PS5 Pro In-Depth Analysis: Upgraded GPU and Ray Tracing Enhancements, PSSR, and Sony's Partnership with AMD Amethyst

This article provides an in-depth analysis of the PlayStation 5 Pro, focusing on its upgraded GPU and ray tracing capabilities, its proprietary PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution (PSSR) technology, and Sony's new collaboration with AMD, codenamed "Amethyst." Information is compiled from various sources, including Eurogamer, TweakTown, Wccftech, and The Verge

Hardware Deep Dive: GPU and Ray Tracing

The PS5 Pro boasts a significantly enhanced GPU compared to its predecessor. While still based on AMD's RDNA 2 architecture, it incorporates features from RDNA 3 and even RDNA 4, resulting in a substantial performance boost. Eurogamer's Digital Foundry analysis reveals a 16.7 teraflops (TF) performance at a typical clock speed of 2.17GHz, a significant increase over the standard PS5's approximately 10TF. This improvement is not solely based on raw TFLOP increases, but also on architectural enhancements.

TweakTown highlights a 67% increase in Compute Units (60 CUs vs. 36 CUs in the standard PS5) and 28% faster GDDR6 memory (18Gbps vs. 16Gbps), contributing to the overall 45% performance increase. The PS5 Pro also features advanced ray tracing improvements, achieving 2-3x faster performance in ray-traced games compared to the standard PS5. These improvements stem from architectural enhancements such as support for BVH8 instead of BVH4, hardware stack management, and optimizations for handling divergent ray tracing calculations.

PSSR: PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution

The PS5 Pro introduces PSSR, Sony's custom AI-powered upscaling technology. Unlike existing solutions, Sony prioritized speed and minimized per-frame processing time, utilizing the GPU for this task. The Verge describes PSSR as a technique similar to Nvidia's DLSS or AMD's FSR, designed to improve frame rates and image quality by replacing a game's existing temporal anti-aliasing or upsampling.

The Wccftech interview with Mark Cerny reveals that PSSR uses generalized training, making it easier to implement across various games compared to per-game training methods. While initially focused on super-resolution, Cerny hints at future potential for frame generation and other enhancements. The implementation of PSSR varies across games, with some developers offering multiple modes alongside PSSR, while others integrate it into a single "Pro" mode.

Amethyst: Sony and AMD Collaboration

Sony's partnership with AMD, codenamed "Project Amethyst," is a significant development. This collaboration focuses on co-developing hardware architectures and software libraries optimized for machine learning in real-time game graphics. The goal is to create performant AI architectures usable across various platforms (PC, console, cloud). This initiative aims to advance both ray tracing and machine learning capabilities for future consoles and potentially bridge the gap between Sony's and AMD's technologies and those of competitors like Nvidia.

The Eurogamer interview with Mark Cerny and Mike Fitzgerald emphasizes the long-term nature of this collaboration, suggesting that its full benefits won't be realized for several years, potentially impacting the design of future PlayStation consoles.

PS5 Pro Enhanced Games and Backwards Compatibility

The PS5 Pro supports backward compatibility with over 8,500 PS4 games, with a "Game Boost" option to improve performance. Many PS5 titles will receive free updates labeled "PS5 Pro Enhanced," optimizing them for the new console's capabilities. The Verge lists several launch titles receiving these enhancements, including The Last of Us Part II Remastered, Marvel's Spider-Man 2, and Gran Turismo 7. These enhancements often include higher resolutions (up to 8K in some cases), increased frame rates (up to 120fps), and improved ray tracing effects.

Conclusion

The PS5 Pro represents a significant mid-generation upgrade, offering substantial improvements in graphical fidelity and performance. The combination of a powerful, enhanced GPU, advanced ray tracing, and the innovative PSSR technology delivers a visually stunning gaming experience. Sony's collaboration with AMD on Project Amethyst further positions the company for future advancements in machine learning and ray tracing, setting the stage for next-generation gaming advancements. However, the premium price point may limit its appeal to a niche market of gamers prioritizing top-tier visuals and performance.