Sony playstation sizes. How PS4 differs from PS4 PRO and SLIM

For almost seven years, game console fans have been waiting for the release of a new version of their favorite console - this was noticeable on the first day of PS4 sales - more than a million consoles were sold in Japan and the United States alone. In this review, we will tell you about the appearance of the PS4 console, its technical characteristics, configuration, hardware and software.

Appearance and equipment Sony Playstation 4

PS4, as expected, is made in a minimalist style - the console is a small "obelisk" made of black plastic with a glossy surface. Of course, the gloss is easily scratched with active use, but the console looks just amazing, in a classic Japanese hi-tech design. PS4 can be installed both vertically and horizontally, this will not affect its functionality in any way, and the appearance will remain beautiful.

In addition to the set-top box itself, Sony supplies one DualShock 4 joystick-gamepad, an HDMI cable for connecting to a TV, four different power cables, two USB cables for charging PS4, a headset with one earphone, and instructions for use with the Playstation 4

Sony this time decided not to bother too much with the Playstation interfaces and provided the set-top box with only the most necessary connectors.

On the front of the PS4 are two ports for USB cables, as well as a BD drive, on the back there is an HDMI port, AUX, optical S / PDIF and RJ-45. By the way, in the new version of Sony Playstation, the set-top box can be connected to a TV only via HDMI, which most modern TVs have. The S / PDIF digital audio output will allow you to connect the console to a variety of sound systems, and the Ethernet port to the wired Internet, although the set-top box itself is also equipped with a Wi-Fi adapter with support for 802.11n.
PS4 specs and hardware

The new console from Sony is equipped with an 8-core AMD Jaguar processor with a clock speed of 1.6 GHz. In the new version, the developers decided to switch to using the standard x86 PC architecture. This step will allow video game developers to simplify the process of studying the hardware stuffing of the device, which will greatly facilitate the development process itself. The studios themselves pushed Sony to this step, pointing out the console architecture as the top priority. The developers have increased the memory capacity from 256 MB to 8 GB, which significantly improves the performance of the console.

The technical characteristics of the new Sony Playstation do not boggle the imagination and are average for PC hardware, this has certain advantages. Previous generations of PS suffered from severe overheating, which led to their rapid failure. The mobile hardware of the new PS4 will significantly reduce the heating of consoles, which will have a positive impact on their durability.

The Sony Playstation 4 optical drive operates at a constant rotational speed, allowing you to play both regular DVDs and Blu-Ray. It should be noted that the latter are the main carriers of video games and films for the console. It is obligatory to install games on the console's hard drive, the volume of which is 500 GB.

Let's list the technical characteristics of Sony Playstation 4:
- Processor: 8-core AMD Jaguar (x86-64) with a clock frequency of 1.6 GHz.
- Graphics: Latest generation AMD Radeon, 1.84 teraflops performance.
- Network connection: Ethernet (cable connection), IEEE 802.11 b / g / n (Wi-Fi), Bluetooth 2.1
- RAM: 8GB (GDDR5)
- Hard drive: 500 GB (replaceable).
Sony Playstation software

PS4 has a new shell interface with a minimalist design. This allows the console not to load the device's RAM for the needs of the interface - so you can make multiple downloads and play heavy games at the same time.

The software independently monitors the current updates and downloads them, this applies both to the firmware of the device itself and to updates of installed (or being installed) games.

Navigating the main menu is fluid and lag-free, which is an absolute improvement over the PS3 interface. In addition, the developers have given users the ability to take screenshots of games and post them to Facebook or Twitter.

The built-in PS4 browser deserves a special mention. Everything works smoothly, no flaws were noticed. Most sites open correctly. Although there is no support for Adobe Flash, many video browsers open and play. The browser supports the ability to work simultaneously with games, which will allow you to look at tips on the passage or other tips on the game at any time.

PS3 users faced a lot of difficulties due to the overloaded settings of the console. In PS4, the settings are so simplified and the optimization is so good that you probably won't have to use the settings.

The developers also thought about the localization of the device: the entire Playstation 4 interface has been translated into Russian, including the interactive instructions, so no one should have any problems with mastering the console.
Technical characteristics of Sony Playstation 4 allow you to play all games in Full HD resolution, while maintaining FPS at 30-60.

What can you say here - a standard set of ports, no frills.

Console Specifications Overview

Now let's take a look inside the ps4. Specifications are as follows:

CPU (processor) AMD Jaguar, 1.6 - 2.75 GHz (8 cores) 28nm process technology, L2 2x2 mb

GPU (graphics) AMD Radeon 800 MHz (GPU Cores - 1152) performance - 1.84 teraflops

8GB 5500MHz GDDR5, 176GB / s bandwidth, 256bit bus

Hard disk - 500 GB (408 GB available to the user)

DVD / Blu-Ray, 2x USB 3.0, HDMI 1.4, RJ-45, S / PDIF, IEEE 802.11 b / g / n

Bluetooth 2.1 (EDR)

Built-in power supply. It is noteworthy that the console does not get too hot and the operation of the cooling system is not audible over various sounds.

As you can see from the characteristics - the new playstation is extremely close in structure to a computer. You can decide that by assembling a similar PC according to the configuration, you will get about the same gaming system and that after 3 years this configuration will be outdated. There is one significant nuance here. In the case of a PC, the developer does not know exactly what configuration his game will run on. With ps4, this issue comes to naught - for its entire life cycle, the technical process changes to a more perfect one, and the configuration remains unchanged. Thus, games on a game console will almost always be better optimized, which is important.

Updated Dualshock gamepad

The updated controller deserves special attention, because there have been practically no cardinal changes since the first dualshok.

And the first thing that catches your eye during the review of the joystick is a large touch panel. As it turns out, it can be used in games and not only. Also on the front there is a built-in speaker that enhances the immersion effect in the game - all kinds of sounds will have to be heard from it. I will write, because so far, the use of the dynamics was found only in the first exclusive playstation 4 - KillZone: Shadow Fall.

Also, there are no more familiar select and start on the joystick - in their place are two new buttons options and share. By clicking the share button, you can instantly upload a screenshot or shoot a small video - a very convenient feature.

"Mushrooms" have found a notch, thanks to which they will not slip off so often now, and the L2 and R2 buttons have found greater emphasis and become even more convenient. The vibration strength is the same as that of its predecessor, the dualshock 3.

The back surface has become "rough" - the controller lies better in the hands, as well as a light indicator that changes color. He indicates, for example, the state of health. It is also recognized by the updated playstation eye camera. Unfortunately, this indicator works constantly. Thus, if you are used to playing in the dark, chances are that you will see colored glare on the screen. This is especially true for plasma TVs.

Added: With the release of firmware 2.50, it became possible to change the brightness of the controller backlight.

There is also a headset outlet and an expansion port. The built-in 1000 mAh battery lasts for 6-8 hours of continuous play. A little. The joystick transmits signals via Bluetooth 2.1.

The ability to use the set-top box with PS Vita

Good news for PS Vita owners. The handheld console can be used as an additional controller and screen. Of course, hardly anyone will use this often, but still, taking care of your customers is worthy of respect.

Next Generation Chips

UPD: At the moment, September 13, 2016, firmware 4.00 is relevant, which significantly changed the menu and functions of the console - a complete list of innovations in firmware 4.00 for playstation 4

What literally immediately after launching the monitored console is striking is the speed with which playstaton 4 reacts to your commands: it does so instantly. Feels like 10x faster than ps3. There are no downloads, pauses or long animations.

There is also a really convenient and truly next-gen function: the ability to play until the game is fully downloaded. By the way, the console can also download in sleep mode. Convenient considering the fact that ps4 games weigh 30-50 GB.

It also implemented something that was not on the consoles of the previous generation - full-fledged multitasking. Now you can interrupt the game, check the download status or the presence of a friend on the network and again, as if nothing had happened, return to the gameplay. All this will happen instantly. It feels like the console is tailored for games and everything around games.

As for the games themselves. The KillZone: shadow fall game that comes with the console looks great, the FPS feels in the range of 50-60 frames per second. The game never crashed, did not freeze, and in general there were no failures - everything is as it should be for a modern gaming system. And this is just the beginning of a hopefully long playstation 4 lifecycle.

Conclusion:

Playstation 4 leaves a very positive impression. It is fast, has a pleasant and intuitive interface, the controller is a new word in the gaming industry, although the battery runs out quickly. But in general, Playstation 4 deserves to be considered a representative of the new, 8th generation of game consoles.

If you have not yet decided whether you need a playstation 4 or not, then we have good news for you. You can rent a game console and, after playing a little (one week is enough), decide whether to buy it or not. We rent game consoles in the city of Minsk. Lists of available games, rental conditions and prices

Designed for gamers, inspired by the developers. PlayStation 4 has been designed from the ground up to provide players with the best gaming experience in a fully immersive experience.

The world's best developers now have the opportunity to reach their full potential and push the boundaries of games with a system designed specifically for their needs. PS4 gives players access to the vast PlayStation universe through console and mobile devices, as well as the PlayStation®Network (PSN) service. The PS4 will hit the shelves at the end of calendar 2013.

PlayStation 4 will be on sale at a price of $ 399, euros, or 17,990 rubles. The kit, in addition to the console itself and cables, will include a gamepad and headset. Separately, the upgraded PlayStation Eye will be sold, which will be distributed at a price of $ 59.99 or euros. The console will initially be available in a black color called Jet Black.

The PS4's system architecture is powerful and easy for developers. At the heart of the PS4 is a powerful 8-core "x86-64" CPU and the latest GPU.
The greatly improved graphics processing unit (GPU) was created to simplify general computing (GPGPU) such as simulating the physical environment. The GPU contains a unified set of 18 computing units that collectively deliver 1.84 teraflops of performance that can be freely used for graphics, simulation, and combinations thereof.

The new headset not only has a new connection to DUALSHOCK 4, but it will also be found FREE OF CHARGE in all PS4 starter kits.

The PS4 is equipped with 8GB of GDDR5 * RAM, making it easy to develop games and increase the richness of content suitable for the platform. The system has 176 Gb / s bandwidth, which further accelerates the processing of graphics data, as a result, gamers expect new games with rich, high-quality graphics and a full effect that will exceed all expectations.

The GotPS3 administration clarified in the Russian office of SCEE: the new console of the PalyStation family will have a built-in power supply. The mains connection will be via a standard power cord similar to PS3 Slim cords.

Specifications

CPU:

Dedicated single-chip processor
CPU: AMD "Jaguar" 8-core x86-64 low power processor
GPU: AMD RadeonTM Graphics Core Next 1.84 teraflops

Memory:

8GB GDDR5 (1 GB reserved for OS needs)

HDD:

500 Gb (built-in)

Dimensions:

275 × 53 × 305 mm (width x height x length)

about 2.8 kg.

Drive unit:

BD 6xCAV
DVD 8xCAV

Input Output:

Super-Speed \u200b\u200bUSBx (USB 3.0) port × 2
AUX port × 1

Net:

Ethernet (10BASE-T, 100BASE-TX, 1000BASE-T)
IEEE 802.11 b / g / n
Bluetooth® 2.1 (EDR)

HDMI
Digital output (optical)

* GDDR5 (Graphics Double Data Rate) is the 5th generation of DDR SDRAM designed for high bandwidth applications. Unlike its predecessor, GDDR4, GDDR5 is based on DDR3 memory, which has twice the bandwidth of DDR2 DQ (Digital Quest), but GDDR5 also has 8-bit prefetch buffers like GDDR4.

Comparison of data transfer rates of DDR3 and GDDR5 memory

DDR3-2133 - 17,066 MB / s (Peak data transfer rate with 64-bit addressing)

GDDR5 - 40,000 MB / s (The CK pin is supplied with a clock frequency of 1.25 GHz, and WCK with a frequency of 2.5 GHz)

Instant gaming experience

PS4 provides users with instant access to content: the console has a special "slowdown mode" that puts the system in a power saving mode, saving the game session. No more waiting for your console to finish loading and launching your saved game! On PS4, the user just needs to press the power button to instantly return to the game, which will continue exactly from the moment at which it was stopped. In addition, while playing on PS4, users can download various applications, including an Internet browser. On PS4, games can be downloaded and updated in the background and even "hibernation". Moreover, the system allows you to play a game that is in the boot process. After purchasing the game, the console downloads some of the data so that the user can immediately start playing while the remaining data is downloaded in the background.

New controller - DUALSHOCK 4

A new built-in motion sensor provides highly accurate control, and the controller's touchpad opens up new ways to interact with games. A built-in speaker reproduces background sounds, and a headphone jack lets you hear an accurate sound picture and chat with friends. Improved paired analog sticks provide precise and comfortable control. With a single click of the new SHARE button, you can upload images and videos to Facebook.

Specifications

Ports:

USB (Micro B), expansion port, stereo headset jack

Additional features:

Light Bar, Vibration, Built-in Mono Speaker

2-point capacitive touch panel with push mechanism

Motion Sensor:

Six-axis motion detection system (three-axis gyroscope, three-axis accelerometer)

Dimensions:

162 mm x 52 mm x 98 mm (length x height x depth)
(presumably ignoring protruding parts)

Approx. 210 g

Wireless connection:

Bluetooth® Ver2.1 + EDR

Games in the "clouds"

As a result of the introduction of Gaikai Inc's cloud technology into the PlayStation Network, SCE intends to make various games free to play. In the future, having seen an interesting game in the PlayStation Store, the user will have access to a part of it, which can be played immediately. This will be a full-fledged demo version of the game, not a stripped down one. Through the joint efforts of Gaikai and the PlayStation Store, gamers will be able to try the games they like and only pay for the ones they like. PlayStation Network and cloud technology expand the possibilities available to PlayStation users. SCE is exploring the unique possibilities of cloud technology with the long-term goal of making PlayStation Libraries, including a stunning, unmatched catalog of over 3,000 PS3 titles ** available on PS4 anytime, anywhere.

PlayStation 4 games

PlayStation 4 will receive support from 505 developers, including such world giants as Square Enix (Kingdom Hearts III and Final Fantasy XV), Blizzard Entertainment (Diablo III), Ubisoft (Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag, Watch Dogs), 2K Sports (NBA 2K14 ), Bethesda Games Studios (The Elder Scrolls Online), Warner Bros. Entertainment (Mad Max) and others. As of June 2013, 110 games are in development.

The following games will be released for PS4 in the near future:

... Killzone: Shadow Fall: As an elite Shadow Marshal, you must prevent a new conflict between the Helghast and Vectans from erupting.
... Infamous: SecondSon: Set in Seattle. New Hero - Delsin Rowe - has the ability to control smoke.
... #DriveClub: The new masterpiece from EvolutionStudios is packed with impressive social features, stunning graphics and some of the planet's best supercars.
... Knack: In this thrilling adventure, you can harness the power of ancient relics to transform into a giant war machine.
... Watch Dogs: Take full control of a city where everything is connected to a single network.
... The Witness: The latest puzzle game from Braid creator Jonathan Blow.
... Destiny: An innovative first-person shooter from BungieStudios.
... Also in development for the new system are Capcom's Deep Down and Blizzard's Diablo III.

After the resounding success of the PlayStation 3, which was released by the world famous Japanese company Sony back in 2007, everyone was waiting for the continuation. And now, after six long years of waiting, the Japanese gave birth to a novelty - the fourth generation PlayStation 4. The characteristics of this model exceeded all expectations, and at the time of its release, the console had no analogues or competitors. This allowed sales of the set-top box to skyrocket to unprecedented heights, which brought significant profits to the manufacturer.

Key Console Features

Let's take a closer look at the console: what is the PlayStation 4? The characteristics of the new console correspond to all modern realities and even slightly exceed them. Here are the basic data:

The new console is powered by an x86-64 AMD Jaguar processor, which is as powerful as the best computer counterparts and has 8 cores.
For video playback, the graphics core from AMD is responsible, issuing 1.84 teraflops
The RAM is 8 gigabytes, the GDDR5 generation.
The total amount of memory is 500 GB, if desired, the hard drive can be replaced.
From the input-output devices, a full-fledged 6xCAV Blu-ray drive can be distinguished, as well as the presence of USB 3.0 and AUX outputs.
The console can connect to the network via Ethernet that supports 10BASE-T, 100BASE-TX, 1000BASE-T protocols, wireless systems that support IEEE 802.11 b / g / n, and Bluetooth 2.1.
The set-top box has HDMI, digital and analog outputs.

In short, the new console has everything that even the most sophisticated and demanding player needs.

As for joysticks, they can also please players. Joysticks are now wireless, have dimensions of 162 x 52 x 98 mm and a fairly low weight - 210 g. They are very comfortable in the hands and are practically not felt. Plus, the lack of wires also plays a role - now you can play at any distance from the console. In general, the joysticks are packed with the latest technology and are not inferior in functionality to the console itself. Among the buttons you can see PS, share, options, direction of movement, actions, R1 / L1 / R2 / L2, left stick / L3, right stick / R3. In addition to the buttons, the joystick has a capacitive touchpad that supports up to two points simultaneously. The touchpad is fully clickable. The joystick has a built-in six-axis gyroscope. In addition, it has a light bar to make it look even more attractive, the joystick supports vibration and has a built-in microphone for communicating with other players while playing or recording streams. The joystick has USB, Extention outputs and a headphone jack, so you can connect everything you need to it if you want. The gamepad is connected to the set-top box via Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR. The battery on the joystick is a classic lithium-ion battery that can withstand quite a long time without recharging.

The PlayStation 4 comes with an updated PlayStation 4 Eye camera with external dimensions of 186 x 27 x 27 mm. Its characteristics are also quite worthy of respect:

It can shoot videos at a resolution of 1200 x 800 pixels and 60 frames per second in video formats such as RAW and YUV. There are also shooting modes with a resolution of 640 x 400 at 120 frames per second, 320 x 190 and at 240 frames per second, which allows you to choose the optimal quality, which is convenient for you.
The camera is equipped with dual lenses with a fixed focus and a capture range of 30 cm.
The review of the updated video camera is 85 degrees, which is quite a lot.
The camera has a four-channel microphone that picks up even the quietest sounds.
The camera is connected to the console via AUX. The cable is two meters long, so you can place the camera wherever you like.

And this is not all the innovations, there are an incredible number of them. If you list them all, then this article is not enough. You can learn about additional innovations in the software plan in the second half of the article.

Design

So, you have already familiarized yourself with the main innovations in the PlayStation 4. The characteristics, you see, are impressive. As for the appearance, everything is fine here too. The dimensions of the new console are 275 x 53 x 305 mm, and the weight is about 2.8 kg. The appearance of the console is quite classic - straight lines and a slightly sloping design, in short, nothing more. It fully complies with the principle of Japanese minimalism. The body of the console has the form of three layers of blocks, which symbolize the power and reliability of the console. In the center of the top panel, you can see the glossy manufacturer's logo. On the front panel of the set-top box, you can see two USB outputs.

If you want something special, then today there is a fairly large number of various customized models of consoles, among which you can choose any, everything depends on what you like best

Benefits over other consoles

The main competitor of the Japanese console is still the brainchild of Microsoft - the Xbox. By and large, the set-top boxes are quite similar and it's hard to say which one is better. It is best to leave this question to the judgment of gamers, because each of the consoles has its own advantages and disadvantages, and, accordingly, each of them has its own army of fans who consider the competitor's product something unworthy of attention.

New console features

What else can the new PlayStation 4 boast about? The characteristics have already been considered, the design too, it remains to see the new possibilities of the software type. And here, too, there is where to roam:

The console has been made as convenient as possible for developers of new games, significantly reducing the time required to create them, as well as their budget. This will allow even small game development companies to promote their creations to gamers with minimal effort. As a result, it will receive a serious impetus for development.
While the game is downloading from PlayStation Store, you don't have to sit and stare at the download bar with a bored face. It is now possible to start playing the digital version of the game as soon as it is downloaded.
You can update the software even while the console is off.
Now there is a new "smart pause" mode. It allows you to continue playing from the point where you left the game, immediately after turning on the console. This means that even a lack of time will not interfere with your progress in the game - you can pause, turn off the console, and then turn it on and continue playing from the same place.
The newest Gaikai system is now available, which will give you a try to play the game in the store before buying it. After all, no one wants to buy a pig in a poke, right?
You can watch in real time what your friends are playing.
In the store, you can now immediately see a list of your recommendations. It is built based on your purchases in the PlayStation Store, which, you see, is very convenient.
Now there is a new service Ustream, which allows you to stream games in real time. And if you encounter difficulties, then you can easily ask your friends for help, who will tell you how best to go through this or that moment of the game.
The console menu is now multitasking: while playing, you can use other applications, for example, access the Internet.
With the PlayStation App, you can connect to the console using the PlayStation Vita and PS Vita TV. Alternatively, you can connect to the console using your phone.
The console comes with a standard headset and a 500 GB hard drive, which can be replaced with any other if desired.
The console finally lifted the regional restrictions, so you will no longer encounter letters such as PAL and NTSC.

Differences from previous versions

The specifications of the PlayStation 4 differ significantly from those of the previous version. The software is also quite different. Technically, the console has become much more powerful - everything from the processor to the RAM has improved. An important fact was that the manufacturer abandoned the processors that were used in previous models, and adopted a computer processor.

In addition, the new joysticks are different. An important update was the appearance of the Share button, which makes it possible to share the best moments of your game with friends and acquaintances or stream the game in real time.

Console modifications

Today there are several different modifications of the Sony PlayStation 4, the characteristics of which differ slightly. Today, the largest population is used by modifications such as Neo, Slim and Pro. Each of them has its own characteristics.

PlayStation 4 Pro

One of the modifications can be called a console whose characteristics differ from the standard. It shows higher performance due to the updated "filling". The technical characteristics of the PlayStation 4 Pro are as follows:

Full 4K support. Now the graphics of the games will be impressive.
The hard drive is increased to a terabyte.
The graphics core has been improved more than 2 times to expand the graphics capabilities of games.
Full 1080p resolution.

As you can see, there are enough changes. If we compare the standard console and the PlayStation 4 Pro, the characteristics of the latter are significantly higher than the original, especially the visual component. In addition, the pro version boasts an additional USB port on the back. The new console is scheduled for release in November 2016.

PlayStation 4 Slim

Another modification of the console is the PlayStation 4 Slim. Its characteristics have not changed, as in the previous slim-versions of consoles. The only thing that has changed is the dimensions of the console. It has become much smaller. Its dimensions have become smaller by a third, and its size has decreased by a quarter. All this made it possible to significantly reduce power consumption and reduce noise levels. The new set-top box is equipped with USB 3.1 ports, Wi-Fi a / b / g / n / ac with the ability to connect via Bluetooth 4.0. In addition, the slim version of the console is cheaper than the original one.

Playstation 4 neo

Sony has created a high-end console called PlayStation 4 Neo, its characteristics are somewhat different from the original. The first thing that catches your eye is the seriously revised graphics. Now, if your TV allows it, you can enjoy full 4K in all games. True, at the moment, only games released in the fall of 2016 are meant, but the Japanese promise to finalize everything. TVs that support the FullHD system will also be subject to improvements - now they will have a higher stable frame rate, and the graphics detail will be higher.

The processor in this modification will be more powerful and maintain a clock speed of 2.1 GHz, which will speed up the console by a third. The power of the graphics core was more than doubled, and its clock frequency increased by more than a hundred megahertz. In addition, the throughput of the RAM was increased by a quarter, which is also important. Plus, an additional 512 megabytes of memory was allocated for games. All this made it possible to raise the image resolution to full-fledged 2160p. The updated console is scheduled for release in October 2016.

The first official presentation of the new console of the PlayStation family took place in February this year. From that moment to this day, the next game console from Sony has not ceased to grow more and more details.

Of course, a lot is still unknown today, including even the appearance of the console and its price. Sony will tell about all this already at the E3 conference (will be held in June) or even a little earlier.

Nevertheless, the main technical characteristics of the PlayStation 4 are already known for certain. It is about them that will be discussed in this article.

Central processing unit and graphics

AMD is now responsible for the CPU and GPU for the new Sony gaming system. These two key components are combined on a single chip (APU), which provides a number of advantages that have a positive impact on performance. AMD itself says that the APU, which is the heart, will be the most powerful device in its class that has ever been created.

The central processing unit ("Jaguar") has eight computing cores, x86 architecture. The frequency of each core is 2 GHz. Recall that the PS3 had only one powerful core operating at 3.2 GHz and seven auxiliary cores, of which only six were available to developers.

The choice of the x86 architecture (that is, the architecture of personal computers) instead of the more specialized Cell means that the new PlayStation will not only be noticeably more powerful than its predecessor, but will also become much more friendly to developers, significantly reducing the cost of porting games, both from PC to PS4, and and back.

At the same time, the quality of these ports will already be utterly higher, as the game creators themselves say, because they no longer have to prepare their projects for two completely different architectures.

The technical characteristics and power of the graphics processor of the new PlayStation, by the most conservative estimates, exceed the performance of its predecessor from the PS3 by more than 4 times. This information was shared by nVidia during the GDC 2013 conference, which, although it does not make GPUs for new consoles, still owns the information.

According to the slide above, which was demonstrated at the conference, the graphics processor of the new PlayStation 4 will be slightly more powerful than its counterpart from the next, as yet unannounced, Xbox version and will significantly exceed the power of the PS3.

On the other hand, the PS4 GPU will be almost three times weaker than the most powerful of the solutions that are present on the personal computer market today - the GeForce Titan. A clarification should be made here: the cost of the Titan is still about one thousand dollars, while the entire PS4, along with the periphery, according to unofficial reports, will cost no more than $ 500.

However, within a few years the Titan's performance level will be available in much more affordable devices, while the key specifications of the PlayStation 4 or any other console are fixed at the same level. This fact must also be taken into account.

Note that there are obvious inaccuracies on the nVidia slide. For example, according to the company, the performance of the PS3 and Xbox 360 is at exactly the same level, although in reality the Xbox 360 GPU is slightly weaker.

In view of this, a number of sources are more credible at once, claiming that the PlayStation 4's performance will be 1.84 TFLOPS. For comparison, PS3 produces 218 gigaflops, which is about 8.5 times less.

At the same time, the GPU of the fourth PlayStation supports all the features of DirectX 11 and OpenGL 4.0.

RAM

The amount of RAM in the PlayStation 4 will be 8 GB. That's 16 times more than the PS3 and four times more than the first eighth generation game console from Nintendo, released in late 2012.

Interestingly, according to Steam statistics, more than 60% of PCs of users of this digital store today have much less RAM on board (usually 4 GB). However, these indicators are changing rapidly:

Such a large amount of high-speed memory will finally untie the hands of developers, allowing them to create huge, non-linear levels and entire game worlds with many NPCs.

Unlike the Wii U, the new Xbox and other consoles, the PlayStation 4 will be equipped with GDDR5 memory, which today is only used in flagship video cards for personal computers. The bandwidth of such memory is several times higher than that of competitors.

DualShock and PlayStation Eye

The new console game controller - DualShock 4 differs from its predecessor in the built-in speaker, headset jack, touch panel in the center with a resolution of 1920 × 900 and a special light indicator. The latter will help the camera to identify the player during team play, and will also serve as a health indicator.

Interestingly, it will be possible to charge the DualShock 4 even when the console itself is turned off, and the L2 / R2 keys on it are specially curved in order to prevent accidental rewinding in the player.

In the DualShock 4, among other innovations, an analogue of the PrtScr button will appear on the keyboards of ordinary PCs, which will be able not only to instantly take screenshots of the gameplay, but also record up to 15 minutes of video of the gameplay. Subsequently, the recorded content, the user can easily transfer to his friends.

With some very significant innovations, the DualShock 4 is only 18 grams heavier than its predecessor.

The PS4 Eye now uses two high-sensitivity cameras at once, each with a resolution of 1280x800.

This is almost twice the resolution of the only camera in the previous version. The new PS4 Eye can be used to log into the system, voice recognition, making it possible to control the console with voice commands.

Other important facts

The PlayStation 4 will be the first gaming console to fully utilize the cloud (thanks to Sony's acquisition of Gaikai last year). Thanks to them, even without backward compatibility, it will be able to play games for previous versions of the PlayStation. In the near future, the same technology will be tested to run games on PS, whose technical specifications exceed the capabilities of the console itself. Finally, the capabilities of the Gaikai service will be used to play simultaneously between the desktop PlayStation and the portable PS Vita.

The PlayStation software limit for no more than 100 friends will be significantly raised with the release of the fourth version of the console.

In addition, the PlayStation 4 is switching to USB 3.0, due to which the data transfer speed in this way will increase several times.

The console is also equipped with a new Blu-ray drive, which has a read speed three times faster than its predecessor from the PS3.

PlayStation 4 will retain full compatibility with the unusual PlayStation Move accessory, which allows you to control games on the move.

The amount of internal storage of the PlayStation 4 is still unknown. But, apparently, it will be at least 500 GB, although representatives of Sony unofficially mentioned the presence of an even more capacious disk.

Due to the too high cost of switching to (read / write speed is many times higher than traditional HDDs), it is not yet expected, although subsequent PS4 modifications will probably come with them. Sony already has experience in this direction. In 2012, the company released a special revision of the PS3 Super Slim equipped with a small 12GB SSD.

Installing a more capacious drive of this type was simply not allowed by its price, which would have sharply increased the price of the console itself. However, SSD prices are gradually going down.

Finally, contrary to many rumors, the PlayStation 4 will not require a constant network connection.

This information was personally confirmed by the head of Sony Worldwide Studios.

The PlayStation 4 is expected to launch later this year.