Late yesterday, SCET's press release contained a more detailed description of the hardware of PS4, which mentioned that PS4 not only used GDDR5 with a maximum of 8GB of 176GBps as unified memory, but also gave a more complete description of its core architecture APU. This customized APU provided by AMD uses 8-core Jaguar x86-64 core and 65,438+08 Cu Radium Dragon GPU, and its graphics computing power reaches 1.84 TFLOPS, which is slightly higher than the current AMD Radium Dragon HD7850.
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Although it was rumored that SCE would abandon the original unique Cell architecture and adopt a PC-like but customized x86 architecture, why choose AMD? From the perspective of PC market, is it not good to choose Intel to build NVIDIA? Personally, I think the key to AMD's success lies in technology integration. Especially for the closed platform such as game console, AMD has its unique advantages, which enables SCE to abandon the original Cell with Intel and NVIDIA.
Let's start with giving up the cellular architecture. Cell is a unique structure. At that time, it was really eye-catching, but now times are different. It is not easy to develop a core architecture that meets the needs of a new generation as it was at the beginning, especially now Sony may find it difficult to invest as many resources as it did then.
In fact, this situation is similar to the overwhelming support of ARM in the field of 32-bit embedded architecture, and many vendors who used to have their own architectures have purchased from it. Because of the evolution from 8-bit to 16-bit, time-honored manufacturers such as TI and Renesas still have the ability to bear the core independent development and design, but because many key architecture technologies are tied by patents, a large group of R&D teams need to be raised for subsequent development and maintenance, so it is better to choose a mature and sustainable architecture in the market.
AMD's biggest problem on the PC platform is that the basic processor technology can't compete with Intel. The biggest problem is that compared with Intel, the support of system and software developers is poor. Windows systems always give priority to the compatibility of Intel processors. After all, Intel has a high market share in the processor market, which is not difficult to understand.
It's just that the platform of the game console is very different from that of PC. The system of game consoles has always been a closed world. Unified hardware and independent system platform, as long as Sony's system development ability is sufficient, can squeeze the efficiency of hardware to the limit. In addition, unlike PC, the host will have a specific game to optimize with hardware chip manufacturers, or hardware chip manufacturers will cooperate with software vendors to increase the hardware burden of execution in order to advocate consumer upgrades, which also creates great opportunities for AMD.
Moreover, AMD has both x86 CPU from ATi and graphics card technology from ATi, which is why Intel and NVIDIA are not as good as AMD. Because CPU and GPU are both technologies, there is no need for coordinated development between the two companies, and in theory, the integration of CPU and GPU can be better.
It seems that the computing power is similar to that of AMD HD7850 on a PC, but with the support of high-bandwidth GDDR5 and a completely tailored system platform, the visual effect can surpass the PC hardware of the same level. In addition, through the adjustment of software and the rendering effect on some software, the visual effect of high-end e-sports PC can be made completely, not to mention that the hardware resources of PC games are dragged down by some ulterior secrets.
Is PS4 a PC? In my opinion, the perspective of PS4 is different. SCE wants AMD's x86 high-performance core, with GPU as the core. In fact, if today's ARM architecture and MIPS architecture have the ability to achieve such high performance and provide graphics at the same time, SCE may not choose AMD as a partner today, but under the current circumstances, SCE can give up self-research and meet enough computing power, while providing graphics core architecture, but it is also necessary for AMD.