Holidaze 2008: PlayStation 3 SKU chart, revisited

by Ross Miller on Nov 17th 2008 11:00AM

We'd love to say picking up PlayStation 3 is as easy as going to the store and grabbing the first box with the console's name on it. For better and for worse, this generation of consoles gives consumers many choices at the (potential) expense of causing confusion at the store. In all, there have been six different hardware configurations for the PS3, with two of those currently in production.

So, it's with this in mind that we present to you a handy guide for discerning the difference between the various PlayStation 3 versions (aka SKUs) out there. Please note that the red and green coloring is not only festive decor for the holiday season, but a subjective highlight of what each version excels in (or subsequently lacks).

	160GB	80GB (Aug. 08)	80GB (Aug. 07)	60GB	40GB	20GB

Hardware
Model #	CECHP01	CECHK01	CECHE01	CECHA01	CECHG01	CECHB01
Price	$499.99	$399.99	$499.99*	$499.99*	$399.99*	$499.99*
Chrome trim	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
USB 2.0 slots	2	2	4	4	2	4
802.11 b/g	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
Flash card reader	No	No	Yes	Yes	No	No
Bundled Accessories
Ethernet cable	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Video cables	Composite	Composite	Composite	Composite	Composite	Composite
Controller	DualShock 3	DualShock 3	Sixaxis	Sixaxis	Sixaxis	Sixaxis
Backwards Compatibility
PS2	No	No	Software**	Yes (NTSC), Software** (PAL)	No	Yes
PS One	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes

Notes:
*This model is discontinued. The price on the chart represents the listed price before Sony axed it.
**See explanation in F.A.Q. below.

Alright, Joystiq, time to answer your own questions.

Let's do this.

Is this FAQ going to be a rehash of the previous Holidaze entry?

More or less, with some new additions.

Such as?

Such as color!

Let's say I plan to buy a used PlayStation 3 without a box, how can I tell how big the hard drive is?

Unfortunately, you'll have to take the word of whoever is selling you the system. If it's GameStop or some other local used game retailer, chances are they'll let you boot it up in the store to check the listed drive space. Remember, though, that the HDD is easily upgradeable, so you may want to go ahead and buy a 2.5-inch SATA drive and install it yourself.

How do I go about replacing the disk drive in my PS3?

There's a great tutorial, with pictures, right here.

What if I want to upgrade my current PS3's hard drive? Can I back up my save files?

Yep! From the XMB menu, go to Settings, then System Settings, then Back Up utility. From there you can either back up your data or restore information. (This will not save disc installations à la Devil May Cry 4.) You'll need an external hard drive -- FAT32 Windows formatted -- plugged in.

Why do some systems have full backwards compatibility, some partial, and some no compatibility with PlayStation 2 titles?

You can find a more thorough explanation here, but the gist is internal hardware: the initial PlayStation 3 consoles (20GB and 60GB) shipped with the core PS2 components -- the CPU and GPU -- and as such functioned as a PS2 for emulation. Hence, full backwards compatibility.

The 80GB model (and 60GB model for PAL territories) did not include the PS2 CPU and instead had written software that relegated the Cell processor to handle CPU duties. (The GPU remained within the system.) The process isn't perfect and there are hiccups, but it does play most PS2 games.

The 40GB model eschews the PS2 hardware entirely and does not include software for emulating the GPU. Therefore, no PS2 compatibility whatsoever. Both models currently in production (160GB and 80GB models made after August 2008) lack PS2 compatibility entirely.

What about PlayStation (PS1) games?

PS1 games are backwards compatible on all versions.

How can I determine backwards compatibility on a used, unboxed system?

The 20GB model doesn't have the chrome trim (and also lacks a flash card reader), so you can be guaranteed backwards compatibility with that one. On the other end of the spectrum, the 40GB only has 2 USB 2.0 ports, so you can tell which model has no PS2 backwards compatibility.

If you want to get picky, however, another way to do is by checking the model number, located on the bottom of the console (see picture below). The fourth letter defines the model -- for example, in the picture below, CECHG01, represents the 40GB model and therefore has no PS2 compatibility. "A" (60GB) and "B" (20GB) have full compatibility, and "E" designates compatibility via software emulation.

Isn't answering questions you posed to yourself a bit schizophrenic?

Who am I answering?

Yourself.

Just don't tell me to burn things.

Tags: 160gb, 40gb, 60gb, 80gb, holidaze, holidaze-2008, joystiqfeatures, js-twitter, playstation-3, ps3, sku, sony

Reader Comments (88)

Wait - which is the MGS4-bundled, 80GB model? Is that the Aug. 07 one?

The MGS4 bundle included the 80 gig from 07, the discontinued one with software ps2 bc.

The MGS4 bundle (CECHE01MG) also came with a DualShock3 - otherwise I think it is the same as the Aug 07 80G model as Puli said. It definitely has PS2 BC.

"We'd love to say picking up PlayStation 3 is as easy as going to the store and grabbing the first box with the console's name on it. "

Clearly you would have to be a retard if you can't differentiate between the 2 models currently onsale..

Anyone want to count the number of 360's SKU's to date? I count at least 12 (Falcons, Xenons, Jaspers, Valhallas, Cores of all of them, Arcades, Pros Elites, Halo3 editions).

@ DigDug
"Anyone want to count the number of 360's SKU's to date? I count at least 12 (Falcons, Xenons, Jaspers, Valhallas, Cores of all of them, Arcades, Pros Elites, Halo3 editions)."

To my knowledge 360 owners haven't actually lost any features from one sku to the next... other than color and changing HDD size (which is easy to change if not a bit more expensive than the PS3.) nothing terribly important imho anyway. and they gained an HDMI port.
:) feel free to prove me wrong.. I'm too lazy to do it myself ;)

Yeah they never had BC,Wifi,memory stick readers or the only really important feature......touch sensitive buttons....like come on...fuck graphics man...its all about the touchyness....

***Disclaimer:In case of broken sarcasm detector please inform your local shop for fixing that sort of thing.....***

***Disclaimer Vol2: Ok that made little to know sense....***

***Disclaimer Vol3(Beta): Ok now for my real important and meaningful observation on this article...*BSOD*

Disclaimer Vol4: Damn Betas.....

Ahh.. my 60 GB still rocks compared to the rest of them. Here's to buying cheaper Lego games for PS2 and playing them on my PS3.

Now if only they would have a sale on those PS3 DDR dance pads I'll finally be able to shelve away my PS2 forever.... that or by some miracle I find a controller adapter for the PS3 that actually works with PS2 dance pads...

Have you tried a Playstation2-to-USB adapter for a PC? I know it works with the PS3's USB ports and the PS2 Dualshock controlllers.

Yeah, those things are what I mean. They work for the Dual Shock 2's but not for the dance pads. When the PS3 first came out Gamestop used to sell them but not anymore, and they don't even exist anywhere anymore since the PS3 dance pads came out..

It's nice to see Sony discontinuing those bothersome backwards compatible models. Seriously, who even bought a PS2 to begin with?

heh

The software-BC ones weren't that great anyway.

For the price I paid for my 60GB PS3 ($600) + PS2 card reader ($20) you can get an 80GB and a PS2slim which has very high PS2 compatibility and still have money left over. You can use that money left over to buy a wireless controller for the PS2 I guess since by default it's wired.

After using a PS3 and it backwards compatibility (Hardware) I can safely say I won't miss it. It used to be a main reason as to why I wouldn't commit to one. For some reason I had thought Sony would actually do it right and allow proper enhancements to make Ps2 and PS1 games more graphically bearable on HDTVs. Instead they do a poor upscale and just blur everything to make it "smooth" looking. Now I'll just stick to using ePSXe, and when the time comes PCSX2 when I want a clean looking retro fix.

I just find it hilarious that all PS3s are still compatible with PS One.

Only because you can buy them on the PSN store, they aren't compatible with your PS1 disks.

@Ignatius

What? I don't know who you've been talking to, but I believe they are compatible with PS1 discs. I've certainly had no issues with PS1 discs in my PS3. True, I've only tried 3 or 4, but all have worked fabulously. I've played MGS1 and the original NFL Blitz within the last couple of months.

NFL Blitz? I'm so jealous. That game was soooooo fun.

What about the Metal Gear Bundle, which has 80GB, software backwards compatibility, and a Dualshock 3?

I still thank my lucky stars that I won a 60 gig on eBay a year ago.

"We'd love to say picking up PlayStation 3 is as easy as going to the store and grabbing the first box with the console's name on it"

It is... you just decide whether you want one with the bigger hard drive or one with a smaller hard drive

Yeah seriously, there's no difference between them anymore except the HDD size. Why are people still making a big deal out of this?

Because the PS3 was pitched as the ultimate backwards compatible gaming machine...and now not but two years removed from release, it's all gone.

It is confusing to anybody who doesn't follow gaming news everday. At least with the 360 changes it was discernable by a new HDD size each time.

6 different models in under two years is absurd.

Krazy Ken was fired. Total BC was his thing.

360 has had more than 6 models.

Core
Premium
Elite (w/HDMI)
Halo 3 edition (w/HDMI?)
Core+HDMI
Premium+HDMI
Arcade (w/HDMI)
Pro (w/HDMI)
Pro 60GB (w/HDMI)

And people don't as spend time talking about how confusing that is.

It's just not that big a deal. Go to the store, pick up a unit.

@why not the LS2LS7?

I dunno... the 360's not as confusing as PS3. you can see the features just by looking at it. what size is the hdd? does it have an hdmi port? what color is it. easy.

PS3.. though.. I can never remember which one is BC and which isn't (cept the 60gb cause I had that one :) ) and i'm not interested enough to commit it to memory.

for the average consumer it is a lot easier to see the difference between models on a 360 than a PS3.
This, pretty much, Only matters when someone is buying a used/refurb system. and the only reason the average consumer will notice is because of a price difference between hdd sizes.
i'm rambling i think.. i'm really bored. :)

And not everyone will buy just new ones. Between eBay and Gamestop, likely tens of thousands of used units will trade hands during the holiday season. A general buying guide for the all skus still makes sense.

"I dunno... the 360's not as confusing as PS3. you can see the features just by looking at it. what size is the hdd? does it have an hdmi port? what color is it. easy."

To be fair all the PS3 models had statements right on the box about the BC. It was every bit as easy to see looking to see if the 360 was a model with HDMI or not. And I know this is a dead horse (if we're talking about old PS3s, then fair is fair), but the internal improvements to the 360 hardware which have helped lessen the chances of RRoD were never obvious.

The most obvious clue was whether or not it had a 175w vs 203w power supply. The lower power supply meant it was definitely a Falcon, higher meant it could go either way. But then MS started putting stickers over that information on the outside of the box because people were cherry picking.

Normally I wouldn't really count die size improvments and such in talking about SKUs since all systems have such internal improivements, but for the 360 it means a lot in terms of your chances of getting the RRoD.

@Vidikron

"To be fair all the PS3 models had statements right on the box about the BC..."

you're right about it being on the box. However I'm talking about this stuff only mattering when someone purchases a used/refurb system. People who sell their systems almost always Don't have the box. They go into their local GameKing/GameStop/GamerzWorld with the system in a plasic bag with the cords all jumbled together and food caked on the controller ;)

"but the internal improvements to the 360 hardware which have helped lessen the chances of RRoD were never obvious."

Granted that this sort of "improvement" is not obvious. We are talking about actual features being added and subtracted. not hardware failures... that's a whole other section.

I'm just saying that for the average consumer purchasing a used system at a mildly informed game store has a much better chance of seeing the differences between system models of a 360.

/horse-dead-3-weeks-ago-flies-everywhere-coyote-ran-off-with-a-leg

;)

It's so funny to hear people bitch about the PS3 sku's. First they say the price is to high, then they bitch about features being dropped to lower the cost. Thyere is no pleasing some people.

Let me make this extremely simple.

The two current PS3 SKUs only difference is in HDD size. No current PS3 SKU has memory card readers or backwards compaibility. Not very complicated. They all still have blu-ray, built in wi-fi, web browser & free online play. They also all include the dual shock 3 instead of the six axis controller.

No need to turn this into a fanboy bullshit battle.

I bought a launch day 360, paid a premium price and suffered for doing so. My console has a smaller HDD, failure prone internal components and no HDMi. By comparison, early PS3 adopters have a more superior system than the new versions. How is one any better than the other?

My MGS bundle came with an 80GB PS3 with software BC and a DualShock 3 controller... the matrix shows Sixaxis.

If it's software emulation, it can be put it in at anytime. The original 60GB's PS2 emulation isn't the best anyway(MGS3 lags). You're best off modding a fat PS2 and putting games on an HDD(you'll need a network adapter). They load faster and are easier access. It's nice when you don't feel like playing your precious PS2 collection.

You gotta appreciate the upscaling though

A real PS2 doesn't have HDMI output, upscaling, or a hard drive providing free memory cards (and actual PS2 game HDD storage). You also don't get access to the excellent Dual Shock 3.

At this moment, and according to our interview with Sony, their software emulation still requires a GPU and there is no interest from the company for reprogramming for use without the RSX. So at the moment, no means no.

I'm guessing they're still working on the BC, but probably for one title at a time as opposed to emulating all. The HDD's are getting bigger, and in the coming years, i'd bet they'll try to capitalize on PS2 classics when retailers are no longer selling them. Even then, it'll be a couple years off. Which isn't too bad since the system still has 8 more years left.

So, it appears that (apart from the more limited backwards-compatibility) the MGS bundle PS3 is the best?

Probably. Some people prefer the 60gb for the slightly better BC, though I haven't had problems playing anything on my 80gb yet.

Remember when electronics makers used to add value as time went by rather than reduce it?

Damn that's one confusing list. I feel bad for anyone attempting to buy a ps3 now. Luckily I have a 60gb so I don't have to worry about anything really.

Oh no, it's very easy to choose a PS3. Because you can't choose a backwards compatible one anymore.

This is a douche move list intended to confuse moms and dads.

The average consumer standing in a Big Buy store will see only 2 of those six SKU's, since the other 4 are starred and discontinued. At this point, the Xbox has more SKU's.

The list is only confusing because dumb joystiq makes it confusing. There are only 2 PS3s out on the market now, an 80gig model, and a 160gig model. And the 160gig isn't even worth it because you can just buy the 80gig model and put a faster 7200rpm 160gig drive in for about $70 off Newegg. It only takes like 10 min to do.

I really don't think this list was designed for your average mom/dad wandering into Best Buy. This list is designed for videogame nerds like ourselves who obsess over the tiniest minutiae. Did you not notice that this is a videogame blog?

phinn

But the 160 GB version includes two games. It only takes a few minutes to change the HDD but you need an external HDD to back up all your data on and then re-transfer. Don't evenb get me started on the tightness of the screws. I had to have Sony send me more screw and a HDD caddy because mine were stripped. I had to use my dremol roto tool to get those suckers out. If I were choosing between the two I would get the 160 Gb version with Uncharted, Pain and I believe Ecnochrome as well. 160 GB HDD is plenty big for a PS3. I upgraded to a 250 Gb HDD which has been overkill. FYI - my new egg one was dead on arrival. Ended up getting the same price on a sale at office depot.

To make it simple:

You just have to choose between buying the 80GB or the 160GB. They're both exactly the same, with no BC and only two USB ports, and no card reader.

In some countries (England, for example) there is only the 80GB.

You only have to worry about the other models if you're planning on buying a used PS3, or are buying off a site like ebay.

That's wrong.

Here in England I have seen 20, 40 and 60 GB models on sale.

20gb and 60gb were both discontinued ages ago. Any you happen to see are just pre-owned ones.

Nothing beats the good old 60GB with an imported DualShock controller...Execpt for the $120 dollars I could have saved by waiting for the PS3 price drop and the USA DualShock...But hey, its good to be first :)

I wonder if Sony will ever include an HDMI cable, or at least component.

Yeah, it's like wondering if Microsoft will ever ship the 360 with a rechargeable battery for the controller...

i have shadow of the colossus and god of war 1 & 2, after i beat those on my 60 gig, i'm gonna sell my 60 and get something more efficient once they come w/ something that really is easy on the power consumption. after those 2 games, i think i'll gives 2 shits about BC in the future.

Playing SOTC on PS3 with the Progressive Scan option set within Game means it looks stunning on my Software only BC PS3

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Holidaze 2008: PlayStation 3 SKU chart, revisited

Reader Comments (88)

Posted: Nov 17th 2008 11:06AM (Unverified) said

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