There's still plenty to find out about the PS5's internals, but here's what we know so far:
- GPU: 10.28 TFLOPs, 36 CUs at 2.23GHz (variable frequency) with RDNA 2 architecture
- CPU: AMD Zen 2-based CPU with 8 cores at 3.5GHz (variable frequency)
- Memory: 16GB GDDR6, 256-bit interface, 448GB/s bandwidth
- Storage: Custom 825GB SSD with 5.5GB/s (raw), typical 8-9GB/s (compressed)
- Expandable storage: NVMe SSD slot, USB HDD support (for PS4 games only)
- Optical: 4K UHD Blu Ray drive
- Visuals: Native 4K 120Hz + 8K
- Audio: Temptest 3D
One of the highlights is the AMD GPU and CPU pairing. We've now learned officially that these will be a combination of eight Zen 2 CPU cores running at 3.5GHz and 36 compute units running at 2.23GHz to handle the graphics. The GPU will be capable of 10.28 TFLOPs.
PS5 lead system architect Mark Cerny has also confirmed to
Wired that the new hardware is capable of
ray tracing. Seen in some of the prettiest PC games around, like
Control,
Metro Exodus, and
Battlefield V, ray tracing is an innovative means of rendering light and shadows.
But since every 'ray' of light has its own simulated source, only now has the power required been viable in a console. In other words, ray tracing is going to make games like
Horizon Forbidden West look properly next-gen.
And if that wasn't treat enough for your corneas, there's word of 8K support, too. But when it comes to whether you should choose between the
4K vs 8K consoles, know that 8K won't be a mainstream prospect for some years yet.
Excellent news for PlayStation players is the PS5's solid state drive (SSD) – a long overdue upgrade that PC players have enjoyed for years. Games are claimed to load 19-times faster. And, although the SSD coming in the PS5 is only 825GB, Cerny noted that the faster speeds of the SSD mean developers won't need to duplicate data onto multiple parts games' files, thereby cutting down on wasted space.
Meanwhile, the PS4 Pro is still held back by its ageing mechanical HDD. While the PS4's UI design felt seamless as you could easily pick up a game where you left off from standby or after visiting other apps, you'll eventually be envious of the few loading screens PS5 players will be enjoying. Even if you upgrade the PS4 Pro with an SSD, it won't be able to offer the same bandwidth available in the PS5.
The Pro also doesn't have the
4K Blu Ray player that the PS5 will, nor does it have the option to go disc-drive free like the all-digital PS5 offers.
Cerny also made clear to Wired that the PS5's audio will reach a new "gold standard" thanks to its
upgraded audio engine. Sony is using the Tempest 3D audio tech to power the sound experience. It will be capable of handling hundreds of sound sources for impressive spatial audio, so you're going to want to invest in the very
best gaming headsets. Cerny did mention that Sony is working on virtual surround sound for speakers as well, though.
Meanwhile, here are the PS4 Pro's specs:
- CPU: eight-core x86-64 AMD Jaguar
- GPU: AMD Radeon with 4.2 teraflops
- RAM: 8GB GDDR5
- Storage: 1TB HDD
The refreshed mid-gen model proved a decent jump on the base PS4: it supports 4K streaming from Amazon and Netflix, but native 4K gaming isn't possible on all titles, and only then at 30fps.
Naturally expect the PS5 to be a healthy power jump over the Pro.
