All it took was a Torx wrench. Yes, the first PlayStation 3 autopsies are already starting to appear as console fans with more money than sense take Sony's next-generation machine apart to expose Cell processor, Blu-ray Disc player, Seagate hard drive and assorted chippery.

First up, DailyTech's disassembly includes some rather nice pics - two are shown below, but there are many more with the site's report (http://www.dailytech.com/article.aspx?newsid=4908&www.reghardware.co.uk).

(http://www.dailytech.com/article.aspx?newsid=4908&www.reghardware.co.uk)

Opening up the console reveals not only the IBM-made Cell chip but the EE+GS chip used in the last few years' PS2s in place of the original's separate Emotion Engine and Graphics Synthesiser silicon. The EE+GS and other, related chips provided PSone and PS2 compatibility.

(http://www.dailytech.com/article.aspx?newsid=4908&www.reghardware.co.uk)

Also revealed: the PS3's monster cooling system based on multiple copper heatpipes and a 16cm fan, along with Rambus-developed XDR memory from Samsung, and Ethernet and storage controllers from Marvell.

Japanese-language site PCWatch, meanwhile, went as far as to expose the PS3's Samsung GDDR 3 graphics memory in its console disassembly (http://pc.watch.impress.co.jp/docs/2006/1111/ps3.htm?www.reghardware.co.uk), which also extended to the machine's built-in Blu-ray Disc player, the PSU, the Wi-Fi adaptor card and the games controller.

(http://pc.watch.impress.co.jp/docs/2006/1111/ps3.htm?www.reghardware.co.uk)

(http://pc.watch.impress.co.jp/docs/2006/1111/ps3.htm?www.reghardware.co.uk)

The most useful aspect of the PCWatch report: it shows you how to remove the console's hard drive and replace it (http://www.watch.impress.co.jp/game/docs/20061111/hdd.htm?www.reghardware.co.uk) with a new, larger one. ®

(http://www.watch.impress.co.jp/game/docs/20061111/hdd.htm?www.reghardware.co.uk)

Related stories

• Sony faces case for 'Cell' patent infringement (31 July 2007)

  http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2007/07/31/sony_cell_patent/

• IBM produces smaller Cells (13 March 2007)

  http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2007/03/13/ibm_produces_65nm_cell/

• Dell takes orders for Blu-ray laptop (12 December 2006)

  http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/12/12/dell_touts_blu-ray_laptop/

• Sony to ship major PS3 firmware update next March (5 December 2006)

  http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/12/05/sony_ps3_firmware_update/

• Sony exec says 'yes' to PS4 (5 December 2006)

  http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/12/05/sony_says_yes_to_ps4/

• Teen shot dead by police over stolen PS3 (5 December 2006)

  http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/12/05/fatal_ps3_shooting/

• Sony management shuffle dooms PlayStation 4? (1 December 2006)

  http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/12/01/sony_shuffle_kills_ps4/

• Italians mull computer games sales ban to kids (28 November 2006)

  http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/11/28/italian_games_debate/

• Sony punching out PS3s 'smoothly' (22 November 2006)

  http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/11/22/ps3_production_going_smoothly/

• Man buys PS3, smashes it with sledgehammer (20 November 2006)

  http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/11/20/canadians_smash_ps3/

• Linux-running PS3 offered on eBay (20 November 2006)

  http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/11/20/linux_ps3_offered_on_ebay/

• eBayer bids $89m for PS3 (17 November 2006)

  http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/11/17/ebayer_bids_89m_for_ps3/

• Man shot while queuing to buy PlayStation 3 (17 November 2006)

  http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/11/17/man_shot_in_ps3_queue/

• Sony PS3 'costs at least $805-840' to make (16 November 2006)

  http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/11/16/isuppli_prices_up_ps3/

• Sony to ship '150-200k' PS3s for US launch (15 November 2006)

  http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/11/15/ps3_uk_launch_forecast/

• Developer confirms DVD-edition Wii coming H2 2007 (15 November 2006)

  http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/11/15/nintendo_wii_gets_dvd_in_07/

• Sony admits PS3 compatibility hiccup (14 November 2006)

  http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/11/14/sony_ps3_sales_and_glitch/

• Japanese eBay PS3s marked up 300% (13 November 2006)

  http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/11/13/ps3_ebay_chinese_buyers/

• PS2 sales highlight Sony's challenge as PS3 debuts in Japan (13 November 2006)

  http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/11/13/sony_ps3_japan_debut/

• PS3 delays, burning batteries undermine Sony profits (19 October 2006)

  http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/10/19/sony_profit_warning/

• PS3 overheating claim rattles investors (4 October 2006)

  http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/10/04/ps3_heat_claim/

• Sony punching out PS3s 'full swing', claims analyst (3 October 2006)

  http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/10/03/sony_punching_out_ps3s/

• Sony adds HDMI 1.3 port to 20GB PS3 (22 September 2006)

  http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/09/22/sony_20gb_ps3_hdmi/

• Sony delays PS3 (6 September 2006)

  http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/09/06/more_delays_for_sony_ps3/