Update: There was a bit of erroneous information in our previous report. The GPU in newer PS3 units is manufactured on a 40nm process, not 45nm like that of the Cell processor. We regret the mix-up.

New PS3 Slim units that sport a 40nm die-shrink of RSX — the PS3′s GPU — are out in the wild. In Japan, at least.

Extensive testing performed by Japanese site PocketNews on a CECH-2100A unit reveals that power usage dropped by as much as 29 watts compared to that of the previous slim revision, CECH-2000A. A drop in effective wattage correlates to less heat, an attribute Sony has taken advantage of by including a smaller cooling unit as well as a power supply that weighs less, approximately 412 grams.

Keep in mind this is the Japanese revision, North American equivalents will fall under the CECH-2101A banner. All in all, this move represents Sony’s ongoing effort to reduce power consumption while cutting down on production costs. Which could translate to a cheaper PS3 down the road for you, the consumer. Anyone spot these on store shelves yet?

RSXが45nmになって消費電力が下がった新型PS3(CECH-2100A)を分解してみた [PocketNews]

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