PlayStation 5 Pro Technical Deep Dive: Leaks and Analysis

Overview of the PlayStation 5 Pro Leaks

The Digital Foundry team discusses the recently leaked technical specifications for the upcoming PlayStation 5 Pro (codenamed Trinity). While intended to offer a mid-gen performance boost, the technical documentation suggests a design philosophy that prioritizes specific graphical improvements over fundamental platform changes.

CPU and Architecture

• The console retains the same Zen 2 CPU architecture as the base PS5.
• An enhanced mode allows a 10% clock frequency increase to 3.85 GHz.
• Experts highlight that, due to power limitations and the reliance on existing architecture, this will not facilitate a transition from 30 FPS to 60 FPS for inherently CPU-bound titles.

GPU Power and Performance

• The system features a major jump in compute units, moving from 36 to 60, aimed at enhancing rendering capabilities.
• A controversial topic is the cited 33.5 teraflops, which experts warn is inflated by dual-issue FP32 instructions and should not be equated to a threefold increase in real-world performance.
• Overall, observers estimate a practical 45% performance gain over the base model, though this is tempered by power constraints.

Advances in Machine Learning

"This is potentially the most interesting thing here and the one with the most potential."

• Sony is introducing PSSR (PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution), a custom machine learning-based upscaling solution.
• This technology aims to match the quality of DLSS and XESS, potentially resolving the visual artifacts observed in current FSR 2 implementations.
• The solution is designed to work as a plugin for developers, allowing older games to be patched for better image quality.

Ray Tracing and Memory

• Ray tracing performance is expected to see a 2x to 4x improvement, though this is likely limited to specific bottlenecks in the pipeline.
• The system also unlocks 1.2 GB of additional addressable memory for games, which will likely be utilized for more complex geometry and BVH structures.