Console performance question

[Indus Monk]

A PS4 can play any game at 30-45 FPS. How is it that a $600 PC with a quad core i5 and a r9 270x performs the same as a $400 console which is technically less superior. All the while playing at 1080p on ultra settings for both platforms?

[Glenwing]

PS4 isn't playing at ultra settings. Console games don't have graphics settings, they're fixed at whatever level is low enough to get 30-45fps. Usually somewhere around the equivalent of low or medium on PC, but it depends on the game.

Also the PS4's GPU is about as powerful as a 270X.

In addition, the consoles use APIs with less software overhead than DX11, something similar to Mantle, so they can make more efficient use of their hardware.

[CatCloud]

Just to add, it's 30 to 60 fps Depending on the game and resolution.

[Arc_Jester]

You can build a console killer PC for about $400 just check youtube, there is no reason an i5 and a 270x should be performing the same as a console.

[MEC-777]

A PS4 can play any game at 30-45 FPS. How is it that a $600 PC with a quad core i5 and a r9 270x performs the same as a $400 console which is technically less superior. All the while playing at 1080p on ultra settings for both platforms?

 

There's the key. The consoles are not running games at 1080p ultra settings. They run at 900p at high-ish with a lot of AA (anti aliasing) and the games they do run at 1080p are at medium-ish, again, with lots of AA and motion-blur trickery to make it "look" smoother.

[Indus Monk]

PS4 isn't playing at ultra settings. Console games don't have graphics settings, they're fixed at whatever level is low enough to get 30-45fps. Usually somewhere around the equivalent of low or medium on PC, but it depends on the game.

Also the PS4's GPU is about as powerful as a 270X.

but the games look ultraish to me.... Albeit with poor anti aliasing

[Indus Monk]

There's the key. The consoles are not running games at 1080p ultra settings. They run at 900p at high-ish with a lot of AA (anti aliasing) and they games they do run at 1080p are at medium to high, again, with lots of AA and motion-blur trickery to make it "look" smoother.

so the consoles like the PS4 are not capable of 1080p?

[grayblizzard]

so the consoles like the PS4 are not capable of 1080p?

not the 1080p we talk about as pc owners

[MEC-777]

but the games look ultraish to me.... Albeit with poor anti aliasing

 

The up close textures and objects are usually kept pretty clean, but the bigger changes are things like draw distance and objects at a distance, things a little further away will have drastically lower quality vs PC with higher settings. 

[Arc_Jester]

Also the PS4's GPU is about as powerful as a 270X.

Actually the PS4's GPU is closer to a 260X or a 265.

[Indus Monk]

not the 1080p we talk about as pc owners

so its more like 1080i which is basically 720p?

[MEC-777]

so the consoles like the PS4 are not capable of 1080p?

 

VERY few games run at 1080p 60fps on the consoles, which we've come to know as the "standard" for PC gaming. Forza is the only one I can think of that is actually 1080p 60fps on the Xbox One. Not sure about PS4. And the games that do run at that standard, are not the equivalent of "ultra" settings on PC - they are equivalent of maybe medium, depending on the game. 

[grayblizzard]

so its more like 1080i which is basically 720p?

its 1080p with very low quality and lower framerates than on pc

 

but it is the 1080p resolutions usually tho if not advertized at 1080p it is 1600 x 900

[Glenwing]

Actually the PS4's GPU is closer to the 260X.

You're confusing it with the Xbox One. The PS4's GPU is about the same as a 270X.

so its more like 1080i which is basically 720p?

It's rendering at a lower resolution and upscaling to 1080p. Like switching your ingame resolution to 1280x720 or 1600x900 while using a 1080p display. Depends on the game though, some will render at native 1080p, but some will render at a lower resolution to improve framerates if native 1080p is too intensive.

[MEC-777]

so the consoles like the PS4 are not capable of 1080p?

 

Yes, they can run 1080p, but not at 60fps and not at "ultra" settings. 

[SkywardKkalox]

VERY few games run at 1080p 60fps on the consoles, which we've come to know as the "standard" for PC gaming. Forza is the only one I can think of that is actually 1080p 60fps on the Xbox One. Not sure about PS4. And the games that do run at that standard, are not the equivalent of "ultra" settings on PC - they are equivalent of maybe medium, depending on the game. 

MGS 5 will be 1080p 60fps based on what Konami said, so they really are not many titles that can play 1080p 60fps atm, maybe some Nintendo games for the wii u but that's it.

[MEC-777]

You're confusing it with the Xbox One. The PS4's GPU is about the same as a 270X.

It's rendering at a lower resolution and upscaling to 1080p. Like switching your ingame resolution to 1280x720 or 1600x900 while using a 1080p display. Depends on the game though, some will render at native 1080p, but some will render at a lower resolution to improve framerates if native 1080p is too intensive.

 

It's a slightly down-clocked 270x though.

 

Everything else here is correct. 

 

It's also interesting to note that the consoles have to up-scale - meaning they have to render at a lower resolution, then up-scale to the display (1080) just to run the game at somewhat playable frame rates. Meanwhile over on PC we're starting to use down-scaling (VSR/DSR) - where the GPU renders at a higher resolution (1440, 1800 or 4k), then down-scales to the display (1080) for a better, crisper image quality, all while still running the game at very high settings or better and maintaining 60fps+.

[MEC-777]

MGS 5 will be 1080p 60fps based on what Konami said, so they really are not many titles that can play 1080p 60fps atm, maybe some Nintendo games for the wii u but that's it.

 

Funny you should mention the Wii U... It actually has more games that run at native 1080p 60fps than both PS4 and XboxOne combined. lol. 

 

Mind you, the Wii U games graphics art style is MUCH easier to render, but still.  

[Arc_Jester]

You're confusing it with the Xbox One. The PS4's GPU is about the same as a 270X.

The PS4's GPU is based on the 7850 which would put it between the 260X and 270 not the 270X.

[SkywardKkalox]

Funny you should mention the Wii U... It actually has more games that run at native 1080p 60fps than both PS4 and XboxOne combined. lol. 

 

Mind you, the Wii U games graphics art style is MUCH easier to render, but still.  

True. That's why I like it more than the PS4 and the XBONE.

[MEC-777]

The PS4's GPU is based on the 7850 which would put it between the 260X and 270 not the 270X.

 

From what I understand, the closest comparison is XboxOne GPU = 7790 (260X) and PS4 GPU = 7870 (270X). But it's important to note that they have both been down-clocked a little, so they're slightly handicapped versions. Also, the XboxOne is using DDR3 memory which further hampers performance a bit.

 

That being said, I am legitimately impressed with what they've been able to do with the XboxOne's hardware. You'd expect the difference between the consoles to be more drastic, but it really isn't. 

[Arc_Jester]

From what I understand, the closest comparison is XboxOne GPU = 7790 (260X) and PS4 GPU = 7870 (270X). But it's important to note that they have both been down-clocked a little, so they're slightly handicapped versions. Also, the XboxOne is using DDR3 memory which further hampers performance a bit.

 

That being said, I am legitimately impressed with what they've been able to do with the XboxOne's hardware. You'd expect the difference between the consoles to be more drastic, but it really isn't. 

Maybe Microsoft has more in store for the xbox, they unlock a seventh core to developers perhaps they have abit of GPU power lying dormant too.

[MEC-777]

Maybe Microsoft has more in store for the xbox, they unlock a seventh core to developers perhaps they have abit of GPU power lying dormant too.

 

I highly doubt they are leaving any extra GPU power untapped, given how much total they have to begin with.

 

What it probably boils down to is just really good optimization.

[Glenwing]

The PS4's GPU is based on the 7850 which would put it between the 260X and 270 not the 270X.

There is no distinction between the 270 and 270X, the only difference is the default frequency.

The HD 7790/R7 260X/Xbox One have 896 cores

The HD 7850 has 1024 cores

The PS4 has 1152 cores, based on the 7870 GPU with two units disabled for yields.

The HD 7870/270/270X have the full 1280 cores.

[Arc_Jester]

There is no distinction between the 270 and 270X, the only difference is the default frequency.

The HD 7790/R7 260X/Xbox One have 896 cores

The HD 7850 has 1024 cores

The PS4 has 1152 cores, based on the 7870 GPU with two units disabled for yields.

The HD 7870/270/270X have the full 1280 cores.

Ok I see but performance wise it's about the same as a 265.