Options
PS4 may be better than first thought
munta
Posts: 18,285
Forum Member
✭✭
Theres an interesting thread over on Neogaf that discusses the PS4 having Uniform memory access. This is different than unified memory. I'm not totally sure of the tech but it goes something like this.
http://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2013/04/amds-heterogeneous-uniform-memory-access-coming-this-year-in-kaveri/
Unified memory is where both the CPU and the GPU access the same memory. However, when the CPU needs to do some work on the data being used by the GPU it needs to copy the data, do the calculations and then copy it back once done.
Wit Uniform memory, both the CPU and the GPU can read and write to exactly the same memory area meaning that no additional copying needs to be done.
NOTE: I may not have got this exactly right but close enough for these purposes.
AMD claim that this could give the PS4 a significant performance boost and also improved textures
http://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2013/04/amds-heterogeneous-uniform-memory-access-coming-this-year-in-kaveri/
Unified memory is where both the CPU and the GPU access the same memory. However, when the CPU needs to do some work on the data being used by the GPU it needs to copy the data, do the calculations and then copy it back once done.
Wit Uniform memory, both the CPU and the GPU can read and write to exactly the same memory area meaning that no additional copying needs to be done.
NOTE: I may not have got this exactly right but close enough for these purposes.
AMD claim that this could give the PS4 a significant performance boost and also improved textures
0
Comments
It is more about leveraging the power that is there to best effect.
As Chopff said it wont be any harder to develop for. I believe its all handled by the processor. The developers just tell the CPU to find the data and the system deals with it automatically.
I'm really not sure what sort of performance increase can be expected and I'm sure there's some sort of overhead with the processing but the improvement in data transfer does look like a real bonus.
http://cdn-static.zdnet.com/i/r/story/70/00/014840/hsa1-620x349.png?hash=MQOzMGWzLz&upscale=1
Not entirely. Firstly, games for the PS4 would be able to run at higher FPS with out any recoding. Secondly it seems that a simple higher res texture pack could improve the look of a game at little or no extra cost to the developer. I guess it's also possible that the I proved performance could also be utilised directly by the console to implement post processing effects independent of the games.
As I said in my OP, it all depends upon the performance improvements realised in the real world. If its just a 10% improvement then I would expect extra FPS and maybe some slightly better textures. If its 50% improvement then I would expect some real tangible enhancements.
But I think every copy of FIFA, COD, ACIV etc (the churn or your cash cows) all developed with the same middleware, will look identical.
xbox wont have this due way their memory is constructed
PS1 - Revolution in (console) gaming in terms of graphics and game play
PS2 - A decent evolution in gaming combined with a DVD player which was a revolution in video playback.
PS3 - Another reasonable jump in gaming (though IMO not as much as with 1 & 2), BluRay was a strong addition (though not revolutionary) however the media center set up was the key feature and worked extremely well with the evolution of downloading and streaming media.
There would be nothing wrong with the PS4 being a sold development in all areas, I'm just wonder whether it will have anything that I couldn't like without for the next year or so.
They've taken a lot of the ideas they added on later to the PS3 and are now making them the core features. Like the new UI featuring more online content being at the heart of the console instead of having to go into the PS Store to see it.
that could a potentially awesome feature
imagine being able to play demos/games without even having to download them first ,
i believe they use the same tech also so if your stuck on a game , you can ask a friend to hop into your game and do it for you
potentially means you can play any game from ps1/ps2/ps3/ps4 without needing disk or download, or updates etc
http://www.pcper.com/news/General-Tech/Sony-PlayStation-4-PS4-will-NOT-utilize-AMD-hUMA-Kabini-based-SoC?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter
Sony are members of the HSA Foundation, for what it's worth.
I know it's a very confusing situation. Nothing that anyone says 100% confirms or 100% denies the clams. So far I've heard that PS4 has it, Both have it and neither have it. I've yet to hear that Xbox has it and PS4 doesn't. So maybe that's the true statement
I know some still state that they believe the initial article and the quote from the second doesn't explicitly deny the first but for now I think I'm going to have to assume no huma until explicitly confirmed by AMD, Sony or an in depth technical review of the system.
but i think the info was embargoed so they had to retract