Orbis Implements Multi-GPU, Too

[btarunr]

Sony's next-generation PlayStation, reportedly codenamed "Orbis", is known to be powered by an AMD x86-64 CPU with graphics based on its Southern Islands architecture, from the older report. We're now hearing that Sony may implement a multi-GPU solution of its own. According to an IGN.com report, the CPU in question will be a custom-version of AMD's A8-3850 quad-core APU. This should serve as indication that the processor cores will be based on AMD's K10 Stars architecture, rather than K15 Bulldozer/Piledriver.

The GPU, on the other hand, will be based on the "Southern Islands" architecture, and the IGN.com report pin points it to resemble Radeon HD 7670. The HD 7670 is a re-branded HD 6670, which is based on the 40 nm "Turks" GPU. Turks uses neither Graphics CoreNext nor VLIW4, but the older VLIW5 number-crunching machinery. The most interesting piece of information here is talk of a multi-GPU configuration between this Turks-based GPU, and the GPU that's embedded into the "Llano" APU. We know that the graphics core embedded into AMD A8-3850, the Radeon HD 6550D, can work in tandem with Radeon HD 6670 to yield an AMD Hybrid CrossFireX configuration called "Radeon HD 6690D2". This could be end up being Sony's graphics weapon of choice.



Speaking of choices, we see that AMD is falling back to established technologies, be it K10 Stars CPU cores, or VLIW5-based GPUs, avoiding Bulldozer CPU. While its new Graphics CoreNext architecture is found to be fairly efficient in performance GPUs such as the HD 7700 series, its incompatibility with Llano's graphics could have served as a deal-breaker. Pictured above, is fan-made concept art.

View at TechPowerUp Main Site

 

[btarunr]

Many Thanks to Dos101 for the tip.

 

[v12dock]

I just want to buy a copy of the PS4 OS and make my own PS4

 

[seronx]

Super late april fools!

 

[phanbuey]

weaksauce.

 

[Fermi]

Weak. More crappy console ports for us PC gamers.

 

[NC37]

Lame...seriously, a Llano? Come on, if you are gonna cheap out at least use one from Trinity.

Bah, next console gen is looking real shitty. Xbox using midrange GPU and now PS4. These consoles better be dirt cheap on launch.

 

[Dos101]

Bah, next console gen is looking real shitty. Xbox using midrange GPU and now PS4. These consoles better be dirt cheap on launch.

I doubt the next generation of consoles will be as expensive as this generation's were at launch, so I think that's what MS and Sony are going for. Neither one of them wants to sell their systems at a loss anymore so they're going for reasonable specs, not high end. Plus if Sony (and MS) want to release a new console in 2013, the specs would have been generally decided a while ago, it's just how the process is.

 

[Damn_Smooth]

Weak. More crappy console ports for us PC gamers.

If they cap it at 720p and 30fps, then just concentrate on graphics, we could have some good looking games.

 

[FreedomEclipse]

I dunno what you guys think but that control pad looks really really really ugly.... Its like they tried to copy the Dreamcast idea of having a little display on the controller (which was the memory card if you slotted it in) but in a more modern way like simply adding a PSP to a PS control pad.

 

[dvelez1985]

Honestly

These companies should give up on the set top gaming consoles and focus more on the portable gaming devices. From the looks of it with 3DS and Vita they have. From a personal stand point I can get the ultimate Gaming, Movie, Media device from my rig than I can get from those machines and then some. However I was tired of playing crappy portable games when I wasn't near a PC. If Sony, Nintendo and Microsoft can corner that market and perfect it I think it would bring big business to them.

 

[Kärlekstrollet]

Now you can get microstuttering on your TV as well!

 

[dj-electric]

Again, i feel the need to use this meme:

The HD7750 chip is perfect, why? why not HD7750 for the love of everything that has a brain?!
Instead we get this hybrid pile of junk...

 

[Lionheart]

Hmmm I see what Microsoft & Sony are doing, getting low end hardware and selling it at double the price..

 

[[H]@RD5TUFF]

And sony makes it so no one cares.

 

[FreedomEclipse]

These companies should give up on the set top gaming consoles and focus more on the portable gaming devices. From the looks of it with 3DS and Vita they have. From a personal stand point I can get the ultimate Gaming, Movie, Media device from my rig than I can get from those machines and then some. However I was tired of playing crappy portable games when I wasn't near a PC. If Sony, Nintendo and Microsoft can corner that market and perfect it I think it would bring big business to them.

your post is all over the place. One moment you say youre bored of portable gaming, then the next minute you are saying they should drop set top gaming consoles and focus more on portable gaming devices???

nailing BOTH sides of the market will bring them big business, since the console market has been long well established. giving up set top gaming consoles to work on portable gaming instead would be a very stupid and costly move as they would give up marketshare to the competitors who would then make more money.

Portable gaming has its advantages though, but there is only so much power you can squeeze inside something as small as a PSP and as good as the PSP might be, it cant compete directly with set top consoles.

 

[wickerman]

honestly the real answer is just to do upgradable graphics in consoles. The Alienware X51 proves you can get a system the size of n xbox 360 housing a higher end chip and graphics. That system can be configured with an i7-2600 and an Nvidia GTX 555 (288 shaders) and the efficiency of IVB and the 600/HD 7000 series will only improve upon that.

Every few years Microsoft or Sony could certify one or two GPUs as upgrades or have ATI/Nvidia create custom versions of their desktop/mobile GPUs that will only work in the consoles.

Developers would like it as it would give them more resources to work with, gamers would love it because it would mean they could actually take advantage of their 1080p TVs (unlike modern console games that are limited to 720p or LOWER), and naturally the console makers would like it as they get to extend the life of their consoles rather than having to dump resources into developing new ones every few years.

It really wouldn't be that complex, Microsoft trusted people to upgrade hard drives in the 360, a gpu could be made just as modular.


But...I'm all for consoles supporting Eyefinity...would be epic fun doing 6 panel eyefinity across cheap LCD tvs. I mean honestly, how many walls do you really need, why cant one of them be full of screens!

 

[AsRock]

OOh another console that will have crappy cooling. I wish they would make the box bigger so much better cooling can be applied.

 

[Kaleid]

Microstuttering now for consoles?

 

[Mussels]

my laptop is A6 based, so i know how this tech works.


its a great idea because it lowers the power consumption a large amount at idle, and when doing low load tasks like movie playback.


edit: and i bet AMD's 'steady video' tech had something to do with their choices.

 

[Fairlady-z]

I have a feeling my GTX680 SLI set up with a 2600k will have very very very very long legs lol... this is nuts if they do it, as I think they are trying to buy time for until Streaming OnLive style is feasible for them to do.

 

[Easy Rhino]

who cares. sony treats their customers like sh!t.

 

[Mike_b]

In all honesty if this is what sony has planed for the next gen i think i'll pass. (And i'm probably one of sonys biggest fans) i expected them to at least use a trinity based APU paired with a customized version of the HD7750 it's not only a better performing chip, but it's also amazingly efficient. I'm very disappointed if this is true, Sony you can do better than this.

 

[bear jesus]

So far the rumored hardware makes me think it would be relatively cheap for valve to make a more powerful "console", i hope they do.

 

[FordGT90Concept]

Have they not learned anything from SLI and Crossfire?

1 + 1 < 2

In english: two GPUs never produce 200% output. One chip with double the power can.


The only reason why I can think of they are doing this is because they're going for something really slim. It's easier to cool two small GPUs than one big GPU. At the same time, you'd think they would rule that out quickly because two GPUs cost more to manufacturer and install than one big GPU. I think Microsoft and Sony got hit with a stupid stick and a big one that. Sense, this makes none.