http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/XDR2_DRAM most console components used to get "old" 2-3 years in the console's life span (with the exception of the SNES probably). Nevertheless, things are moving faster than before it would seem? PS: for the sake of clarity, the PS3 has 256 MB of system memory, XDR and 256 MB of Video Memory, GDDR3. Please keep in mind that unlike the 360, the PS3 cannot allocate any amount over 256MB for Video related operations such as textures.
That's incorrect, actually. It can use XDR for graphics, but it is somewhat costly. It cannot use the GDR for system memory, at least not in a way that would make sense for gaming. It is also worth mentioning that XDR in the PS3 runs full clock speed (3.2Ghz). That probably helps it with the PS2 emulation. So it's not really obsolete compared to DDR2 or anything else other than it's successor. However, it is quite expensive comparatively.
the memory division was just to outline the types of memory affected by what I posted really. The question I mainly posed was related to the speed by which console components are getting "old" nowadays compared to the past.
Traditional DRAM sucks whether you get one word or eight per access via "octalpumping". One transistor "SRAM" (and later zero capacitor DRAM) is the wave of the future and should soon run at cache speeds while crazy out-integrating six transistor SRAM.
Theoretical RAM bandwidth for a technology is one thing, the cache and DRAM controllers are another, so it's hard to know how efficient they are. I think it's best not to judge a console based on numbers ever, since numbers never account for much but if you are going to do it, do it 15 years from now after the consoles have been cracked open and the numbers have been actually verified.
Rambus: obsolete. I have a computer with some incredibly ODD RAMBUS RAM which is impossible to find nowdays, a 128 MB stick was for sale in a second hand computer shop for 80€ or so, when for that money you can get 1 GB of DDR2... :/
the speed depends on how the memory is configured within the system and set up relatively to other parts. As you said yourself the 10 MB on the XENOS makes a great difference.
Yeah, but that is for graphics. Internal CPU access is the issue here, there is a large difference in speed between 700MHz and 3.2Ghz, aside from the base memory differences. Also, the Xenon accesses memory via the GPU, the same as the XBox did. Basically, it ends up Cell > Xenon, Xenos > RSX, which is why we see weird system to system ports.
pitty that NVIDIA wasn't up to date and/or ATI declined the SONY contract for some reason. The PS3 would have been a dream with a one generation further graphics system.
