The PS4‘s Graphics Powerhouse: How Many Gigs in the GPU?
As an avid gamer and content creator focusing on the PlayStation ecosystem, one of the most common questions I get asked is: how much graphics memory does the PS4 actually have?
At the heart of any game console is the graphics processing unit (GPU) – the chip responsible for rendering all the breathtaking virtual worlds we love losing ourselves in. For the PS4 family of consoles, AMD designed custom integrated GPUs with some impressive specs.
So how much video memory do these AMD graphics chips provide for Sony‘s flagship consoles? Let‘s dive deeper…
PS4 and PS4 Pro GPUs – Under the Hood
The original PS4 launched in 2013 with an AMD Accelerated Processing Unit (APU) codenamed "Liverpool." This APU contains eight of AMD‘s low-power Jaguar CPU cores paired with a custom Radeon GPU core boasting 18 compute units.
Meanwhile, the PS4 Pro landed in 2016 to deliver up to 4K gaming and crisper graphics. Appropriately, its APU named "Neo" packed a higher CPU clock speed and double the GPU compute power – 36 units.
Both chips share a unified GDDR5 memory system providing 8GB of VRAM for gaming graphics and system memory. This memory runs at 5500 MHz in the PS4 or 5700 MHz in the Pro, delivering up to 218 GB/s bandwidth for the GPU – over 2x more than the PS4‘s 176 GB/s.
With dedicated graphics cards commonly offering anywhere from 4 to 24GB of onboard memory these days, some may wonder why the PS4 caps out at 8 gigs shared with the CPU.
But when taking the integrated, optimized nature of the PS4 APU into account, this memory configuration offers a balanced sweet spot delivering stunning console gaming visuals. Paired with the Radeon GPU, games shine on displays up to 4K.
And thanks to the PS4‘s unified memory pool and GDDR5‘s blazing fast speeds, the GPU can access this VRAM at far higher bandwidths than a typical gaming PC‘s split memory between DDR3 system RAM and GDDR5 graphics memory.
PS4 GPU Performance and Capabilities
At launch, the original PS4 GPU with its 18 compute units and 1.84 teraflops of power outclassed the previous generation by leaps and bounds. Developers could tap into much more graphical processing muscle to bring their visions to life.
By doubling the compute units to 36, the PS4 Pro further expanded the possibilities. Its 4.2 TFLOPS horsepower rivals mid-range gaming PCs, able to pump out detailed textures, complex visual effects, rich procedural worlds and immersive 4K gaming.
To put the PS4 Pro GPU‘s capabilities into context, here‘s how it stacks up against some popular PC graphics cards at the time of its launch:
With performance surpassing the Radeon RX 470 and not too far behind the powerful RX 480, the PS4 Pro‘s graphics power serves up ultrasmooth gameplay and gorgeous visuals – albeit targeting 30 fps gaming rather than the 60+ fps common on PC.
And thanks to the unified GDDR5 memory system closely coupled to the GPU, the PS4 family enjoys lower latency during rendering compared to PCs, further boosting effective performance. AMD customized this APU design specifically for console gaming!
The Road Ahead for PlayStation Graphics
With the PS5 launching in 2020, Sony lifted graphical capabilities and rendering performance to new heights. The PS5 GPU clocks 10.3 TFLOPS based on custom AMD RDNA 2 architecture – over 2x the horsepower of the PS4 Pro!
Paired with a blindingly fast SSD, rich sensory features like ray tracing acceleration, and innovative console exclusives, I‘m pumped to see PlayStation continuing to push boundaries.
But for many gamers, the PS4 and PS4 Pro still deliver stunning, buttery smooth gameplay that shines on any HDTV or 4K display. These consoles‘ custom AMD GPUs share 8GB of GDDR5 memory and provide ample muscle for immersive gaming joy.
What graphics capabilities would you love to see in a future PlayStation console revision? Let‘s chat in the comments!
