Here is a console comparison from IGN. Enjoy, hate, and debate. 

The console wars continue to rage on. Ever since the PlayStation 3 arrived on the market to challenge the Xbox 360 in 2006, gamers have argued about the merits of each system. Even as console-exclusive game titles have become less and less common, gamers remain convinced that their system of choice is the superior one. 

We've decided to examine the war from a technical perspective, comparing which system sports more power under the hood and which offers a superior set of features. We've broken the console war into ten technical categories, including CPU, GPU, hard drives and so on. 

In the end, only one system can emerge victorious. 

This throwdown is based on the most recent versions of both consoles – the 'Slim' variations of both the Xbox 360 and the PlayStation 3, disregarding previous feature sets. 

Note – Gigaflop performance numbers determined by Forbes.com 

The verdict: The processors for the Xbox and PS3 are unique enough in their respective architectures that it can be difficult to make direct comparisons. However, the numbers don't lie. 

The two CPU chips run at the same GHz speed, but the PS3's seven individual cores beat out the Xbox's three dual-threaded cores. And in terms of performance measured in gigaflops, the PS3 tops out at nearly three times that of the Xbox. 

Interestingly, the new combined CPU/GPU chip used in the new Xbox 360 is theoretically faster than the individual chips in older models. But in order to ensure proper functionality, Microsoft was forced to install a "frontside bus replacement block" that introduces latency and forces the chip to run at the same speed as the older model. This new combined chip may edge out the PS3's CPU in terms of reliability and temperature control, but no long term tests have been performed yet. 

Winner: PlayStation 3 

The verdict: Both the Xbox 360 and PS3 rely on custom-designed graphics cards. The Xbox's Xenos card features more video RAM, but this RAM is shared with the console's system RAM. The PS3 has 256 MB of dedicated video RAM in addition to being able to share up to an additional 224 MB from the system RAM. 

In terms of bandwidth, the PS3 slightly edges out the Xbox. However, the Xbox has the advantage of 10 MB of eDRAM. When relying on the eDRAM, system bandwidth jumps up to 256 GBps. 

Ultimately, while the PS3 GPU shows higher general performance numbers, we're inclined to give this category to the Xbox based on the peak performance of the eDRAM and the general versatility of this setup. 

Winner: Xbox 360 

The verdict: Once again, the Xbox's total amount of RAM is slightly misleading, as the system RAM and video RAM are shared. The PS3's XDR RAM is also far more fast and efficient than the Xbox's GDDR3 RAM, running at a speed of 3.2 GHz compared to 700 MHz. 

Final bandwidth numbers prove PS3 is the victor in this category. 

Winner: PlayStation 3 

The verdict: One of the changes made to the Xbox 360 'Slim' is that arcade models now include a 4 GB SSD drive for data storage rather than requiring gamers to rely on memory units. With the PS3, a hard drive is included in both models. The HDD units in both consoles are largely similar, both running at 400 rpm and now offering several hundred GB of storage. The high-end PS3 models offers a 320 GB HDD compared to the Xbox's 250 GB version. 

However, the PS3's true advantage is its support of standard 2.5" SATA notebook hard drives. Users can upgrade the PS3's hard drive with drives that have higher capacities and faster rpm speeds, while the Xbox only supports Microsoft's proprietary HDD model. 

Winner: PlayStation 3 

The verdict: The Xbox and PS3 have their own advantages when it comes to disc drives. The Xbox has a significantly higher DVD read speed than the PS3. Comparing the Xbox's DVD read speed to the PS3's Blu-ray read speed, the Xbox maxes out at 15.85 MBps on a single-layer disc while the PS3's maximum is 9 MBps. However, the difference in speed is reduced when the Xbox reads dual-layer discs. 

While the PS3's disc drive runs somewhat slower than the Xbox's, it does offer the significantly higher storage capacity that comes with Blu-ray. Current PS3 discs have 25 GB to offer, and a new dual layer format is in the works that may increase this number to 33.4 GB. For most gamers, this storage boost will be far more important than read speed. 

Winner: PlayStation 3 

The verdict: With both the current models of both consoles now including standard HDMI ports, the Xbox and PS3 are largely comparable when it comes to video connections. The PS3 outclasses the Xbox in terms of maximum resolution. 

While the Xbox's menu screens support 1080p display, Microsoft only requires its games to support 720p. The PS3 features a significant number of games that support 1080p. That's to say nothing of the PS3's support for Blu-ray movies and the growing focus on 3D gaming. 

Winner: PlayStation 3 

The verdict: For gamers relaying on analog sound connections, the Xbox has the advantage of offering Dolby Pro-Logic II in addition to standard stereo. But for those with digital connections, the PS3 wins the day by offering both 5.1 Dolby Digital surround and 7.1 LPCM surround. 

Winner: PlayStation 3 

The verdict: The current PS3 Slim has two USB ports compared to the Xbox's three. Additionally, Sony has removed the Compact Flash and SD card support seen in older models while the Xbox offers support for memory units that can transfer game data and saves. 

Despite these advantages on the Xbox, the PS3 still emerges victorious in this category thanks to its support for Bluetooth 2.0. 

Winner: PlayStation 3 

The verdict: When it comes to network capabilities, gamers need to ask themselves whether they intend to rely on a wired ethernet connection or wireless. The PS3's ethernet port is significantly faster at a capacity of 1 Gbps. Both consoles now include built-in wifi support. However, the Xbox 360 'Slim' supports 802.11n technology, while the PS3's adapter only supports up to 802.11g. 

Given the increasing prevalence of wireless Internet, the Xbox has the larger advantage here. 

Winner: Xbox 360 

The verdict: Gamers hoping to rely on current consoles for backward compatibility will find that neither the Xbox 360 nor the PS3 offer full support for past systems. The 360 supports a significant portion of the original Xbox catalog. However, because the 360 relies on software emulation, performance can be spotty and unreliable at times. The PS3 supports original PlayStation games via hardware emulation, resulting in far fewer technical problems. 

Unfortunately, while early PS3 models offered software emulation for PS2 games, newer models do not. The Xbox carries this category thanks to its support for a larger percentage of the Xbox's back catalog. 

Winner: Xbox 360 

The final winner of the tech throwdown is the PlayStation 3, capturing seven of the overall categories. Once again, both systems have their own unique strengths. But from a technical standpoint, the PS3 has more horsepower and support for a wider range of high resolution video and audio. But despite being a year older, the Xbox remains surprisingly competitive in some areas. 

In the end, what matters is how developers and publishers choose to take advantage of each console.

Source: http://gear.ign.com/articles/111/1116182p1.html

Oh boy, this is some flame-bait. In the end, it all comes down to opinions so like whatever console you prefer. It doesn't really matter in the end anyway. 

Uh, from a technical perspective... my PS3  is backwards compatible with many, many more games than any XBOX. Albeit they're PS1 games.

I think there should have been some categories categorised draw, and some categories that should have been added like accessibility of the system from a developers architecture.  Still, I think the end result was accurate, even if not produced through an entirely accurate system. 

The end result isn't too bad but some categories had pretty... interesting choices.

We get it... the PS3 is vastly superior technically. But Halo rules all technically capabilities.

LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sooooo, kinda related: if PS3 wins in the RAM category does that mean that because S-E is having a hard time getting PS3 to cope with FF XIV they would have as hard or harder time with the 360?

I didn't think IGN needs clicks so much these days.

But anyway: Tech-talk is not my cup of tea. I like some things in the PS3 and some in the Xbox 360. And I am not a graphic-fanatic, but I want my games to look good. Artstyle is more important than the number of pixels. Perfect examples: LBP and Fable. Both are not visually impressive in a traditional way, but it just works for these kinds of games.

And I thought the Xbox 360 would have 5 USB ports now.
And wow @ PS3s 1GBps ethernet. Okay, nobody needs this but still wow

Awesome picture perfectly describing what has to be said. :)

People are still acting like wii doesn't exist. It should be included in these. BIAS!

I figured that a console released in 2006 for $600 would be less powerful than a console released in 2005 for $400.  Isn't that how it works?  Technology gets weaker as time goes on?