PSP2 graphics chip revealed?

Source: The Spanish cousin of UK-based Eurogamer. What we heard: Though the more streamlined, UMD-less PSP Go was revealed just over a month ago at the Electronic Entertainment Expo, reports of Sony's next handheld are already sprouting up. Case in point: a report today on Eurogamer.es, which...

Source: The Spanish cousin of UK-based Eurogamer.

What we heard: Though the more streamlined, UMD-less PSP Go was revealed just over a month ago at the Electronic Entertainment Expo, reports of Sony's next handheld are already sprouting up. Case in point: a report today on Eurogamer.es, which claims to have uncovered the processor at the heart of the PSP platform's successor, the PSP2. (Completely speculative concept art pictured--no form factor has been revealed.)

According to a handy translation provided by Eurogamer's hardware site Digital Foundry, Eurogamer.es is citing insider sources as saying the PSP2 will be powered by the SGX543MP chip from the PowerVR line of graphics processors. PowerVR is a division of GPU-maker Imagination Technologies, which also specializes in "the creation and licensing of semiconductor system-on-chip intellectual property."

A netbook equipped with a single-core version of the SGX543MP was shown off at the 2009 Consumer Electronics Show running Quake III arena at a robust 30 frames per second while playing high-def video. Eurogamer.es claims the PSP2 will be sporting a quad core, low-power-consumption variant of the mutlicore chipset, code-named "Hydra," which can be used for both central and graphics processing. It can process 133 million polygons/second and will boast a 4 gigapixels/second fill rate if operated at the lower end of the spectrum to preserve the PSP2's battery life--more graphics-processing power than the original Xbox. Indeed, the SGX543MP is rumored to be at the center of a new HD-video capable iPhone, since its processors are already used by Apple in the iPhone 3GS. Apple currently owns a near-10 percent stake in London-based Imagination.

The official story: Sony did not respond to requests for comment as of press time.

Bogus or not bogus?: A little thin, but looking plausible. Last November, long after Apple licensed PowerVR tech in mid-2007, Imagination revealed a deal with an unnamed "major international consumer electronics company" to provide a "high-performance forthcoming member of Imagination's PowerVR SGX graphics processor family" for use in a mystery device or devices.

274 Comments

  • realmckoy01

    Posted Nov 10, 2009 3:04 pm PT

    A screen like that would be sweet for playing game & watching movies :-)
    But would it be able to withstand a fall?

  • ColonelX24

    Posted Jul 21, 2009 11:16 am PT

    That's a big screen for a handheld...sweet!

  • THORINATOR

    Posted Jul 21, 2009 10:10 am PT

    @ Ravenlore basic
    I agree with everything you just stated...I'm sure Sony have learned from these mistakes & hopefully the PSP 2 will be amazing!

  • Ravenlore_basic

    Posted Jul 19, 2009 5:38 pm PT

    PSP problems.

    1. lack of great games from the get go. There were not enough games. 2. Lack of Second Analog stick. This made it hard to port PS2 games. Or download PS2 games to it.

    3. Sony did not move to the GO formula from the get go or soon after. The ability to download games should have been a given. Have a system like Steam each time they connect with their network cheek system so it is not hacked.... This would have been great.

    4. The extras should have came later. Instead of building it as an all in one on the go item, they should have focused on the games then in later system upgrades added the extras. Like photo, video watching, Sype ... . . . I think these issues will be taken advantage of with the launch of PSP2. In addition a separate format needs to be made with Wifi, Blue-Tooth... that way some HC gamers can have a gaming specific one to choose from and others can get the all in one flavor.

  • Ravenlore_basic

    Posted Jul 19, 2009 1:08 pm PT

    First this is great. An instant ability to play PS2, PS1, PSP, and Non MS Xbox games. not to mention PSN network games. - - - - - - - - - - - - Only problem is that PS Lite should not have been made, instead they should have went stright for PSP 3000 and PSP go a while ago. Because if PSP2 comes out too soon its just too much for people to have that many different styles out at soon soon next to each other. I was really looking at a Go for a minute but now with this information out I'm going to wait. Look at options and price and Abilities. Then decide what to get.

  • dannyatkinson

    Posted Jul 19, 2009 7:56 am PT

    I agree with mcuth. This one was great Posted Jul 9, 2009 2:45 pm CT .
    Sony does not need to be a clone of the DS. If it does it will fail.
    Sony needs to be an alternative. Something better maby?

  • dannyatkinson

    Posted Jul 19, 2009 7:38 am PT

    I hope it looks more like mine than the stupid PSP-Go.
    I also hope that with all that power we are able to play PS2 games.
    That is an awesome library of games.
    That would also mean that it must as gamers have been begging for have the dual analog sticks. However it would need 2 shoulder buttons and R3 and L3 as well to play PS2 games. Those would all be great.
    Sony throw your fans a bone and for once give us what we want.

  • shani_boy101

    Posted Jul 17, 2009 10:10 pm PT

    thats the best PSP2 concept i've seen so far, now all they need to do is figure out better placing for those shoulder buttons, make that screen more durable (maybe with what the iPhone uses) and make it pocketable, cos at the moment it looks pretty big. then license it to Sony and it'll be sweet.

  • fiskefyren

    Posted Jul 17, 2009 2:13 pm PT

    @ DiscGuru101
    lol im sorry but WTH is jurassic park like graphics? rofl xD
    is that like DVD 420 some.... or 740? xD
    lol you made my day with the most ******** thing i read so far today xD

  • zskrabs24

    Posted Jul 16, 2009 11:55 am PT

    SWEET!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! i love the PSP and any news on making it more badass is good in my book. this is basically saying this could (theoretically speaking with those specs) play the original halo. pretty badass for a handheld. and i know that halo wouldn't happen on the PSP any way and IDC cuz i hate halo.

  • MadGamer132

    Posted Jul 15, 2009 3:38 pm PT

    ARE you crazy.

  • DiscGuru101

    Posted Jul 13, 2009 1:09 pm PT

    Just FYI, the superimposed screen shots = Paintings. But it does remind me of the early PSONE T-Rex screen animations. The ones that advertised "Jurassic Park like" graphics as a possibility...

  • Burning_Typhoon

    Posted Jul 13, 2009 10:22 am PT

    Couldn't they make a disc reader a slide-in, like the PS3, and remove the umd protective casing, or use something thinner? Wouldn't that save room? also, mini-bluray discs wouldn't hurt... Wouldn't do much to help battery life, so, they better make it so it can self charge it's battery via radio waves (I'm not kidding) look up nokia's new self charging phone.

  • PodXCOM

    Posted Jul 9, 2009 8:01 pm PT

    @phinsfan

    How about a thumbs-up?

  • phinsfan

    Posted Jul 9, 2009 5:14 pm PT

    Just saying some things here:
    The Wii is current-gen. The PS3 and 360 are next-gen. What else would explain the price? If you think this is crazy-talk, bare with me for a moment.
    Think of it this way: It's 1991. Sega is about to release the Genesis. Nintendo decides to make the ultra-powerful N64 available for 400-600 dollars. The normal guys are playing Sonic and Comix Zone, while the ULTRA HARDCORE!1 are playing Super Mario 64 and OoT. Be happy there are even rumors of it being around as powerful as the PS2, because if it had PS3-esque graphics it would take plutonium to keep it running over 1 and a half hours.
    And another thing: FPSes aren't hardcore (I know I'm gonna get thumbed-down for this). FPSes weren't on the NES, or SNES, or Genesis. Platformers were. Platformers were always about gameplay, instead of seeing who can get the most realistic headshot engine. I find the over-saturation of FPSes in today's market to be overwhelming. To the guy who suggested an "FPS portable", please, all us old-schoolers have left is the DS and such. Don't take that away too. We only get one good platformer a year anyway. I also find the notion that any game that doesn't involve blowing crap up to be "kiddy" to be offensive. Good, intelligent game design knows no age group my friend. To all who insist on slamming me for this (i.e. thumbs-down), do it with thoughtful, intelligent rebukes instead of, well, thumbs-down.

  • Night_dude

    Posted Jul 9, 2009 1:02 pm PT

    @izmickey
    well i ididnt mean it that way
    any way forget the whole thing dude
    its aint worth it

  • mcuth

    Posted Jul 9, 2009 12:45 pm PT

    Xcite79, there are ALREADY TWO touchscreen-wielding options for gamers (Apple and Nintendo), but there has yet to be even a DECENT portable gaming device for hardcore gamers. If you want to continue to never play a single decent FPS on a handheld, then go ahead and get the made-for-toddlers DS and PSP. But would someone please make a GOOD handheld for SERIOUS GROWNUP games???? Please? Microsoft, you're welcome to chime in, here.

  • izmickey

    Posted Jul 9, 2009 12:44 pm PT

    @Night_dude

    "@izmickey ya i know what i said was dum but still an opinion and buddy what i meant was that Xbox306 is better than the PS3
    so sony is trying to make something that ll make er better
    and i didnt said that they are over duh
    so keep your comments to your self"

    So why are you saying things like that concerning a SONY article? You're asking for bad feedback.

  • Xcite79

    Posted Jul 9, 2009 11:16 am PT

    Im tired of everyone talking about having two analog sticks. A touchscreen is more necessary for unique and creative games. That is the area that the DS has an advantage of and it proved really useful and great as part of a handheld. That is something more useful.

  • mcuth

    Posted Jul 9, 2009 11:09 am PT

    You want PS2 games with one analog stick? Why? They would suck.

  • rexoverbey

    Posted Jul 9, 2009 9:02 am PT

    I think it's funny because it will be using the same GPU that was rumored for iPhone 3GS. Imagination Technologies is actually partially owned by Apple and was the same GPU in the PowerVR Dreamcast. It is just the SGX (iphone 3GS) with multiple cores but it is still a good GPU with shader support and dynamic lighting.

  • Zidaneski

    Posted Jul 9, 2009 8:14 am PT

    If its a phone or has two analog sticks then it sounds good.

  • jmanversion1

    Posted Jul 9, 2009 5:31 am PT

    it would be sick if you could use it as a phone aswell, either way, if it is true(as long as its compatible with my PS3) then im buying it

  • Night_dude

    Posted Jul 9, 2009 5:14 am PT

    @ flyingteddy


    ya i agree too it would be great

  • ChidoriBoyU

    Posted Jul 9, 2009 5:12 am PT

    it would be great to play ps2 games on psp but that's a dream that won't come true unless sony make ps2 games downloadable and that ain't gonna happen cuz of the large sizes of the games but i guess they can still convert'em no?

  • ChidoriBoyU

    Posted Jul 9, 2009 5:09 am PT

    @izmickey i totally agree

  • Night_dude

    Posted Jul 9, 2009 5:06 am PT

    @ flyingteddy


    ya i agree too it would be great

  • flyingteddy

    Posted Jul 9, 2009 4:18 am PT

    id like the PSP2 to be able to run PS2 games, I have plenty still to play!

  • daveg1

    Posted Jul 9, 2009 2:57 am PT

    expect this to be a load of garbage.

  • Night_dude

    Posted Jul 9, 2009 12:40 am PT

    @izmickey ya i know what i said was dum but still an opinion and buddy what i meant was that Xbox306 is better than the PS3
    so sony is trying to make something that ll make er better
    and i didnt said that they are over duh
    so keep your comments to your self

  • sonicmask

    Posted Jul 8, 2009 8:29 pm PT

    MatzeEdend also once again i know, I just love messing.

  • AndyAlfredo

    Posted Jul 8, 2009 4:42 pm PT

    Sexy. And playing Monster Hunter no less. I would definitely get rid of my umds for this. Hopefully this will soon be reality.

  • andrew_ribbons

    Posted Jul 8, 2009 3:36 pm PT

    Hrm. Interesting indeed. Sony have caught my attention. Something they don't do very often after the fail-phone i had from them recently.

  • Chrysus

    Posted Jul 8, 2009 3:24 pm PT

    @meatloaf1993 The picture isn't a representation in anyway of what the final device will look like. '(Completely speculative concept art pictured--no form factor has been revealed.)'
    Whenever a new console is hinted at people go onto their computers & do an artistic conception of what they think it will look like. It has been going on forever.

  • xincubuzzx

    Posted Jul 8, 2009 3:10 pm PT

    just make it already i want it

  • meatloaf1993

    Posted Jul 8, 2009 3:08 pm PT

    err to everyone saying about the two sticks...

    look at the picture

  • Blu-Fan-Boy

    Posted Jul 8, 2009 2:27 pm PT

    i just hope they don't stop developing UMD based games would suck if they did and made it all DLC

  • Yojimbo25

    Posted Jul 8, 2009 2:13 pm PT

    Sounds interesting, but I will wait to hear something official.

  • Chrysus

    Posted Jul 8, 2009 2:05 pm PT

    Sounds very promising. I know this is fast becoming a cliche but, dual analoge sticks please!

  • izmickey

    Posted Jul 8, 2009 1:12 pm PT

    @Night_dude

    Last time i check ps3 and xbox360 are the CURRENT generation console. So technically speaking its not over yet. Go make dumb statements like that at the console wars forums.

  • Hvac0120

    Posted Jul 8, 2009 1:10 pm PT

    DirectX10 may be a Microsoft product, but Microsoft has no problem collecting money from other companies for licensing fees. If Sony thinks that the licensing fees are worth it, then they also do not have a problem with doing business with Microsoft. Sony's electronics division already deals with Microsoft on several products, the most common being Vaio computers with Windows installed.
    _

  • vf21x

    Posted Jul 8, 2009 12:32 pm PT

    TWO ANALOG STICKS SONY!!!!!!!

  • garey017

    Posted Jul 8, 2009 10:40 am PT

    Digital distribution only? No thanks, might as well get an iphone or something.

  • Gum_Horror

    Posted Jul 8, 2009 10:23 am PT

    It would like them to make a psp2 but a better d-pad and dual analog sticks are needed, secondly i think even if Sony was ready to release it within a few years, i think that they should wait until it can be made for less money so they can sell it for less therefore more people would buy it

  • im-a-roustabout

    Posted Jul 8, 2009 10:18 am PT

    I also find it funny people hate the price but it's been awhile since a REAL re-design has come out. Gameboy has come out with a brand new design every 6 months or so and people buy it up. NOt that it's a bad thing, but if you add all that up it equals to the price of a psp which has taken 3 years plus to make a brand new design.

  • im-a-roustabout

    Posted Jul 8, 2009 10:16 am PT

    I don't understand why everybody wants it to have two analog sticks.....give the masses what they want I guess, but personally I'm tired of people not seeing it as a handheld and more as a playstation 2 in your pocket. Nobody gets mad at the DS for not having motion sensing controls.......sheesh. I think the thing looks cool but it needs a clam shell to protect that big beautiful screen!

  • mcuth

    Posted Jul 8, 2009 10:16 am PT

    And what could you possible do with ports of most PS1 and PS2 games if you're using 4 buttons (instead of a stick) to walk and strafe??? You think you're gonna love those games when they control like they're on an N64?

  • Boredrandomguy

    Posted Jul 8, 2009 10:15 am PT

    Yey finally a portable device with alright graphics. i have a dsi and the gameplay is great but the graphics are sooo bad on fifa 09, gary neville is black for god sake! this is going to be good. sony always make good things, not saying their the best but they do make their products look nice

  • mcuth

    Posted Jul 8, 2009 10:13 am PT

    Sony, you need to start listening to your critics! The price point, lack of features (compared to Apple) and MOST IMPORTANTLY the lack of a second analog stick, will all result in a colossal failure for this new machine. The Sony-Yes-Men have gotten you in the mess you're in. You went from first to last place in consoles, and the PSP has never even remotely been a threat to the DS' sales. This new one won't make up ground to the DS, either, because it's lack of a decent control scheme will NEVER draw in the hardcore gamers (much as the original PSP and all of its gratuitous redesigns have failed to do). If you don't add a second stick you will fail... again... and you'll DESERVE IT again, due to your stubbornness.

  • ZedX-14Pilot

    Posted Jul 8, 2009 9:50 am PT

    I am sick of this 'new hardware' thing every couple of years. It is getting too pricey. Just like the new games. I am going to stick to single player games only from now on so I don't feel I have to buy the latest and greatest right away.

advertisement
Click Here

Hot Stories

Newsmakers

Featured Stories

Submit News

Got tips? Send them in!