PS4 Hardware Specs Explained: Implications for PC Gaming & The Future

GamersNexus: "AMD's APUs have proliferated with ferocity over the past year or so; now making up about 75% of the company's total chip sales, AMD seems to be investing more seriously in what was previously considered a niche market. We don't suspect just APU sales could support a monolithic company like AMD (at least, not in its current form), but the recent launch of the PS4 and impending promise of an AMD APU-driven Steam Box and Xbox could mean good things for the company."

[Walker]

PS4 specs is really really beast !

Can't wait to see what naughty dog and santa monica will do with PlayStation 4 !

[wishingW3L]

an CPU/apu even with 8 cores is hardly a beast. Cell is still more powerful... But PS4 is supposed to have faster memory and GPU than the PS3.

[decrypt]

Any low end desktop X86 CPU >>>>> 8 Core Jaguar CPU (designed for mobile devices)

Nothing to be impressed about.

[BlmThug]

A closed system can make more use of the hardware than an open one with the same specs. A PC with the same specs as a PS3 is nothing special yet with the PS3, games like Uncharted, Heavy Rain and the Last of Us are possible. A PC with the same specs cannot produce the same level of graphics. Also 8GB of GDDR5 Ram!

[SAE]

You guys need to grow up and understand why people prefer consoles. It's not a war. It's just that they want to play not fixing then play like in pc. I for one prefer the pc for bringing new tech and because of the keyboard and mouse but Consoles have exclusives that pc doesn't provide so that's the main reason to play on console for me. Other people have other reasons and you have to accept that. We all wish if developers focused on pc to make better games and easier to play but that's not happening right now so get over it..

Comparing the tech between consoles and pc is like collecting trophies. It's just to show off. The main reason we play is for games not which one is better. That's why some people still play mario/ps1/ps2 games.. etc

I still want to play dark cloud and spyro even though they are old games. So gaming is not only about graphics and limitation. These things only evolve gaming

[kevnb]

Except most the time console gamers are ignorant about the PC. They come up with false reasons PC gaming sucks. The ps4 looks good to me so far, even if people over react to its power. Its certainly a big jump and the games didn't look all aliased and low performing. They also had way larger scale than we usually see, not these little tiny areas we see in the good looking console games of today.

[TopDudeMan]

Well, I mean, it'll be powerful enough. I think the main focus of this console is going to be making it fun and developer friendly, so that studios can do what they want with it.

And that will be good, not only for sony and the playstation brand, but also for gaming as a whole because more interesting games will come out, so even if you aren't planning on getting a PS4 or are not exactly amazed by the specs, you should be looking on at the release of the PS4 with at least some interest.

[fossilfern]

Lets not forget that Sony are giving developers a really low level access to the APU so the overhead is nowhere as big as a GPU using Direct X.

The APU may be nowhere near as powerful as any modern GPU on PCs but with the low TDP its achieving and the low level access developers have, its pretty impressive.

[ProjectVulcan]

The article makes all the usual points, like consoles with equivalent hardware to PC have more performance because of direct to metal access and fixed platform hardware.

Undeniably true.

BUT the key words there are 'equivalent hardware'.

Already any decent PC desktop quad is a lot faster than a Jaguar 8 core, and already the top end cards are a lot faster than PS4's GPU.

This is despite the fact we are probably at least 9 months from launch, possibly a year in other territories if it is staggered, and another year after it launches before developers really start to push the hardware. Gears of war/Uncharted came out a whole year after their respective platforms launched....

By that time PC hardware will have moved on a long way so that even modest gear easily deals with whatever ports come across to PC.

A totally new Intel x86 architecture is due in the summer which will be considerably faster than current parts, and before the end of the year we will have a bunch of refreshed GPU lineups. Noth these things means faster of course, but more importantly more power for less money.

Its no big deal for PC, it'll cope easier with the console transition than the previous one because of the greater hardware advantage held.

9 months before xbox 360 launched there was certainly no single GPU on the PC market as fast as what ended up in 360, let alone much faster parts being around. Not the same circumstances this time out, hardware advantage still lies with PC.

PC also gains with the consoles using x86, something we have not seen since the original Xbox. It'll be hugely helpful, considering one of the main problems in many PC games is CPU utilization and optimisation.

You build it for 6 or 7 threads on console and it'll move right across to a PC CPU, but just run faster!

[reynod]

@Vulcanproject

You make very valid points.

What people are not willing to understand, that for 600usd you could easily make a PC that will demolish the PS4 specs.

9 months from now the same 600usd will get you even better specs. PS4 specs arent improving thats a given, its probably set in stone now.

PS4 probably wont be selling less than 500usd for the top model.

So 500usd for a locked down PC(PS4) VS 600usd for a fully open machine that can be upgraded later. I would say the latter option easily wins.

Not to mention PC will virtually play every game you own on your current PC. The only arguement in the PS4s favor is the exclusives. Which really may be between 2-3 games a year (which people will really want to play not more than that, not every exclusive is liked by everyone.. Games arent good just because they are exclusive either).

The difference easily gets swayed in the PCs favor due to BC and cheaper games, anyone owning 100-200 games would always want their next machine to be able to play them, not having to rely on an old machine laying around.

So really its just 2-3 10 hours games a year that are to the PS4s advantage, no harm done PC has its own exclusives too.

[ProjectVulcan]

I'll want to play the console exclusives but even I realise that the best console exclusives rarely arrive at the machine's launch.

It usually takes a year or more before the machine has a nice selection of quality exclusive titles.

If you jump in to be early and see the next gen, then I would point out that PC can deliver next gen style visuals already.

When the console exclusives start to stack up after that first year I would be happy to get a new console, but I am in no rush right now.

I also predict that PC will get more of the show than ever, thanks to the hardware being so similar. Literally everyone making a game on PS4 and it seems the Next Xbox will be dealing with x86. Everyone will have to be experts with it including every console developer.

This is fantastic news for the long term future of PC gaming.

[dcbronco]

PC fans are missing the point of APUs. They put way to much stock in the ability of the current APUs like Trinity. If that was the final design for APUs they would have a point. But it isn't even close. Jaguar cores and GCN are very different from anything on the market right now. So there are no equivalents to compare. Add that consoles are closed and the OSs will actually be designed to take advantage of the architecture and it adds up to a huge difference.

PC gamers also ignore the fact that Intel tried to do the very thing AMD is doing with Fusion. Because they know it is the future of computing. Larrabee was an attempt at heterogeneous systems architecture. They failed at it. The Cell was the same thing. But it should get your attention that everyone is trying it.

Microsoft, Sony and Nintendo all looked at IBM, ARM, AMD and Intel to decide on their next console chips. Everyone chose AMD. There is a reason for that. Billionaires are dumping all of their Intel stock.

http://www.csmonitor.com/Bu...

There is a reason for that(there are others). They all know AMD is on the verge of breakthrough with HSA. And they will become the new Chipzilla. Tablets are taking over and APUs will be better for Tablets. Obviously they are better for consoles too. Stop making judgments based on the past. Technology doesn't stand still.

And just look at the difference between gameplay on the PS4 compared to gameplay on the current consoles and think back to the difference between the current consoles and their predecessors. We were told the real difference would come in the second and third generation of games this cycle. The PS4 difference is immediate. Wait till they really learn to use the new consoles.

[Computersaysno]

APUs are of particular interest to console because they combine simplicity with power and cost efficiency. They are also excellent for a huge percentage of the people who use PC for work, or browsing or office for similar reasons.

They aren't that interesting for core PC gamers right now though. Thats cos discrete hardware will be faster and it will stay that way for years n years. The disads of having discrete is that it is more expensive and less power efficient. Two disads that havent bothered PC gamers for decades.

Discrete is easier to upgrade right now and just faster. It will be faster for ages because of simple die size limitations.

CPU + GPU on the same die means neither can ever be as large and therefore as fast as a CPU or a GPU on separate dies- even considering the efficiency gains by being on the same die. PC buses keep up just fine for the moment.

Look at PCI express 3 which is still fairly new getting to market. It massively reduces the encoding overhead of the bus and guarantees another long future of ample bandwidth for discrete GPUs. PCI express 4 will be certified within another 2 years. Maybe tip up in 3. Discrete is going NOWHERE.

APU makes perfect sense for consoles then and great sense for mass market personal computers. Still not too relvant for PC gaming anytime soon.

Also dcbronco if you are trying to pretend that never before ps4 arrived games have looked like a leap at launch then you are mad. Many launch games from all the previous gens were a decent improvement.

In my opinion what I seen of the Ps4 demos they are less of a leap than what we got from other gens. It will be some time before devs get properly to grips with the new console hardware- same as always.

[dcbronco]

GPUs and CPUs are not used the way they will be used in the future. APUs are designed the way they are because they are moving toward HSA. Most programs don't take advantage of a HSA architecture because no one has a true HSA system. But APUs are moving toward that. Jaguar is another step toward that. GCN next is another step toward that.

PC gamers are looking at things from the standpoint that the way the parts will be used and the way software will be made are going to remain the same. They are not. The more transistors model is running out of steam. GPUs and CPUs working as one part is the future. Doing the task that fit each part best. And the software will follow that direction.

Computersaysno are you saying things are going to remain the way they are and things will continue to advance or do you believe HSA is the direction things are moving. Intel, IBM, Microsoft, Sony, ARM and AMD all seem to think HSA is the way of the future. And APUs work best for that environment.

http://www.marketwire.com/p...

PC gamers are looking at what is now instead of what will be in the next five years. This won't be a debate in 5 years. The PC will move past console gaming again, but it will take a couple of years. And gaming PCs will move toward HSA and APUs.

[Computersaysno]

But who cares right now dcbronco?

Technology moves on but the Ps4 hardware is now virtually set in stone. Are you trying to talk about what Ps4 is and will be this year, or what the future of APUs are for computer technology in 3 or 4 years?

It sounds more like you are trying to give a lecture on computing hardware for maybe 3 or 4 years from now, which bears no relevance to Ps4 now or even in the future.

Ps4 is fixed, and APU technology gains in THE FUTURE and all this HSA talk blah blah has nothing to do with what Ps4 will be in 3 years.

PS4 will be same basic hardware in 2017 as it was when it was launched in 2013, years before.

All that matters is that Ps4 is still an early large APU design which discrete PC hardware will have no problems outperforming and overpowering because it seemingly has before the machine even gets here!

It wont take a couple years to surpass the hardware performance, it already happened. It is just a case of getting so far ahead like PC does so that console fixed platform advantages are mostly wiped out. That will happen by the time the consoles even get properly exploited.

Banging on about the distant future of Pc hardware with regards APUs is pretty pointless when its about what PC is now and the very near future, versus what Ps4 will be for all its life.

[dcbronco]

You're missing my point. Look up the design of the Jaguar cores. Look at what AMD is doing with them and the GCN architecture. The point is the Jaguar cores and GCN are what will appear on computers later this year or sometime next year. The PS4 and Xbox are getting the technology first. Just like Unified Shader architecture. Consoles will set the standard that PC parts will follow.

These consoles will be or will be the closest thing to full HSA available in the home market when they are released. So these consoles will contain a lot of the technology PCs will be moving to. But they haven't done it yet. That's why it matters.

Let me add. Full HSA is several times more powerful than todays computers. Many experts believe ten time as powerful.

[Computersaysno]

Your point about future PC hardware is no point at all in terms of relevance to what Ps4 is today and will be in 3 or 4 years.

All PS4 is getting is two tiny Jaguar quad core CPUs welded together, dumped on a die next to a GPU with modern architecture with interconnect, neither component of which will set the world alight.

PC already has the fusion/APU concept for years.

PS4 is merely another step, an extension by adding fairly significant GPU power on the scale not seen on PC before.

Mainly not seen in Pc gaming because as I said before, ITS CRAP FOR PC GAMERS. Fixed hardware aka APU is slower than separate high end discrete chips and not easily upgradeable. Fine for consoles and great for other Pc users and laptops, not much good for core PC gamers with desktops.

Wow so you got a CPU + GPU fixed on a combined die with lets say 3 billion transistors. I can have a CPU thats nearly 2 billion BY ITSELF, and a GPU thats 7 billion BY ITSELF. I can also swap both these out for faster models at a slightly later date individually as I please. Guess what option Pc gamers want?

This by no means whatsoever is new, amazing, super powered, impossible on PC, or a major threat to discrete hardware at this point in time nor in the near future when PS4 launches.

Unified architecture came first in 360, very new and basic, then came later in vastly better and more powerful discrete hardware for example. 8800GTX says hi.

I don't get your point.

PS4 has a good, modern APU. So?

PC has much faster discrete hardware now, and will have even better, faster discrete hardware by the time Ps4 launches.

Would you like to go on again about APUs in 3 years? Feel free, but it isn't particularly useful to the discussion about Ps4 which will be the exact same basic hardware in 5 years as it is when it launches.

Nor are Pc gamers giving up discrete hardware anytime soon for the reasons I have now stated multiple times.

Like I predicted.

Your next reply will be all about future PC computing hardware and nothing to do with discrete hardware PC gamers will still be more interested in, nor much about Ps4.

If you want to lecture on the future of computing hardware dcbronco with minimal relevance to PS4 or discrete gaming hardware then you should probably find a more relevant topic to do it in!

Cos talking about something basically irrelevant for the comparison of Ps4 and much more powerful discrete Pc hardware in this topic is....pointless.

Throwing about HSA jargon as if it means PS4 will suddenly be much more powerful than hugely superior discrete hardware is hilarious.

[dcbronco]

HSA is the future of computing? It is better than the hardware available now. APUs work better for HSA. You keep comparing Jaguar to current APU cores. Trinity cores(Piledriver) aren't as good as the Jaguar cores. With each new core AMD adds more of the features that will make HSA work. Jaguar cores haven't been released yet so you and me don't know what they are capable of. But you assume that they will be as weak as Piledriver because Piledriver wasn't that good. That terrible logic.

I think the problem is that you believe computers will just continue to add transistors and become more and more powerful. No of the experts I've read seem to thing that's true. They believe a new architecture will have to be developed. And most seem to think HSA architecture is the one that will be the next evolution of architecture.

Jaguar is as close as mass market has come to that. So you believe computing will stay the same and I believe architecture will change drastically. Jaguar core are that move toward the drastic change. And they will be inside the PS4 and 720 before they appear in PCs. PCs will pass them in a couple of years, but when they launch, they will be the best machines short of someone spending thousands to beat one.

If these machines have enough HSA ability, they will be better than a gaming PC. Let's agree to disagree and re-visit this in November.

[5yN4MWQU]

I would call them expected. The x86 architecture and increased memory bandwidth / FPU data-path is promising for PC gaming, though, if only because it more closely resembles a traditional desktop, so ported games should run with a bit more finesse.

[runqvist]

Beast? My pc is better than that and it is not even top of the line.

Also for the GDDR5 part. According to PS3 announcement, ps3 has full ps2 backwards compability. Wait, what?

[CGI-Quality]

And the PS3 launched with BC. Thus, you made no point. -_-

[jerethdagryphon]

the 60 gig ps3s from usa at launch had hardware ps3 backwards compatability. meaning gpu/cpu from ps2 on board

the eu 60 gig had hybrid back compat meaning just the gpu was on board cpu was emulated

this was removed during a price cut option.

and props to uncharted explorer, well said

we know your elite pcs are far superior to anything but WE DONT CARE. we chose consoles for other reasons then graphics. maybe it was budget or maybe we wanted something we wouldn't have to upgrade, fix, rebuild, spend money on often,

so stop gloating or commenting on how weak ps4 is to your 20 core 50 gig uber rig. its getting annoying

for the record my own pc is a 6 core amd with 32 gb ram and dual 5770s i use it for web browsing and cgi stuff.

[UnholyLight]

Why is Walker being downvoted so much lol

Microsoft guy this gen here, saying I am REALLY excited for the PS4. Even if you hate Sony (which I DONT), at least realize that the stiff competition they are about to put up will help motivate the other companies to try and compete and bring out their own big guns...

[SaturdayNightBeaver]

How can so many people be so stupid.. PC is not meant for gaming at first.. and PS4 and all other consoles are made for gaming exclusively so.. On my pc i can play games i can make music i can emulate older consoles. And on PS4 or XBOX u can only play games and normally u can listen to music and movies..

[cleverusername]

I don't care how unimpressed PC fanboys claim to be with PS4 specs! I'm hyped for it and I'm going to have fun on mine!

[cleverusername]

There it is right there ^^ Disagrees because I buy what I want and game to have fun!! Other people obviously DON'T buy what they want OR game for fun!! Must have to get whatever their parents will choose and buy them!

[Ticklez]

Not everyone is going to agree because people don't all agree on everything. You could win a million dollars tomorrow and not everyone will agree that you should have won it... Why? The world is corrupt and confused. If you don't agree, you disagree. Lol

[JAMurida]

It's like 3 disagrees and you act like the entire site is pissed at the guy. Why do you guys even care so deeply about disagrees/agrees when it is basically an opinion. It's almost like the people on Reddit that trip over a down vote or two and write an essay on why they shouldn't have been down voted, lol.

[Aceman18]

@clever

absolutely agree with you 150%

i'm hyped myself and can't wait to see what it does.

[shutUpAndTakeMyMoney]

Indeed ps4 will be awsome.. Though I would say being a pc fanboy makes more sense than being a sony or MS fanboy.

Why would you not be a fanboy of your own creation?

[kutocer]

I'm a PC gamer always was and always will be but have owned consoles over the years. When I found out Fifa and Rocksmith were on PC I sold my PS3 and said I would give up all together on consoles but after watching the PS4 announcement I'm stoked and am looking at buying another console.

[Anzil]

have all! play all!

[BanBrother]

The reason I use to define whether the PS4 is a 'beast' or not is that the rumoured specs were said to be quite good, as the GDDR5 RAM is quite fast and effective for video/graphics. The fact that Sony doubled the amount says to me that this console will be quite powerful.

Besides, we already know it is a beast just by going off of the Killzone Shadow Fall game (It was completely in-game btw, as it was even played on Jimmy Fallon).

Not being a fanboy or anything, but this is an honest question to all PC players;
How much would I have to pay to be able to play something as good looking as Killzone Shadow Fall on PC? Keeping in mind this is early footage and a Killzone in the future life of the console will likely blow it away?

@Bladefist
"We have no idea what the PS4 will cost so it is very hard to answer your question."

That is why I was asking how much it would cost to play something that good looking "on PC". SMH

[Bladesfist]

How much will you have to pay to play Killzone Shadow Fall. We have no idea what the PS4 will cost so it is very hard to answer your question.

[JAMurida]

I see where you are getting at, I'm no tech expert, but with the way pricing and all is now, it would probably cost around $600-$800, (if you don't include the monitor(s) and Windows OS), maybe to get a PC right now that can run something similar to that Killzone demo. Like I said, I'm probably off in the pricing, but just a quick guess.

That article was a good read and basically explained the whole fixed system vs open system thing. I would say that's the only reason PS4 games will look better, if not the same, as current PC tech. Give the first party Sony studios like a year or two once the PS4 is released and you'll see what I mean.

Also, I always say, I REALLY hope Sony's PS4 will support the ability to take full advantage of an SSD, (I think SATA 3 is needed in order to achieve this, though probably wrong). They mention that in the article, and I agree as well that it would greatly enhance the overall performance of the PS4. Sony would be fools to overlook SSD.

[jerethdagryphon]

8 core cpu 143£
ram 8 gig 40
motherboard 75
gpu 180 for a 7870
40 for hard drive
40 for bluray for spec matching

560£ from aria technology

[Anzil]

thank you!

[ATi_Elite]

The Cell was a nice chip but IBM, Sony, and Toshiba all have CANCELED it!

So if the 3 corporations who CREATED the Cell have turned their backs on it and killed it off then it's time for some of you fanboys to GET OVER IT! The Cell R.I.P!

now on to the PS4PC

I like the specs and system set-up. Because of the the wattage caps the PS4PC is basically a Laptop PC but with unified 8GB GDD5 Ram.

Kids running around like "8GB unified Ram is so GREAT".....Shut-up as you don't know what your talking about!

1. the PS4PC will be Powerful and very capable and this I guarantee but

2. A GPU having to share Ram with a CPU is NEVER a good thing. A GPU works faster than a CPU therefore it's utilizing Ram at faster pace than the CPU so the Devs are gonna have to slow down the GPU to match the speed of the CPU so everything is fluid.

OR Devs will just cut out 1GB ram for the CPU thus allowing the GPU to have 7GB of dedicated Ram for itself or whatever.

It's always best that a CPU and GPU have their OWN ram so either chip doesn't have to wait to utilize the ram during intensive functions

3. But since the PS4PC is basically a gaming machine and will not Encode Video, Burn Cd/dvd, do Auto Cad, or run intensive programs then it's set-up is very good!

Sony has hinted on Multi-tasking but it all seems very limited at this point. Nothing major like what a PC does!

4. Devs will be able to Optimize to the max on the PS4PC and really pump out High Graphical Games that will rival and SURPASS the PC "There I said It"!......well Until Ray Tracing hits the PC!

the PS4PC will Not surpass High Texture Graphic Mods on the PC

5. My only concern is with all this POWER and CAPABILITIES will console Devs continue with the same 15 hour Linear Games or will they take advantage of the PS4PC and create HUGE worlds with advance A.I. and Let Gamers decide what goes on in those worlds like how Us PC Gamers have in our Games.

anyway looking forward to the future as always while enjoying some it Now!

[crorasta1982]

The PS4 is a SoC (System on a chip) design based off a modified APU (Accelerated Processing Unit). This is actually really brilliant and exciting stuff. APU’s show a great deal of promise in changing the PC landscape as much as GPU’s did when they were brought onto the scene. By putting the CPU and GPU onto a single die along with things like HSA creates a host of benefits that have yet to be exploited. Information can travel much quicker than over traditional buses like PCI Express (which almost eliminates bottlenecking in a system), the CPU and GPU work cooperatively directly in the system memory (this means the CPU’s time is better managed by offloading tasks that are better suited for GPGPU algorithms), and there is substantially less latency across the system.

[ATi_Elite]

GamersNexus: "AMD's APUs have proliferated with ferocity over the past year or so

LMAO! what a Joke! AMD APU's haven't DONE SQUAT in the marketplace! No one is using them except Next Gen Consoles

Nvidia's Tegra and Intel's dominate the market. AMD does have a strong showing in Laptops but it's their mobile chips, NOT APU's that's selling well.

AMD is a Friggin JOKE in the CPU Market now a days but I guess since they stuck one in the PS4 then all of a sudden they are Godly, LMAO!

AMD makes great chips but they are a finger snap in the Market that Intel DOMINATES as far as Sales and Performance! AMD GPU's are neck and neck with Nvidia!

http://www.investorvillage....

http://hothardware.com/News...

APU's are only good for saving Watts on low power systems like CONSOLES, TABLETS, and Cellphones!

if your not Watt Capped then you always want your CPU and GPU to have their OWN Ram!

[5yN4MWQU]

I provided a source for that first statement. APUs make up 75% of AMD's total CPU sales. I'd call that fairly impacting. Though I do appreciate your ability to take quotes out-of-context and not provide the full sentence. Clearly you're not trying to shape things artificially in your favor.

[aliengmr]

I'm actually kind of excited for the PS4, even though I don't plan on getting one.

Ports might end up being much better. I hope anyway.

[hellvaguy]

Yes definitely x86 processor and all consoles using Dx11 should benefit every multiplatform game.

[majedx9]

PC gamers = full nerds
ps3/360 gamers = 1/2 nerds,cool guys and girls.

"never go full nerd"

[A2X_]

You just went full retard instead.

[hellvaguy]

Let's be realistic here with the Ps4 specs. They are very solid, but not even close to a mid or high end pc. I mean the processor is an laptop-like energy saving cpu. The ram on the other hand, is blazing fast.

With optimization, I think the ps4 (at 1080p, obviously not higher), could look like a high end pc.

The error I see disllusional fanboys claim is awesome we get a high end pc for $400. Then when you point out it isnt, they backtrack and use the catch words: game experiences and we dont care about graphics. (if you didnt care about graphics, then just buy a ps1).

[N311V]

No shit you can build a more powerful PC, we don't care.

You should be pleased with the PS4 specs. Now that the architectures are more similar it's more likely that developers will be able to give you the enhancements you've paid a lot of money to get because porting wont cost developers as much. I also expect pretty much all multiplatform console games will also arrive on PC next gen, no more missing out.

Stop with the petty spec comparison and look at the bigger picture.

[pissed999]

Pc gaming is the future. Hell, Ps4 is a pc. Pc won the war years after everyone declaired it dead. Console suckers.