"Next gen" Console GPUs vs. Current PC GPUs

gridironcj

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I feel like there is a lot of misinformation regarding console GPUs vs. PC GPUs and I figured this would be a nice place to discuss this in more detail. Take a look at this article as an example:

http://www.gamechup.com/nvidia-ps4s-gpu-is-more-powerful-than-xbox-720s-gpu-but-3x-slower-than-titan/

Why are GPU flops often the only specification given for console GPUs? This seems silly, considering when I'm comparing GPUs, flops are not something that really pop up in the comparisons. Is it naive to think that the PS4 GPU is only 3x slower than a Titan? Console games are played on 720p with no antialiasing, dumbed-down graphical settings, and no DX11 features. Thus, can they really even be compared when the latter wouldn't be much of an issue for the lowest tier PC GPUs?
 
Let me put this in the simplest way I can:

When you buy a console such as the PS4 it will come with a static set of hardware that developers will specifically design their games to run.

These optimizations will make games run very well and look good for the first 2 years, and then give 4-6 more years of life to the console.

With a gaming PC, developers have to make sure games run on a large array of hardware out there, not just one set of hardware.

The PS4 will likely be 1080p with x2 AA if lucky and 60fps. A game that is optimized for a weaker card can run better than a more powerful card that isn't optimized if that makes sense to you.
 

killerhurtalot

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doubt it'll push 1080p with good settings at 60 fps... the one inside the PS4 is around a 7850 (same number of stream processors, no idea about clock...)

and most developers already said that they would rather push 30 fps with vsync and better settings than hit 60 fps.
 


The next gen consoles will run at 30fps. Although you are right that consoles can usually squeeze more out of it's hardware, this generation you will see less of it. Not only are these console operating systems the most advanced yet, taking up more resources, but they also have very weak cpu's. They won't benefit from any of the new CPU instructions and you can only parallelize code so much for use on the gpu till a point comes when you need a better cpu.

Many people also seem to think that GDDR5 = DDR5 which is way off. It's just modified DDR3 for video games. I don't know how sony thinks their system will handle other services like video without any regular memory; it will be interesting to see.
 

cbrunnem

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this topic needs to be locked as soon as possible because the people of TOMS HARDWARE have proven more then a dozen times that we can not handle this type of topic.

btw yes i think that can be compared more then they ever could. choose me for best answer!!!
 
It's funny how many people I saw freak out and get excited about the GDDR5/DDR5 thing when it's nothing impressive.


For the love of god though, 30fps is just unbearable for gaming, and I don't even think games on the PS3 can handle 30fps well.


Problem I see here is I think they learned their lesson and can't charge 600$ for a console so they are sacrificing big time on hardware(maybe I am wrong on this, but it seems like it). Surely they could do better, and what was it, 1.6ghz on PS4?

As long as these consoles play the next call of duty they will be fine though. Also to note, I think both Sony and MS are just shifting to non-gaming entertainment systems if anything with casual gaming. The PS3 itself is a great device for home entertainment(I like it more for it's non-gaming features).
 

gridironcj

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http://wccftech.com/battlefield-4-sticks-720p60-fps-nextgen-consoles-frostbite-25-game-details-leaked-arriving-november-2013/

I'm pretty sure I've read elsewhere that 720p is still going to be the standard for the PS4.

At the end of the day, consoles still are a low-end entry into gaming, considering the cost of purchasing one. With that said, isn't it a littl illogical to expect a console to have a comparable GPU to a current-gen PC GPU? I know AMD hardware is extremely cheap compared to Intel and Nvidia, but even the 7970 is more expensive than the retail price of a PS4, so how can anyone expect these to be comparable?
 


That can do much better but they are going to play it safe. What I don't see is what makes this console gen "must have". I mean the only thing they are bringing to the table that they didn't have before is social features, or at least more than last gen. As we can all see by the wii u, trying to capture a larger audience through mass appeal doesn't always work. If you try to have a machine that does everything you may sacrifice quality to do so.

Comparatively, what makes these next gen consoles better than my home media PC or my gaming pc? The only factor they have going is ease of use. As a machine that people want to do everything, people will find it quite lacking.

On another note, yes 1.6 Ghz is terrible and so is 30 fps but most console gamers won't even notice.

I don't like sony. They removed linux from the PS3 and support cispa among other bills. The ps3 had blu-ray, which was key for them. I wonder if any consoles will even have a media center application this time around. Currently it just a bunch of small services like netflix and hulu. They need to combine those for people so they can get a more complete experience.
 
Feature wise, we don't actually know fully quite yet what they have. This is just more of a hardware upgrade because I've seen several of the latest games played first hand on a PS3 and it makes me feel physically sick to watch because it's so muddy and slow they are.

Ease of use a huge selling point for parents and kids. They can sit down and just go straight to the game, well that's a lie, through all the other stuff first. I grew up playing atari, nintendo, super Nintendo, and all those old games when you went straight to a game, good times, now it's all social crap and about money with developers now.

Consoles have their market, a huge one at that, and I'm sure happy it's an x86 platform now so we don't get terrible ports.
 


Well games solely optimized for for that hardware can make up for lack in power, but still...you can do all the optimizations and tricks you want, but in the end you still have weak hardware.

PC gaming in the last 5 years has grown so huge and it keeps growing. PCs using integrated graphics can be smaller than a PS4 and more powerful these days too.

I actually like that Intel is pushing for integrated graphics(as long as it doesn't interfere with making the processor more powerful in terms of computational power) more and more now because it will be great for a PC that's as small like their "next unit computing" computers(which need a lot of work still).
 

rglaredo

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apples to oranges !!! again ...they are both from fruit trees ..but they are both different. They may share some tittles but in the end, ...consoles always been in the short end of good hardware because they are meant to be affordable. Lately "socialization" is the word everyone and their dog is using ...they just upgrade enough hardware to enable better social media to play. Have seen that video on best buy site (i encourage you to tupe ps4 on the bb site and see it) where they talk about how the PS4 will revolve around "you"? ...will be tailor made for you and it will do this and that for the user...bla bla bla ...again they are called entertainment centers for a reason ..and no ...they will never be at the same level as a good or average gaming pc ...where we the enthusiasts actually tailor make our gaming rigs for us ... and we can upgrade it if we want lol.
 

jdowdy10

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These console will be great for two years (because of the custom architecture), good in the third year, and start to struggle on more graphically intensive games after that. It is proven by history.

Sure you can put a $1000+ gaming PC up against this thing and it will crush it the higher you get from that target, but that is not what they were built for. They sell at half that price. It's pretty impressive that they can accomplish what they do. How many of you guys are playing Bioshock Infinite on a GeForce 7800 (the PS3's GPU is based off of it)?

I think the big win for PC gaming is the fact that at least Sony has moved to an x86 architecture. Hopefully this means no more horrible ports to PC.

I think this will be the last set of static consoles. I think by the time the next set comes around it will basically be a PC with upgradable modules.

Should be interesting. I've always been a console guy for my multi-player and PC guy for my single-player (can't use a mouse and keyboard for gaming....old dog, no new tricks left) so hopefully that is just a little less painful when I go to play a PC game from here on out.
 

gridironcj

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You don't have to play with a keyboard and mouse. You can play with a controller via USB. I'll admit, there are some games on PC that I jusy prefer a 360 controller for.

I used to be a huge console gamer up until 2011. I had purchased a 360 when it first launched, do the rediculous gap was enough for me to say "screw you" to the consoles. The games were too much of the same and severely limited by the old hardware. I knew PC gaming was for me when my fellow console friends were saying illogical stuff such as "WE HAVUNT EVEN REECHED THE TRU POTENSHUL OF DEES MACHINES." Yeah, somehow 2005 technology has not been fully utilized 6 years later. Now they're all begging for new consoles.

 

jdowdy10

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I game on PC with a controller already but online it isn't a fair fight. That is why I stick with consoles for that. Every single other game I buy on PC if at all possible. I only play Call of Duty on my Xbox and I have BF3 on PC, but it is a joke when I play online. I have to pick a small map and run with a shotgun...lol.

I even broke new ground this year and bought FIFA and NBA2k13 on PC because they just look (and play in the case of FIFA) so much better on PC and I, of course, play them with controllers.

I know people hate EA, but I'm really looking forward to finding out whether EA Sports will start porting Madden to PC after the new console generation. Maybe then I get can get a good version of Madden (albeit heavily modded). These are the kind of things I hope happen. Less console exclusives with more ports to PC to maximize revenue would be nice.
 
By the time they get near true potential of consoles it will already be upgrade time and to late. :p

Only people who should buy a console now are parents buying one for their kid or as a home entertainment system for content.

Only thing consoles have now are exclusives and price. You can build a gaming PC for 600 bucks too which can double as a home PC for other stuff, so it's not actually so bad price wise then.

Social crap is very tiring to see too, and I am sick of seeing Facebook wherever I go, don't need to be connected to everyone else all the time.