The question of whether to buy Microsoft or Sony for your home games console has never been as important. Not only are the Xbox One and PS4 launching at roughly the same time – a first in the history of these series – they are also to sell at a similar price.
There’s no easy way out this time.
However, looking at the core specs of these systems, it looks like the Sony PlayStation 4 will be a significantly more powerful gaming system.
Getting the Magnifying Lens Out
A cursory look at the specs of the Sony PS4 and Xbox One suggests they’ll offer similar performance. Both have eight-core processors. Both CPUs are made by AMD. A tech layman might even assume they have identical innards.
They do not.
Some of the inner workings of the consoles’ hardware isn’t yet known, but the most important difference we do know is not in CPU cores, but RAM – the couriers of the computer world.
The Sony PS4 uses 5.5GHz GDDR5 RAM, and we believe the Xbox One uses 2.1GHz DDR3 RAM.
They sound similar, but the different ways they operate has significant knock-on effects for the gaming potential of the two consoles.
The ‘G’ of the PS4's GGDR5 RAM stands for ‘graphics’, and this is a type of memory commonly used in dedicated PC graphics cards – although some do use DDR3 instead, usually cheaper models. In a shamelessly generalising sense, DDR3 is used for main system memory and GDDR5 for graphics-based tasks.
Like, y’know, gaming.
The key is bandwidth. GDDR5 sacrifices latency – the speed with which memory tasks can be initiated – for bandwidth, which defines the speed at which tasks can be performed once started.
Estimates put the PS4’s memory bandwidth at 176GB/second, compared to 68GB/second for the Xbox One. The PS4 is the tech outlier here. GDDR5 is only currently available in 512MB chips, so the console will need a whopping 16 of them.
It’s no wonder Sony hasn’t unveiled the PS4’s case yet – maybe it’s even bigger than the Xbox’s.
Memory bandwidth is imperative when shifting great big chunks of data, such as rendering high-quality textures. So is the Xbox One stuffed?
It’s not quite that simple. Microsoft has also implemented an eSRAM buffer that mitigates the relatively low-bandwidth of DDR3. There’s just a tiny amount of this memory in the Xbox One, 32MB, but it can operate in parallel with the main DDR3 memory and is extremely fast.
This will act as a frame buffer. However, whether this memory configuration will be able to offer the same performance as the PS4's remains to be seem. If it doesn't, greater texture pop-in or lower texture quality within games are two obvious sacrifices. And the figures suggest the PS4 will maintain the upper hand.
Using the eSRAM and DDR3 combo is Microsoft’s sensible and rational approach, against Sony’s all-guns-blazing tactic. GDDR5 memory is significantly more expensive than DDR3.
Find out what the TrustedReviews team think of the Xbox One
The Xbox One is 10% larger than the Xbox 360. Could the more powerful PS4 be even larger?
That’s Not All, Either…
The Xbox One’s problems don’t end with memory. Although both consoles feature AMD-made GPUs, the PS4’s is significantly more powerful.
A tear-down from Wired magazine reveals that the Sony PS4’s GPU has 50 per cent more shader cores than the Xbox One – 1,152 against 768. And, further descending into the details, their TFLOP ratings, which measure how many operations a second they can perform, are far removed from each other.
The PS4 is rated at 1.8TFLOPs, the Xbox One just 1.23TFLOPs. However, this rating in particular has tended to bear little relation to actual results – the PS3 was widely reported as being a 1.8TFLOP system at its launch. And the PS3 is nowhere near as powerful as the PS4.
That said, the PS3 is spec-for-spec significantly more powerful than the Xbox 360 - and yet its games are not notably better-looking across the board. Is this just history repeating itself?
The game is completely different this time around, because Sony has sensibly abandoned the Cell system architecture used in the PS3. The Cell architecture of the PS3 was notoriously difficult to code for, compared to the more familiar PowerPC-based Xbox, thereby piddling away much of the console’s technological superiority.
This time, the new systems from Microsoft and Sony share the x86 architecture, as seen in Windows-powered laptops and desktops across the world.
There’s no getting around it – the Sony PS4 is more powerful than the Xbox One. And as much as we may try to look for technical ways Microsoft may have slyly bridged the gap, they just aren’t there – yet.
Is Microsoft relying on the notion that developers simply won’t be willing to pile that much money into improving visuals for the technically superior PS4 in cross-platform games?
Or is Sony’s obsession with winning the tech war of gaming going to mean it won’t be able to turn a profit on its new console for years, if ever?
There are many questions like this left hanging, and perhaps they’ll be answered at this year’s E3 conference, where we’ll learn more about both the Xbox One and PS4. But would better graphics in the PS4 be enough to sway you into buying a PlayStation?
i agree with yerli,graphics bind us with the game at least in todays world.earlier it was more game less graphics since the graphics were not so good but now it is make diffrence.whenever critics review game they check graphics also.also it is important if we give stress on graphics otherwise no one will improve it.
Few things I am not PC hater or console lover because I have both but I want to share something.
1. No doubt PC is more powerful then consoles and output good quality games.
Low: cost is very huge, so the end part is need good game and performance you have to spend extra money.
pc power is used by operating system and other softwares.game exclusive very less.
2. Console are less in graphics and power compare to PC.
Cheap in price , still graphics are below par compare to PC .Less power is used by operating system since it is made for games .Many exclusives.
Now I will come to main point.
I am taking ps3 as an example since I don't have xbox.
ps3 is having 512 MB ram: 256-256 shared. Still the games like naughty dog unchantred pull out the graphics at such a high level.
So I will give cudos to them. They made such a beautiful game in such a small memory. as ps3 grows the game also grows in graphics now take the example of GTA5 and last of us .On such a small memory such beautiful games.
Imagine if above mentioned configuration gave to these developers what will do they?
Now I will come to PS4 since xbox 720 is still not announced.
Ps4 is made of hybrid hardware technology which produce a good amount of power compare to normal PCs (i am not going in deep hardware config) .. Now I will give you the example. Nvidia titan costs 1000$ only graphics care and produce 4.05 teraflops. ps4 genrates half of it 1.84 TFLOPS.
Now when you are geeting half power and whole console in half price what is bad in it.remeber when developer builds games in a boundary it is tough to make gr8 game but when competition comes then in that limited boundary everyone tries to make good game and we see some beautiful results in case of ps3 and xbox 360 ...last of us and halo becomes more and more beautiful.
ps4 can give you graphics like Nvidia titan then are you ready to pay that much thatsswhy Nvidia rejected ps4 deal.hardware makers are clever they never give faulty or low level hardware to companies because they know that is there bread and butter and they will try there best something Sony is doing.you don't wether these coustom chips can boost a great amount of power.
The developers like naughty and rockstar when they will get ps4 configuration what a high level graphics game they can built.i will give you one example of ps4 capabilities in start.(this is an eg. So people stop complaining about pc and console since i am not a pc hater or console favor). if you observed capcoms ps4 game running on penta rey engine...you will notice that it is not only cg trailer but also gameplay...now you will ask how you know?..then please check the trailer again and see the scene where chatting of characters stops and they go for hunting of dragons.in that scene the character switches its accessories........
Watch this trailer :http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xbFBEjlKtpY
See carefully from the 0:36 second.....
one thing which is preety important i want to share that...i am excited what naughty dog is going to do on ps4 because this is the developer who create such a lovely games on 256-256 mb ram lime unchantred series and the last of us...imagine what they can do with 8 GB DDr5 Ram..i am sure that they will definately made top notch games which can easily beat a high quality graphics game runs on pc & the games which they released are the live examples.
Finally I love games no mater it comes from PC or console...........good games always welcome so please stop this PC v's console games.there is one thing currently ps4 supporting 4k pictures and movies ,we dont know in future they can inbuilt technology which support 4k games..remeber move is built after ps3 ...so such thing can happen in future where pss4 can be upgradable we dont know........as per remours ps4 is coming in 2 favours.sony knows better then us about there business..may be they can bring coustimizable ps4 & then u can see good game ....pc not geeting more exclusive like consoles because then console will loose there business .if every game like killzone,infamous second son will come on pc then who will buy ps4.....:)
well this vedioi saw couple of days back on nvidiaconfrence.idont know why activision clamming as there property.if you can beleieve me then google nvidiconfrence 2013 and check yourself.
Few things I am not PC hater or console lover because I have both but I want to share something.
1. No doubt PC is more powerful then consoles and output good quality games.
Low: cost is very huge, so the end part is need good game and performance you have to spend extra money.
pc power is used by operating system and other softwares.game exclusive very less.
2. Console are less in graphics and power compare to PC.
Cheap in price , still graphics are below par compare to PC .Less power is used by operating system since it is made for games .Many exclusives.
Now I will come to main point.
I am taking ps3 as an example since I don't have xbox.
ps3 is having 512 MB ram: 256-256 shared. Still the games like naughty dog unchantred pull out the graphics at such a high level.
So I will give cudos to them. They made such a beautiful game in such a small memory. as ps3 grows the game also grows in graphics now take the example of GTA5 and last of us .On such a small memory such beautiful games.
Imagine if above mentioned configuration gave to these developers what will do they?
Now I will come to PS4 since xbox 720 is still not announced.
Ps4 is made of hybrid hardware technology which produce a good amount of power compare to normal PCs (i am not going in deep hardware config) .. Now I will give you the example. Nvidia titan costs 1000$ only graphics care and produce 4.05 teraflops. ps4genrates half of it 1.84TFLOPS.
Now when you are geeting half power and whole console in half price what is bad in it.remeber when developer builds games in a boundary it is tough to make gr8 game but when competition comes then in that limited boundary everyone tries to make good game and we see some beautiful results in case of ps3 and xbox 360 ...last of us and halo becomes more and more beautiful.
ps4 can give you graphics like Nvidia titan then are you ready to pay that much thatsswhy Nvidia rejected ps4 deal.hardware makers are clever they never give faulty or low level hardware to companies because they know that is there bread and butter and they will try there best something Sony is doing.you don't wether these coustom chips can boost a great amount of power.
The developers like naughty and rockstar when they will get ps4 configuration what a high level graphics game they can built.i will give you one example of ps4 capabilities in start.(this is an eg. So people stop complaining about pc and console since i am not a pc hater or console favor). if you observed capcoms ps4 game running on pentarey engine...you will notice that it is not only cg trailer but also gameplay...now you will ask how you know?..then please check the trailer again and see the scene where chatting of characters stops and they go for hunting of dragons.in that scene the character switches its accessories........
Watch this trailer :http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xbFBEjlKtpY
See carefully from the 0:36 second.....
Finally I love games no mater it comes from PC or console...........good games always welcome so please stop this PC v's console games.there is one thing currently ps4 supporting 4k pictures and movies ,we dont know in future they can inbuilt technology which support 4k games..remeber move is built after ps3 ...so such thing can happen in future where pss4 can be upgradable we dont know........as per remours ps4 is coming in 2 favours.sony knows better then us about there business..may be they can bring coustimizable ps4 & then u can see good game ....pc not geeting more exclusive like consoles because then console will loose there business .if every game like killzone,infamous second son will come on pc then who will buy ps4.....:)
in pccrysis already achieved this and they are the godfather of such graphics in industry and in ps4 quatic dream achieving this kind of facilal expression (and further) and you will see it soon in gdc or in e3 wait and watch lots of exclusive coming to ps4 ....as promised.
@Metronoid i am not a fan of console or pc just i am sharing my thoughts .i am having psvita ps3,pc and i play on all.just what i am saying that cost gives the quality and i believe at the end the only mateers is good exclusive games.consoles create more cexclusives games & thatswhy people buy them.infact now also ps4 is spc friendly but i am having doubt that all the developers will port those games to pc because then console will be in loss.thatswhy console are trying to give some competition to pc in terms of socail ,video and using other features like motion tracking etc.at the end games matter...:) cheers
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