Tabulator: PS3 Slim and Phat sized up

by JC Fletcher on Aug 18th 2009 6:30PM

With the announcement of yet another SKU for the PlayStation 3, it's time to revisit the Tabulator, our quick-reference guide to the system's continuing, incremental feature loss (and its rapidly falling price!). This handy chart allows you to easily compare the Slim to its heftier predecessors, both those still on the market (for now) and those who have already bid tearful goodbyes to shelves.

Looking at the differences in specs in this way, we can see that less has changed in the transition to Slim than between some variants of the original system. Which is impressive enough for us to try to overlook the loss of our beloved Ethernet cable.

	120GB (PS3 Slim)	160GB	80GB	80GB	60GB	40GB	20GB

Hardware
Model #	CECH-2000	CECHP01	CECHK01	CECHE01	CECHA01	CECHG01	CECHB01
Price	$299.99	$399.99*	$299.99*	$499.99*	$499.99*	$399.99*	$499.99*
Release date	Sep. 2009	Nov. 2008	Aug. 2008	Aug. 2007	Nov. 2006	Oct. 2007	Nov. 2006
Chrome trim	N/A	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
USB 2.0 slots	2	2	2	4	4	2	4
802.11 b/g	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
Flash card reader	No	No	No	Yes	Yes	No	No
Weight	3.5 kg	5 kg	5 kg	5 kg	5 kg	5 kg	5 kg
Dimensions (mm, approx.)	290 × 65 × 290	325 x 98 x 274	325 x 98 x 274	325 x 98 x 274	325 x 98 x 274	325 x 98 x 274	325 x 98 x 274
Power consumption	250W	280W	280W	380W	380W	380W	380W
Bundled
Ethernet cable	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Video cables	Composite	Composite	Composite	Composite	Composite	Composite	Composite
Controller	DualShock 3	DualShock 3	DualShock 3	Sixaxis	Sixaxis	Sixaxis	Sixaxis
Software	None	Uncharted; PAIN	None	MotorStorm	None	Spider-Man (Blu-ray)	None
Software Compatibility
PS2	No	No	No	Software**	Yes (NTSC), Software** (PAL)	No	Yes
PS One	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Other operating systems	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes

Notes:
*This model is discontinued. The price on the chart represents the listed price before Sony axed it.
**Software compatibility will play back some PS2 games, but not all

Tags: hardware, PS3-Slim, tabulator

Reader Comments (173)

Woohoo! It's PS3 Day!

Btw, Engadget has a pretty awesome gallery up featuring two PS3's sammiching a 360:

http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/18/playstation-3-slim-unboxing-and-hands-on/

Oh, also:

http://www.gametrailers.com/video/gc-09-littlebigplanet-psp/54378

AND LBP gets WATER!:

http://www.gametrailers.com/video/gc-09-littlebigplanet/54377

Today is an awesome day... today!

Does the water wash away the suckiness that is LBP?

;)

LBP is all kinds of awesomeness. just because it doesn't have as many explosions as you think it should have doesn't mean it isn't a good game.

Though I honestly prefer (and really like) the look of the older style PS3s, the new slim line version doesn't look half bad in the link you posted; while it looks like a cheaper system (in the same way the PS2 slim does compared to its heavier set brother), direct sunlight doesn't make it look like a toy.

I was joking, Wiizer gets aggravated when I talk bad about LBP.

Well, partly joking. I still don't like LBP...at all.

LPB is way overrated, played it for a week haven't touched it since, just a very basic and repetitive platformer with a terrible level editor.

LBP is amazing and adding water to it will allow creative people to....get more creative though I call dibs on first Titanic sinking level.(REAL CREATIVE I KNOW)

go ahead and add another model to that chart.....

http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/18/sony-sneaks-ps3-slim-through-fcc-under-pseudonym-250gb-model-di/

*hugs 60GB ps3*

Just further proof that the 60 is still the best one overall.

I can agree with you there. I got mine Day One!

I will never regret buying the launch 60gig, even at such a high price. It is the best sku no contest.

I was just about to post this same sentiment. I'm so glad I decided to get my 60 at the end of its run. I saw Sony cutting things out left and right, and knew it would be the only worthwhile version, even if it got price cut.

I got the 20gb :(

Oh well, I upgraded to a 320gb hdd

the 20GB is one of the worst unfortunately. also, i beg to differ about the 60GB. the MGS4 80GB was the best. same features, but more hard drive space and more reliable.

for 599€ you could have bought two ps3slim and an extra dollar...
If you'd ask me now it's finally a good time to buy a ps3. MGS4, Killzone2, Little Big Planet, Uncharted 2, GT5. ALL GOOD EXCLUSIVES. +bluray which may start to prove it self soon since games like Rage are requiring 2 Dvds on the xbox. Add free online play to that and Microsoft, you've got a decent competitor here.

I'm starting too think that Microsoft really needs to work hard and get some great games to Natal if they want to remain in second place.

I got my 60 gig when they had the firesale and it was $499. Only I work at target so I get 10% off, and I made my mom apply for a redcard, for another 10%, shaving off about $100 off the price.

So I got it for about $450 with tax, but this was also when you got the 5 free Blu rays when you bought a blu ray player(or PS3). So, When my blu rays came in, i "returned" them to best buy and got a $175 gift card.(ended up buying the RB1 bundle with it).

So, in conclusion, I got my awesome 60gig PS3 for what works out to be $275. :)

and take an extra dollar home*

Picked one up off of eBay this past January - haven't regretted it for a second. If you don't mind the lack of a warranty, it's by far the best buy of any of them.

@Sly:

Your 80GB one won't play many PS2 titles - always read the fine print. For instance, according to Sony's compatibility listings, the Burnout titles will have major issues. That alone was enough to convince me to get the 60GB with hardware-based backwards compatibility.

ahh well, i don't really play PS2 games anyway since they look god awful on my flat screen.

okay, serious question here.
is the backwards compatibility the only reason you prefer the 60GB? unless i'm missing something, it looks like that the only major edge over the upcoming slim.
that and USB ports.

Yup, charlie b., that's it!

But, it's enough for people to keep people crying about it lacking in the new version!

Well yeah backwards compatibility does mean that much. It's not like the Neogeo is the prior console to PS3. With the game lineup that PS2 has, of course most people want BC in their PS3s.

They need to update the chart...the launch 60gb came bundled with Talledega Nights Blu-Ray

The 80gb model was the best SKU IMO. Basically full backwards compatibility, without the expense of having the entire PS2 infrastructure inside the PS3. I guess my opinion might change if I were to ever encounter a game that I couldn't play, but I have an enormous collection of obscure games and I've never run into a single problem. A lot of people were alarmist about it being a half hardware, half software solution (if I'm remembering correctly) but it's worked flawlessly for me, and I couldn't be happier with it.

While the slim SKU wasn't a surprise, I'm kind of shocked that Sony actually dropped the price. I figured they'd drop the price of the old SKU, while selling the slim at an early adopter premium (kind of like the DSi compared to the DS Lite or Phat) but I guess they had other plans.

The 60GB is the best. I bought mine a few weeks after the PS3 was just released and it has never let me down, runs 24/7/365 with no hiccups. Of course, I upgraded the drive to a 500GB to store all of my HD movies. I have a collection of at least 30 PS2 games and a few of them don't work on my cousin's 80GB. Also, the 60GB/20GB supported some obscure SACD/HD Audio discs or something that the next revision didn't. I personally don't care about that but it's worth noting. So factually, the 60GB is the best SKU hands down.

CECHE01 was the one from the MGS4 bundle right? that one is my favorite. BC, 4 usb ports, card readers, the works. i love it.

The MGS4 bundle came with a DualShock 3 not a sixaxis though. I guess there were two models.

NO...the model you are referring to is the 80GB model bundled with motorstorm. Thats the one I have...with the works. Upgraded to 500GB....wouldn't traded it for the world (...well maybe the exact same model in sexy white :) )

i meant the console itself. i was just using 'MGS4 bundle' as a reference.

CECHE01 is what I've got. Other than the lack of Dualshock 3, I think this is one of the best models. I understand the backcompat is software-based, but I haven't had any trouble with the PS2 games I've played on it. I revisited the whole MGS series on it before MGS4 came out. :)

the MGS4 bundle 80GB is by far the best sku

looks ok to me....ill buy it :)

Wow. It really is ugly by comparison. I thought people were just being melodromatic (though i did scratch my head when i saw noted Sony fans saying it)

I agree, i thought it wasn't too bad when i saw it, but now i'm like WTF. Square-shaped consoles have never survived in the market, they've always died a horrible death. The Curse Of The Square-Shaped Console strikes again. Feel free to use the saying i just coined interwebs, but let it be known i said it here first.

Think about it tho, its true.

It just looks cheaper to me. Which is kind of what I was expecting, to be honest. =)

I like the matte finish, and the features are good. I really don't need extra USB ports, card readers or an extra OS.

The only thing I don't like about the design is the buttons. I liked the touch sensitive ones better.

Also, the Slim looks like a NES cartridge sleeve, or a bathroom tile =p

Doesn't look bad in Engadget's unboxing (IMO): http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/18/playstation-3-slim-unboxing-and-hands-on/

Actually it really looks great, the pictures does not do any justice to the PS3 Slim, just take a look to the video from Games Radar and you will see it really looks neat.

PS3 GamesRadar video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KrOS_0Ulv7M

i agree. the slim design doesn't really look slim - and in our entertainment centers the original chrome trim and glossy curves stand out nicely compared to this slim black-generic box.

it's weird since the slim PS2 had an immediate, intrinsic appeal compared to the original. sony must really be cutting costs by keeping this guy simple.

I love Joystiq's charts!

I'm so fucking glad this happened. I get to get a PS3 now and not feel shitty about it!

That chart right up there is the reason I haven't picked up a PS3 yet. Nothing against the quality of the system, it's just too damn confusing which model to pick up.

Well if it helps, they've discontinued most of them lol

Pretty sure it's just the slim and the regular 120gb. Might be able to find an 80gb but I think they're done with them after they sell out.

"and the regular 120gb"

meant to say 160, although Joystiq says all of them except the Slim have been discontinued.

Uhh... theres really only one you should pick up?

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?id=abcat0703001&type=category

If you can't figure this out, I'm guessing you must struggle with other things, like breathing

Well... I'm going to buy a Slim and an Elite the same day. I have the Elite money since last month, just waiting for the $100 price cut...

My friend already told me that he wants to buy my 80GB PS3, for $300, so I will only pay the taxes (which I can claim later, because I'm mexican)...

But, should I buy both in September, or do you guys think that there are going to be bundles with free games like previous years? In that case, I could wait a couple of months.

I'm buyin an Elite after the price cut too.

I'd buy a slim PS3 and sell my current PS3 if I had 1 of the other models except for the 60GB (which i have). I really do enjoy the xtra USB ports and card readers. Oh well...

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Tabulator: PS3 Slim and Phat sized up

Reader Comments (173)

Posted: Aug 18th 2009 6:35PM Wiizer said

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