How the PlayStation Portable Works

PSP Innovations

Sony practically invented the world of portable electronics when it released the Sony Walkman audio cassette player in 1979. When it came time to design a portable gaming system, Sony wasn’t content to replicate what had come before: Typical handheld game systems are a few generations behind the cutting edge of home console gaming — the Nintendo DS is about as powerful as a Nintendo 64, which came out in 1996. But the PSP has the same amount of CPU power as the full-size PlayStation 2.
How the PlayStation Portable Works
The first thing most people notice about the PSP is the widescreen monitor that takes up practically the entire width of the device. The screen has a 16:9 aspect ratio and features a 480×272-pixel TFT-LCD screen (thin-film transistor liquid-crystal display — also known as an active-matrix LCD).
Sony has also designed an all-new format for the medium that carries games, movies and other information for use on the PSP. Universal Media Discs (UMD) are 60-mm optical discs that hold up to 1.8 gigabytes (GB) of information. Sony reports that the UMD cartridge was designed to be manufactured quickly and for lower costs than earlier, lower-capacity portable media.
Earlier game systems, both portable and console-based, have split different functions into separate processors, such as a processor for graphics and a processor for mathematical calculations. The PSP takes this concept to another level: It features a main central processing unit (CPU), a media processor, a 3-D graphics processor, a security processor to prevent piracy and a final processor to manage power and conserve battery life.
In one area, the PSP does not diverge from what has come before. The portable system features the buttons that are familiar to PlayStation players, and all the controls are mounted to the ergonomically designed body of the unit.

PSP Features and Specifications

Here’s a rundown of the PlayStation Portable’s technical specifications:

  • Widescreen, backlit 4.3-inch (10.9 centimeters) TFT LCD monitor with 16:9 aspect ratio and 480×272 resolution
  • MIPS R4000-based 333-MHz CPU
  • Graphics sub-system running at 166 MHz on a 512-bit bus with 2 MB of DRAM, rendering 664 million pixels per second and 35 million polygons per second
  • Graphics engine supporting directional 16- or 32-bit color, lighting, clipping, environment projection and texture mapping, fogging, alpha blending, depth and stencil tests, vertex blending for morphing-style effects, and dithering (Source: Hot Chips conference at Stanford University)
  • Media processor using another 2 MB of DRAM
  • 3-D graphics processing using NURBS (Nonuniform Rational B-Splines) as well as conventional polygon rendering
  • USB 2.0 port, Memory Stick port, Universal Media Disc slot, stereo headphone jack and WiFi wireless LAN port
  • Built-in stereo speakers
  • Rechargeable lithium-ion batteries
  • Weight: 280 grams (9.9 ounces)
  • Dimensions: 17 x 7.4 x 2.3 cm (6.7 x 2.9 x 0.9 inches)

 
For more detail: How the PlayStation Portable Works


About The Author

Ibrar Ayyub

I am an experienced technical writer holding a Master's degree in computer science from BZU Multan, Pakistan University. With a background spanning various industries, particularly in home automation and engineering, I have honed my skills in crafting clear and concise content. Proficient in leveraging infographics and diagrams, I strive to simplify complex concepts for readers. My strength lies in thorough research and presenting information in a structured and logical format.

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