We know that the Xbox One is, without question at this point, weaker than the PlayStation 4 when it comes to pure raw hardware numbers. We’re also pretty sure that there’s no magical secret sauce that’ll ever allow the system to reach parity, but we also know that Microsoft has reserved 10% of the GPU, mostly for Kinect processing that it planned to unlock for developers to use later in the console’s life. Sooner, rather than later it seems.
Back in October last year, Microsoft confirmed that there was a 10% GPU reservation
“Xbox One has a conservative 10 per cent time-sliced reservation on the GPU for system processing. This is used both for the GPGPU processing for Kinect and for the rendering of concurrent system content such as snap mode,” Microsoft engineer Andrew Goossen told Eurogamer in an interview on the Xbox One’s innards.
“The current reservation provides strong isolation between the title and the system and simplifies game development – strong isolation means that the system workloads, which are variable, won’t perturb the performance of the game rendering. In the future, we plan to open up more options to developers to access this GPU reservation time while maintaining full system functionality.”
Now, possibly in response to the widespread media attention that the Xbox One’s worse performing, lower resolution games has been getting, Microsoft could be unlocking 8% of that cache to developers. That’s the unsubstantiated claim from Pete Dodd, known on the internet as Famousmortimer, who’s been right about a few things regarding the new consoles before.
Gpu for that certain system had 10‰ reserved. 8‰ video. 2‰ voice. Voice will remain. That video 8‰ will be up to devs. As it should be.
— atFamousmortimer (@atPeteDodd) January 26, 2014
This is good news for Xbox One owners, as it really just means there’s no overhead being used for Kinect video tracking in games that don’t use Kinect at all. It doesn’t, however, mean that the Xbox One will able to match the PS4 in performance. The bump won’t help much with resolution at all (that blasted 32Mb ESRAM is a bottleneck), but it should most certainly help with frame-rate.
Tomb Raider: The Definitive Edition, out later tis month, for example, could have conceivably hit the sweet 60fps sport with this extra oomph, and could still be given a bump with a post-release patch.
I maintain though, based purely on the hardware that’s in each system, that the gap between the PS4 and Xbox One will not only be noticeable, but will actually widen as this generation goes on. It’s a sentiment seemingly shared by “industry insiders” like Ahsan Rasheed, another person from the internet who’s been known to be correct about much of the new console developments.
"Xbox One will be behind all generation, and not buy some small trivial margin. It will be enough to show up distinctly in exclusives."
— Ahsan Rasheed (@thuway) January 27, 2014
The PS4 has more left in the tank that will start showing up going forward. It was designed with more forward thinking hardware choices.
— Ahsan Rasheed (@thuway) January 27, 2014
To be honest though, I think we need to stop focusing on the hardware; we know that the Xbox One isn’t as powerful, and this resolution and frame-rate deficit will be perpetuated through the generation. It really is all about the games, and frankly, there aren’t enough of those on either system at the moment. Whatever system you own, whatever system you plan to own; get games for it. Hopefully you’ll enjoy them.
Last Updated: January 27, 2014
Melasco
January 27, 2014 at 12:03
10% wont close the 40% gap will it 😛
Knour1945
January 28, 2014 at 04:08
?? ??-????e?’? ????e? ???e? $68 e?e?? ???? ?? ??e ??????. ??e ??? ?ee? ???? ??? ??? 7 ?????? ??? ???? ????? ?e? ??? ??? $21989 ???? ??????? ?? ??e ?????? ??? ? ?e? ?????. ???e ???? fox800.com
Umar Break Dancing Cyborg
January 27, 2014 at 12:05
What Next Gen games this year are truly worth getting a new console? Second Son or Quantum Break…..Yeah no….
TiMsTeR1033
January 27, 2014 at 12:07
Second Son will be a GREAT game mark my words.
Umar Break Dancing Cyborg
January 27, 2014 at 12:07
Not saying it won’t be great. But a console seller?….nope
Hammersteyn
January 27, 2014 at 12:18
I think most people who has PS+ on Ps3 will be looking to buy a PS4 soon with the up and coming free titles plus Second Son and The Order eventually.
I am not playing games fast enough thanks to having a Vita as well. I really want to play Don’t Starve for instance but every time I switch on the PS4 it’s back to Warframe. That’s to say if I can stop playing Soul Sacrifice on the Vita. All these games being free on PS+
Gr8_Balls_o_Fire
January 27, 2014 at 12:25
How good is Warframe? What exactly is it? On that note, what about War Thunder?
Hammersteyn
January 27, 2014 at 13:35
Warframe is a game where you and up to three players do missions together. The name warframe refers to the different types of frames you can craft that each has different abilities. So there’s a lot of grinding and I suggest watching a couple of tutorial videos just so that you can learn the game quicker. But it’s easy to pick up.
War Thunder is also a lot of fun. You pick a nation and research aircraft to fly with. It’s two teams dog fighting against each other trying to take each other our or destroying their ground forces first. It’s also a lot of fun except
the balancing can be a bit off sometimes. Especially when you run into a Spitfire with your starter plane.
Gr8_Balls_o_Fire
January 27, 2014 at 14:39
Cool man! Will download them when my uncapped arrives. Now need to make friends on PSN lol
Hammersteyn
January 28, 2014 at 07:32
Add me for a start. user_id : Hammer_steyn
Gr8_Balls_o_Fire
January 28, 2014 at 10:43
Awesome. Next week when I have access to my PS4 lol
Umar Break Dancing Cyborg
January 27, 2014 at 12:54
True, PS+ is a real selling point. Outlast was a great attraction for ps4
SheHulkNigri
January 27, 2014 at 12:25
You may be hinting at why I might be abandoning gaming altogether. Yes, I know it is still way too early in the console’s life cycle to say this, but: The only thing I am seeing right now is either remakes, or games being released on Xbox 360/PS3 as well as Xbox One/PS4. And the new content that is coming out is simply leaving me cold.
We have come to a place in gaming where I feel I can safely say that whatever new they are bringing out, we have already played it a million times before.
And I am gatvol for handing over R700.00 a pop to get some deja-vu feels.
Umar Break Dancing Cyborg
January 27, 2014 at 12:53
I know how you feel man….Exhibit A…..Tomb Raider definitive edition…full price
iAmWeasel
January 27, 2014 at 12:56
What makes you think Tomb Raider DE is meant for people who have already played the game? Seems like a rather self-obsessed view. I haven’t played it yet so I’m hugely grateful that I can now play it on my next gen console with a cool face lift.
Umar Break Dancing Cyborg
January 27, 2014 at 13:00
Self-obssesed? Really? Firstly thanx for the ignorant insult. Secondly, Tomb Raider was released the beginning of last year..I can get that game for under R300 NEW…..now it’s re-released with better graphics and a few extras and now it FULL price again at $60….?……please, it’s a rip-off, even to new comers
iAmWeasel
January 27, 2014 at 13:04
Even at a lower price, why would you even consider buying it again, if just for some graphical improvements? Obviously this release is intended for people who never experienced the game before, and seeing as I’m one of those people I will gladly fork out full price for the game. So yes you do seem a tad self-obsessed if you find this release so offensive. How is this any different to a “Game of the Year” edition being released at full price? I don’t see anyone bitching about those.
Gr8_Balls_o_Fire
January 27, 2014 at 13:39
Maybe R400-R550 would be acceptable. It is basically an HD release of an HD game
streetsports
January 28, 2014 at 05:06
I think what they are getting at is that games are the same 4 experiences over n over again now that all of the good ideas have been used up….I mean what is new and next gen? Her hair looks more realistic…woohoo…the only things I personally have left to experience in gaming is 4k and triple monitors. Which is pretty expensive but unmatchable imo.
TiMsTeR1033
January 27, 2014 at 12:06
I remember saying this over a game of golf to Rincethis and Vampire squirrel, The ps4 will when this generation… I was told that the Xbox one will Win for many different reasons.. I guess I was right after all.. Ps4 is indeed a winner. Sooner or later people will see the difference and more and more opt for Ps4… I guess that’s what happens when you have too much money and get cocky, Ms you shot yourself in the foot.
CypherGate
January 27, 2014 at 12:19
One has to ask yourself this: What was Microsoft thinking when they started hard development for there next gen consoles?. I mean they had loads of time for research and development and they have the financial power to have developed something really good. I dont mean they needed to go full custom cpu and gpu etc etc, but they could have made something a lot better.
iAmWeasel
January 27, 2014 at 12:28
Sony has always produced superb hardware. If Microsoft “won” the last generation (which is debatable), then its more the result of poor form on Sony’s part rather than MS being outstanding. If Sony have genuinely aligned all their stars perfectly then I believe they will wipe the floor with MS this time around.
CypherGate
January 27, 2014 at 12:38
I agree with you on that one and it shows with the PS4 that they learnt from there mistakes (As far as i can see) Yet microsoft somehow decided to somehow mess things up this generation. A generation plenty of people were waiting for in such a long time.
Gr8_Balls_o_Fire
January 27, 2014 at 12:19
Only way to tell is to go to the future and see what devs pull off.
Only way to go to the future is wait. Our do other stuff in the meantime.
oVg 60fps > 30fps
January 27, 2014 at 13:56
The PS4 has a Naughty Dog game coming.
SOLD
Gr8_Balls_o_Fire
January 27, 2014 at 14:40
Already bought!
Hammersteyn
January 27, 2014 at 12:20
Everyone looking to buy the XBOX One has either imported it or they are waiting patiently. Those that are waiting are surely itching to grab a PS4 rather I would bet. The news isn’t getting better for the XBOX and it hasn’t really been sunshine since their reveal last year.
Pieter Kruger
January 27, 2014 at 12:30
Who cares, please just announce Crackdown 3 already…………counting the hours……..!!!!!
Martin du preez
January 27, 2014 at 12:46
DAT SECRET SAUCE YO!
Gregory S. Balchin
January 27, 2014 at 12:46
let’s just stop perpetuating the fallacy that more powerful hardware will lead to better games.
or that inferior hardware will be the “death of…” (pick a doomsday headline).
because if both of those were true the then only alienware PCs would have mindblowing games and the nintendo DS would have none.
iAmWeasel
January 27, 2014 at 12:50
The PS3 struggled a lot out the gates with performance related issues and took several years to recover from that, so maybe you should also consider not perpetuating the fallacy that better hardware doesn’t matter.
TiMsTeR1033
January 27, 2014 at 12:58
Yes the Ps3 struggled but it was the more powerful console to begin with.. The reason why it struggled is due to the learning curve on the Cell technology from what I understand.
iAmWeasel
January 27, 2014 at 13:01
Yes but my point is that it struggled with performance related issues which were very damaging in those early years. Whether or not the hardware was technically superior is irrelevant. Just as the XB1 is struggling with performance related issues now, albeit for other reasons.
Gregory S. Balchin
January 29, 2014 at 10:06
but… it doesn’t?
Guest
January 27, 2014 at 20:37
If you invoke “Alienware” and think its good, then you are truly ignorant and should just stfu now.
Gregory S. Balchin
January 29, 2014 at 10:07
i used a well-known performance hardware vendor to illustrate a point. i was not endorsing their product.
oVg 60fps > 30fps
January 27, 2014 at 13:50
Do the math. FOUR is more than ONE.
oVg 60fps > 30fps
January 27, 2014 at 13:53
Oddly, the reason why it was called the XBOX360 in the first place was because they were worried that when it was on the shelf next to the PS3, the buyers would go for the 3 instead of the 2.
So now they go back to ONE. Makes me wonder sometimes.
Rikus
January 27, 2014 at 13:54
Let me get this straight. Microsoft reduced the gaming power of the Xbone by 10% because of the snap-in feature? Way to be “all about the games”.
oVg 60fps > 30fps
January 27, 2014 at 13:54
FOR future cable company purchases.
MakeItLegal
January 27, 2014 at 14:24
Ha ha ha ha …. No offence , but I am happy to switch to pc as my primary source of gaming …. And in a few years ( 4 or so ) pick up a cheap ps4 for exclusives ….. Pc master race is the boss and I am the bitch ….
streetsports
January 28, 2014 at 04:55
A month ago I would have called you a PC fanboy…today I will agree with you…one system has crap hardware and the other has crap software…they should just make consoles together honestly lol…but yah I bought an x1 and now I’m already upgrading my PC and planning to sell the xbox. The funny part is that ms still wins because they profited twice as much from me buying windows 8 as they did from me buying the x1
MakeItLegal
January 30, 2014 at 13:39
Eish ya ….Thing is for me , that i noticed since ps3 days ….Backwards compatibility , i refuse to rebuy the same game , 3x for 3 diffrent platforms … oh and u can send email on pc lol
Jay
January 27, 2014 at 21:13
I’ve played a few ps4 games and Ryse and Dead Rising 3. And i have to say Ryse is the best looking game by far. Even though i hated the game, the repetitiveness of it drove me man. Dead rising 3 was the most fun, but it had frame rate problems. Both consoles got pretty great reviews. And most reviews emphasized the future potential of the consoles. Keyword there POTENTIAL. Of course xbox will tweak and change hardware to rival sony over time. Its ridiculous for ps fanboys to declare victory right out of the starting gate when we all know just because the hardware is more powerful doesn’t mean the games will be superior. I actually plan on buying both consoles, but i’m going with xbox one first, so far the games are better and i have a lot of TV watchers in my family.