Wednesday, September 7th 2016

Sony Launches AMD "Polaris" Powered PlayStation 4 Pro

Sony today announced an addition to its PlayStation family of entertainment systems, with the new PlayStation 4 Pro (PS4 Pro). The PS4 Pro isn't meant to succeed the PS4, and is still a "current generation" console, in that all of its games are compatible with the PS4, and there won't be PS4 Pro-exclusive games. What sets it apart is higher-resolution game rendering that looks best on 4K Ultra HD TVs. This doesn't necessarily mean that the games are being rendered at 3840 x 2160 pixels. They could be rendered at resolutions higher than 1080p, and using just the right upscaling algorithms, made to look significantly better than 1080p. Another key visual component is hardware HDR. The PS4 Pro falls in line with Sony's big push for 4K HDR TVs this holiday shopping season.

Under the hood, the PlayStation 4 Pro features an all new semi-custom SoC designed by Sony and AMD. The CPU component sticks to the "Jaguar/Puma" architecture, with 8 cores, but features higher CPU clock speeds. The 8 GB GDDR5 memory is said to run at higher clocks, too, and is bolstered by new lossless memory compression tech by AMD. The GPU component is where the action is. The GPU features over double the shading power of the PS4, and is based on the "Polaris" GPU architecture. The PS4 Pro also ships with a bigger 1 TB hard drive. There is seamless interplayability between PS4 and PS4 Pro. PS4 games you already own are being added with higher-resolution content meant for PS4 Pro. The console also has the muscle for PS-VR. For those still holding on to 1080p HDTVs, the PS4 Pro rewards with higher visual detail, more geometric complexity, and better effects, at that resolution. The PS4 Pro starts at $399.
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81 Comments on Sony Launches AMD "Polaris" Powered PlayStation 4 Pro

#51
BirdyNV
urza26Gaming on UHD for only $399, you must be dreaming, right?
Same can be said about people wanting Zen and HBM2 in this console.
For $399 you can only expect decent framerates on 720p to begin with.
#realism
Sony just riding the hype train that is the PS4 Pro/4K/Neo. :roll:
Posted on Reply
#53
ZoneDymo
BirdyNVThis damn thing...advertising that its a 4K gaming machine is almost false advertising, I very much doubt this thing will actually perform the way sony says it will. And if it does, shit, you know it costs more to make than what they are selling it for.
You mean like...any console today?
You do realize neither MS nor Sony and with the introduction of the WiiU neither Nintendo makes profit but rather a loss on the sale of a console right?
The money is in the games that are being sold.
Posted on Reply
#55
jigar2speed
nickbaldwin86Nope I could honestly care less... I have never owned a console in my life #PCGAMERMASTERRACE! but they could put in a 512GB for $100 or less at their cost and have a MUCH faster more reliable experience. I cant stand to even browse the internet on a PC with a HDD any more. maybe a 1TB drive is needed? those 1GB saved game files?

Even a Hybrid drive at 1TB would be better and those are cheap!
Don't double down on your stupidity, its not going to show you in better light.
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#56
ZoneDymo
BirdyNVThe comment about 720p is misguided, but then again. Hes trying to still make a point.
Well not entirely, if it can do 1080p at 60fps with many games in standard version, is 4k at 30fps with added upgraded hardware really that hard to believe?
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#57
BirdyNV
ZoneDymoWell not entirely, if it can do 1080p at 60fps with many games in standard version, is 4k at 30fps with added upgraded hardware really that hard to believe?
Well considering in the article they mention games like Deus Ex, which doesn't even get close to 30 fps on an RX 480 at 4k. In all honesty games like Fallout 4 and GTA 5 will benefit from this, but its kinda useless if the games they are advertising don't perform as indicated. But hell, what are we all doing? Speculating.
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#58
LightningJR
Very nice GPU specs, that price is great for what you get. The CPU on the other hand is a let down for sure, the extra clock speed will help but it's not near enough for an over double GPU power increase. Many games will be limited by that CPU as they are on current consoles but I bet they had little choice.

I think a hybrid drive would have been a great option but an extra cost that probably couldn't be absorbed.

I wont be buying it but it is cool. With Microsoft putting their Forza games on PC now I have zero need for a console.
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#59
RejZoR
I was hoping for Project Gotham on PC. We got just Forza. WHY!? There is literally ZERO fun racing games that aren't freaking hardcore simulators. I want casual racing games like Screamer 2, Need for Speed, Split/Second Velocity and stuff. And no god damn stupid open worlds. Burnout series were awesome on PS2, but the Burnout Paradise for PC was more or less boring because of open world.
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#60
Icewind31
XajelI don't currently have a PS4, I'm considering one for playing in free time and also as Media player.. I thought the Pro will be a better choice as it will be able to handle 4K and HEVC videos nicely.. and also as BluRay Player ( which I don't see I'll use for this streaming and downloading age, but it's just a plus )... So I suspect it will able to play UHD BD later... how long it will take, I don't know but I don't care currently as I still don't have an UHD TV yet.. planning maybe after 2 years or so. and I plan to keep the PS4 Pro longer than that...
You can wait forever, the physical drive (as of right now) is not 4k UHD capable. I was waiting for this announcement because I'm in it more for the media side, but now will have to resort to the xb1s, unless I wait till the true next gen.
Posted on Reply
#61
Disparia
Not that I don't like PS4 (especially since it was a free gift) but my PS2 still gets more play time (and it's usually with a PS1 game). This will probably change when FFVII Remake hits, but until then I'll probably pull out Lunar or Wild ARMs.
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#62
dozenfury
I have both consoles and a gaming pc, but people comparing PS4 Pro to what it would cost for a cheap gaming PC are kind of missing the point. Consoles and PCs are apples and oranges really. How does Madden, Bloodborne, or Uncharted, etc. look on PC? Likewise, I'd rather play fps on console (despite the clunkier controls and worse gfx) because of all the hacks that are easily available for nearly every PC fps. Those can't be stopped in open client side apps like you have on PC. So at least currently both gaming PCs and consoles have their own niche. This may change in the future, and at least with XB1 they are getting away from console exclusives. But there are advantages and disadvantages to both.

As for upgrading to PS4 Pro, eh. It's just upscaling and really even a 1TB drive is too small if you play a lot of different games. I upgraded my current PS4 to a 2TB drive ages ago for about $90. And unless they sell a ton of them there won't be a big incentive for game devs to spend resources adding PS4 Pro content.
Posted on Reply
#63
hardcore_gamer
dozenfuryLikewise, I'd rather play fps on console (despite the clunkier controls and worse gfx) because of all the hacks that are easily available for nearly every PC fps.
Agree. Hackers take the fun out of multiplayer PC games. Also, you can buy a XIM 4 to connect mouse and keyboard to PS4 for better controls.
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#64
ZoneDymo
BirdyNVWell considering in the article they mention games like Deus Ex, which doesn't even get close to 30 fps on an RX 480 at 4k. In all honesty games like Fallout 4 and GTA 5 will benefit from this, but its kinda useless if the games they are advertising don't perform as indicated. But hell, what are we all doing? Speculating.
Well 1. a Console is always much better optimised then a PC and 2. Yes it does 20fps on 4k with RX480 but that is also on high settings, if it was normal settings or low settings or a clever combination of settings it might just be doable.
Posted on Reply
#65
ZoneDymo
RejZoRI was hoping for Project Gotham on PC. We got just Forza. WHY!? There is literally ZERO fun racing games that aren't freaking hardcore simulators. I want casual racing games like Screamer 2, Need for Speed, Split/Second Velocity and stuff. And no god damn stupid open worlds. Burnout series were awesome on PS2, but the Burnout Paradise for PC was more or less boring because of open world.
Calling Forza a hardcore simulator....
Posted on Reply
#66
RejZoR
Compared to Need for Speed or Split Second, it is. Besides, no need to nitpick, you know what I meant. I want a casual fun racing game, not a serious one. This stuff just isn't for me. Had some fun on PS2 with Gran Turismo 4, but I need ridiculous cop chases on highways filled with cars, not chasing perfect lines on boring circuits.
Posted on Reply
#67
BirdyNV
ZoneDymoWell 1. a Console is always much better optimised then a PC and 2. Yes it does 20fps on 4k with RX480 but that is also on high settings, if it was normal settings or low settings or a clever combination of settings it might just be doable.
I just don't think the PS4 Pro will be everything they are hyping it to be.
Posted on Reply
#68
evernessince
Primey_Uh. How about you hold off until they release the specs of the PS4 Pro? We don't even know the clock of the gpu or cpu.

Your system doesn't even match what little info we have about the specs of the PS4 Pro. For starters you suggest a dual core compared to PS4 Pros 8 core. Good luck gaming on a dual core
Lol, you really have no idea of the dual core in question. The G3258 has more than double the IPC per core compared to AMD's jaguar based processors. In addition, the G3258 can be overclocked very high with no effort on the stock heatsink. Go look at TechSpot review of games showing the G3258 within a few frames of i7 processors when overclocked. Not only will the system be snappier thanks to Intel much better single threaded performance but it will outperform an AMD processor in almost all games
Posted on Reply
#69
evernessince
Captain_TomLMAO enjoy not being able to start half of your games with that dual core shill.

What you just configured would cost $450. Now add $80 for windows 10 for $530 total. Oh and it can't play 4K Blu Rays.


Look I 90% game on PC, but don't act like this is overpriced. You are just making PC gamers look dumb.
Lol, I can get windows 10 for $10. You'd have to be an idiot to pay full price. You do also realize that PC's without the 4k BD decoder can simply run it on the CPU, right? Of course, the system would have a decoder since every card in the RX series does. You sir have just had multiple levels of fail.
Posted on Reply
#70
Jism
RejZoRI don't understand the point of consoles anymore. They are entirely missing the point of them...
The PS3 is actually sitting as a netflix & Bluray player inside my living room. Supports Toshlink out (audio) and HDMI. It also support the HBO Go app on the PS3 but that seems only available for the US and not europe.

Not that i care about power usage and all that stuff (The slimline version), but the PS4 Pro seems like a solid and neath upgrade for my PS3.
Posted on Reply
#71
medi01
RejZoRI don't understand the point of consoles anymore. They are entirely missing the point of them...
Huh?
Sofa gaming.
Don't care about "new piece of silicon craaaaap just releazorzed by some f*cking f*ck".

What's wrong with it?

Or do you mean the part when they stopped jumping from CPU architecture to CPU architecture between generations?
What's wrong with backwards compatibility?
Posted on Reply
#72
Frick
Fishfaced Nincompoop
evernessinceLol, you really have no idea of the dual core in question. The G3258 has more than double the IPC per core compared to AMD's jaguar based processors. In addition, the G3258 can be overclocked very high with no effort on the stock heatsink. Go look at TechSpot review of games showing the G3258 within a few frames of i7 processors when overclocked. Not only will the system be snappier thanks to Intel much better single threaded performance but it will outperform an AMD processor in almost all games
Battlefield 1 runs very badly on a dual core no matter the settings. Around 30FPS. Expect more of the same from here on out.
Posted on Reply
#73
ZoneDymo
medi01Huh?
Sofa gaming.
Don't care about "new piece of silicon craaaaap just releazorzed by some f*cking f*ck".

What's wrong with it?

Or do you mean the part when they stopped jumping from CPU architecture to CPU architecture between generations?
What's wrong with backwards compatibility?
Well the point of consoles was always this one machine you bought that could run all the upcoming games and you would be set for a while without any problems.

Now we are seeing performance issues, need for patches and in this case an upgraded version of the same console you bought...
I mean sure you dont have to upgrade but everything is better on this newer version.
You say "Don't care about "new piece of silicon craaaaap just releazorzed by some f*cking f*ck"." yet that is exactly what this upgraded ps4 is about...
And then we have the focus on television with the Xbox One when that was launched and that a lot of people now use their consoles for other purposes then gaming.
You can call it a plus that consoles now can do more then ever, but its getting further and further away from indeed the point of a console, it just changes them in PC's.
Posted on Reply
#74
ZoneDymo
evernessinceLol, I can get windows 10 for $10. You'd have to be an idiot to pay full price. You do also realize that PC's without the 4k BD decoder can simply run it on the CPU, right? Of course, the system would have a decoder since every card in the RX series does. You sir have just had multiple levels of fail.
"You'd have to be an idiot to pay full price."
Yeah....if you are going to use that logic I might as well say the PS4 is going to be free because mine "fell of the back of the truck".
And I think he meant having a bluray player in your pc....

But apart form all of that, you are a bit slow I must say, this anti console debate has been had YEARS ago and its already "solved" with arguments, really no need to get into that dumb stuff again.
Posted on Reply
#75
Grings
I'm all for regular console updates, worst thing with PC gaming is when games get a lame port and have bad textures designed for 7+ year old hardware
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