Is Sony Readying a Playstation 3 With 512Mb of XDR Memory?

[HD Halo X]

Qimonda, the second largest DRAM company worldwide, has announced that they are mass producing XDR RAM modules for use in the PlayStation 3. An article on EDN.com is suggesting that Qimonda might be mass producing 512mb XDR RAM modules that they first showed off earlier this year. Current models of the Playstation 3 offer only 256mb of XDR RAM, which some gamers, industry analysts, and developers have complained about. What many of those people don't understand is that the true power of the Playstation 3 doesn't lie in the memory, but in the eight-core architecture of the Cell processor. The Cell processor can handle a lot of physics objects because it's very math intensive, but struggles with memory intensive coding, which challenges developers to completely rework their game structure.

http://www.n4g.com/ps3/News-189717.aspx

[AnimalMother]

Not going to happen. Plus the quoted article is wildly inaccurate at the end.

[BBM128]

The question is how will this affect owners of PS3s with the previous RAM configuration?

[goatmother]

Definitely wouldn't happen.. Even if it did, what benefit would developers have to create a game that won't function on the current userbase? Yes I'm aware of Perfect Dark on th N64 with its memory upgrade but I just don't see that as a feasible solution on the PS3.

[BBM128]

Originally Posted by goatmother

Definitely wouldn't happen.. Even if it did, what benefit would developers have to create a game that won't function on the current userbase? Yes I'm aware of Perfect Dark on th N64 with its memory upgrade but I just don't see that as a feasible solution on the PS3.

The overhead might be nice so that the PS3 runs smoother, but as of late it's not been the problem it used to be (concerning the user experience).

[ivan872007]

it could happen. the new psp's have more ram which help with load times. maybe they are putting in the 512mb to help with load times on the ps3?

[michealo]

bad f'n idea.

playing with HDD sizes is one thing, but altering major system components is a sure fire way to piss off your userbase.

[MA16v3]

Sounds expensive.

[ivan872007]

Originally Posted by michealo

bad f'n idea.

playing with HDD sizes is one thing, but altering major system components is a sure fire way to piss off your userbase.

they did it with the psp and I don't regret buying a fat psp.

[michealo]

Originally Posted by ivan872007

they did it with the psp and I don't regret buying a fat psp.

no comparison

[Vsions]

I highly doubt this. it wont fly with consumers, but then again way things are headed ms might require a hard drive purchase to play certain games in the future and its basically the same thing. (Disclaimer: What I just said is pure speculation)

[ivan872007]

Originally Posted by michealo

no comparison

how is it not comparable? even if they add more ram to the ps3 it won't affect games except maybe in loading times or some extra features but nothing essential to a game. I am all for this since I still have not bought a ps3. early adopters get shafted. look at the core owners of the 360.

[Indy_aka_Rex]

Originally Posted by michealo

bad f'n idea.

playing with HDD sizes is one thing, but altering major system components is a sure fire way to piss off your userbase.

Sony's done it before. They upped system ram on later models, but most of that system ram was raised to add non-gaming features and greater stability to BC.

I wouldn't be surprised if it does get a 512mb raise, mostly because I believe that 512mb will be used for software BC and for memory caching purposes on PS3 games (ala PSPs lower-load times due to slim's greater sysram).

[hdinred]

Maybe it’s cheaper to have one 512 MB chip than two separate 256 MB chips? Could be a cost reduction move, with no performance increase.

Just a guess..

[TheLastGenius]

I wonder if their was some way to upgrade RAM through USB...