SUMMARY
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Last September 7, the gaming world was focused on Sony when it revealed its brand new, ultra-powerful console, the PlayStation 4 Pro at the PlayStation Meeting.
Launching on November 10 in North America, the PS4 Pro is considered by gaming experts as an industry-first—an incremental upgrade of a current-gen console just 3 years after its predecessor. Think of it as something like the S version of an iPhone.
While the debate remains on whether this move to adopt incremental console upgrades would benefit the industry in the future, let’s check out the features of Sony’s new gaming box and see how it stands against Microsoft’s own upcoming behemoth, the Xbox Scorpio.
Let’s take a look of the overview of the consoles’ specs first:
| PlayStation 4 Pro | XBOX Scorpio | |
| CPU | 8-Core AMD Jaguar | 8-Core AMD Jaguar |
| GPU | 4.2 TFLOP AMD Radeon | 6 TFLOP AMD Radeon |
| Memory | 8 GB GDDR5 | TBD |
| Memory Bandwidth | 218GB/s | 320GB/s |
| Storage | 1TB | TBD |
| Max Video Output | 4K | 4K |
| HDR Support | Yes | Yes |
| VR Support | PlayStation VR | Oculus and HTC Vive |
| Disc Support | Blu-Ray, DVD | Blu-Ray, DVD, UHD 4K-BluRays |
| Size | 295mm x 55mm x 327mm | TBD |
| Price | $399 (PhP 18,900+) | TBC |
| Release Date | November 10, 2016 | 2017 |
Processing power
Obviously, the console wars will be all about the processing powers of each company’s flagship game box. Come November, the PlayStation 4 Pro will be the most powerful gaming console to date, easily surpassing the PlayStation 4’s GPU and CPU capabilities.
However, it won’t be able to hold the title for long as Microsoft’s XBOX Scorpio is set to become more powerful, and it’s something Microsoft won’t stop bragging about online after the PlayStation meeting.
The PlayStation 4 Pro only has 4.2 Teraflops (TFLOP) compared to XBOX Scorpio’s reported 6 TFLOP. While both can give games 4K output easily, the XBOX Scorpio has an apparent advantage when it comes to games and peripherals that require the additional fire power.
Why processing speed is starting to matter
In a couple of years, virtual reality (VR) will start becoming mainstream with Sony, Oculus, and HTC finally releasing the hardware; and this is why the processing speed of a console is starting to matter even more. No doubt, the PS4 Pro’s 4.2 TFLOP is powerful, being able to take on 4K output and also support the PlayStation VR peripheral. Gamers will enjoy stunning graphics on a 4K TV (or even HDTV) and experience near-flawless VR gaming with the PlayStation VR.
However, it may have a hard time taking on the likes of Oculus Rift and the HTC Vive, which uses two screens unlike the PlayStation VR which only uses one. The difference between a 4.2 TFLOP and a 6 TFLOP will become apparent when Microsoft launches the XBOX Scorpio.
Okay with the 4K
4K is the future of gaming, and Sony is bringing its A-Game when it comes to delivering the best 4K experience to the PlayStation community. The PS4 Pro is capable of displaying mind-blowing 4K graphics on a 4K Television. Thanks also to its HDR support, the visuals can be as real and as rich than ever. For those who don’t have their 4K televisions yet, there’s no need to fret.
The PS4 Pro can still play PS4 games, be it old or new, with optimized graphics on their HDTV. Once the XBOX Scorpio comes out, gamers won’t notice any difference in visual output as the console is pretty much at par with the PS4 Pro.
UHD 4K Blu-ray support
Another difference between the PlayStation 4 Pro and the XBOX Scorpio is its Blu-Ray support. Sony, which has been pushing for 4K for years, curiously dropped the UHD 4K Blu-Ray support for the PlayStation 4 Pro.
According to the presented specs, it can only play Blu-Ray and DVD, meaning if you’re the type who buys UHD 4K Blu-Ray CDs, then maybe the XBOX Scorpio is more up your alley. This doesn’t mean the PS4 Pro can’t play 4K Blu-Ray movies though, as the console can stream 4K movies easily (provided you have a good Internet connection).
The PS4 Pro versus the PC?
A lot of people are asking why Sony is making an incremental upgrade to an already impressive console. The answer is simple, at least in Sony’s eyes: they want to duke it out with the PC ecosystem (and probably spread the PC gamer slice of the pie thin).
With several gamers out there looking for the best possible eye-popping visual gaming experience, they usually turn to the PC, an ecosystem where you can easily upgrade the parts without having the need to overhaul the entire system. But does the PlayStation 4 Pro actually stack up against a PC? How much does it cost to build a PC that’s as powerful as the PlayStation 4 Pro?
According to PCGamesn.com, it would take around $500 (PhP 23,700+) to recreate the hardware and graphics power of the PS4 Pro.
| PlayStation 4 Pro | Equivalent PC | |
| CPU | X86-64 AMD Jaguar @ 2.1GHz | AMD Athlon 5350 @ 2.05GHz |
| Cores | 8 | 4 |
| Graphics | AMD Radeon | AMD Radeon RX 480 |
| TFLOPS | 4.2 |
5.2 |
| Memory | 8GB GDDR5 | 8GB GDDR5 + 8GB DDR3 |
| Storage | 1TB | 1TB |
| PSU | 310W | 430W |
If you’re fine with the specs the PS4 Pro can offer, then you’re better off getting the console than pumping steroids in your PC. What also gives PS4 Pro the edge over the PC is its worldwide network, the supportive community, and the brand name that makes sure their decisions are #4ThePlayers.
Not to mention the great games that are in the pipeline that will make any gaming fan want to own a PlayStation 4 Pro to experience them the best way possible.
What do you think? Are you planning to get the PlayStation 4 Pro or are you happy with your PS4? Are you looking into getting an XBOX Scorpio in 2017? Let us know at the comments section below. – Rappler.com
Chris works as a PR guy, but outside work, he loves playing video games, hanging out on a football pitch, and reading online news.
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