Sony PlayStation 2 Slim Console - Black

The 128-Bit Emotion Engine is the first chip of its kind. No other mass-market computer technology on the market comes close to its power. In the PlayStation2, this chip is used as the workhorse of the console. It processes all physics and math calculations.

The PlayStation2 has a 128-Bit Emotion Engine. The 128-Bit part of the title means that this chipset both processes information and sends it over a 128-Bit bus (A Bus is the pathway between chips on a circuit board. A wide bus carries more bits of information and is thus faster than a narrower bus).

You may think that your PC has a faster processor, but remember that the Emotion Engine has inherently faster 128-Bit processing and it is just a part of the overall PlayStation2 power.

A small note for the really detail oriented: The reason that the speed is 294.912 MHz, is that it must be a multiple of a required processor speed that supports the DVD ROM operations.

MORE DETAILS:

* Dimensions: 301mm (W) x 178mm (H) x 78mm (D), (12 x 7 x 3).

* Weight: 2.1 kg (4 lbs. 10 oz.).

* Media: PlayStation2 CD-ROM, DVD-ROM, and PlayStation CD-ROM, CD Audio

This means your PlayStation 2 will basically play all your old PlayStation games (but not make them look any better), all music CDs and all North American DVDs.

* Interfaces: Controller Port (2)

These are the same as the controller ports on the current PlayStation.

* Interfaces: Memory Card Slot (2)

These slots are very similar to the ones on the original PlayStation, except they support the new, faster transfer rate.

* Interfaces: AV Multi Cable Output (1)

This is where you plug the cord that goes to the back of your television.

* Interfaces: Optical Digital Output (1)

This port will let you send data directly to a digital receiver. This is perfect if you plan to plug your PlayStation into a DTS or Dolby receiver and get perfect sound.

If you don't use digital output, your data will be converted to an analog signal and then be converted back to digital at the receiver.

* Interfaces: USB Port (2)

USB enables you to connect any number of devices to your system with a high-speed data link.

* Interfaces: I.Link (IEEE1394) (1)

The IEEE139 port is known by two names: I.Link and for Mac owners, FireWire - there are some minor differences between the two. This high-data transfer port has the advantage of supplying (some) power to devices that are connected. You can expect that an enormous number of hardware devices will use this port including speakers, printers, and other like devices.

* Interfaces: Type III PCMCIA Card Slot.

This slot is a lot like a laptop's add-in slot. Here you will be able to plug in a modem and eventually the connection for Sony's planned broadband network and hard drive.