Original URL: http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/11/21/analyst_dissects_nintendo_wii/
Market watcher Semiconductor Insights has taken Nintendo's Wii to bits - a little more carefully, we presume, than the sledgehammer-wielding Canadians (http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/11/21/men_smash_nintendo_wii/) - to expose the next-generation console's internal workings. Handily, it filmed the process.
SI's investigation revealed IBM's custom PowerPC processor codenamed 'Broadway' and the ATI - now AMD - graphics chip dubbed 'Hollywood'. No secret there - Nintendo announced the presence of these chips ages ago.
However, SI also found Broadcom chippery behind the console's Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and sensor components. The console also contains Qimonda - née Infineon - GDDR 3 graphics memory, 512MB of Samsung NAND Flash and 2MB of Elpida SDRAM.
And you can take part vicariously in the pleasures of console dissection by clicking on the movie link below:
Website Inform.it has also taken the Wii apart, piece by piece, with a full write-up here (http://www.informit.com/articles/article.asp?p=677908&rl=1?www.reghardware.co.uk). Popular Science has had a go too (http://www.popsci.com/popsci/whatsnew/2526081bfbcfe010vgnvcm1000004eecbccdrcrd.html?www.reghardware.co.uk).
Last week, researcher iSuppli disassembled Sony's PlayStation 3 to reveal its true cost of manufacture (http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/11/16/isuppli_prices_up_ps3/): $840.
Sony buddies up with Qimonda (3 October 2007)
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/10/03/sony_qimonda_dram_qreatic_team/
Nintendo said to profit on Wii production (18 December 2006)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/12/18/nintendo_wii_profit_on_production/
Nintendo offers weak-of-grip fresh Wii wrist-straps (15 December 2006)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/12/15/nintendo_free_wii_straps/
Nintendo Wii launch breaks UK record (12 December 2006)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/12/12/wii_uk_sales_record/
Nintendo sued over alleged Wii Remote patent violation (11 December 2006)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/12/11/nintendo_sued_over_wii_remote/
Retailers warn Nintendo Wii pre-orders may arrive late (7 December 2006)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/12/07/nintendo_cuts_uk_wii_allocation_claim/
Nintendo Wii starting to ship to UK buyers? (4 December 2006)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/12/04/wii_debuts_in_japan/
North Americans buy 600,000 Wiis in first week (28 November 2006)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/11/28/nintendo_eight-day_wii_sales/
Nintendo Wii given sledgehammer treatment (21 November 2006)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/11/21/men_smash_nintendo_wii/
Man buys PS3, smashes it with sledgehammer (20 November 2006)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/11/20/canadians_smash_ps3/
Nintendo to ship DS Lite MP3 player on Wii day (20 November 2006)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/11/20/nintendo_unveils_ds_mp3_player/
Linux-running PS3 offered on eBay (20 November 2006)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/11/20/linux_ps3_offered_on_ebay/
Sony PS3 'costs at least $805-840' to make (16 November 2006)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/11/16/isuppli_prices_up_ps3/
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/