Did you guys know the PS4 has a 2nd ARM CPU and RAM for background tasks?

[futurefields]

I didn't know that, I was under the impression the 8 jaguar cores and 8gb GDDR5 were doing everything but apparently there is a low power ARM-cpu with it's own 256mb ddr3 for handling background tasks.

http://ps4daily.com/2013/11/playstation-4-has-a-secondary-processor-with-256-mb-dedicated-ram/



From Wikipedia

"CPU Semi-custom 8-core AMD x86-64 Jaguar CPU (integrated into APU)[8]
Secondary low power processor (for background tasks)[9] Memory 8 GiB GDDR5 (unified)
256 MiB DDR3 RAM (for background tasks)[9]"


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PlayStation_4

 

[HeXen]

Being aware or not doesn't make it perform any better. I still prefer PC for most reasons. I got it for exclusives but so far Shadow Fall has been the only one I liked. Hopefully U4 will grab my interest, otherwise I might as well sell the darn thing, haven't turned it on in months.

 

[futurefields]

So you did know already? Or you didn't?

 

[cmdrdredd]

Didn't know and it doesn't matter to me even when I do know now.

 

[futurefields]

So you aren't interested in console system design and architecture?

 

[Anteaus]

So you aren't interested in console system design and architecture?

The second CPU you mentioned is for running the OS in the background and/or when the console is in its low power state. It adds nothing to overall performance of games, therefore isn't all that interesting in general.

These threads tend to incite comparisons between competing platforms, which most of us are tired of. I think HeXen figured he would just light the fire since you when to the trouble of stacking the wood.

 

[futurefields]

Of course it adds to game performance. It frees the main CPU from having to run the background tasks so that the main CPU can use all 8 cores on the game. IIRC the XBone is limited to 6 cores for games (maybe 7 now since they dropped Kinect?) due to precisely this reason.

These threads tend to incite comparisons between competing platforms, which most of us are tired of.

Dude this isn't yours or anybody elses forum. Sick of people acting like that. Going to continue to post the stuff I find interesting about these consoles, if you want to engage in on topic discussion I welcome it. If not, just ignore the topic. If I made a thread about horse shoes, would you post how you don't care about that either? Good grief. It's all about what you want to read I guess.

 

[cmdrdredd]

Based on post history the stuff you seem to find interesting about the consoles is that they are lower performance than a gaming PC or that the ps4 is better than the xb1 for (insert reason).

 

[JeffMD]

Tegra 3 chipset was also cool like that cause it had a 4th core running 500mhz that would handle running things when the system is in sleep mode. Didn't seem to allow it to do anything other chipsets couldn't do however and never excelled in battery use so I guess it was always a good idea on paper but never showed expected performance in realworld.

 

[futurefields]

Based on post history the stuff you seem to find interesting about the consoles is that they are lower performance than a gaming PC or that the ps4 is better than the xb1 for (insert reason).

Not really. In fact if I were to buy a console it would be an Xbox One.

 

[cmdrdredd]

There is the key word if. Why are you posting at all in the console forum if you do not own a console?

 

[futurefields]

Uhh I have a 360 and a Wii.

 

[mmntech]

The secondary low-power CPU handles all the standby mode functions. Downloading updates and what not while the console is "off".

It might handle LAN while the console is on, but I don't think it does anything else. One core of the Jaguar is reserved for the OS, with games having access to 7 out of 8 cores. Performance boosts from using dedicated LAN chips are pretty minimal.

 

[Pottuvoi]

Yes.
This has been known from the first time we heard about the console. (and was speculated long before it.)

 

[jacktesterson]

Dude this isn't yours or anybody elses forum. Sick of people acting like that. Going to continue to post the stuff I find interesting about these consoles, if you want to engage in on topic discussion I welcome it. If not, just ignore the topic. If I made a thread about horse shoes, would you post how you don't care about that either? Good grief. It's all about what you want to read I guess.

I completely agree its not called for

Did not know this myself.

 

[jacktesterson]

There is the key word if. Why are you posting at all in the console forum if you do not own a console?

Why are you posting in this thread?

 

[IHateMyJob2004]

The second CPU you mentioned is for running the OS in the background and/or when the console is in its low power state. It adds nothing to overall performance of games, therefore isn't all that interesting in general.

These threads tend to incite comparisons between competing platforms, which most of us are tired of. I think HeXen figured he would just light the fire since you when to the trouble of stacking the wood.

It keeps the OS lively at all times. If there were lag switching between games and OS and visa versa, it would be a killer feature. Killer as in no one would want it. User experience matters.

 

[Anteaus]

It keeps the OS lively at all times. If there were lag switching between games and OS and visa versa, it would be a killer feature. Killer as in no one would want it. User experience matters.

Competing platforms are able to do the same thing without a secondary CPU, therefore there is nothing intrinsically special about this application. I won't deny that it is a unique implementation or that it might benefit the user experience; however, as I said before its impact "in-game" is minimal at best. Sony could have left it out and I doubt the experience would be much different unless it was introduced to address a weakness somewhere else in the system, but I don't believe that is the case.