Japanese Playstation2

Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. press releases:

Press release 1

SONY COMPUTER ENTERTAINMNET ANNOUNCES WORLD'S FASTEST 128 BIT CPU "EMOTION ENGINE™" FOR THE NEXT GENERATION PLAYSTATION®
Tuesday, March 02, 1999

Contacts:
Molly Smith – 650.655.6044 (molly_smith@playstation.sony.com)
Samantha Sackin – 213.489.8246 (sackins@fleishman.com)

TOKYO, March 2, 1999 – Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. is pleased to announce the co-development with Toshiba Corp. of the 128 bit CPU ("EE" or "Emotion Engine ") for use in the next generation of PlayStation. In order to process massive multimedia information at the fastest possible speeds, data bus, cache memory as well as all registers are 128 bits; this is integrated on a single chip LSI together with the state of the art 0.18 micron process technology. The development of a full 128 bit CPU is the first of its kind in the world.

Not only will this new CPU have application for games, but it will be the core media processor for future digital entertainment applications, and has a vastly superior floating point calculation capability compared to the latest personal computers. The new CPU incorporates two 64 bit integer units (IU) with a 128 bit SIMD multimedia command unit, two independent floating point vector calculation units (VU0, VU1), an MPEG 2 decoder circuit (Image Processing Unit/IPU) and high performance DMA controllers onto one silicon chip. The massive combined performance of this CPU permits complicated physical calculation, NURBS curved surface generation and 3D geometric transformations, which are difficult to perform in real time with PC CPUs performed at high speeds.

In addition, by processing the data at 128 bits on one chip, it is possible to process and transfer massive volumes of multimedia data. CPUs on conventional PCs have a basic data structure of 64 bits, with only 32 bits on recent game consoles. The main memory supporting the high speed CPU uses the Direct Rambus DRAM in two channels to achieve a 3.2 GB/second bus bandwidth. This equates to four times the performance of the latest PCs that are built on the PC-100 architecture.

By incorporating the MPEG 2 decoder circuitry on one chip, it is now possible to simultaneously process high-resolution 3D graphics data at the same time as high quality DVD images. The combination of the two allows the introduction of a new approach to digital entertainment and real-time graphics and audio processing.

With a floating point calculation performance of 6.2 GFLOPS/second, the overall calculation performance of this new CPU matches that of a super computer. When this is applied to the processing of geometric and perspective transformations normally used in the calculation of 3D computer graphics (3DCG), the peak calculation performance reaches 66 million polygons per second. This performance is comparable with that of high-end graphics workstations (GWS) used in motion picture production.

Sony Computer Entertainment America, a division of Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc., markets the PlayStation game console for distribution in North America, develops and publishes software for the PlayStation game console, and manages the U.S. third party licensing program. Based in Foster City, Calif., Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc. is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.

Rambus is a registered trademark of Rambus Inc.

Emotion Engine Features and General Specifications

CPU Core: 128 bit RISC (MIPS IV-subset)
Clock Frequency: 300 MHz
Integer Unit: 64 bit (2-way Superscalar)
Multimedia extended instructions: 107 instructions at 128 bit width
Integer General Purpose Register: 32 at 128 bit width
TLB: 48 double entries
Instruction Cache: 16 KB (2-way)
Data Cache: 8 KB (2-way)
Scratch Pad RAM: 16 KB (Dual port)
Main Memory: 32 MB (Direct RDRAM 2ch@800MHz)
Memory Bandwidth: 3.2 GB/sec
DMA: 10 channels
Co-processor1: FPU (FMAC x 1, FDIV x 1), Micro Memory (I:4KB D:4KB)
Co-processor2: VU0 (FMAC x 4, FDIV x 1), Micro Memory (I:4KB D:4KB)
Vector Processing Unit VU1 (FMAC x 5, FDIV x 2), Micro Memory (I:16KB D:16KB)
Floating Point Performance: 6.2 GFLOPS
Geometry:
+ Perspective Transformation: 66 million polygons / sec
+ Lighting: 38 million polygons / sec
+ Fog: 36 million polygons / sec
Curved Surface Generation (Bezier): 16 million polygons / sec
Image Processing Unit: MPEG2 Macroblock Layer Decoder
Image Processing Performance: 150 million pixels / sec
Gate Width: 0.18 micron
VDD Voltage: 1.8 V
Power Consumption: 15 watts
Metal Layers: 4
Total Transistors: 10.5 million
Die Size: 240 mm2
Package: 540 pin PBGA

Press release 2

SONY COMPUTER ENTERTAINMENT ANNOUNCES THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE WORLD'S FASTEST GRAPHICS RENDERING PROCESSOR USING EMBEDDED DRAM TECHNOLOGY
Tuesday, March 02, 1999

Contacts:
Molly Smith – 650.655.6044 (molly_smith@playstation.sony.com)
Samantha Sackin – 213.489.8246 (sackins@fleishman.com)

TOKYO, March 2, 1999 – Sony Computer Entertainment has developed the Graphics Synthesizer for the next generation PlayStation® incorporating a massively parallel rendering engine that contains a 2,560 bit wide data bus that is 20 times the size of leading PC-based graphics accelerators. Very high pixel fill rates and drawing performance is achieved only through the use of embedded DRAM process technology pioneered by SCE for use in advanced graphics technology.

The current PlayStation introduced the concept of the Graphics Synthesizer via the real-time calculation and rendering of a 3D object. This new GS rendering processor is the ultimate incarnation of this concept – delivering unrivaled graphics performance and capability. The rendering function was enhanced to generate image data that supports NTSC/PAL television, High Definition Digital TV and VESA output standards. The quality of the resulting screen image is comparable to movie-quality 3D graphics in real time.

In the design of graphics systems, the rendering capability is defined by the memory bandwidth between the pixel engine and the video memory. Conventional systems use external VRAM reached via an off-chip bus that limits the total performance of the system. However in the case of the new GS, there is a 48-gigabyte memory access bandwidth achieved via the integration of the pixel logic and the video memory on a single high performance chip. This allows orders of magnitude greater pixel fill rate performance compared to today’s best PC-based graphics accelerators.

When rendering small polygons, the peak drawing capacity is 75 million polygons per second and the system can render 150 million particles per second. With this large drawing capability, it is possible to render a movie-quality image. With Z buffering, textures, lighting and alpha blending (transparency), a sustained rate of 20 million polygons per second can be drawn continuously.

This new architecture can also execute recursive multi-pass rendering processing and filter operations at a very fast speed without the assistance of the main CPU or main bus access. In the past, this level of real-time performance was only achieved when using very expensive, high performance, dedicated graphics workstations. However, with the design of the new Graphics Synthesizer, this high quality image is now available for in-home computer entertainment applications. This will help accelerate the convergence of movies, music and computer technology into a new form of digital entertainment.

Graphics Synthesizer – Features and General Specifications:
GS Core: Parallel Rendering Processor with embedded DRAM
Clock Frequency: 150 MHz
No. of Pixel Engines: 16 (in Parallel)
Embedded DRAM: 4 MB of multi-port DRAM (Synced at 150MHz)
Total Memory Bandwidth: 48 gigabytes per second
Combined Internal Data Bus Bandwidth: 2,560 bit
Read: 1,024 bit
Write: 1,024 bit
Texture: 512 bit
Display Color Depth: 32 bit (RGBA: 8 bits each)
Z Buffering: 32 bit
Rendering Functions: Texture Mapping, Bump Mapping, Fogging, Alpha Blending, Bi- and Tri-Linear Filtering, MIPMAP, Anti-aliasing, Multi-pass Rendering

Rendering Performance
Pixel Fill Rate: 2.4 giga pixel per second (with Z buffer and Alphablend enabled), 1.2 giga pixel per second (with Z buffer, Alpha and Texture)
Particle Drawing Rate: 150 million/sec
Polygon Drawing Rate: 75 million/sec (small polygon), 50 million/sec (48 pixel quad with Z and A), 30 million/sec (50 pixel triangle with Z and A), 25 million/sec (48 pixel quad with Z, A and T)
Sprite Drawing Rate: 18.75 million (8 x 8 pixels)

Display Output
NTSC/PAL
Digital TV (DTV)
VESA (maximum 1280 x 1024 pixels)

Silicon Process Technology: 0.25 4-level metal
Total Number of Transistors: 43 million
Die Size: 279 mm2
Package Type: 384 pin BGA

Press release 3

SONY COMPUTER ENTERTAINMENT ELEVATES ITS ROLE IN THE
DIGITAL ERA WITH PLAYSTATION(r)2

NEW COMPUTER ENTERTAINMENT SYSTEM TO DEBUT ON
MARCH 4, 2000 IN JAPAN,
FALL 2000 IN EUROPE AND NORTH AMERICA

TOKYO, September 13 1999 - Heralding in a new age of digital entertainment, Sony Computer
Entertainment Inc. today announced the launch details of its revolutionary computer entertainment
system, PlayStation2. Building on the success of the worldwide best-selling PlayStation game
console with hardware shipments exceeding 60 million units, PlayStation2 is designed to bring
together movies, music and games to form a new world of computer entertainment.

PlayStation2 will launch in Japan on March 4th, 2000 with an unprecedented initial week's shipment
of one million units. Supporting both the audio CD and DVD-Video formats, PlayStation2 offers
consumers a wide range of music and video entertainment options. The new system is backwards
compatible with the original PlayStation, bridging the gap between the two systems while
legitimizing consumers' investment in their existing PlayStation software libraries.

Sony Computer Entertainment announced the following details of the new system:-

Product Name: PlayStation2

Suggested Retail Price (Japan): 39,800 Yen

Available: March 4th, 2000

Accessories included: "Dual Shock"2 analog controller
High capacity 8MB Memory Card
PlayStation2 Demo Disc
AV Multi cable
AC power cord

Dimensions: 301mm (W) X 178mm (D) X 78mm (D)
12" x 7" x 3"

Weight: 2.1Kg (4lbs 10oz)

Media: PlayStation2 CD-ROM, DVD-ROM
PlayStation CD-ROM

Formats supported: Audio CD, DVD-Video

Interfaces: Controller port (2)
Memory Card slot (2)
AV Multicable output (1)
Optical digital output (1)
USB port (2)
i.Link (IEEE1394) (1) Type III PCMCIA card slot (1)

"PlayStation2 is charting a path toward the future of networked digital entertainment", said Ken Kutaragi,
President and CEO, Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. "Just as the PlayStation brought interactive
gaming to an unprecedented mass market, PlayStation2's combination of breathtaking digital graphics,
superb sound and DVD video will open the doors to a new computer entertainment experience in the
home".

The PlayStation2 computer entertainment system will be available in Asian markets in the Summer,
2000 and in Fall, 2000 in Europe and North America.

PlayStation(r)2 Basic Specifications and Features:-

CPU 28 Bit "Emotion Engine("
System Clock Frequency
294.912 MHz
Main Memory
Direct RDRAM
Memory Size
32MB

Graphics "Graphics Synthesizer"
Clock Frequency
147.456MHz
Embedded Cache VRAM
4MB

Sound SPU2
Number of Voices
48ch plus software
Sound Memory
2MB

IOP I/O Processor
CPU Core
PlayStation CPU+
Clock Frequency
33.8688MHz or 36.864MHz (Selectable)
IOP Memory
2MB

Disc Device CD-ROM and DVD-ROM
Device Speed
CD-ROM 24 times speed
DVD-ROM 4 times speed

Visit our website:
www.playstation-europe.com/pr

For further information, please do not hesitate to contact:

Liz Ashford
Head of European (PAL) Public Relations
Sony Computer Entertainment Europe

Contact details in Tokyo from 13th-22nd September 1999:-

Mobile: 00 81 90 4759 1030
Hotel: 00 81 3 3265 1111

Email: liz_ashford@scee.net

Contact details in London from 23rd September 1999:-

+44 (0) 171 533 1349

Alternatively, please contact SCEE Central PR on any of the following numbers:-

+44 (0) 171 533 1299
+44 (0) 171 533 1345
+44 (0) 171 533 1545

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