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

  • -Big_Red-

    Posted Jul 7, 2009 8:57 pm PT

    Hopefully all of this is true. It's about freakin' time they make a PSP2.

  • SephireX

    Posted Jul 7, 2009 8:56 pm PT

    Think of the ability to play downloaded ps2 games on a mobile device that can play them better than the ps2 itself. A graphics chip better than the xbox is extremely good for a handheld console. Now think of the potential of the games that could come to this device. If this news is true and Sony can offer the PSP2 at a decent price, it should sell like condoms at a brothel.

  • tommyc555

    Posted Jul 7, 2009 8:53 pm PT

    WOW graphics better than the Xbox. I remember last gen when the Game Boy Advance came out, it only had SNES quality graphics. Technology has really advanced a lot these days

  • 2bitSmOkEy

    Posted Jul 7, 2009 8:46 pm PT

    @siLVURcross ummm. So what would you prefer. Sony ditches forward thinking technological advances and instead makes a gimmicky peripheral based hand held instead? Why does it have to be either graphics or gameplay, why can't it be both? Joke comment.

  • ShadowBass989

    Posted Jul 7, 2009 8:46 pm PT

    im interested. ill keep my eyes and ears open.

  • JesusFreak1990

    Posted Jul 7, 2009 8:45 pm PT

    I hope there is no PSP 2 for years, because they still need to make more games for the current PSP!

    I won't even be able to afford another handheld system, I can't even afford one of the current gen consoles yet! Lol.

  • Arc71ckF3AR

    Posted Jul 7, 2009 8:41 pm PT

    hey if it happens it happens, sides, a portable with the graphics of the x-box, frekin sweet

  • method115

    Posted Jul 7, 2009 8:28 pm PT

    @dr_jashugan

    amen to that it's all in the software.

  • painguy1

    Posted Jul 7, 2009 8:19 pm PT

    HAHAHAHA YEAH RIGHT....The day i see a portable with bump mapping in this gen is the day pigs fly

  • gimlifn

    Posted Jul 7, 2009 8:10 pm PT

    if thats what the new PSP will be count me in that looks awesome. the screen alone looks great and with graphics as good as the original xbox that sounds really good now we will see if they can deliver.

  • dr_jashugan

    Posted Jul 7, 2009 8:10 pm PT

    Yawnnnnn! Specs are overrated. It's the GAMES that are important.

  • siLVURcross

    Posted Jul 7, 2009 8:08 pm PT

    All about graphics again? When will you learn Sony.

  • Nocturnal_Speed

    Posted Jul 7, 2009 7:57 pm PT

    HOLY SMOKES! O.O I need to get me one of these bad boys! Last gen console in the palm of my hands? If Sony pulls this off with different colors (damn you JP), some sweet exclusive titles; such as, RE, GT, GoW, FF, SF, GTA, etc. etc. people will really consider. Maybe even bring back B/C (PS2) for the PS3/PSP2 at the same time.... EPIC! Mang I Love me some SONY

  • StJimmy15

    Posted Jul 7, 2009 7:56 pm PT

    haha. 360 quality graphics would be amazing. i wish they would have elaborated on what this chip is capable of a little more. PS2? PS3? midway? whatever, I might buy this, seeing as how I sold my PSP-1000 series for lack of games...

  • whynotdairy

    Posted Jul 7, 2009 7:55 pm PT

    I DONT KNOW WAT ANY OF THOSE SPECS MEAN!

  • pukmok

    Posted Jul 7, 2009 7:48 pm PT

    So next year?

    Come on PS2 emulation!

  • taylormadederek

    Posted Jul 7, 2009 7:42 pm PT

    I want it to be: NOT more powerful than the original XBOX, but A LOT more powerful than the original XBOX. I expect at least Wii quality on the next handheld.....and I mean graphics. I hope nothing ever again has Wii quality because that is next to zero.

  • shabulia

    Posted Jul 7, 2009 7:35 pm PT

    To me, this is pure speculation as the next PSP is still at least 2 years off. Wait a while and see what happens.

  • blazin640

    Posted Jul 7, 2009 7:32 pm PT

    hmmm doesn't look bad, just wish they'd stop worrying about the systems instead of the games, but with games like little big planet and motorstorm coming to psp, I guess this isn't a bad idea.

  • godzillavskong

    Posted Jul 7, 2009 7:32 pm PT

    @sonicmax, The article said it was more powerful than the original Xbox not the 360. You should hold in your fanboy rants until you actually read the full article closely.

  • wogboypaul

    Posted Jul 7, 2009 7:30 pm PT

    that will be awesome.. but i got a psp just recently im getting the psp model above this one in years to come.

  • godzillavskong

    Posted Jul 7, 2009 7:29 pm PT

    Wow! That's pretty impressive, if it's true. I really didn't see anything wrong with the
    PSPs current graphical prowess, just the quantity and quality of titles that were scamp.

  • vinkz151

    Posted Jul 7, 2009 7:25 pm PT

    damn i was all exited about the psp go i have a 2000 and have been wanting to upgrade but was waiting for something big but if these rumors are true idk

  • zaiwen

    Posted Jul 7, 2009 7:24 pm PT

    capable of playing PS2 games woohoo.. with this news, my plans of getting the silly named PSP Go goes down the drain. I'm so getting this

  • MarcJL31

    Posted Jul 7, 2009 7:20 pm PT

    Yea I wish Sony would just scrap the PSP Go and work on the PSP2. Especially if these rumors are floating around and plausible, the Go is not going to sell that well adding really no real major noteworthy hardware upgrade, ex. the sliding screen/hard drive. People are going to wait for the PSP2.

  • Tygraph

    Posted Jul 7, 2009 7:17 pm PT

    If it hits around $250, which it will, I might as well get a PS3. Better, faster, stronger I believe Daft Punk said

  • masterpg14

    Posted Jul 7, 2009 7:03 pm PT

    I still think the PSP Go will be crap compared to the 3000. only little kids knowing nothing about technology will buy it.

  • johnny27

    Posted Jul 7, 2009 7:03 pm PT

    it better have a 480p screen this time

  • CreatureRising

    Posted Jul 7, 2009 7:01 pm PT

    Yea PSP2 or PSP go ?

  • finalstar2007

    Posted Jul 7, 2009 7:01 pm PT

    They really should cancel the psp Go and just go with the psp2 instead. if i buy a psp Go now and then psp2 comes next that wil be soo many psp's i have since i already got the psp fat and psp slim

  • rockwii13

    Posted Jul 7, 2009 6:59 pm PT

    PSP2 and PSP Go?

  • spideyeiteyman

    Posted Jul 7, 2009 6:56 pm PT

    I just have to wonder why sony trusts so many people with their secret merchandise. They have something leaked nearly every week it feels like.

  • fjjb

    Posted Jul 7, 2009 6:56 pm PT

    does this means 4 or 3 hour of battery life?

  • MatzeEdend

    Posted Jul 7, 2009 6:55 pm PT

    @sonicmask; more powerful than the original Xbox, not the 360.

    This... is actually pretty cool. I didn't think handheld technology had improved this much. Makes me wonder just how long the battery life really would be tho...

  • Narroo

    Posted Jul 7, 2009 6:52 pm PT

    Just to note: The iPhone series isn't designed for gaming, so it's components are probably not even close to being used at full potential for gaming. So don't knock the chip all because the iPhone 3G S has it.
    You realize that this would make the PSP2 more powerful than the PS2?

    If only it would have two nubs, and a physical storage slot.

  • Killer6b9

    Posted Jul 7, 2009 6:51 pm PT

    On another note it would be really nice if the screen would tilt slightly to help reduce sun glare like some of the text slide cell phones/pda's.

  • SirSpoon84

    Posted Jul 7, 2009 6:43 pm PT

    @sonicmask = fail

  • PodXCOM

    Posted Jul 7, 2009 6:42 pm PT

    poor UMD

  • ssjdagas

    Posted Jul 7, 2009 6:41 pm PT

    I still rather play these kind of games on a real console. I don't want to play Resistence or MGS on a small screen device. I want a big screen and surround sound. This just sounds like a more powerful PSP and well the problem with the PSP wasn't its lack of power, but rather lack of great portable games.

  • Nihmmoh

    Posted Jul 7, 2009 6:41 pm PT

    @slickvic1990, but if the psp2 had all those features, it would almost be like having a ps3 in your hands, why wouldnt you want that?

  • sonicmask posted Jul 7, 2009 6:40 pm PT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    sonicmask

    Posted Jul 7, 2009 6:40 pm PT (hide)

    psp2 has a more powerful chip then a xbox360!!!... and poeple still say xbox is good. It was only good for one thing... GEARS OF WAR 1 NOT EVEN 2. Not a fan boy just had 7 xbox and only played gears!

  • slickvic1990

    Posted Jul 7, 2009 6:36 pm PT

    hey Nihmmoh. no offense dude, but for all that trouble, you might as well just get an xbox or a ps3.

  • iamamanami

    Posted Jul 7, 2009 6:36 pm PT

    If PSP2 uses the same processor as iPhone 3GS, I will not get one.

  • Templar_Bladema

    Posted Jul 7, 2009 6:34 pm PT

    @Limp_Laky and noobsfolife,
    I love Monster Hunter with a passion. Sure it may not be the best game out there and the camera may be an issue (I found an awkward way to move both the character and the camera at the same time), but the action is intense, multiplayer is fun, and there is plenty to do. So like Limp_Laky said, for a game without much respect that is pretty good.

  • Nihmmoh

    Posted Jul 7, 2009 6:32 pm PT

    whatever plans they have for this should include
    -second analog stick
    -better online gaming
    -a friends list
    -better battery life
    -better graphics
    -and maybe a touch screen
    -and a reasonable price tag... $250 and under

  • Templar_Bladema

    Posted Jul 7, 2009 6:31 pm PT

    Here is to hoping this is true.

  • jones_kyle

    Posted Jul 7, 2009 6:30 pm PT

    hmmmmmmmmmm

  • Limp_Laky

    Posted Jul 7, 2009 6:28 pm PT

    oh and at noobsfolife, its a fake picture says right at the top, and monster hunter has held top spot on the psp site for over 2 weeks now I'd say for a game without much respect thats pretty good.

  • Killzone23

    Posted Jul 7, 2009 6:27 pm PT

    Thank you. This better be true! I have no intrest in the PSP GO.

  • Limp_Laky

    Posted Jul 7, 2009 6:26 pm PT

    for everyone saying the psp is dumb or failed or crap or whatever, I personally love my psp, and yes it has less games coming out but last time I was in gamestop looking at games to pre order 5 or 6 games out of the 3/4 page of psp games grabbed my attention 2 or 3 for the ds grabbed my attention out of over double the games, so yes more games come out for the ds but honestly a good chunk of them are just going to be nintendogs with 6 different versions or games that I really dont care about like weight watchers interactive or some crazy nonsense.

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