PS4 and Xbox 720 Graphics Specs Toe-to-Toe, Says Insider
The PlayStation 4 and Xbox 720 will be on par with each other on a graphics level.
IGN reports that the PlayStation 4, aka Orbis, may feature custom chips based on AMD's A8-3850 APU and Radeon HD 7670 discrete GPU. According to the APU's off-the-shelf specs, it packs a quad-core 2.9 GHz processor an an integrated HD 6550D graphics core. The APU will work in tandem with the dedicated HD 7670 GPU which is clocked up to 1 GHz, supports DirectX 11, and is accompanied by 1 GB of dedicated VRAM.
On a discrete graphics level, sources say that the PlayStation 4 will be "toe-to-toe" with Microsoft's Xbox 720, as the latter console will reportedly use AMD's HD 6670 card. The HD 7670 is actually a re-branding of last year's HD 6670 featuring the same specs across the board. It's an entry-level GPU by today's standards, costing around $74.99 USD, but capable of cranking out just over 30 FPS in Metro 2033 and Crysis 2 with the settings at high and the resolution cranked up to 1920 x 1080.
The PlayStation 3 will reportedly have the edge over Microsoft's new console thanks to the APU's built-in graphics core. But performance will likely be better on both systems because of their lightweight operating system and games that are optimized for one specific hardware set. Like Apple's iOS, game studios tend to gravitate to consoles because it's cheaper to develop thanks to a limited number of hardware sets, and because they simply generate better revenue.
Previous reports indicated that the PlayStation 4 will feature two GPUs, but they would work separately instead of in CrossFire mode. Yet this latest rumor makes more sense, as the discrete HD 7670 GPU and the HD 6550D graphics core in the APU can still work together in rendering detailed visuals on the fly. The HD 6550D will likely run games at baseline specs and lower resolutions without the need for the discrete HD 7670 GPU. But when heavy rendering is needed, both will be in use.
Naturally this is all speculation based on stock AMD components. However Sony is reportedly using custom chips, and could change its plans before the system reportedly goes on sale next year.
If anything, all this AMD talk could mean that both consoles will be more PC-like than ever before. As previously reported, the new Xbox's OS will be based on Windows 8, making it one of many screens across a wide Windows 8 platform. But with Sony wanting the same "One Sony" platform experience, what will the PlayStation 4 bring? Are both companies finally erasing the line between console and desktop PC? Will we finally see full mouse and keyboard support in our shooters?
And then will be only more than a decade behind PCs when their successors arrive at around mid 2020s.
It'd be a good thing if both became more PC-like, though, because especially the quality of PS3 ports should go up if it's easier to develop for. Also, it just might make the PC first and then adapt for consoles approach more viable - which would make everyone happy. But that's just wishful thinking.
Such a badly written article, furthermore, the rumor is that it's the next box the one which will have two GPUs, not the PS4.
You can emulate all of your old games as far back as the original NES/ATARI, and play all of the modern games with higher settings, with higher frame rates, better textures, better filtering, and still have the option of a USB controller if that strikes your fancy.
I'm really unclear as to how these consoles sell so well...
For example, I play on PS3, and at least of the game that matters the most to me,
they still have not even try to use the power of that console.
For example, this game is still produce at 720P.... after all this years.
PS3 is perfectly capable of 1080P and a lot more, but THQ chooses NOT to.
We all know why they are in trouble waters...
Think about this, would you be able to run a game like Gears of War 3 on a PC with a Celeron Dual-Core, 512mb ram, and an Nvidia 7600 512mb? No, but on a console you can, that's pretty much what a 360 is.
Wii seemed to do just fine with outdated graphics. it's not everything.
The average console user most likely just wants something that works. They don't want to troubleshoot any misc problems that may arise with Windows. To put it bluntly, console *only* users are dumb or inexperienced to put it nicely.
That said. It looks like the PC games will be held back due to consoles, once again. FFS Microsoft and Sony.
The HD6670 leak for the next XBox has been floating around for a while now without revision, so I'm assuming there's probably some truth to it. Last I checked the HD4870 outperforms the HD6670 in practically every benchmark out there. I guess we'll have to wait for final specs, but at least in comparison to their desktop counterparts, the Wii U seems to be at least on par in terms of discrete graphics performance.