PlayStation 5 Pro vs. PlayStation 5: A Detailed Spec Breakdown
Sony has finally lifted the curtain on the PS5 Pro during its PlayStation 5 Technical Presentation, showcasing a console that, much like the PS4 Pro before it, aims to enhance graphics fidelity mid-generation. But how does it stack up against the standard PS5?
PS5 Pro vs PS5 – GPU
The PS5 launched in 2020 with a custom AMD Zen 2 CPU and RDNA 2 GPU, comparable to high-end PCs at the time. While the PS5 Pro maintains the same architecture, it significantly upgrades the GPU, increasing the number of Compute Units (CUs) to enhance performance, especially at higher resolutions.
The PS5 originally featured 36 CUs, translating to 2,304 streaming multiprocessors (SMs), akin to an AMD Radeon RX 6700. It delivered impressive 4K gameplay without the heavy reliance on checkerboard upscaling seen in the PS4 Pro. However, newer games demand more power, which is where the PS5 Pro comes in. The Pro’s GPU boasts a 67% increase in CUs, likely reaching around 60 CUs or 3,840 SMs—comparable to the AMD Radeon RX 6800, a GPU known for solid 4K gaming.
In addition, the PS5 Pro incorporates next-gen ray tracing hardware from AMD, featuring advancements that haven’t yet been seen in AMD’s own GPUs. This new hardware is expected to help close the gap with Nvidia in ray tracing performance, making the PS5 Pro’s enhancements substantial for a mid-generation update.
PS5 Pro vs PS5 – Storage and Memory
The presentation didn't reveal any changes to the SSD, suggesting the PS5 Pro uses the same high-speed SSD as the PS5. While faster PCIe 5.0 SSDs exist, their impact on load times would be minimal, and they are cost-prohibitive.
However, memory performance gets a boost. Both consoles have 16GB of GDDR6 unified RAM, but the PS5 Pro's memory is about 28% faster, likely due to an upgraded memory interface, providing around 560GB/s of bandwidth compared to the original’s 440GB/s. This increased speed should help the PS5 Pro achieve the 45% performance increase that Sony emphasized, although more memory would have been ideal given the growing focus on 4K gaming.
PS5 Pro vs PS5 – Upscaling
When the PS5 debuted, upscaling technologies like Nvidia’s DLSS were still evolving, with the PS5 relying on checkerboard upscaling to boost resolution. The PS5 Pro, however, introduces PlayStation Spacial Super Resolution (PSSR), an AI-based upscaling method powered by a bespoke neural engine, which aims to deliver sharper images with less performance impact. Details on the neural engine remain sparse, but Sony promises more information soon.
PS5 Pro vs PS5 – CPU
There’s no mention of a CPU upgrade, indicating the PS5 Pro retains the same 8-core Zen 2 processor as the PS5. While not new, this CPU remains highly capable, especially since most of the workload at 4K resolutions is handled by the GPU. The CPU primarily manages background tasks and physics calculations, which it can do efficiently.
How Significant Is the PS5 Pro Upgrade?
The PS5 Pro offers a considerable performance boost, particularly in GPU power, specialized ray tracing hardware, and AI upscaling, making it well-suited for high-resolution, graphically intensive games. However, the core architecture remains based on nearly five-year-old technology, with a GPU comparable to the AMD Radeon RX 6800, which can be found for around $350 today.
While the PS5 Pro undoubtedly delivers enhanced visuals and smoother gameplay over the base PS5, it’s not a true generational leap—more of a refined upgrade that pushes current technology to its limits at a higher $699 price point compared to the PS5’s original $499 launch price.