“Mind boggles” at what is possible with PS4 – Codemasters

"We recently interviewed Iain Smith, Producer of GRID 2, and asked him several questions about the game mechanics and how the game will be different from the previous one. We also managed to ask him about his thoughts on next generation consoles and whether PlayStation 4′s 8GB GDDR5 RAM will help future racing games or not."

[Arai]

"PlayStation 4′s 8GB DDR5 RAM".... /facepalm.

DDR5 = not GDDR5...come on at least know what you're talking/writing about.

[gamernova]

Lol believe it or not, there are a lot of noobs out there that believe it is ddr5 and not gddr5. A lot of people do not even know what shared memory is lmao

[3-4-5]

Not funny...interesting but not funny.

[shutUpAndTakeMyMoney]

8gb ddr3 faster.
8gb gddr6 slower but more bandwidth.

ddr4 and gddr6 coming in 2014 = ? idk yet.

[gamernova]

It's funny when you have dealt with the amount of tech ignorance I have dealt with. If I do not laugh at the noobs then I would driven insane by all the stupidity.

[Ritsujun]

Biebers.

[lace]

ShutUp has the right idea, but kind of a shallow way of looking at the differences between the different types of ram. I'm no expert but I'll give you a break down of what I've learned.

DDR3 has a faster latency, but is negligible at the speeds both ram are performing. When it comes to video games you need multiple items simultaneously it's preferred to have GDDR5. GPU's make use of this type of ram specifically for this reason. Also mentioned, makes it very useful for open world games where streaming large textures is important. This benefit allows the opportunity to increase texture resolution, and results in better image clarity. No need to produce muddy textures that are seen commonly in current gen games.

Finally, GDDR5 can increase FPS compared to using DDR3. If the GPU is waiting on memory from the ram it idles which can result in frame drops. Having a large bandwidth can reduce this problem.

[dantesparda]

Well said lace! Now if only half these fanboys could understand this

[princejb134]

So your laughing at those because your are a nerd and their not smh

[kayoss]

@lace and @dantesparta
What I got from you,
DDR3 make games run nice but GDDR5 make games run even nicer.... Blank stare at tv

[Transporter47]

DDR5 = Ram
GDDR5 = Graphics Crad

[sourav93]

DDR5 and GDDR5 are both forms of Random-Access Memory a.k.a RAM. However, GDDR5 is mainly used for Graphics Cards as their high bandwidth is useful for high end graphics cards. However, the PS4 will be using the GGR5 memory both graphics as well as other tasks, so saying that the PS4 has GDDR5 RAM is NOT wrong.

[GDDR6_2014]

So you think GDDR5 is graphics version of DDR5? No it's based on DDR3

DDR5 doesn't exist. DDR4 is coming later this year

[Transporter47]

Btw i was just stating the fact that you use both of those in those locations

[kaozgamer]

GDDR5 is version of DDR3 that is optimized for graphics. DDR5 does not exist yet

[jimmywolf]

@sourav93 thank you for the post people hate ignorance but do little too educate them

[iPad]

Since we're talking about RAM, what does RAM actually do for gaming? Less screen tearing? More consistent frame rate? faster loading times?

I'm a RAM-noob.

[GalacticEmpire]

It should reduce load times, smooth out framerate peaks and reduce texture 'pop in'.

The PS4 has been confirmed to use the RAM to store the state of games so you can jump right back in where you left off, even after turning your PS4 off.

[Bobertt]

You will be able to run more things at the same time or do more of certain things that take a lot of RAM like the physics of the games. For example sony said the reason they didn't add cross game chat after is because they didn't have enough RAM.

[delboy]

No it won't help with frame rate, or screen tearing, those are mainly gpu and cpu problems.
The overkill in ram amount in ps4(my opinion) can only help with more texture variety but why not use id tech 5 (tech 5/6 is the future) with ssd hdd(could be cheaper option than 8gig of ram)
also it will be used to store texture assets and will lower loading times that way.
Open world games would benefit from it also.
Physics is a cpu think to, but it can be handled by gpgpu, again nothing to do with ram amount, it takes just couple of mb.
Sony boys, I now you like to brag about tech power, but learn something, in the end it's your hobby.
I would be ashamed if I would pursue a hobby for a decade or two and not knowing more about it ;-)

Maybe with 8gig of ram Codmasters can make cockpit view in grid 3. /s

[Ingram]

I can't believe people are disagreeing with delboy, are you guys THAT dense?

[MoonConquistador]

@Ingram maybe the disagrees are for the statement delboy made at the end rather than the all the techy crap he decided to educate us with.

Why should a console owner be ashamed of not knowing the inner workings of RAM modules or the differences in type, that's more a PC field.

I'd be more ashamed coming on to a site with such a superiority complex that I felt I had to talk down to people.

Sometimes its not just what you say, its the way that its said

[RyuCloudStrife]

So where in the article does it say DDR5? I don't see it, if it was there would you consider a typo since its only missing the G.

Its cool everybody strides to sound/look smart on the Internet.

[Arai]

"We also managed to ask him about his thoughts on next generation consoles and whether PlayStation 4′s 8GB DDR5 RAM will help future racing games or not."

After I made the first comment the submitter changed it, though originally he also wrote DDR5.

And that does not look like a typo to me, the mistake is in the original article.
It's not the first time I see "journalists" believe that GDDR5 and DDR5 are the same.

I only mention it so false information won't spread.

[ijust2good]

DDR4 2014
GDDR6 2014/2015

[3-4-5]

So how is some RAM sold as DDR5 if it doesn't exist yet ?

curious to know...still

[Hicken]

Given that, apparently, DDR5 doesn't exist, shouldn't it be rather understood that any mention of it refers to GDDR5 instead?

I can understand differentiating when and if DDR5 does indeed come to be, but until then, I'm seriously not grasping why it's a big deal.

[marcberry]

This is from the HD7790 but the math concept will work on all AMD GCN chip sets and yes XBOX AND PS4.
NOTE: Do not use Line(3) for XBOX AND PS4 not the same SIMDS.

1.Line(2) Divide 896 by 14 = 64 Threads
2.Line(2) 14 Compute Units x 64 Threads = 896 Stream Processors
3.Line(2) 896 Stream Processors x Line(1)1000MHz = 896000
4.Use 896000 x line(3) 2 = 1.79TFsp
http://www.amd.com/us/produ...

(1)1000MHz Engine Clock
1GB GDDR5 Memory
1500MHz Memory Clock (6.0 Gbps GDDR5)
96GB/s memory bandwidth (maximum)
1.79 TFLOPS Single Precision compute power
GCN Architecture

(2) 14 Compute Units (896 Stream Processors) or SIMDs
56 Texture Units
64 Z/Stencil ROP Units
16 Color ROP Units
(3) Dual Geometry Engines

One more, the XBOX NEXT: Vgleaks " A SIMD executes a vector instruction on 64 threads at once in lockstep "

4 SIMDs per SC or CU x 64 Threads = 256 Threads
12 SC or CU x 256 Threads = 3072 (Stream Processors) x
800MHz = 2.4TFsp

Last one, the PS4: Vgleaks "-ALU(32 64-bit operations per cycle)"

4 SIMDs per SC or CU x 32 Threads = 128 Threads
18 SC or CU x 128 Threads = 2304 (Stream Processors) x
800MHz = 1.8TFsp same as SONY spec.

The MATH is undeniable !!!!!!

[MysticStrummer]

Hopefully they'll make another attempt at an Operation Flashpoint on PS4. I enjoyed Dragon Rising, but the tech was clearly not quite there on consoles to make that game what it could be.

[bunt-custardly]

Cool game but not enough consumer support to flesh out a new game. But here's hoping.

[MysticStrummer]

Yeah that's probably true. I just want something like that on PS4. More realistic as opposed to the Rambo-like FPS that has become too common. Battlefield 3 could have been like that, but DICE is too concerned with catching Call of Duty. SOCOM wasn't SOCOM, also because of CoD. *shakes fist at CoD fans*

[irepbtown]

I'll have to say, Socom Confrontation was surprisingly good (still play it now). Socom 4 was a huge let down :(

I really want to see a Socom on PS4. Imagine what could be done :O

[Irishguy95]

Arma 3 is coming out soon/ Codemasters bought the rights to Operation flashpoint and cannot bring it up to the standards the original devs can(ie the Arma devs)

[MysticStrummer]

That's cool, but unless it comes to consoles I'll never play it. PC gaming doesn't do much for me in general.

[SilentNegotiator]

CodeDisasters will find a way to screw it up one way or another. They make some horribly buggy, unimpressive games and tech has never solved that issue.

[MRMagoo123]

Codemasters made some of my favourite games when i was a kid such as the dizzy franchise so they arent all bad.

[MysticStrummer]

I enjoy the Dirt series, or at least the ones I've played, and like I said I enjoyed Dragon Rising though it had it's problems.

[Sketchy_Galore]

For anyone who knows anything about this kind of thing, am I right in thinking this high RAM would mean you could make an open world GTA style game with graphics about as good as Max Payne 3 but with at least a few areas with ridiculously crowded streets? Like, Time square for real crowds rather than the smattering of people we had in GTA4's play on Time square? If so that's good, those are the kinds of improvements I'm most looking forward to. Textures etc are good enough for me on some of the better looking PS3 games but I'd like more living crowded environments. Thanks in advance.

[Truehellfire]

In the most basic terms, yes. More things will be able to be loaded at once so in a game like GTA, expect to see more cars, people, environmental detail, and less loading times.

[Sketchy_Galore]

Good news. Thanks for the info.

[ps3_pwns]

thats the stuff that matters to me in games not just whatever that other crap people talk about.

i want a real open world experience. ames that need more of all of this is games like fallout and gta and red dead redemption and stuff those are my favorite type of games and they will be huge and more populated and benefit greatly from ps4 rams and sence all ps4 are equal no need to sacrifice stuff for pc's that have less ram.

[MRMagoo123]

Not just more things tho but different things, for example remember in the gta games when you see one car then you look around and most of the other cars are the same or you get the same groups of cars all the time, well with more ram they wont have to repeat all the car models you will get more variety. The same with the ppl walking the streets more variety of ppl will be able to be used at one time.

[FRAKISTAN]

YOU know IT

[DivineAssault]

PS4 has 8GB of shared GDDR5 memory people!

[stuntman_mike]

so how do they fit these GDDR5 memory people into a little console? and what parts of their bodies are they sharing? ;)

[DivineAssault]

that sir is a great question.. I have no idea but if u google it, u might find your answer.. Sony is an asian company so im sure they fit

[Cam977]

"Mind boggling" things such as cockpit view on Grid 2? If no, keep it.

[sway_z]

Please use that super fast extra GDDR5 Ram to eliminate draw in distance, instant loading textures and faster loading times.

1080P/60fps would be out of this world, but I think I can live with a graphically intensive game running at 720P on a consistent 30fps.

Increased anti-aliasing and excellent lighting will make the next gen games near CGI movie quality.

There simply is no excuse now!

[MultiConsoleGamer]

Total hyperbole.

Like the developer who said "toy story graphics" regarding the alleged power of the PS2.

[Pillsbury1]

They are masters of hype, bring on the hype train! Choo choo!

[hesido]

Guys.. I'm a PS fan, but all he says is:

"with speed we’re running our physics simulation at on this generation, the mind boggles at what is possible with the new tech. We will no doubt be taking the same approach to next gen – examining each area of a title and seeing what can be achieved."

And then the blogger turns this into:
"By next gen tech he obviously means the PS4, since that’s the only console that has been announced so far." As if there's not going to be a next Xbox.

Then goes on with the “Mind boggles” at what is possible with PS4 – Codemasters headline.

Another pathetic attempt to get hits using the PS4's popularity. Sad.

[Dark_Overlord]

"Like the developer who said "toy story graphics" regarding the alleged power of the PS2. "

You do realise that was Microsoft who said that about the original Xbox and not Sony?

If need be i'll even provide a link to the original quote (Again lol)

[MultiConsoleGamer]

neogaf com/showthread.php?t=89876

Read the whole story.

[isyourhouseonfire]

I admit, when I look at the spec sheet my mind is also boggled. However, we need actual HARDWARE to actually DEVELOP and then GAME. Hmmm Sony, thanks for the mind boggling spec sheet.

[Software_Lover]

GDDR5 is just high bandwidth DDR3. These names are all marketing ploys. I understand what happened in the naming process and why they did it, but they should have just fixed it and named it GDDR3. It would've caused less confusion in my mind.

People who know nothing about this stuff see that the ps4 has 8GB GDDR5 and the next xbox is "rumored" to have 8GB DDR3 and think its just light years ahead when it really isn't. The ps4 will have a higher bandwidth yes, but not the huge gap that the naming implies.

[Theyellowflash30]

I know, it boggles my mind as well. I mean, did you see all of those blue balls dropping on screen, at the PS4 event. And how about the old man, he sure did look... old.

And what about the game Knack, there was all sorts of mind boggling things in the trailer. Plus, Killzone Shadowfall's shooting looked so much more...mind boggling than Killzone 2 or Killzone 3, or KillZone Mercenary.

[DivineAssault]

PS4 is going to be a BEAST!

[urwifeminder]

More memory for Ken Block and pastrami and car interiors,call me crazy but id like 9 time world rally champ sebastian loeb to feature in the rally series he can actually drive not just around a cone,and bring back gfwl on pc games.

[LocutusEstBorg]

What's possible with PS4? The same as whats been possible on PC 3 years ago.

[vigilante_man]

3 years ago most PCs were Dual-core. Most PCs had 2GB Ram. I know because I built my own Quad-core 4GB 2 years ago and the common consensus was you could run Win 7 with 2GB.

I have since gone to 12GB (virtual machines, media, etc.) and dual GPUs.

There are always the odd few super systems but MOST PCs did not have 8-cores and 8GB GDDR5 Ram. Get it right.

PC gaming at best can offer multi-platform games with super graphics. But because all systems are so varied and because of piracy there are no killer PC only games. Sure a developer could create an awesome multi-core game with minimum 8GB Ram but there are not that many systems up to that spec at present. Plus you have to deal with all types of hardware & GPUs.

Being a keen PC person I have to admit the PS4 has been built to a much higher spec than I anticipated. Being a set system with specific purposes always gives more potential for maximum performance.

At least developers can now stop complaining about limited hardware and show just what can be produced. Over to them...

[LocutusEstBorg]

No the GPU is shit. It's sad that it can't even run Battlefield 3 at 60fps 1080p on maximum graphics.

[Zha1tan]

Just dont make any shooters codemasters, stick to racing titles.

[TheKayle1]

no @shutupand etc etc

ddr3 cpu oriented type of ram low latency ..and less voltage and bw than gddr5

gddr5 graphics ram HIGH latency not good for cpu higher voltage than ddr ( so more speed ) bigger bw

"The memory is also fundamentally set up specifically for the application it uses:
System memory (DDR3) benefits from low latency (tight timings) at the expense of bandwidth, GDDR5's case is the opposite. Timings for GDDR5 would seems unbelieveably slow in relation to DDR3, but the speed of VRAM is blazing fast in comparison with desktop RAM- this has resulted from the relative workloads that a CPU and GPU undertake."

[k2d]

Regarding the segment in this article talking about Grid and immersion:

I absolutely HATE these new "realistic" UI's! You're never gonna forget that your playing a game, unless you're using VR-goggles. It'll be clumsy, and thereby the time spent inside menus will feel much longer.

Streamlined menus are the way to go for now.

[DigitalEraycer]

Nobody knows nothing about nothing!!!! Bunch of noobs!!!