The lights are on
Update: Sony has provided a comment that, while being ambiguous about the actual RAM requirements for the OS, clarifies a bit about how the system utilizes its memory. Please read this story for the full details.
A new report states that Sony’s upcoming PlayStation 4 console reserves 3.5GB of its main system memory for its operating system – slightly more than its competitor, Microsoft’s Xbox One, has taken heat for doing.
Eurogamer’s Digital Foundry cites “a well-placed development source” for its claim that the PlayStation 4’s operating system keeps 3.5GB of its 8GB of RAM to itself, leaving only 4.5GB for games to use. However, the documentation shown to the publication says that another 1GB is available as “flexible memory” that can be used on a limited basis when not being engaged by the OS – but that incorporating this additional gigabyte is a difficult engineering task for developers.
The Xbox One keeps 3GB reserved for its operating system at all times. Microsoft’s rationale, presumably shared by Sony if this report is accurate, is that the positive aspects of instant application-switching outweigh the limitations such a system imposes on game developers.
Microsoft’s console also reserves two of its eight CPU cores for the operating system’s use. Digital Foundry has published a purported screenshot of a Killzone: Shadow Fall development tool that the website says strongly suggests that the PS4 likewise makes only six of its eight CPU cores available to developers.
Digital Foundry also cites other sources “close to Sony” as saying that the company could downsize the operating system’s memory footprint later in the console’s lifecycle with optimizations that increase its efficiency, whereas the Xbox One’s 3GB allocation is more or less set in stone.
We've reached out to Sony for comment.
[Source: Digital Foundry]
Our Take:Those supposed advantages that the PS4 was set to enjoy over the Xbox One sure seem to be dropping like flies, don’t they? I’m no fan of the unbearable wait to bring up the Xbox Guide or the somewhat more manageable delay in calling up the PS3 XMB, but reducing your system’s available memory by 43 percent is a high price to pay. RAM is the most important resource for many new modes of gameplay and other innovations that developers are looking to create on next-gen consoles. I’m all for my friends list instantly popping up on screen when called for, but do I want that at the cost of another 20 AI-driven characters active in the world? That’s a much harder question.
4.5GB of GDDR5 is still a huge bonanza of high-speed memory for developers to work with in 2013, but will we still be saying that in five years when Nvidia is rolling out unified CPU/GPU architecture with 16GB of similarly fast RAM for $200 tablets? As sexy as the PS4/XB1 tech specs are today, remember that they’re broadly similar to mid/high-end PCs available right now and that technology gets faster and cheaper every day. Ten years is a long time to lock in a hardware spec for, and I question the wisdom of both Sony and Microsoft cutting their systems off at the knees like this.
Ah well... It'll come down to which console is easiest to develop for. I mean 500 MB can make a difference, but if devs can't get a good understanding of the kit, then it won't really matter.
I find that I care little about this, I am slightly disappointed sure but lets be honest there is lots of other things to worry about. Games that are coming are wonderful, and with a console I don't have to worry about upgrading and managing specs.
Just turns out I like Sony's product better.
If anyone truly thought that PS4 was going to have better hardware than the Xbox One and was going to be cheaper, you truly are foolish. Of course this report is true because PS4 and Xbox One are a lot more similar than everyone believes. The only reason Xbox One is $100 more is purely because of the mandatory Kinect.
This just goes to show that consoles will be even more obsolete than I anticipated at launch. They are already using outdated graphics cards and now they have limited RAM support. This is very unfortunate as this will have major repercussions for future development and what developers will be able to do.
RAM matters and 4.5GB (PS4) or even 5GB (Xbox One) doesn't even meet the requirements of high-end PCs today and the past couple of years.
I heard that in a video Sony said that its not 4.5 or 7 gb its 5 gb. Still why did'nt they tell us earlier. Developers said that sony only lets them use 5 gb and but sony still said 7 gb.
"Ten years is a long time to lock in a hardware spec for, and I question the wisdom of both Sony and Microsoft cutting their systems off at the knees like this." I highly doubt next-gen will last ten years, they will release next-next gen consoles before that.
Also, if mainly the same games can and will be released on both consoles, the specs won't be too important.
Will wait on Sony to confirm because the last time Eurogamer reported something they were put in their place by Sony.
Okay, Sony and Microsoft REALLY need to start convincing me I'd rather spend $400 on their console than pump the money into making my PC kick ass. I just hear worse and worse things every day about both of them. Frankly, Naughty Dog exclusivity is the only reason I could see myself getting a PS4 at this point. Xbox One is kind of out of the question, haha.
If this is true PS fan-boys are going to be Pissed,and The PS haters are going to troll.
It is really weird. I could understand why Xbox1 need all that Ram. Xbox 1 is running multiples OS at the same time Windows Xbox OS. Why does the Playstation need more Ram Than the Xbox 1 is beyond me.
LOL
all this tells me is i should get my PS4 before they decide to downsize lol i mean thats not great news but for developers they still have alot more to work with than current consoles
As long as Sony dishes out the awesome games, just as it always has, I will be fine.
if it is true i will cancel my ps4 pre order...
3.5 GB should read 2.5 GB.. the source article was updated yesterday:
www.eurogamer.net/.../digitalfoundry-ps3-system-software-memory
Well, more to the point, the source article has been updated to show 5.5 GB available for games and no comment on the OS RAM.