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[pelican]

http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/digitalfoundry-spec-analysis-xbox-one

Digital Foundry's impression of the xbox one and PS4 comparison.

Enjoy.

 

[BlazingDarkness]

Xboned.

 

[gofreak]

Re. the thread title:

PS4's GPU is 50% more powerful than Xbox's.

Xbox's GPU is 33% less powerful than PS4's.

 

[itsgreen]

In this thread Topic Starter doesn't know that 50% more for one is not the same as 50% less for the other....

 

[badcrumble]

It might be best for the Anandtech thread to get merged with this one and the OP edited to include bits of both, but no, I don't think there's a thread for this yet.

This article's somewhat less about the tech and more about interesting speculation on how each company got to the specs they have today, though, which (IMO) is an interesting discussion and perhaps ought to remain separate from the one specifically about the tech merits. I wouldn't mind seeing this thread stick around for that purpose.

 

[MoeB]

Talkin about who you gon squabble with and who you shoot,
You're only 60 pounds when you're wet and wearin boots.

 

[cyberheater]

No console has a 100% utilisation anyway.

 

[Soviet]

Re. the thread title:

PS4's GPU is 50% more powerful than Xbox's.

Xbox's GPU is 33% less powerful than PS4's.

wat

 

[TacticalFox88]

Welp. That about wraps it up for the Console wars.

 

[macewank]

misleading thread title.. 50% more power on the GPU and 2x CU/ROP != twice as much power.

 

[Karsticles]

So Xbox One / Wii U multiplats?

 

[MikeE21286]

Interesting Part on the memory, GPU, and price:

In terms of the GPU hardware, hard information was difficult to come by, but one of the engineers did let slip with a significant stat - 768 operations per clock. We know that both Xbox One and PlayStation 4 are based on Radeon GCN architecture and we also know that each compute unit is capable of 64 operations per clock. So, again through a process of extrapolation from the drip-feed of hard facts, the make-up of the One's GPU is confirmed - 12 compute units each capable of 64 ops/clock gives us the 768 total revealed by Microsoft and thus, by extension, the 1.2 teraflop graphics core. So that's another tick on the Durango leaked spec that has been transposed across to the final Xbox One architecture and the proof we need that PlayStation 4's 18 CU graphics core has 50 per cent more raw power than the GPU in the new Microsoft console. Now, bearing in mind that we fully expect PlayStation 4 and Xbox One to launch at similar price-points, how did this disparity come about? Now, bearing in mind that we fully expect PlayStation 4 and Xbox One to launch at similar price-points, how did this disparity come about?

The answer to that comes down to a specific gamble Sony made that Microsoft could not - the utilisation of a unified pool of GDDR5 memory. In the early days of PS4 development, only 2GB of this type of memory looked viable for a consumer-level device. As higher density modules became available, this was duly upgraded to 4GB. By the time of the reveal back in February, Sony had confidence that it could secure volume of 512MB modules and surprised everyone (even developers) by announcing that PS4 would ship with 8GB of unified GDDR5 RAM. The design of its surrounding architecture would not need to change throughout this process - one set of 16 GDDR5 chips would simply be swapped out for another.

Microsoft never had the luxury of this moving target. With multimedia such a core focus for its hardware, it set out to support 8GB of RAM from day one (at the time giving it a huge advantage over the early PS4 target RAM spec) and with serious volume of next-gen DDR4 unattainable in the time window, it zeroed in on supporting DDR3 and doing whatever was necessary to make that work on a console. The result is a complex architecture - 32MB of ESRAM is added to the processor die, along with "data move engines" to courier information around the system as quickly as possible with bespoke encode/decode hardware to alleviate common bottlenecks. Bottom line: if you're wondering why Xbox One has a weaker GPU than PlayStation 4, it's because both platform holders have similar silicon budgets for the main processor - Sony has used the die-space for additional compute units and ROPs (32 vs. 16 in One), while Microsoft has budgeted for ESRAM and data move engines instead. From the Xbox perspective, it's just unfortunate for Microsoft that Sony's gamble paid off - right up until the wire, it was confident of shipping with twice the amount of RAM as PlayStation 4.

 

[fluffydelusions]

Those DF face offs will be pretty pointless now? Though I suspect multiplats will look the same pretty much now

 

[Lunar15]

Am I the weird one in thinking the lack of a huge graphical leap could be good in keeping costs low and forcing developers to come up with interesting game ideas rather than spend years on a new engine?

I dunno, maybe I'm just backwards.

 

[tajd]

is the wii u more powerful than the XB1 ?

 

[2MF]

Huh?

Percentages.

 

[TheExodu5]

wat

Yes.

Asigning arbitrary numbers:
XBOne = 100
PS4 = 150

150 is 150% of 100.
100 is 66.6% of 150.

 

[WHOAguitarninja]

wat

That is how math works.

 

[badcrumble]

Interesting Part on the memory, GPU, and price:

Yeah, that was the bit I was referring to. This set of specs makes a lot more sense if you understand that Microsoft's multimedia-heavy goals were set in stone a while ago and that that gave them much less flexibility with regard to designing the console.

 

[tha_devil]

wat

maths

 

[StuBurns]

 

[mysteriousmage09]

Much weaker GPU.
Much slower RAM.
Less RAM available for games.
Most likely more CPU cores reserved for non-gaming tasks then PS4.

Boom.

 

[BruiserBear]

That's quite a power gap.

and yet I keep hearing the gaming press say things like "they're pretty much the same".

 

[DragonSworne]

Given the similar architecture and the movement toward compute, there will be less chance of "wizardy" for a title built for Xbox One to look better than a PS4 game.

The console is just too weak for a developer to overcome the gap between the two systems.

 

[GANGSTERKILLER]

Will read later. Digital Foundry is the best.

 

[pelican]

It might be best for the Anandtech thread to get merged with this one and the OP edited to include bits of both, but no, I don't think there's a thread for this yet.

Yeah mate I agree. There is another DF thread too. I think we both posted at the same time;p

 

[Durante]

I think this "gamble" idea is a bit oversold. There are roadmaps for memory manufacturing, and it's not a "gamble" to assume that technology improves.

That's why I always found it so hard to believe that people in past next-gen speculation threads doubted even 4 GB GDDR5 for 2013 boxes.

 

[badcrumble]

wat

150 is 50% more than 100 (it is one-and-a-half times 100).

100 is 33% less than 150 (it is two-thirds of 150).

edit: beaten

 

[diffusionx]

There's really no doubt that the PS4 is significantly more powerful - a larger gap than we all thought a year or two ago.

The question is, will developers take advantage of it? Sony's studios will. What about everybody else?

 

[Ghost]

One of the best avatar quotes ever, congrats.

 

[Toma]

Interesting Part on the memory, GPU, and price:

That was cool to read

There's really no doubt that the PS4 is significantly more powerful - a larger gap than we all thought a year or two ago.

The question is, will developers take advantage of it? Sony's studios will. What about everybody else?

Even if only Sonys first party studios will make a difference. If people see an imminent (launch day titles) leap of PS4->720 that is about as big as 720->WiiU, its going to be disastrous for MS.

 

[nico1982]

Huh?

Yep. If you have two apples and I have three, I have one apple more than you. One apple is half of your total amount of apples. This mean I have 50% more apples than you. At the same time, you have one apple less than me. One apple is one third of my total amount of apples. This mean you have 33% less apples than me.

 

[uuaschbaer]

If the law of diminishing returns is true then 50% isn't very noticeable. That may then also be why people say that each generation speed/power multiplies by a factor of 40 or so.

 

[Stumpokapow]

wat

Imagine the Xbox One has 100 power units and the PS4 has 150 power units.

The PS4 is 50% more powerful than the Xbox One. 150/100 = 1.5
The Xbox One is 33% less powerful than the PS4. 100/150 = 0.66

Do you understand?


Edit: OMG beaten at least three times.

 

[DieH@rd]

All the old VGLeaks/DF/EDGE rumors were correct.

Sony created optimized gaming machine with most simple possible architecture imaginable, MS created capable all-in-one entertainment box.

 

[iceatcs]

That's quite a power gap.

and yet I keep hearing the gaming press say things like "they're pretty much the same".

yeah, i think it is a xbox 360 power gap between PS4 and Xbox One. Quite a gap. I dunno if it will translate to gaming too.

 

[badcrumble]

That's quite a power gap.

and yet I keep hearing the gaming press say things like "they're pretty much the same".

In terms of architectural design, sure, they're probably closer than any two consoles have been in the past.

In terms of the amount of power available to that architecture, though, not even close.

 

[dragonfart28]

Wow, with that power gap, MS is sure to release this console at $299!!!

And Sony will release theirs no higher than $399!!!


It's everyone's wish come true!


Too bad the real pricing for XBOX One will be $399.99 and PS4 will be $449.99.

 

[Htown]

That's quite a power gap.

and yet I keep hearing the gaming press say things like "they're pretty much the same".

the days of gaming press knowing what the fuck they're talking about are long behind us

 

[HazardBob]

Interesting Part on the memory, GPU, and price:

In other words, Sony got lucky GDDR5 production went smoothly (or they just took a big risk).

Will be interesting to see if Durango GPU will have boosted it's clockspeeds, as it's not confirmed yet. If it is, then performance gap with PS4 will not be as big. Although clock speeds can only do so much and it's very bad for power performance.

I personally doubt it will be anything else than the 1.2 TFLOPS as has been rumoured.

edit:

Behind the cooler we have a standard 2.5-inch hard drive. Microsoft says that it's not user-replaceable, meaning that 500GB is your lot in terms of internal storage

wat the actual fuck

 

[Takamura-San]

Can someone please do a gamecube calculation for those that don't speak tech talk?

 

[StuBurns]

That's quite a power gap.

and yet I keep hearing the gaming press say things like "they're pretty much the same".

It'll be interesting to see what Brad says on the bombcast next week. He's been saying they're the same for six months, and DF is the only tech source he ever mentions on the show.

 

[shinra-bansho]

Essentially the rumors were right on the mark, with no major changes that I can tell.

 

[hardcastlemccormick]

I think this "gamble" idea is a bit oversold. There are roadmaps for memory manufacturing, and it's not a "gamble" to assume that technology improves.

That's why I always found it so hard to believe that people in past next-gen speculation threads doubted even 4 GB GDDR5 for 2013 boxes.

From what it sounds like, it is reasonable to call it a "gamble" to assume price/availability will improve under such a small window of time. A lot of it is interpretation of assumption though.

 

[kurtrussell]

News just in: Xbox One is two Xbox 360s duct-taped together.

Also: Something something something slow ram.

Awwww man, I wish I had some good jifs for this.

 

[Carpe Diem]

Talkin about who you gon squabble with and who you shoot,
You're only 60 pounds when you're wet and wearin boots.

Damn EZE they tried to fade you on Dre Day.

 

[andycapps]

The 33% way of looking at it seems like a glass half full approach. The 50% figure makes more sense to me.

 

[Mr_Antimatter]

It seems they are betting the farm that TV integration and apps will make up for any lack of power on the gaming side. A almost nintendo like gamble on novelty over performance.

I can see this working well in parts of the USA, but I can't imagine this working too much in the rest of the world. For those who don't watch Live TV, or don't have cable boxes, this also seems pretty much worthless.

 

[TheExodu5]

Can someone please do a gamecube calculation for those that don't speak tech talk?

If the XBone has 10 GameCube GPUs, the PS4 has 15 GameCube GPUs.

Lots of duct tape is involved.

 

[Krakn3Dfx]

Constant camera/mic access to your living space = 100% more insidious.