iSupply has reported that they believe the Sony PlayStation 3 will sell for a profit in 2009, assuming that the Yen stops gaining traction on the USD.
At launch, in 2006, the 60GB PS3 cost $840 USD to produce and still cost over $800 USD to make as late as 2007, according to iSupply. Today though, the 80GB PS3 costs about $448 USD to produce.
The report says “two key chips in the PS3 have moved on to more advanced manufacturing technology. In 2006, the main chips in the console, like the Cell processor and the Nvidia (NVDA) Reality Synthesizer, which handles graphics, were built on 90-nanometer manufacturing technology. Now they’re even smaller, and are built on 65-nanometer processes, meaning they cost less to make than before. ISuppli estimates the Cell chip costs Sony $46, down from the $64 in 2007, and $89 in 2006.
The Nvidia chip has come down in price, too. It now costs $58, down from $83 last year, and $129 in 2006. In both cases, Rassweiler says, the chips have been significantly redesigned with new features for functions that used to be handled by separate chips inside the system, which also helps reduce costs.
And smaller chips require less power. That means Sony now ships the device with a less beefy—and less expensive—power supply that costs $21.50, vs. $30.75 before.”
That being said, the production costs will continue to drop and if the Yen loses value against the dollar in the next year, iSupply estimates that the PS3 will be profitable in 2009, barring any price cuts of course.
Result for: power supply
According to a flooding of posts over at xbox-scene, it appears that the cooler-running Jasper-based Xbox 360 consoles have begun arriving in stores featuring the highly anticipated 65nm GPU which should significantly reduce RROD failures.
A quick way to note if your new console is indeed a Jasper-based model is to check the power supply. A Jasper will use 12.1A power supplies, while all current models draw 14.2A.
Looking at the serial number can also give you an indication as it is assumed that any model made on October 23rd 2008 or later is a Jasper model.
Result for: power supply
JVC has announced that it will be introducing the “industry’s thinnest” 1080p LCDs with built-in TV tuners next month.
At its deepest, the new 42-inch LT-42SL89 and the 46-inch LT-46SL89 are 2.9 inches deep, and each come equipped with new backlight paneling and power supply substrates making each set lighter and more efficient. Each set also boast Full HD 1080p resolution (1920×1080).
The new sets will be part of the JVC Procision line and the newly developed technologies should help the company put out even slimmer TVs in the future. “The backlight is 40 percent slimmer than the old panel, and weighs in at 26.5lbs while consuming 145W. The slimmer backlight was made possible not with more parts but with a more efficient integration of them,” JVC says. The added low power consumption is accomplished “via the use of a direct-mount power substrate that does not use a fan to dissipate heat.”
Other specifications include the now standard three HDMI, S-video, two component and a PC input. There will also be a built-in USB port for viewing videos and listening to MP3s.
The LT-42SL89 has a street price of $1899 USD while its big brother has a $2400 USD price tag.
