| timmah said: If this is accurate, looks like it'll be a very good system. One point I see, most games are not able to effectively utilize more than 4 CPU cores, so I assume a portion of the cores will be used for background tasks, kinect, in game skype, and other general compute/os tasks outside of the game. If this is the case, a 1.6GHz core is not the 'beast' CPU that some expected, especially if only a portion of the 8 cores will actually be used by the game. |
There is 1 problem: The rumored specs of PS4 best the Durango on nearly every front that counts.
4-core AMD APU, paired with an 18 Compute Unit 800mhz HD7870 style GPU (HD7970M derived) means it will smoke the Durango on the CPU and GPU fronts. 8GB of DDR3 system memory means little if PS4's GPU has 50% more processing power and comes with 4GB of GDDR5. More dedicated very fast GPU VRAM is better than more slower system memory.
PS3 was not able to convincingly pull away from Xbox 360 graphically overall (although its exclusive might arguably be better looking for some) because the GPU was weaker than 360's and the RSX was crippled due to 256MB of dedicated GPU memory. If Sony's GPU is 50% more powerful and has access to over 2GB of GDDR5 directly, that would be a huge advantage for Sony's console. Unlike Nintendo's consoles, MS's first party games are too few and extremely narrow in terms of genres (mostly shooters). If PS4 has a more powerful graphics subsystem, continues building on the strength of higher number/higher quality exclusives, doesn't launch 1 year later at $600 like PS3 did, offers BluRay XL support for 100-128GB (with 4K movie upscaling option), has a redesigned Dual Shock controller to make it larger for grown up adult hands, and Sony continues to offer free online gaming, the Xbox 720 will be at a disadvantage on nearly every front for "hardcore" gamers. So far I am not seeing anything about Durango's specs that tells me it will be a good system. I am actually seeing the opposite - it's looking worse and worse compared to what we see rumored for PS4.
Something doesn't add up though -- if PS4/Xbox 720 are expected to cost $350-400, but Sony's console has a faster CPU/GPU, then could MS spent $ on some different features for its console at the sacrifice of overall system performance? If so, what are those cool/unique features? Controllers with screens? Some unique cameras/Kinect 2.0 that illuminates the room?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=re1EatGRV0w
