In-Depth Analysis of PlayStation 5 Pro Specs and Mark Cerny’s Debunking of ‘FLOPflation’ Myths

Yesterday, PlayStation released a video showcasing Mark Cerny hosting a detailed seminar on the PS5 Pro’s technical specs at Sony Interactive Entertainment’s headquarters. As the leading system architect, Cerny took the chance to delve into the advancements of the PS5 Pro and address some misconceptions circulating about the console. A particular point of focus was the term “FLOPflation,” stemming from an incorrect leak that stated the PS5 Pro’s performance at 33.5 TFLOPs—a number stemming from a misinterpretation of its RDNA 3-inspired architecture features.

In reality, the PS5 Pro delivers 16.7 TFLOPs, a significant jump from the 10 TFLOPs of the original PS5. Cerny confirmed some accurate leaks, noting the PS5 Pro reaches 300 TOPS for 8-bit calculations and 67 TFLOPs for those done in 16-bit. The system optimizes Sony’s RDNA 2.X, an enhanced adaptation of the AMD RDNA 2 architecture, to include RDNA 3 elements while retaining foundational components, ensuring smooth transitions without needing to rewrite code for the new hardware.

During the seminar, Cerny emphasized the PS5 Pro’s standout advancements, particularly its new Ray Acceleration structure with BVH8 (Bounding Volume Hierarchy) and upgraded “Stack management in hardware.” These enhancements allow for improved, streamlined, and efficient graphics shader code, boosting performance on the new machine.

Bounding Volume Hierarchy (BVH) refers to an established technique in 3D rendering, specifically involving how it uses bounding boxes to handle graphical calculations like reflections. The PS5 utilized BVH4, managing boxes in groups of four for ray tracing, but the PS5 Pro now steps up with BVH8, doubling this capability. The Ray Intersection Engine’s efficiency also improves, moving from evaluating rays against four boxes and one triangle (PS5) to eight boxes and two triangles (PS5 Pro).

These advancements in the PS5 Pro’s ray tracing hardware, courtesy of a notably customized iteration of the RDNA 2 GPU architecture from the PS5, yield impressive performance boosts in rendering light on curved and textured surfaces. However, the enhancements for shadows and flat reflections are more moderate.

For tech enthusiasts eager to dive deeper, the entire 37-minute video offers a treasure trove of insights into the console landscape and the cutting-edge technology needed to thrive within it.