Quick answer: The PlayStation 5 will come with a Radeon Navi graphics card that is capable of 8k resolution and supports ray tracing. However, the exact value of the processing power is still unknown.
PlayStation 3 vs PlayStation 4 graphics
Due to the PlayStation 3 processor, it was quite difficult to provide sufficient graphics power. However, Sony took up this challenge and began to push the limits of the CPU. It cannot be said that they managed to reach great heights, but there are some results. Sony used the RSX “reality synthesizer” to evaluate performance. The result is 400 gigaflops, which is 0.4 teraflops. This is all that a custom 8-core wideband engine for the CPU was capable of, and in fact it additionally performed some of the graphics calculations. This architecture was relevant and performed well in PS2, but its modernization in PS3 proved to be difficult and not effective enough.
When composing the PlayStation 4, Sony opted for a processor and graphics card, which are easier to work with. The console uses an AMD Jaguar CPU and an AMD-based GPU (Radeon). The same strategy is followed by the developers in the PS5.
For comparison, what video card is used in the PlayStation 4 Pro?
The Pro version of the console is now equipped with an AMD Radeon GPU with 4.2 teraflops of processing power. It is enough to display games in 4k resolution at 60 fps. True, not at the same time. Most of the time, you can see 4k at 30fps or 1080p at 60fps. And 4k itself is “checkerboarded”, that is, not native, but close to the real resolution.
What is a teraflop?
To give a simple answer to a complex question, you probably need to say – this is the value of how fast a GPU is. The more teraflops the GPU issues on the console, the faster the device can perform graphics calculations.
The most powerful PlayStation 4 Pro to date has received 4.2 teraflops of power. At the same time, Xbox One X can produce almost half more – 6 teraflops. Both consoles are the fastest on the market. The power of the standard PS4 version is only 1.8 teraflops, while the custom Xbox One has 1.3 teraflops. From common rumors, it can be concluded that the PlayStation 5 GPU will have 8 to 12 terafplops. There is no official confirmation.
What is 8k resolution and ray tracing?
Mark Cerny, the PlayStation architect who worked on the PS4 and PS5, has announced support for the new generation of consoles for 8k resolution and ray tracing. This information has opened the veil of secrecy and gives the first idea of the upcoming console. However, this will mean nothing if both technologies are not understood.
8K resolution is the quality of rendering the visual details of the game and the sharpness of the image. It is 4 times higher than 4k and 16 times better – FullHD (1080p). The specified resolution allows you to see details that would be impossible to show at a lower picture quality.
Ray tracing is an imaging technique that improves apparent fidelity by modulating light. The rays of the “sun” interact with virtual objects, as it were, to achieve 3D illumination. It allows you to make the world even more realistic. Now this technology is used exclusively in Hollywood films.