Consulting firm UBM TechInsights managed to get their hands on the 3G model of the PlayStation Vita, so they did what any reasonable person would do: tear it apart to see what's inside.
Turns out, there's quite a bit of technology stuffed in there. UBM put together an exhaustive list of all the components, sorted by manufacturer.
- Sony CXD5315GG – Quad-core processor with two Samsung K4P2G324EC 256 MB Mobile DDR2-S4 SDRAM Memory die (512MB total memory)
- Toshiba THGBM3G5D1FBAIE – Multichip Memory Package – Memory and Memory Controller
- Marvell 88W878S-BKB2 – Avastar WLAN/Bluetooth/FM Single-Chip System-on-Chip
- Fujitsu MB44C026A – Possible Multichannel Switching Controller
- Sony 1144KM427 – suspected AKM Magnetic Compass
- Wolfson Micro WM1803E – Audio Codec
- Qualcomm MDM6200 – Gobi Single-mode Modem
- Qualcom PM8028 – Power Management IC
- Toshiba TY890A111222KA – Mobile SDR SDRAM Memory
- Kionix KXTC9 – Three-axis MEMS accelerometer
- Avago ACPM-7868 – GSM Power Amplifier
- Avago ACPM-5005 – W-CDMA Band V Power Amplifier Module
- Avago ACPM-5001 – W-CDMA Band I Power Amplifier Module
- Avago ACPM-5002 – W-CDMA Band II Power Amplifier Module
- Avago ACPM-5008 – W-CDMA Band VIII Power Amplifier Module
- EPCOS B7429 – SAW Duplexer
- Sony CXM3555ER – SP10T Antenna Switch Module
- Atmel MXT224 – 224-Channel Touchscreen Sensor
- STMicroelectronics 32P10SOD
- STMicroelectronics 3GA51H – Gyroscope
According to a report from Eurogamer, the cost for those parts breaks down thusly:
- Display and touchscreens: $50
- Battery: $3.60
- Cameras: $3.50
- Wi-Fi/BT/GPS: $3.50
- NAND: $6.00
- SDRAM: $9.25
- Processor: $16.00
- BB+XCR: $16.25
- Non-electronic: $11.00
- Other: $30.00
- Supporting materials: $10.00
For those of you without a calculator handy, the grand total comes to $159.10, or a little more than half of the system's $299 MSRP.
Of course, we should note that the tally doesn't factor in the cost of production, marketing, or R&D, all of which substantially increase overhead. Still, it appears that Sony will be turning a sizable profit on every Vita sold, meaning there's ample room for a price cut should the need arise.
You'll be able to get your hands on a Vita when it goes on sale in North American and Europe on February 22. We don't recommend disassembling it once you do.
