Guides \ Newbie's guide to the PS3

Newbie guide to the PS3

Processor / CPU

Alright, so what is a processor? A processor is like the computers brain, It thinks and solves puzzles while you play your game. With the new 8 cell processor it is like having 8 brains working on 8 different puzzles at one time, therefore getting the job done quicker. This enables the PS3 to think out different scenarios while you play, it will monitor and watch your gameplay and then learn from that and try different ways to benefit your realistic gameplay.

Hard-Disk Drive (HDD)

The PS3 Hard Drive is used to store game demo's and bluray movie demo's that you can download off the internet via your PS3. It is a storage device used almost identically to that of the XBOX 360's HDD.

High Definition

High Definition? SD, ED and HD are the abbrviations for the most commonly used resolution groups. SD stands for Standard Definition; it includes 480i as a resolution. ED stands for Enhanced Definition; it inclides 480p as a resolution. HD stands for High Definition; it inclides 720p, 1080i and 1080p as resolutions currently.

With TV based resolutions, the vertical number is dropped and the horizontal is the number is used to name it.

480i
As stated, 480i is SD and a interlaced resolution. 480i comes in two differnt resolutions, one being fullscreen and the other being widescreen. Fullscreen is equal to 640x480 and widescreen is equal to 720x480.
480p
As stated, 480p is ED and a pregressive scan resolution. 480p, like 480i, comes in two differnt resolutions, one being fullscreen and the other being widescreen. Fullscreen is equal to 640x480 and widescreen is equal to 720x480.

A lot of times, 480p is mistaken for a HD. While it looks great in its own right, it is not HD and doesn't look nearly as good as HD.
720p
One of two currently used formats designated as high-definition television in the ATSC DTV standard, this technology comprises 720 vertical pixels and 1,280 horizontal pixels. The p stands for progressive, as opposed to interlaced, scanning, which is used in the other accepted HDTV standard, known as 1080i. Contrary to myth, 720p is not inferior to 1080i; 720p has fewer lines but also has the advantages of progressive scanning and a constant vertical resolution of 720 lines, making it better able to handle motion.
1080i
One of two formats designated as high-definition television in the ATSC DTV standard, with 1920 x 1080 pixels and 60 interlaced (i) fields per second. Interlaced scanning systems create each frame by joining two interlaced fields of 539.9 lines each. 1080i produces 60 or 30 complete frames per second.

Contrary to myth, 1080i is not superior to 720p; 1080i has more scanning lines but also suffers the disadvantages of interlaced scanning.
1080p
Combinding the best of 1080i and 720p, 1080p offers the best HDTV picture. With 1,080 verticle pixels by 1,920 horizontal pixels while being displayed via progressive scanning. The only way to acheieve this resolution is through a digital input such as DVI or HDMI. Both Blu-Ray and HD-DVD will display high definition in 1080p.

Progressive and Interlaced (i & p)

i and p? i, as in 1080i, means "Interlaced". It is a way for displaying an image on a display. It has been around since the dawn of time for TVs and was used to cut down bandwidth for broadcasting. To understand how interlaced works is think of an image consisting of many scan lines (CRT is the only technology that actually draws the image like this on the screen), also refered to as a field. With interlace each field only contains half the scan lines. The image will be first drawn with every odd number of scan lines and the very next scan will be drawn with the opposite scan lines, every even number scan lines. It keeps alternating like this and happens so fast that our brain is tricked into seeing a solid image. The result is that only half of the video's display is drawn every 60th of a second, but a full image every 30th of a second.

The problem with interlaced images is there can be errors when the two fields are recombined into one frame. These errors usually appear as "the jaggies". This becomes very apparent as screen size increases. 480 lines of resolution can only go so large before the picture begins to break down. A 480i signal may look very good on a 27" TV but then it looks "jaggy" or "blotchy" on a 50" or 60" TV. This isn't a problem with the TV. It is simply because there isn't enough resolution in the TV signal to blow up the picture to larger sizes.

One of the solutions to interlacing comes in the form of a line doubler. p, or 1080p, aka "Progressive" is a way for displaying a image. Unlike interlace where half the scan lines or shown on each scan. Progressive scan shows all scan lines each scan, this is now called a frame. This helps to sharpen up the image and also get ride of scan lines, artifacts and flickering that can happen when using interlace.

One of the solutions to interlacing comes in the form of a line doubler. Progressive is a way for displaying a image. Unlike interlace where half the scan lines or shown on each scan. Progressive scan shows all scan lines each scan, this is now called a frame. This helps to sharpen up the image and also get ride of scan lines, artifacts and flickering that can happen when using interlace.

Real Time Processing

Real Time is one of the features on the new Sony PlayStation 3. It uses the new 8 cell processor. Instead of having a script written for the game (like you go there and you blow that up) the game calculates and writes as you play the game, so it feels new every time you play the game.

Thanks to

Kirbstar, Calvin260, shadowblade and calabreseboy

19/02/2007 18

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Comments

grey_snake
Kudos: 6,593
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iddqd said: Just like every other processor before it, and every processor still to come.



That's a fairly niave statement ala "They will never put a man on the moon."
13/05/2007
Brisbane - start.select@hotmail.com
franki3
Kudos: 880
Mates: 62

iddqd said:

Real Time Processing

Real Time is one of the features on the new Sony PlayStation 3. It uses the new 8 cell processor. Instead of having a script written for the game (like you go there and you blow that up) the game calculates and writes as you play the game, so it feels new every time you play the game.



It's actually not a "feature" of the processor at all, whoever wrote this needs some education and de-brainwashing... technically "Real Time" processing was a feature in the Atari 2600. It's basically just Sony having a wank and trying to make the processor sound more complex than it is. Mesmerize the fanboys is all they're trying to do, and it looks like it worked! The processor doesn't "think", it sorts one from zero. On other words, it does exactly what it's told. Just like every other processor before it, and every processor still to come.



I see what your saying, and its true. But, otherwise, great guide guys!
25/03/2007
California, Victoria
iddqd
Kudos: 2,860
Mates: 37

Real Time Processing

Real Time is one of the features on the new Sony PlayStation 3. It uses the new 8 cell processor. Instead of having a script written for the game (like you go there and you blow that up) the game calculates and writes as you play the game, so it feels new every time you play the game.



It's actually not a "feature" of the processor at all, whoever wrote this needs some education and de-brainwashing... technically "Real Time" processing was a feature in the Atari 2600. It's basically just Sony having a wank and trying to make the processor sound more complex than it is. Mesmerize the fanboys is all they're trying to do, and it looks like it worked! The processor doesn't "think", it sorts one from zero. On other words, it does exactly what it's told. Just like every other processor before it, and every processor still to come.
25/03/2007
Knee deep in the dead...
Dante_10
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haha lol i have to admit the noobie guide is a pretty good idea
24/03/2007
Sydney, NSW
Kirbstar
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I can believe that, it seems like the game is reality or at least it feels like you versing real people
27/02/2007
Behind the tree outside your window, Victoria
Shadowblade
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Somewhat non-scripted, major events and plotlines still have to be scripted, but the AI helps make it different everytime! I am referring to Resistance of course, being on my 3rd time through it, it still feels like a fight in the same area, but SOOO different from last time!
20/02/2007
@HOME...
calvin260
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and my name is wrong again!
20/02/2007
Idaho, USA | Calvin620 @ MyPSP, MyDS, MyWii, and My360 |
chambalam
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jesus what a good thingy, love it!
19/02/2007
Ballina
Kirbstar
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lol, both ways it is better then most game consoles and computers
19/02/2007
Behind the tree outside your window, Victoria
Shadowblade
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Yeah, it just means there are LOTS of em... Who cares, 8 or 12... just LOTS will do
19/02/2007
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MrPS3
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yeah, i think the official word is 8, but these things don't realy matter any more right?
19/02/2007
Melbourne, Victoria
Shadowblade
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Hrmr.... that's weird, coz I read a VERY detailed guide on the Cell vs. the 360's processor trio and it always kept saying 12 SPUs... strange... *you're now enetering the twilight zone *
19/02/2007
@HOME...
Kirbstar
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Sorry I believed there were 8
and it sais 8 in this video www.myps3.com.au/
19/02/2007
Behind the tree outside your window, Victoria
Shadowblade
Kudos: 5,829
Mates: 139
Still need to change the 8 to 12 in the processor section

Cell Processor has 12 SPUs, which is like having 12 separate brains... Not 8
19/02/2007
@HOME...
MrPS3
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Please let us know if you want something else explained.
19/02/2007
Melbourne, Victoria
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