Is there a performance difference between the two, or can that be validate at this time?
Having both, I will say that the 40Gb was faster.
Not by much, but about 2 ~ 5% faster.
Granted that was with the menu system, and BD playback, DVD playback, & general use that I am talking about (not gaming).
But yes, it was enough of a difference that I could tell that the 80Gb is slower.
Sadly I did not do a side-by-side, to prove this. Just the fact, I have had both, and personally saw a difference.
The internal clocks may be ~within 20Hz of each other, possibly accounting for the some of the difference I am seeing...
Although, from all gathered information, the 80Gb is alledged to be the one at ~20Hz faster.
From the info I gathered (and I have found incorrect), it was broken down per performance like this
60Gb about 5% faster than 80Gb
80Gb about 2 to 3% faster than 40Gb. Although, I can not confirm those, as I have never had a 60Gb version.
As well, yes it is very clear, that the hottest of the players is the 60Gb (as I have already posted), with the 80Gb a distant second and the 40Gb in third.
Clearly the smaller processor die, will make a difference in heat generated.
Granted, from the info I gathered, the 80Gb has switched to the 65nm process as well.
(however, this is still trying to be confirmed at MANY places, and only a trickle of reports have come in saying so... So take that with a grain of salt, ATM))