't make any sense, and business tactics went out the window.

[RussianSniper]

"I PRESENT TO YOU LEAKED INFORMATION MAN, I'M A SONY INSIDER!!!!!"

Sorry-
* 2x HDMI 1.3 ports
* 3x Gigabit ethernet ports

Cut that down right there, the whole reason the PS3 has one hdmi and ethernet is to cut down the costs, who in their right mind would be stupid enough to believe they'd be willing to skyrocket their costs by adding something completely unnecessary?

[Mikelarry]

it makes me laugh when all this companies go to war with one another. dont u find it funny when they see what the other company has got and to rub it in thier faces they go a little bit better. like blu ray 50 gb and hd dvd comes with 51 now sony is coming out with 160 when ms has 120.

[DZNetworks]

And yet another SKU model from Sony....

[hfaze]

Is if they were to do clustering using it. If one of the HDMI ports could be set to be an input port, you could daisy chain PS3's together using HDMI (kinda like the old 3Dfx Voodoo 2 cards doing SLI), then use the gigabit ports for cluster heartbeat communication.

This way, you could have multiple consoles working together to render images for AMAZING results.

Other than that, I can't think of anything near practical for a PS3 hardware configuration like this...

[iheartSONY]

Why not just release a PS3 with no hard drive and allow the consumer to buy their own 2.5in hard drive with what ever amount they want? Because this 40gb, 60gb, 80gb, and now the rumored 160gb is getting a bit annoying. I'll stick to my 60gb Ps3, my 20gb Xbox 360 and my Wii with a 2gb SD card.

[kevkev3]

Why in frikin hell would u need 2 disc drives? One drive already costs a fortune..

[KeiZka]

Methinks it means drive speed.

[dale1]

all sony,s skus have very much in common they all have bluray,hard drive and internet connection and thats all you need to play games.
card reader B.C issues don,t make any difference you buy a ps3 to play games made for ps3 not ps2
if your so worried about B.C keep your ps2 simple as

[KeiZka]

3 ethernet ports... I could see some use for that, if Playstation was to act as a router (i.e. other devices connect thru it).