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Sony PlayStation 5 Review, Equipped With Powerful Hardware And Special Design

Herbert Huffner

Equipped With Powerful Hardware And Special Design, Along With Excellent Support From Sony And Its Exclusive Studios, The Playstation 5 Promises A Great Generation In The Gaming World And For Gaming Lovers.

Sony PlayStation 5, After 7 years of entering the eighth generation of game consoles, it is time to migrate and start a new era. After months of rumors, Sony and Microsoft’s ninth-generation consoles were finally released with several improvements to signal a leap forward in the video game experience.

Sony logo

 

Sony has taken a different approach to its traditional rival in designing the PlayStation 5. The focus of the Japanese game world giant has been to improve all aspects of the console to make revolutionary progress in every area of ​​the user, from processing power and very high storage speed to dual-sense handle and improved user interface.

The improvements to the PS5 have been so great that not a single part of the console can be considered unchanged from the previous generation or even the PS4 Pro. PlayStation 5 is equipped with several capabilities to introduce itself as the best and most reliable ninth-generation game console.

Technical specifications of Sony PlayStation 5
Physical characteristics
Dimensions 260 × 104 × 390 mm
Weight 4.5 kg
Color White
Hardware specifications
Main processor Zen 2 8-core processor with a processing frequency of 3.5 GHz (variable frequency)
GPU 10.28 teraflops processing power, equipped with 36 computing units with 2.23 GHz processing frequency (variable frequency) and RDNA2 architecture
Processing power 10.28 Teraflops
RAM 16 GB GDDR6
Storage memory – 825 GB of custom SSD (667.2 GB available) – Equipped with NVMe external SSD port to upgrade storage space
Optical drive Crystal 4K UHD
screen
Touch screen No
connections
Wireless network Yes
Bluetooth Yes
Network port Yes
HDMI Yes
Number of USB ports – 2 USB-A ports – 1 USB-C port
Other
Image output 4K – 8K
Items in the box – One handle – HDMI cable – Power cable – Stand
other facilities USB external hard drive support to transfer the game to SSD (it is not possible to run the game from the hard drive)
Announced November 10, 2020
Global price at the time of supply $ 499

 

Designing

Compared to Microsoft, Sony has taken a completely different approach to design its ninth-generation console. While the new generation Xbox consoles use a simple design, Sony has adopted a different design language that is far from the trend these days in the tech world; Where many companies have switched to a minimalist and simple design language. Of course, this does not mean a defect, and the appearance of products has always been a matter of taste.

The PS5 is big enough to turn the PS4 Pro into a small console.

Two white arc panels surround the main body and black of the PS5. Of course, keep in mind that you will easily separate the side pages and color them as you wish. In the version with Blu-ray Disc drive, we see the design symmetry disappear from the front of the console. Although the installation of the Blu-ray drive is well done, the digital version has a better visual effect in this regard.

The PlayStation 5 can really be considered a great console; Even bigger than the original PlayStation 3 version. The main reason for this can find in the design of a large and powerful console cooling system. The PS5 with 4.5 kg sees only the PS3 with 5 kg as the heaviest gaming console. This makes it a bit of a challenge to find the right place for your console.

The build quality of the PS5 is at a good level, and despite the plastic body, it does not give the impression of a poor quality product. Perhaps the biggest problem is the glossy black color of the main body of the console, which is very prone to fingerprints and scratches.

Sony offers a special stand with the console for the PS5’s vertical strength and the ability to stand in landscape mode.

If you want to place the console vertically, you will see a compartment where the screw for connecting the base to the console is installed by rotating the screen below the base. Also, due to the arched design of the console side panels, it is not possible to insert the PS5 horizontally without a stand. Of course, in this case, you no longer need screws. Although designing and offering the base with the console is a good idea, I wish the body was designed so that the base is not needed at all!

The different designs and dimensions of the PS5 make it the center of your room.

The front of the console is a USB 2.0 and USB-C port next to the Power and Eject keys. Fortunately, Sony has helped differentiate it from the eject key with its larger key design, a very annoying dilemma in the previous generation. Also, pressing the power key once will no longer work.

To put the console in Rest Mode, you need to hold it for about 2 seconds to hear the beep; It also takes about 3 to 4 seconds to turn off the console, with the second beep announcing the start of the shutdown.

This mechanism helps a lot to prevent possible shutdowns. The back of the console also has two USB 3.0 ports, a LAN port, a power input port, an HDMI output, and a Kensington security lock.

 

After the introduction of the PS5, there was a lot of controversy over its design. Users were generally divided into two categories; They either consider the design attractive and futuristic or refer to it as an unusual and backward design. However, the PS5 can be considered a unique product in terms of design, which, when placed in your home, becomes the center of attention, and as soon as other people enter the house with the question, “Oh, what else is this?” You will encounter.

Interface

The PS5 has undergone extensive changes to its user interface, for which we invite you to watch the video below.

Keep in mind that the PS5 user interface still has several bugs. While using the console, you may encounter problems such as abruptly closing the game, exiting the game without a specific error, and freezing, and updates will probably be available soon to fix them.

Dual Sense category

Dual Sense is without a doubt one of the biggest features of the PS5. In design and the technologies used, Dual Sense has experienced a great change compared to Dual Shock 4; Where you can safely forget all your experience with previous Sony consoles. The PS5 with DualSense brings a new level of gaming experience that is unparalleled in the gaming world.

Improved design

While the DualShock 4 had good design improvements over its predecessor, some still knew the ergonomics of the Xbox controllers better. The first thing that stands out in the face of dual sense is the wide change in design and ergonomics. The bunch is now bigger and bulkier to bring far less fatigue in the long run. The handle’s weight is a bit more than its predecessor, which I personally consider a step forward to improve the gaming experience.

In my personal use, I also concluded that Dual Sense and its design language invite the user to use four fingers (the index and middle fingers of each hand) to use triggers. In this case, not only will the thumb be closer to the sticks and cause less fatigue, but you will also perform faster in games!

Dual Sense is Sony’s main winner in the fight against rivals.

Dual Sense in the key layout is not much different from Dual Shock 4 and uses the same familiar layout as before. The Options and Create keys (formerly the Share key) are located on either side of the touchpad. The handles display displays have also been moved from the top of the touchpad to the right, left, and bottom to see the greater visual appeal.

The L1 and R1 keys are now slightly larger, and we see the distance between them and the triggers (keys L2 and R2) disappear. Also, the triggers are slightly larger than the DualShock 4 models, and with a slightly more sloping arch to the outside of the handle, they bring more ergonomics. In the back of the handle (between the triggers), we also see replacing the micro USB port with USB-C.

Another notable design change is the addition of a microphone and a mute key to the handle.

The audio input is located at the bottom of the handle, slightly above the 3.5 mm jack port. This helps gamers to be able to play multiplayer games and talk to their friends without a headset and with headphones without a microphone. The microphone mute key also disables the user’s voice input to the console (with the microphone on the handle or via the headset microphone).

Of course, there is another special feature embedded in this key that is very useful. While pressing this key turns the microphone off and on, holding it off mutes the console output, in which case the light on this key will flash.

 

Like the previous generation, the gyroscope sensor is still in the category; However, developers did not see much use of it in the previous generation. Like the previous generation, Sony has used a built-in battery in DualSense, which will charge for about 8 hours if all its vibration capabilities are activated, including haptic feedback and adaptive triggers. You will also need about 3.5 hours to charge the handle, which will reduce if you do not use it while charging.

The only issues raised were the appearance and design of the Dual Sense; While the main revolution has taken place within the category and in its technologies. Where it is a bit difficult to describe its performance. However, we try to describe it as much as possible.

Adaptable triggers

Sony has tried a completely different user experience by installing a special engine (L2 and R2) in each trigger. The force required to press these keys in each game and different situations will have different behavior and feedback. The force curve required to press the key can also vary.

This means that you will need very little force at the beginning of the process of squeezing the trigger, but then you will experience much more resistance to squeeze it.

Also, in certain game situations, such as the car hitting the wall or the moment the Spider-Man warp is attached to the wall when you press the trigger, it is slightly pushed back to better feel the character’s challenge.

But what are the current uses of Adaptive Triggers?

In a very clever move, Sony has included a free game called Astro’s Playroom on PS5 consoles, which is fun and engaging and a great demo of DualSense capabilities and performance.

In some parts of the game, the character must cross obstacles through a suit equipped with a spring, or after being placed in a suit equipped with rocket engines, he must fly.

Adaptive triggers have lovely feedback in this case (especially in simulating the required spring force), and the more they are pressed, the more force is required.

Developers have not yet been able .to use and provide natural feedback on new triggers properly.

An important point is how developers use the new dual-sense triggers. Where, despite being very attractive in Astro’s Playroom, I personally found it somewhat useless and sometimes annoying in Dirt 5, Spider-Man: Miles Morels, and Call of Duty Cold War. If you have a history of shooting games like the Call of Duty series, you are definitely familiar with the importance of timely reaction.

However, the triggers in this game have a different function with different weapons and try to simulate the trigger feedback (a small initial force and then more force needed to press the trigger to the end).

But after a while of playing the game, I found the feedback annoying and disabled due to the constant use of triggers and the sense of challenge in fast performance—especially when pressing L2, which tries to induce a sense of lifting the gun.

In Dirt5, the triggers try to induce the feeling of the accelerator and brake pedals.

However, the force required to squeeze both is almost equal, while in real-world vehicles or even accelerator pedal simulation equipment requires far less force to squeeze than the brakes.

Also, a bigger problem in the game experience occurs when you want to release the gas and press it again for a short period of time to control the car in the corner.

In this case, after releasing and pressing the trigger again, the initial pressing interval no longer requires force, and suddenly the engine is activated with a slight delay, which conveys the feeling that the handle is broken.

In Spider-Man:

Miles Morales will use R2 to throw the strings, the trigger behavior is a bit unfamiliar, and I do not know how it feels to try to induce. You do not need a lot of force to squeeze the initial trigger, and suddenly the trigger gets a little stiffer in the final trigger (similar to the trigger in Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War).

However, you do not need to press trigger R2 all the way to throw the string, and you can continue to move with the same initial interval (which requires little force to squeeze).

Adaptive Triggers is a beautiful technology that, unfortunately, the developers have not yet been able to embed practical and attractive games due to a lack of familiarity with it.

Perhaps in the future, we will see a significant improvement in performance with Sony’s in-line engines and more familiarity with developers.

Hepatic vibrating motor

Vibration motors are used in-game categories to provide feedback on game conditions. Increasing the accuracy of these motors can significantly impact the experience where Sony is focused. Thanks to the use of hepatic vibration feedback engines (similar to those on the iPhone), DualSense offers an extraordinary experience in this area that you just have to experience for yourself.

Apparently, two motors are installed on both sides of the handle, which are capable of heavy vibration and can provide a very gentle vibration. These motors can both vibrate alternately and simultaneously with the same behavior.

Dual-sensory hepatic motors are extraordinary.

Now imagine that the character is walking on different surfaces such as wood, iron, glass, or grass (Astro’s Playroom). With each step, these motors emit a specific vibration that provides a unique sensation.

In Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War, running, walking, sliding (on different levels), physical combat, or kicking each have different behaviors that are very well implemented.

In Dirt 5, moving the car on different surfaces, slipping, or hitting obstacles all have their own vibrations that significantly impact the gaming experience.

Hepatic engines are the most important technology used in dual science, which significantly impacts the gaming experience. The vacancy of this technology is strongly felt in the categories of Microsoft.

Hardware and performance

Ninth-generation consoles can be considered a revolution in the use of hardware. For example, the hardware used in eighth-generation consoles at the time was considered old and weak in the computer world.

Still, Jaguar processors were actually designed for use in tablets and low-end computers. But this is completely different in the new generation, and manufacturers have moved on to technology and parts that have just entered the market and are considered the most advanced and powerful examples of their kind.

If you look at the history of using hardware technologies in previous generation consoles to examine the processing power of the PS5 and Xbox X series, you will find “revolutionary” the best word to define it.

CPU and GPU

While the PS3 and Xbox 360 were looking to run games in HD, and the development of the PS4 and Xbox One was to achieve games in Full HD, the ninth generation is targeting 4K resolution.

Running games in 4K resolution at 60 frames per second and using advanced technologies such as beam tracking to increase the quality of reflections and details in dark areas of the image requires powerful hardware.

Mark Cerny (Sony’s gaming console hardware development think tank) used AMD’s next-generation main processor and graphics processor architecture.

Zen2 and RDNA2 make the PlayStation 5 a powerful monster.

Comparing the power of the new generation with the previous one is ridiculous.

The Zen 2 8-core processor with a maximum frequency of 3.5 GHz, along with 36 powerful graphics units of RDNA 2 with a frequency of 2.23 GHz, introduces itself as the beating heart and the main player in processing and executing games on the PS5. Thus, we see the processing power of 10/28 teraflops.

At first, glance, comparing it to the 1.84 teraflops of PlayStation 4 and 2.4 teraflops of PlayStation 4 Pro does not seem significant. But do not forget that Traflops is just a simple measure of GPU graphics power, and it is very wrong to compare several processors of different generations with this criterion.

Considering the improvements in architecture, lithography, and memory bandwidth, from the first generation of GCN architecture (the previous generation of game console architecture) to GCN 5 (Vega) and then RDNA 1 and RDNA 2, we will achieve a significant coefficient to finally even compare The output power of PS5 and PS4 looks funny.

AMD has also included a beam accelerator in each of its processing units to provide hardware support for the technology and significantly improve computing speed.

Sony has used a not-so-common way to get the most out of the console on the PS5. While frequency change has already been used in many products in the tech world; But on the PS5, developers will be able to use a certain amount of CPU and GPU by defining a specific profile for each part of the game at constant power, thanks to the use of Smart Shift technology.

This way, regardless of the console’s thermal conditions, all gamers will have the same experience.

By understanding the above, one can become somewhat familiar with the very high power of consoles. Given the gaming capabilities and the price tag, no computer will be able to compete with ninth-generation consoles at this time.

According to Sony, the PS5 will run games with 4K resolution, 60 frames per second and HDR support.

Developers can also optimize certain modes of competitive games (fighting, shooting, or racing games) to run at 120 frames per second so that consoles are now a much better option for professional gamers.

With the beginning of the ninth generation (new architecture and API) and, of course, the introduction of mid-generation games, developers have been unable to use all the power of the PS5 hardware.

Spider-Man Miles Morales, for example, runs on the console in two different modes; Equipped with Beam interception at a rate of 30 frames per second or without this feature and at a rate of 60 frames per second.

Assin Creed Valhalla has similar conditions.

The version is equipped with high-quality graphic textures and rich lighting at a rate of 30 frames per second. Calder Call of Duty runs at 60 and 120 frames per second with different details and graphic textures on the PlayStation 5.

Despite the use of more detail, better textures, and, of course, the amazing effect of beam interception in the games offered, which alone enhances the visual effects by several steps, but one can not expect a huge difference (proportional to the difference between the new generation and previous processing power) between the final output. Have a PS5 with previous generation consoles, especially the PS4 Pro. But we will definitely see the release of real ninth-generation games by 2022, which will not be visually comparable to previous models by 2022.

Embedding the ability to change the game mode and execute them with higher rates, details, and lower textures is advantageous. We hope all the developers put these settings well in their games.

SSD memory

CPU and GPU‌ faster is not the only improvement of the PS5 over its predecessor. With the expansion of the gaming environment, the increase in the quality and number of textures, and the need for more processing power, there is an urgent need to increase the data transfer rate and provide them to processors quickly and quickly.

This can consider as one of the main reasons for the slowdown in the visual progress of games over the past years; Where the speed of data transfer and access to them on the HDD placed many limitations for developers.

Mark Cerny also spent a lot of time explaining this problem at the unveiling of the PS5, calling it one of the most important challenges in the gaming world right now.

The PlayStation 5 SSD is 100 times faster than the PlayStation 4 HDD.

According to Serni, hard disks spend two-thirds of their working time searching for data. At the same time, this problem does not exist in SSDs. First of all, it should note that Sony has spent a lot of time and energy developing the PlayStation 5 SSD, and it can not compare with the fourth generation PCI.e SSDs alone.

One of Sony’s most important steps has been to design a highly advanced, dedicated 12-channel controller to manage memory, reduce overload on the processor, and optimize data compression and decompression operations.

This has enabled the PS5 to transfer uncompressed data up to 5.5 Gbps, double the data transfer rate. The data will also send to the SOC via 4 fourth-generation PCI.e lines.

But speeding up SSDs has not been Sony’s only goal. The company has worked better at the architectural level to efficiently integrate other components with storage and controller data to transfer and minimize latency.

This is provided by the design of custom controllers at the board level and even within the SOC.

To get acquainted with the amazing PS5 SSD, it is not bad to refer to Mark Cerny; Where the PS4 took 20 seconds to load one gigabyte. But on the PS5, loading 2 GB of data only takes 0.27 seconds. Ideally, the PS5 memory is about 100 times faster than the previous generation hard drives.

In Spider-Man Miles Morales, you need 11 seconds to enter the game on PS5, which is not much different from 13 seconds on PS4. But the main difference when entering the gameplay is from the menu, where on the PS5, it takes about 2 seconds, and on the PS4, about 20 seconds.

Fast Travel also takes place almost instantly and without delay in the PS5 version, which I personally consider the biggest strength of the new memories.

No need for long breaks in gameplay.

The design of the 12-channel controller, which was done in collaboration with Samsung, is the main reason for reaching 825 GB of storage memory; Only 667 GB will be available to the user to install the game.

About 150 GB of free space was available for Zomit after installing Spider-Man Miles Morales, Assin Creed Valhalla, Calvo Duty Calvary, Watch Dogs Legend, Dirt 5, NBA 2k21, and Immortals. Considering the need for approximately 100 GB of free space to update games (especially Kaldvar), it can say that the PS5 has the space to install an average of 8 AAA games.

Although the overall memory capacity is a step backward compared to the previous generation, one should not forget that thanks to the very high speed of SSD memory, the volume of games will probably decrease in the future. Because other developers no longer need to duplicate data across different sections just to access them faster.

The PS5 also supports the ability to add more SSD memory, for which you should use console-compatible NVMe models.

Sony has not yet approved any memory for use on the console. This means that even if you use the fastest model on the market, the PS5 will recognize it as an incompatible accessory and will not even allow the console to turn on.

Fan sound and heat

After unveiling the PlayStation 5 and viewing the specs, especially the awesome 2.2GHz GPU, I got ready for a hot, loud console. GPU cooling with this operating frequency is complicated, and in the computer world, this is done with large heatsinks and three blower fans. Now, along with the GPU processing units, it is enough to include eight 3.5 GHz CPU cores and 16 GB of GDDR6 memory, all of which generate heat.

The PS5 is quiet in any situation!

But Sony has equipped the PS5 with a huge heatsink after a not-so-good experience with the cooling system performance and noise level, especially on the PS4 Pro. The use of Liquid Metal to transfer heat from the SOC to the heatsink also shows Sony’s seriousness in developing a quiet console.

In the PS5 cooling system, air enters through the console’s lower, upper, and front vents, and after passing through the heatsink and cooling, it exits through the rear vents.

After several hours of playing Spider-Man Miles Morales with 4K resolution and active beam interception, the exhaust air temperature reached a maximum of 46 degrees Celsius. The LAN and USB ports at the bottom of the console were also the console’s hottest point, with 57 degrees.

In short, the PS5 can be considered a silent console. Even after several hours in the heaviest games present, such as Spider-Man Miles Morales or Cold Air, the console operates slowly and without much noise. Its cooling system easily dissipates the heat generated. The console is so quiet that you have to place your ear close to it to hear it.

Sony has given some tips to users to avoid any problems with the operation of the cooling system:

Games

With the ninth generation of game consoles launch, only a few are optimized to run on the PS5. The mentioned games (until the publication of this article) are:

Keep in mind that the way PS5 games are presented and how they differ from the PS4 model is a bit misleading at the moment.

Some games, such as Dirt 5, are the same as the PS4 version, and by receiving a special update, you can experience the game with PS5-specific improvements.

But some other titles like Spider-Man Miles Morales are available in both PS4 and PS5 versions, so in the first place, you should be careful not to buy the PS4 version by mistake. Because this version also runs on PS5 but lacks graphic improvements for the new generation.

But the cool feature of the PS5 is that it supports all PS4 games. Whether you have PS4 game Blu-ray Discs or have purchased them digitally in your account, you will be able to experience them all on your PS5.

Even if you have the data of PS4 games on an external hard drive, you can run the game immediately by connecting it to the PS5.

But the important thing about this is that the difference between playing games on PS5 and PS4 greatly increases the value of re-experiencing games.

Sony’s next-generation console runs the PS4 Pro version of the game, which means better textures and 60 frames per second for some games. ‌

Do not forget ‌ To transfer all the games installed on the PS4 to the PS5 with an external hard drive; Learn how to transfer games from PS4 to PS5.

A special service called PlayStation Collection is also available for users who use Plus membership, which allows you to experience 20 of the best games of the previous generation for free on PS5. Games like God of War, Ratchet and Clank, Bloodborne, Detroit: Become Human, and Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End make this service valuable. To use this service, refer to the tutorial for adding PlayStation Plus Collection games.

Conclusion

The PlayStation 5 is a great console; All aspects of it have undergone extensive improvements. The PS5’s numerous capabilities promise an attractive generation; Where developers will definitely be able to use it more effectively with more familiarity overtime to bring a better experience to users. This is especially true of the use of SOC processing power and the behavior of the DualSense controller.

The excellent PlayStation 5 processing power for running games with the highest level of texture quality and at a rate of 60 frames per second in a package of $ 500 is commendable.

The tranquil performance also shows Sony’s high engineering prowess. Thanks to dedicating ultra-fast SSD, gaming performance, loading time, and fast travel have been significantly reduced, and you will no longer have to delay your gameplay and wait for the various stages to load.

The PS5 is the ideal console for those looking for a consistent and secure ninth-generation experience. Great support from Sony and the company’s amazing First Party studios will bring exciting years for gamers.

Of course, you should prepare to pay more due to the higher price of new generation games and the lack of services such as GamePads.

Positive points

Cons

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