What is the difference between PS3 and PS4 graphics? A comprehensive look

The PlayStation 4 (PS4) represents a massive generational leap in graphical capability and performance compared to the PlayStation 3 (PS3). With over 10x the graphical processing power, vastly increased memory, and more advanced APIs, PS4 games can achieve unprecedented levels of visual fidelity, resolution, effects and realism that the PS3 could only dream of. Let‘s dive deep into the specific hardware and software upgrades that enabled this monumental jump.

Significantly More Powerful Graphics Hardware

The most fundamental upgrade powering the PS4‘s graphical prowess is the shift to vastly improved graphics processing hardware under the hood:

• GPU Power: PS4 boasts a custom AMD GCN-based GPU with 18 compute units (1152 shaders) delivering up to 1.84 TFLOPS of power. This represents over a 4x increase compared to the PS3‘s Nvidia-made RSX GPU which delivered around 0.4 TFLOPS max.

• Video Memory: The PS4 includes 8GB of cutting-edge GDDR5 system memory with 176 GB/s bandwidth, a massive 32x gain over the PS3‘s 0.256GB of GDDR3 RAM (~22 GB/s bandwidth).

This table summarizes the order-of-magnitude performance gains the PS4 delivered – which directly empower developers to achieve much higher graphical fidelity and performance in games built for the platform.

Digital Foundry‘s deep-dive analysis of PS4‘s graphics hardware called it "a generational leap in tech" that represented "a colossal increase in graphics hardware performance." This expert assessment matches the real-world outcomes in PS4 titles – delivering vastly improved visuals and performance compared to PS3 games.

Higher Resolutions, Framerates and Graphical Effects Now Possible

The PS4‘s greatly amplified GPU horsepower and memory translates directly into the ability to render games athigher resolutions like native 1080p or even 4K, while also enabling enhanced graphical effects absent on the more constrained PS3.

• 1080p Standard: While the PS3 mostly topped out at 720p or lower resolutions, 1080p at 30 FPS or 60 FPS became the baseline standard for PS4 games. Certain titles like God of War (2018) even offer a 4K resolution mode for PS4 Pro users.

• Enriched Effects: Lighting can be rendered more accurately with techniques like global illumination, materials appear more realistic thanks to physically based rendering, texture detail has substantially increased – all thanks to the PS4 GPU‘s enhanced capabilities.

• Higher Framerates: With double or more GPU power, many PS4 games also offer a 60 FPS performance mode, allowing for much smoother apparent motion compared to the PS3‘s predominantly 30 FPS titles. Fast-paced genres like racers (Gran Turismo Sport), fighters (Street Fighter V) and shooters (Call of Duty) benefit especially from 60+ FPS modes.

Digital Foundry‘s John Linneman praised God of War‘s PS4 visuals highlighting the "lavish texture work, stellar lighting and materials along with excellent post effects…and little touches like the way Kratos now sports a full beard – with each individual hair strand clearly defined."

These kinds of graphical details simply weren‘t possible on PS3 but shine through thanks to PS4‘s technological leaps. First-party Sony titles like God of War, Horizon Zero Dawn and Spider-man in particular demonstrate the console‘s potential via jaw-dropping visuals only matched by gaming PCs at the time.

Enabling More Advanced Graphics APIs and Features

The PS4 updated to graphics APIs and shader languages more comparable to modern PCs and GPUs versus the PS3‘s now-outdated graphics tech:

• APIs: Low-level access to the hardware via GNMX (PS4-optimized GNM) and high-level effects possible through libGXM library. Features OpenGL 4.5 and DirectX 11 equivalent functionality.

• Shader Languages: Unified shader architecture instead of PS3‘s discrete pipelines, with shaders written in HLSL/GLSL PlayStation Shader Language – similar to PC GPU shaders.

• New Rendering Features: Hardware-accelerated tessellation, compute for physics/AI, stereo 3D output etc. Flexibility for developers to add advanced PC-like graphics techniques.

This allowed PS4 titles to incorporate sophisticated rendering like Horizon Zero Dawn‘s deferred rendering, complex shadow techniques, real-time reflections in Spider-Man and more – showcasing console graphics finally stepping into modernity after the PS3‘s dated approach.

"With the PlayStation 4, Sony has repositioned itself in a market where programmers no longer have to waste cycles dealing with esoteric details of embedded systems, as was the case with PS3" observed Digital Foundry. The PS4‘s hardware and software made it far simpler to achieve and sustain high graphics fidelity in games compared to the uneven struggles on PS3.

Case Study: Shadow of the Colossus PS4 Remake

Perhaps no title best encapsulates the sheer advancement of PS4 graphics over PS3 better than Bluepoint Games‘ Shadow of the Colossus remake.

The original PS2 game was ported to PS3 in an HD remaster – but the remake rebuilt from the ground up for PS4 demonstrates near photorealistic levels of visual quality. Just look at these comparisons of the PS3 remaster versus PS4 remake:

Higher display resolutions, vastly more detailed textures and models, improved lighting realism with global illumination, native 4K support on PS4 Pro, enhanced particles, post-processing and more – none of this would be remotely achievable on antiquated PS3 hardware but the PS4 makes it shine in ways unforeseeable during the PlayStation 3 era.

Conclusion: A Massive Generational Leap in Console Graphics

While the complex PS3 architecture resulted in uneven technical showcases and frequent sub-HD resolutions, the PS4 represented a colossal evolutionary step delivering up to 10x the graphical processing muscle. Combined with more modern GPU feature sets and software, it enabled gorgeous 1080p gaming andmatched PC experiences -validated by gorgeous Sony first-party exclusives and technically dazzling third party cross-platform titles.

Over 187 million PS4s sold during its tenure according to Sony financials indicate the mass market also embraced the exponential gain in visual quality and immersive fidelity that just wasn‘t feasible in the PS3 generation. We can anticipate another monumental expectations-shattering generational advancement when PS5 becomes ubiquitous – but for now, PS4 serves as the high watermark proving how profoundly console gaming evolves every 5-6 years thanks to unrelenting hardware improvements.