Added RAM makes PSP games load faster

by Andrew Yoon { Jul 12th 2007 at 4:26PM }

The redesigned PSP makes games load faster. But, how? In a private demonstration with Joystiq, John Koller explained that the new PSP includes more than just good looks. The redesigned system also includes more RAM, which is used to increase the load speed of upcoming PSP titles. In addition, the system has much more efficient battery life. Koller promised between 8 to 10 hours of battery life in the new system, a seeming impossibility when remembering the original design.

See also:
Joystiq hands-on with the new PSP

Tags: e307, john koller, JohnKoller, psp

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Zhiwai @ Jul 12th 2007 4:41PM

How much will the black slim psp cost??? 200$?? too?

Kspraydad @ Jul 12th 2007 4:51PM

The CORE is still $169. It has only been said about 5 times in other threads. 'SEARCH' is your friend.

Kspraydad @ Jul 12th 2007 4:52PM

As some of us pointed this out yesterday based on the spec sheet from threespeech....

I fear this extra ram will lead to games and services not compatible with current PSP.

:(

PocketGoddess @ Jul 12th 2007 4:55PM

Upcoming titles only?

I was hoping that the extra RAM would be used as a cache for ALL games, not just one ones.

That's a downer, but I'll still be first in line to get one, mainly due to the lighter weight. I guess I'm one of the few girl gamers around here, and I sometimes get major hand cramp if I play too long in one session.

PSP-Retro @ Jul 12th 2007 5:07PM

I think the smaller formfactor is a plus for small hands. I wonder if the extram ram will help out with the browsers memory issues??

Quest @ Jul 12th 2007 5:27PM

My concern (re: 64mb ram)is less about the load times for older games, and more about the size of firmware updates. With the extra memory, Sony could write firmware updates that are larger than 32mb, and THAT would hose the older PSP owner . . .

.P@bL� CeRoTrEs @ Jul 12th 2007 6:02PM

A mayor BOOOO to Sony if in 3 months it says "Due to new firmware issues your old PSP is now an expensive prety brick for your wall" or if worse "due to the upgrate on the new PSP YOU CANOT PLAY GOD OF WAR OR FF7 CC",that will be a ultra mayor BOOOOOOOO to sony :(

Sai @ Jul 12th 2007 6:27PM

My only concern is that it will probably come preloaded with the latest firmware and not be downgradable and be able to utilize Dark Alex's open edition firmware.

Don @ Jul 12th 2007 6:40PM

8-10 hours? That's game, right? Almost double the current battery life.

I can't wait to see some tests with the battery & the game loading speeds. The next couple months should be very interesting.

pixelator @ Jul 12th 2007 6:43PM

Isn't rather obvious why an extra 32MB of RAM for game saves/cache is going to be something that UPCOMING games use? Coders didn't have that extra RAM to work with before now.

What I think might be good intel would be what's making the battery life so good despite the lowered capacity. New screen? Have you guys been able to compare the displays of PSP 'Phat' and the 'Slim' side by side?

Brandon @ Jul 12th 2007 8:29PM

Well, efficiency across the board might be the cause of the decrease in power consumption. Smaller chips, fewer parts, and perhaps a screen that has a slightly more efficient use of power.

Darren Tilley @ Jul 12th 2007 10:39PM

From what I'm hearing, it seems like the extra RAM will automatically cache the disk content. That's the only way it could work for prior games, rather than having to be coded in manually. Therefore, I believe it's safe to assume that no game is going to require it. I'm not sure developers even have access to it. It may be passively controlled by the UMD controller.

homn @ Jul 13th 2007 12:42AM

With this new psp out to me it seems like that the next generation of the psp will be out soon. Seeing that sony did the same with the ps1 and the ps2.

Hector Martinez @ Jul 13th 2007 12:51AM

Umm, we get 8 to 10 hours now, during mp3 playback, but still.

snake79 @ Jul 13th 2007 1:45AM

what am I gonna do with my newly bought blue psp??!?! >.

dom @ Jul 13th 2007 2:26AM

me to i just got a new blue psp, what am i gonna do?!

deadlock32 @ Jul 14th 2007 12:10AM

This should make the web browser work better too!
(flash ;P)

raj @ Jul 15th 2007 9:22PM

hopefully mc3 will now be enjoyable :)

PISSED PSP FAN @ Jul 16th 2007 12:30PM

U kown if the original psp cant get firmware 3.60 i will be fuckin pissed becuase i spent 572.24 bucks on a giga pak on the relece and a i said i will be so pissed that i will sell my psp and get a DS and i will never trust Sony again!! SO SONY IF I CANT GET FW 3.60 FOR MY OLD PSP THEN FUCKYOU!!!