Fanless PS3 Possible
The Neowin Forums has a fascinating interview with some PS3 software developers. One of the most interesting things for me was the following exchange:
Q. PS3 is a very powerful hardware, but as more processing power is used, electricity consumption and fan noise increases. For AV equipment, noise is a big factor.
K2 So far, we are not worried too much since we have plenty of processing power left even at peak usage. On the other hand, from a software programming point of view, we have arrived to a stage where things work as they should. But there are plenty of optimization left to do. We have to balance function with load and noise.
K1 Nothing yet comes close to the load that Folding@Home applies. And I can see the possiblity of a fanless PS3 in the future, just like there was for the PS2.
While he’s not promising anything, or even saying that it’s being worked on, it’s comforting to know that a fanless PS3 is possible. I don’t like all the noise my PS3 puts out, and a fanless one would be awesome!
Interview with PS3 system software engineers - Neowin Forums
Thanks Liar and Sporty!
I sadly can't grow a real beard^^
- 
Have fun!
June 19th, 2007 at 3:15 pm
I’ve got to say developers and engineers seem to give the most interesting interviews.
Better to get information from the source and not the PR and executive mouth piece since these guys are actually working on features not selling them with only a vague idea of what they are talking about.
June 19th, 2007 at 3:48 pm
I wonder whether a fanless PS3 require actual hardware change or can existing PS3 become fanless (with the fan turned off) by firmware update?
June 19th, 2007 at 5:53 pm
He said in the future… Only way to do it would be by convection, and currently the PS3 is not designed that way. Would still need a fan anyway for the heavy duty apps, but could likely be fanless for web surfing, and other light apps.
And I would rather have a slim PS3 with fan, instead of a convection tower PS3, so marketing wise, not sure it would be a go…
June 19th, 2007 at 5:55 pm
if you think the ps3s noise is loud lol, listen to the 360.
June 19th, 2007 at 6:29 pm
Fanless PS3 in the future is great, but I think they’ll have to go to 65nm chips for that to happen. Just makes me more excited for the 2.0 update and E3.
June 19th, 2007 at 7:09 pm
I agree that it would have to be after the 65nm changes. To go passive cooling they would need large heatsink and fins, probably go larger area for airflow. Besides that was a ‘possibly in the future’ comment. These are the firmware software guys, not the hardware roadmap guys.
But this is one of the best interviews I’ve read as far as PS3 firmware. If these guys say something it’s more likely coming since they are the ones doing it. Not some Company head or PR guy trying to hype something.
June 19th, 2007 at 9:30 pm
Welcome.
June 19th, 2007 at 11:43 pm
MY XBOX 360 ELITE DOSN’T MAKE AS MUCH NOISE AS MY PS3…..AN DOSN’T GET AS HOT….IT REALLY IS A GRILL…THE PS3 IS REALLY A GRILL IT GETS MUCH HOTTER THEN THE 360 DOSE……MAYBE THE PEOPLE THAT GOT THE 360 WHEN IT FERST CAME OUT IS LOUD BUT I JUST GOT THE ELITE AN IT’S NOT LOUD AT ALL
June 20th, 2007 at 1:36 am
haha, nice troll comment merio
anyway, awesome interview. lots of interesting tidbits, like playing music from the hard drive as background music in games, and hints like:
“Q. The biggest problem with the use of remote play right now is that the PS3 has to remain turned on when you leave the house. Is there a solution to this?
K1. Wait and see (laugh).”
June 20th, 2007 at 8:20 am
Yeah, I noticed that too. I almost made a totally separate post for it. It’s something everyone using RemotePlay would love.
June 20th, 2007 at 10:00 am
merio, if your Xbox Elite is so quiet, why are you shouting? Joking hehe.
June 20th, 2007 at 9:35 pm
When are people going to learn that even the SLIM PS2 had a fan in it….Albeit a quiet one and a slim one, but a fan none the less….
I can not stand when people say over and over “I want a system with no fans!” Well guess what, fans are here to stay…… I am a cable tech, and in the headend (Towersite) we have simple MPEG4 system receivers that convert MP4 to analog, and they have to have fans or else they will overheat…..Computers overheat without fans, FANS are here to stay, they get quieter each year, so do us all a favor and quit worrying about a fan.