Specifications
CD, DVD, BLU-RAY & PlayStation 3 Secrets
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There is a complete analysis of the evolution of changes in PS3 motherboards in the PS3 forum
.
The architecture of the PS3 motherboard divides the main pieces of the system into 256MB XDR memory, Cell, RSX, and 256MB
GDDR3.
The HDMI display is connected to the 256MB GDDR3 (the video memory). The communication path also lines up in that order.
Therefore, communication with the 256MB XDR memory must go through Cell, and communication with the GDDR3 must go
through the RSX. More info on each of these components follows.
Main System Memory
The PS3 has 256MB of 64 bit bus Rambus XDR main system memory. Some models use four 64MB Samsung chips, while other
models uses four 64MB Elpida chips. Note that another 256MB of GDDR3 memory is located inside the RSX chip using four
64MB Samsung chips. The earlier models with hardware PS2 compatibility also contained an extra 32MB of RDRAM using two
16MB Samsung chips.
The PS3 operating system (XMB) uses up 43MB of XDR memory (confirmed) in the latest firmware versions, leaving around
213MB for games. Note that available memory seem to increase with each firmware release. It is rumored a 24MB version is
available for many first-party developers currently.
In earlier firmware versions, more XDR memory were reserved, and not only that, additional GDDR3 memory were also
reserved by the OS. Games compiled using earlier SDKs (with matching earlier OS restrictions) will run expecting less free
available memory than games compiled using later SDKs.
PS3 SDK Version
Reserved XDR
Reserved GDDR3
Total
Date
64MB 32MB 96MB
2006
56MB 32MB 88MB
Dec, 2006
1.60 52MB 32MB 84MB
May, 2007
2.20 43MB MB MB Mar, 2008
24MB MB MB 2009
Note that PS3 games that need special features from the system would need extra memory allocated. The following is a typical
breakdown of the memory requirements from SDK 1.60.
Feature Memory required
Message Dialog 0MB
On-Screen Keyboard
7MB
Remote Play 8MB
HDD access 5MB
Network features 8MB
Friends list features 24MB
Video Chat 26MB
Voice Chat 8MB
In-game mic setup 8MB
In-game webbrowser
40MB+
Memory chips in different PS3 models:
Type Size Speed Volt
Packaging
Manufacturer
Serial Number Description
Rambus
XDR
64MB
400MHz
Elpida
EDX5116ACSE-
3C-E
256MB total (4 chips) for PS3 System Memory
(Initial Models)
Rambus
XDR
64MB
400MHz
Samsung
K4Y50164UC-
JCB3
256MB total (4 chips) for PS3 System Memory
(Initial Models)