Sony's PSP slim cracked open: there's more NAND in there?

It didn't take long after the release of Sony's slim PSP in Europe for some over-anxious individual to get inside of his new handheld, and while dissection pictures are always a treat in and of themselves, this splaying led to an unexpected discovery. After inspecting the motherboard and comparing it to boards from prior (read: not slim) PSPs, it was reported that the newest iteration features "66MB of NAND memory including spare data," which certainly trumps the amount found in its predecessor; additionally, Mathieulh mentioned that the "idstorage area is now fully encrypted." Check out a few more pics for yourself after the jump.

[Via MaxConsole]

[taztech @ Sep 6th 2007 10:33AM]

cool

[prime @ Sep 6th 2007 10:40AM]

it will be cracked

[GamerGuyX @ Sep 6th 2007 10:40AM]

What's so suprising? Sony already announced that the new slim PSP would have double the memory. It helps reduce load times.

[JCD @ Sep 6th 2007 11:12AM]

NAND is not RAM.

[Kilraven @ Sep 6th 2007 11:33AM]

He didn't say RAM he said memory, and NAND is a type of memory.

[J @ Sep 6th 2007 12:00PM]

um, Kilraven
HAHA!! Are you saying that RAM (random access MEMORY) is not a type of MEMORY? Thanks for clearing that one up.

[JCD @ Sep 6th 2007 12:02PM]

They announced that the PSP slim would have more RAM. More RAM is going to result in faster load times. NAND is flash memory. When you update your firmware, it goes into NAND. Otherwise, AFAIK, it is unused.

Please don't respond to things unless you know what you're talking about.

[Joe_Templeman @ Sep 9th 2007 7:41AM]

Does this mean that they are preparing for a bigger firmware update which the older PSP's wont handle? I wonder....

[Kilraven @ Sep 6th 2007 1:20PM]

@J:
Good to know you're literate. So if I say dogs are mammals, I'm also stating cats aren't? I'll let that sink in.

@JCD:
You're half-right. People shouldn't talk about things they don't know.
NAND memory IS non-volatile. It's deceiving in that it'll act like RAM with power applied and ROM with it off. It's why it's commonly used in mobile devices as...you guess it, RAM! So quit thinking when RAM is only the crap you shove in your PC.
That 64M is going to allow for a larger cache, which in turn will allow for quicker load times.

[JCD @ Sep 6th 2007 1:59PM]

NAND is typically called flash memory. You're correct to say that it can be used as RAM or ROM, depending on the application. It can also be used as an SSD (memory sticks and such use either NAND or NOR memory). But just because it can be used as RAM doesn't mean it is RAM, just like virtual RAM isn't the same as real RAM.

Anyhow, Kilraven, you're missing the point. It isn't about semantics, its about functionality.

The psp does not use flash memory as its system RAM. That's why putting it in standby mode consumes electricity. The NAND in the psp is used for firmware. Games do not cache into the NAND, they cache into the RAM. If Sony increased the size of the psp's NAND memory, then they are most likely planning on the psp slim requiring larger firmwares than the psp 'fat.'

Let's put it another way. You want your games to have less intermittent loading. You can either A) increase the amount of pricy flash memory in your redesign and have the discs cache to it, or B) increase the amount of cheap-ass ram and have your discs cache there instead. It's an easy decision.

Conclusion: this extra NAND is not the extra RAM Sony promised to reduce load times.

[ryan @ Sep 6th 2007 10:36PM]

"Since we decided to be engadet techno-douchebags, let me jump on the bandwagon and point out that flash memory can be Accessed Randomly and it is Memory."

HAHAHA you just made my day. engadget techno-douchebags.

[Rainier @ Sep 6th 2007 10:50AM]

Those look like the #1 foam mitts you find at sporting events.

[Peppie @ Sep 6th 2007 11:05AM]

Maybe Sony is sending a message saying "No rootkit here. Now piss off" :P

[Mindfield @ Sep 6th 2007 11:25AM]

It looks like Texas, only kinda reversed.

[Tom Gabriele @ Sep 6th 2007 12:18PM]

exactly what i was going to say

[MasterCrackle @ Sep 6th 2007 1:08PM]

@ Mindfield.
I was thinking Oklahoma.

[oshean @ Sep 7th 2007 11:45AM]

@ Mindfield
I don't know what state shape it looks like, I don't own a map.

[cduran01 @ Sep 6th 2007 11:26AM]

Hmmm, more NAND huh? Seems like firmware updates are going to start getting bigger and with more features.

[john @ Sep 6th 2007 11:39AM]

The bigger it is, the harder it falls. I hope so at least. I'm waiting for them to crack this before I bite.

[Kaemon @ Sep 6th 2007 11:28AM]

I'm guessing there will now be firmware X.XX.Y So like 3.60.1 for Old PSP, and 3.60.2 for New one, of course the new one getting good things. Pfft, way to go Sony.

Oh well, this will be hacked, I'll probably pick one up when it can. I have no interest in something I can't mess with.

[Rob @ Sep 6th 2007 11:29AM]

I'm a bit disappointed with the new PSP. I was hoping for a new lcd that eliminated the ghosting.
Also, support for resolutions higher than 320x. 480x would've been a nice update.

[BrotherhoodOfNod @ Sep 6th 2007 11:58AM]

The one thing I'm thrilled about with the PSP Slim is the TV out.

...Which in turn, I wouldn't be thrilled about if it wasn't able to run my ripped PSX games and homebrew. Would the newly encrypted area effect possible future downgrades, I wonder?

[redbenn @ Sep 6th 2007 12:31PM]

its not a foam #1, its Chief Wahoo, the Cleveland Indians mascot

[Korsakow @ Sep 6th 2007 1:50PM]

What exactly does "idstorage" do?

[pupu @ Sep 6th 2007 3:55PM]

If I leave a comment here, will you then send to me a PSP for free?

I feel lucky today, at the point that I am pretty sure I'll won it.

[Jordan @ Sep 6th 2007 5:33PM]

LINK MAH BOIII!!!11

[Roxtar @ Sep 6th 2007 11:05PM]

Hmm... some good points brought up regarding hacks, downgrading, etc. I doubt it will take more than 2 months to hack the PSP Slim. Following DA's work for the past year or so, he can crack these things about as fast as Sony puts them out.

However, if it can't be cracked, I think it WILL put a dent in sales of the new PSP. The reason why I bought the original was due to the fact that it could run homebrew (and probably the same reason why about half the PSP's sold thus far.)

Granted, cracking the PSP Slim might not be any different than cracking the old PSP: all it takes is time and some crafty work from DA. But, you never know what Sony has done under the hood of this thing.

[James @ Sep 7th 2007 11:55AM]

OK, great, you've torn it apart -- now have you tried Pandora's Battery with it?


Heh...