Thursday, March 29th 2012

Sony PlayStation 4 Codenamed "Orbis", Runs AMD x86-64 CPU, Southern Islands GPU

by
btarunr
 Discuss (111 Comments)
Sony may have codenamed PlayStation 4 "Orbis" (IPA: /ˈor.bis/), according to a Kotaku report. The next-generation game console is slated for "holiday season, 2013." This information was sourced by Kotaku, from a reliable source with a good track-record of accuracy. Orbis is derived from the Latin word for "circle", or "to circle/orbit". The term "Orbis Vita" or "Orbis Vitae" denotes "the circle of life." The specifications of Orbis known so far, include AMD-made x86-64 CPU, and an AMD-made GPU, built on the Southern Islands (Graphics CoreNext) architecture. In all probability, it could be a unified SoC, a highly scalar Fusion chip.
Source: Kotaku

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111 Comments on Sony PlayStation 4 Codenamed "Orbis", Runs AMD x86-64 CPU, Southern Islands GPU

#1
v12dock
Block Caption of Rainey Street
AMD scored a sweet deal with next gen gaming consoles
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#2
pjladyfox
This will be an interesting position for AMD to be in since, if I'm not mistaken, this means that they will have not only the next generation Playstation locked in but the next generation models of both Microsoft and Nintendo's consoles. Looks like NVIDIA is tossing their hat in on the mobile front and leaving the console gaming space behind 'tho I'd be curious if this was an active choice on their part or not?
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#3
dzero
This only means good things for AMD.
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#5
newtekie1
Semi-Retired Folder
I would have thought they would have stuck with a derivative of the Cell processor. But then again that would have made backwards compatibility too easy, and they don't want backwards compatibility.

Also all I could think of when I heard Orbis:
FourstaffBut can it run Linux?
Hardware wise, yes, but the current PS3 can run linux hardware wise. I doubt Sony will include the software to allow it though.
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#6
Delta6326
Dang holiday season 2013, might as well hold off on a new computer till then. for better quality ports.:banghead:
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#7
Fourstaff
newtekie1Hardware wise, yes, but the current PS3 can run linux hardware wise. I doubt Sony will include the software to allow it though.
Of course, you can hack Linux to just about anywhere, goddevelopers willing.

Lets hope PS4 supports keyboard and mouse, and then we will have a "PC is the superior gaming platform hurr durrr" argument again :)
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#8
FordGT90Concept
"I go fast!1!11!1!"
Holy backwards compatibility issues, batman! Why does Sony kick themselves in the ass with every console they release? Nintendo and Microsoft are sticking with IBM PowerPC processors in order to maximize backwards compatibility.
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#9
Ferrum Master
are you sane people? This is good news! Who cares about the backwards compatibility... this means PC gaming won't get half baked ports now! Full compatibility as the compiler won't change.
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#10
alterecho
Could this be somehow linked with GCN's focus on compute?
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#11
Rowsol
Just because it's based on southern islands doens't mean it's going to be high end. I bet they put a cheapo 70 dollar one in there.
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#12
OneCool
games at a resolution of up to 4096x2160
nice :D

will need a new tv :shadedshu
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#13
newtekie1
Semi-Retired Folder
RowsolJust because it's based on southern islands doens't mean it's going to be high end. I bet they put a cheapo 70 dollar one in there.
Not likely, they will probably do what they have done in the past, putting an equivalent to the top end in the console. Of course by the time the console sees the light of day the GPU will already be a generation behind(or two at this rate). So it will probably be a HD7970 or close to it.
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#14
FordGT90Concept
"I go fast!1!11!1!"
Ferrum Masterare you sane people? This is good news! Who cares about the backwards compatibility... this means PC gaming won't get half baked ports now! Full compatibility as the compiler won't change.
They'll still be half-baked because most games are ported from Xbox, not PlayStation, because of the reliance on DirectX. Additionally, consoles always have limited resoures especially in terms of RAM and that severely limits environment size and the like. Can't forget the lack of mouse and keyboard too. Expect the same-old-same.
newtekie1So it will probably be a HD7970 or close to it.
No no. More like a 6850. If it is a 7970, it would be severely underclocked to reduce the heat and power requirements. I really can't see them using a trillion+ transistor chip in a console though--too expensive to mass produce. They're more likely to use something smaller with a higher clockspeed.
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#15
1Kurgan1
The Knife in your Back
RowsolJust because it's based on southern islands doens't mean it's going to be high end. I bet they put a cheapo 70 dollar one in there.
4k by 2k res and the fact that when console originally release they usually are actually pretty damn good, I would put money down on you being wrong. Doesn't mean I will buy a PS4 at release, I just think you hunch is off by a long shot.
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#16
RejZoR
I think this is only because the CELL was just too expensive. Now, they'll simply run pretty much everything in HW, even physics through GCN.
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#17
TRWOV
A10? in my consoles? :D
Posted on Reply
#18
TheMailMan78
Big Member
FordGT90ConceptThey'll still be half-baked because most games are ported from Xbox, not PlayStation, because of the reliance on DirectX. Additionally, consoles always have limited resoures especially in terms of RAM and that severely limits environment size and the like. Can't forget the lack of mouse and keyboard too. Except the same-old-same.



No no. More like a 6850. If it is a 7970, it would be severely underclocked to reduce the heat and power requirements. I really can't see them using a trillion+ transistor chip in a console though--too expensive to mass produce. They're more likely to use something smaller with a higher clockspeed.
7970 would be fine heat wise and power wise in a console. Just not cost effective. I'm guessing something 7850 or 7770.
Posted on Reply
#19
SetsunaFZero
FordGT90ConceptHoly backwards compatibility issues, batman! Why does Sony kick themselves in the ass with every console they release? Nintendo and Microsoft are sticking with IBM PowerPC processors in order to maximize backwards compatibility.
its all bout profit, the ps vita is cheaper in production (BIG profit) then the current psp model. coz sony just used tech that is available on the market. They didn't need to develop new CPU nor GPU, again profit they saved dev. costs.

before someone ask if the ps4 will have a BD-drive, yes it will.
Why u ask? coz SonyDADC would go bankrupt and i would lose my job. :|
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#20
dj-electric
My guess is that this console will use the Cape Verde GPU. Performance-wise the HD7770 is about 3.5-4 times faster then PS3's GPU
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#21
nt300
FordGT90ConceptHoly backwards compatibility issues, batman! Why does Sony kick themselves in the ass with every console they release? Nintendo and Microsoft are sticking with IBM PowerPC processors in order to maximize backwards compatibility.
Umm, not sure about Nintendo, but I heard Micro$oft is also going for low power, high performing GPU/CPU Fusion :confused: This is how AMD can offer them best value package.
Dj-ElectriCMy guess is that this console will use the Cape Verde GPU. Performance-wise the HD7770 is about 3.5-4 times faster then PS3's GPU
Not sure about the PS4, but that new GPU for the new XBox should be based on the HD 7870M graphics card. M being mobile based which I assume lower power consumption.
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#22
dir_d
Id say 7870 or 7850.
Posted on Reply
#23
OneCool
Its not being released until late 2013 but early 2014 more than likely.Could be a APU.

The gpu within the APU could be anything really.

Could be sampling a APU with 4 core/6650 now and swap it for a 8 core/8670 later
Posted on Reply
#24
nt300
dir_dId say 7870 or 7850.
ya I was thinking the 7850 but you never know :D
OneCoolIts not being released until late 2013 but early 2014 more than likely.Could be a APU.

The gpu within the APU could be anything really.

Could be sampling a APU with 4 core/6650 now and swap it for a 8 core/8670 later
Make sense. It about a years away but I think MS is going to try and use a more powerful GPU this time because they got more efficient over the years.
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