PlayStation 5 is Sony’s long-awaited next-generation console. This the tech which has the most hyped around the gaming community. It costs $499.99 / £449.99 / AU$749.95 and will be available from November 12, 2020 in select markets such as the US and Japan and November 19, 2020 for the rest of the world, including the UK. Sony is releasing Digital Edition and Non-Digital of the console. In digital console disc drive has been removed and costs lower $399.99 / £359.99 / AU$599.95.
PS5 Specs
- CPU: AMD Zen 2-based CPU with 8 cores at 3.5GHz (variable frequency)
- GPU: 10.28 TFLOPs, 36 CUs at 2.23GHz (variable frequency)
- GPU architecture: Custom RDNA 2
- Memory interface: 16GB GDDR6/256-bit RAM, 448GB/s
- Memory bandwidth: 448GB/s
- Internal storage: Custom 825GB SSD
- IO throughput: 5.5GB/s (raw), typical 8-9GB/s (compressed)
- Expandable storage: NVMe SSD slot
- External storage: USB HDD support (PS4 games only)
- Optical drive: 4K UHD Blu-ray drive
The PS5 is vastly different console to the PS4, with its space-age black-and-white color scheme representing a noticeable shift from PlayStation designs of the past.
Processor and RAM
The new console has an eight-core CPU based on AMD’s 7nm process and is similar to the Zen 2 Ryzen PC processors.
The custom chip features eight Zen 2 Cores clocked at 3.5GHz (although capable of variable frequency). And, in terms of memory, it sports 16GB of GDDR6 RAM, with 10GB running at 560GB/s and 6GB at 336GB/s.
GPU and ray-tracing
Its GPU is based on AMD’s Radeon Navi microarchitecture (a custom RDNA 2 chip), and supports ray tracing, which is hardware rather than software-led.
It is capable of a huge 10.28 TFLOPs (compared to the Xbox Series X’s 12 TFLOPs) and features 36 custom cores clocked at 2.23GHz (again with variable frequency)
The PS5 will be capable of 4K 60fps gaming natively, with support for up to 120fps (presumably at lower resolutions). That being said, PlayStation claims that resolutions could even reach 8K sometime in the future.
Storage and SSD
Storage is provided by a solid-state drive (SSD) rather than the traditional hard drive tech used in PS3 and PS4. Loading games and pulling assets in-game will be much faster.
The storage size 825GB – a touch less than the quoted 1TB in the Xbox Series X. Presumably, this is the free space on a 1TB drive after system software, etc.
3D Audio
Audio hardware will be improved through the AMD chipset. It includes a custom unit for 3D sound that promises significant audio improvements over current and previous-gen machines, presenting a natural surround effect in normal headphones.
4K Blu-ray
The standard PS5 continues PlayStation’s tradition of coming with a disc drive. What’s more, while Sony ignored 4K Blu-ray for PS4 Pro, it has reversed that decision for PlayStation 5.
The Digital Edition naturally does not have a physical media drive.
PS5 user interface
The PlayStation design team has outlined that the PS5 will have a new user interface that has received a “100 per cent overhaul” from the PS4’s.
“As it’s UI it’s practical first, but it’s a whole new visual language and a complete rearchitecting of the user interface,” said PlayStation’s VP of UX design, Matt MacLaurin, on a LinkedIn post in June. The post has since been taken down, but his comments suggest that we could see something far from familiar.
Accessories
DualSense™ wireless controller
DualSenseTM charging station
PULSE 3D™ wireless headset
Media remote
HD camera
