I've been in multiple discussions in multiple threads all about the APU in the PS4. They all have common flow. Someone is glowing about PS4 uber-high-end qualities (usually centered on 8GB of GDDR5 ram) and me reminding them to keep in all in perspective that its still framed by an APU that contains mobile series CPU and GPU. This then follows with others going on about the GPU being just like the desktop GPUs and so on. Basically, I think many of you are falling for AMD marketing tricks rather than objectively looking at the hardware.

So, here is a full detailed explanation that hopefully will squash this and bring realization that yes, it is in fact more defined as a "mobile" or "laptop" or "low-power" series GPU than a desktop GPU.

First for reference my source is all AMD.

THIS IS THEIR LIST OF NETBOOK APUS
THIS IS THEIR LIST OF DESKTOP APUS
THIS IS THEIR SPECS OF HD7850 GPU
THIS IS THEIR SPECS OF HD7970M GPU
THIS IS WIKIPEDIA FOR GOOD TABLES FOR COMPARISON (shows other AMD chips as well with "D", "M", and "G" classifications)
COMPUTE UNITS

Now, let's pull a few out some of that info for comparison and add with that the APU known in PS4.

We know that "Jaguar" is the successor of "Bobcat". So PS4 is clearly using a downclocked notebook/mobile CPU. So there is no need to go into that further.

However, let's look at some of those GPUs and compare to the most common used GPU in relation to PS4's, the HD7850 and some of its kin.

Now let's look at those GPUs in the APUs. They are all CLEARLY not the same GPUs as their deskop counterparts with the same 4-digit numbers. The letters at the end clearly define major changes in the GPU.

Also note that NONE of the APUs use desktop GPUs. They are all reconfigured to be low-power. A desktop GPU is not low-power, however a mobile series GPU is.

Take a closer look at the differences between the PS4 GPU and the two other bolded GPUs. Seems pretty clear to me which one AMD would have chosen as the base. Especially when you consider the rumors that Sony was upping the TFLOPS to be closer to 2 vs the reported 1.84. Additionally that mobile series GPU has the low-power requirement they'd want in the APU.

PS4 GPU is a HD7970M that has 2 CUs removed and has been down-clocked.

You have to also keep in mind AMD stated they will sell this APU (less some Sony specifics) at retial. They would only do that if the general configuration was similar enough to an APU they would normally put out. Having the same mobile series CPUs and GPUs they'll be using in other APUs is that.

Most people have been using the HD7850 just because it was the first thing they noticed without looking more into it. However the "M" series is really the only logical conclusion.

The CPU will likely be pulling around 30W (two quad Jaguqrs) and the GPu will likely be around 70W. The entire APU will be up to a max of 100W.

EDIT: Didn't realize TDP may be being calculated differently and thought there were other differences to make that drop vs just lower clock speed. Didn't realize at first that HD7870 and HD7970M are identical cards except one is downclocked as I figured something else must be changed in back-end to make that drop in max power.

With that, saying its based on HD7850, HD7870, or HD7970M really isn't saying much different. Though I still think it makes more sense if coming from a higher card down, than adding to the 7850.

Also, by saying "mobile" I only meant what is in laptops... not cell phones.

Awww man superchunk you try so hard but fail so badly

Shinobi-san said: Awww man superchunk you try so hard but fail so badly

Really, how? I provided sources for everything.

Here is Superchunk 16 hours ago claiming the PS4 gpu is a 7850M:

After some nice schooling in this thread here:

http://gamrconnect.vgchartz.com/thread.php?id=157738&page=1#47

Shinobi-san and Netyarose set things straight.

oh nooo, I goofed off the top of my head which exact mobile series I knew it was... where now I spent time and pulled source info to make sure I was right.

Why not focus on OP?

You both argue its based off of the desktop HD7850 GPU I have in OP while ignoring the low-power point to an APU and simple logic that the HD7970M is a far closer fit while providing the low-power solution.

Nope if i stay here il probably get myself banned. I'm done here.

So you're point is, while it is so very nearly a desktop cpu, it's low power, which makes it a mobile that outperforms the desktop?

well, the 7970M is better than the 7850 (just look up any benchmarks), so I'm not sure what your point is

it's generating less heat, consumes less energy and has better performance, so it would be really good if the liverpool gpu was based on the 7970M