PlayStation Portable (PSP) Architecture: 'Portable' does not imply 'Limited'

Released just one month after the Nintendo DS, Sony's PSP proved that 'horizontal innovation' is not the only way to succeed in the portable console market.

This document is dedicated to anyone that wants to understand, straight to the point, how the PSP operates. It's not a short write-up, but I hope that at the end of the article you will be able to grasp the building blocks of this console (its design rationale, choice of CPUs, GPU pipeline, security system and so forth).

Architecture of Consoles: A Practical Analysis

Looking at the evolution of video game consoles is fascinating. While conventional PCs tend to evolve 'incrementally', new generations of consoles introduce completely new ways of working. What you see here is a series of articles that will hopefully uncover the rationale behind the latest trends in technology. They will also demonstrate why each system can't be summarised by its 'bits', megahertz, amount of RAM and whatnot.

This is not a developer manual, just an in depth introduction to how each system worked internally. Bear in mind that tech has gotten really complicated lately, so if you struggle to follow my latest articles, try reading the early ones first. They introduce many concepts and definitions that are constantly revisited. Basic knowledge of computing is preferable, however, I try really hard to adapt my content for wider audiences, so please don't be afraid to give it a try!