Home Gaming Sony unlocks 7th PlayStation 4 core to game developers

Sony unlocks 7th PlayStation 4 core to game developers

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PS4guts

You may not know this, but the CPU in the Xbox One is actually a little more capable than the one powering Sony’s console. While they’re very nearly identical, the Xbox One’s CPU runs at a higher clock speed.

It was given an even bigger boost once Microsoft removed mandatory Kinect support, giving developers access to extra processing power that was otherwise taken up by the ill-fated motion-sensing peripheral. When both systems were released, just six of their eight cores was open to developers. Late last year, Microsoft updated its software development kit to allow for one extra core to be used for processing.

It’s why some games – particularly those that are CPU dependent – run better on the Xbox One, like Assassin’s Creed Unity with its thousands of (unnecessary) NPCs. The reason PlayStation 4 games tend to run and look better overall despite this though, is the beefier GPU in Sony’s system. For the most part though, the performance gap between the two consoles has been significantly reduced. It could, however, widen once again.

Sony has, apparently, unlocked a 7th core for use in games. The latest version of Sony’s PlayStation 4 SDK frees up one of the cores that was put aside for system functions. So says Fireflight Technology’s FMOD API’s changelog, which has been updated to allow the newly unlocked 7th core to work.

LowLevel APIPS4 – Added FMOD_THREAD_CORE6 to allow access to the newly unlocked 7th core,” says the log. (via neoGAF)

It’s not unusual for cores and memory to be locked to developers when systems are relatively new. Platform makers need to make sure that things run properly before freeing up those resources. It’s better to put them aside, than have an operating system that runs like syrup.

While this change won’t become immediately apparent, it does mean that future PlayStation 4 games should have increased performance. And with some patching, some old ones may as well. I do, however, suspect that this change was mostly made with PlayStation VR in mind.

Hopefully, with a few more revisions Sony can free up some of the memory that the PlayStation 4 has reserved for OS functionality.

Last Updated: November 30, 2015

80 Comments

  1. Kromas untamed

    November 30, 2015 at 09:35

    How to unlock all 8 Cores with immediate effect and increased performance.

    Step 1: Sell your console.
    Step 2: Buy a PC.
    Step:???
    Step4: Profit.

    😛

    Reply

    • Captain JJ never changes

      November 30, 2015 at 09:38

      Like they have any idea what a core is.
      😉

      Reply

      • Kromas untamed

        November 30, 2015 at 09:39

        That thing inside a apple iPhone that makes it work. 😛

        Reply

      • Hammersteyn

        November 30, 2015 at 09:43

        STFU, it’s those things in apples….. right?

        Reply

        • RinceThis

          November 30, 2015 at 09:46

          YA!

          Reply

          • Kromas untamed

            November 30, 2015 at 09:50

            And when apples go all nuclear you can use them to run your power armour!

          • Captain JJ never changes

            November 30, 2015 at 10:27

            Sounds like a plan.

    • Hammersteyn

      November 30, 2015 at 09:44

    • K1FF J1MB0B (sizzle edition)

      November 30, 2015 at 09:57

      How to unlock 8 cores:
      Step 1: Buy a PC

      How to decrease performance:
      Step 1: Install Windows.

      Reply

      • Kromas untamed

        November 30, 2015 at 10:01

        How to decrease your games library by 70%
        Step 1: Install Mac OS

        How to decrease your games library by 90%
        Step 1:Install Linux

        How to make life difficult but hey (at least you have performance)
        Step 1: Follow any of the above steps.

        Shots fired. 😛

        Reply

        • Admiral Chief - CHAAARGE!

          November 30, 2015 at 10:01

          Hehehe, point Kromas

          Reply

        • K1FF J1MB0B (sizzle edition)

          November 30, 2015 at 10:03

          Who needs games when you have shell scripts 😉

          Reply

          • Kromas untamed

            November 30, 2015 at 10:17

            I can’t really say much since I just built a pbx using suse and asterix at home.

            Still when it comes to gaming I’ll stick with windows. 🙂

  2. Ottokie

    November 30, 2015 at 09:41

  3. Dr le Quack

    November 30, 2015 at 09:46

    But will it run crysis?

    Reply

    • Hammersteyn

      November 30, 2015 at 09:47

      It will run Arkham Knight.

      Reply

      • Ir0nseraph

        November 30, 2015 at 09:48

        XD

        Reply

  4. Alien Emperor Trevor

    November 30, 2015 at 09:50

    Maybe Rants’ll get one now.

    Reply

  5. Loftus

    November 30, 2015 at 09:51

    The Seventh Seal has bean broken! The end times are near!

    Reply

    • Alien Emperor Trevor

      November 30, 2015 at 09:52

      The only thing beans break is wind. 😉

      Reply

      • Kromas untamed

        November 30, 2015 at 09:52

        It has bean a long morning. 😛

        Reply

      • Loftus

        November 30, 2015 at 09:56

        But….but the prophecy! Did no one get the Mayan prophecy this month? Urrgghh fine schedule to have a meeting to discuss the end time and find better prophecies.

        Reply

  6. K1FF J1MB0B (sizzle edition)

    November 30, 2015 at 09:53

    Pieter Kruger just woke up in a cold sweat.

    Reply

    • Sageville

      November 30, 2015 at 10:15

      Did you just summon him?

      Reply

      • K1FF J1MB0B (sizzle edition)

        November 30, 2015 at 10:39

        The spirit of Pieter haunts Lazygamer.

        Reply

  7. Admiral Chief - CHAAARGE!

    November 30, 2015 at 09:58

    I hope they got Stardust’s approval first

    Reply

  8. oVg

    November 30, 2015 at 10:01

    Cool, now every game can clock in at 31fps.

    Reply

    • Admiral Chief - CHAAARGE!

      November 30, 2015 at 10:02

      Stop being such a negative nancy!

      At least 35fps

      Reply

  9. oVg

    November 30, 2015 at 10:04

    Looking at that blown up PS4 you realise just how well designed the darn thing is. Its smaller than the PS3 and includes the power brick. What is Microsofts excuse?

    How the hell can they make a slime line version of the current PS4. Its crammed.

    Reply

    • Admiral Chief - CHAAARGE!

      November 30, 2015 at 10:05

      SLIME LINE!

      What is this, a snail?

      Reply

      • oVg

        November 30, 2015 at 10:05

        lol Moneday

        Reply

        • Admiral Chief - CHAAARGE!

          November 30, 2015 at 10:07

          I wish it was Moneyday, payday came and gone and my money is looking bleak after this weekend…

          Reply

          • oVg

            November 30, 2015 at 10:09

            Just got PAYED 🙂 I was rich for 30 minutes. Then the ANC took a quarter of it 🙁 to make another 2million rand swimming pool 🙁

          • Kromas untamed

            November 30, 2015 at 10:18

            It is a firepool and a valid security measure!!

          • oVg

            November 30, 2015 at 10:23

            no water left after all the wives jump in at the same time…

          • Kromas untamed

            November 30, 2015 at 10:23

            lol

          • Fnuik

            November 30, 2015 at 10:19

            A quarter of your salary is enough for a R2mil swimming pool? I’ve got the wrong job it seems.

          • Admiral Chief - CHAAARGE!

            November 30, 2015 at 10:21

            Same here!

          • HvR

            November 30, 2015 at 10:21

            Do not forget about the R5 billion locomotive that can not fit on the rails and needs to be sent back.

          • Kromas untamed

            November 30, 2015 at 10:21

            Or the billion rand boiler for a power station that does not fit. 🙂

          • Admiral Chief - CHAAARGE!

            November 30, 2015 at 10:22

            And the five and hundred and fourteen and fifty thirty seventy one five beemas

          • Kromas untamed

            November 30, 2015 at 10:23

            Oh and don’t forget about the new Zuma1 plane.

          • Admiral Chief - CHAAARGE!

            November 30, 2015 at 10:24

            TENDAAAZ

          • Kromas untamed

            November 30, 2015 at 10:25

            At least he insulted Madiba this weekend so his time in politics is pretty much over.

          • Admiral Chief - CHAAARGE!

            November 30, 2015 at 10:25

            Yeah? What did I miss? I was quite busy this weekend.
            Link?

          • Kromas untamed

            November 30, 2015 at 10:27

            Heard it on the raido. Not even sure what he did.

          • Admiral Chief - CHAAARGE!

            November 30, 2015 at 10:29

            What is this ‘raido’ you speak of? Is it a Japanese raid?

          • Kromas untamed

            November 30, 2015 at 10:30

            Dammit! Radio!

            Gets more coffee.

          • Admiral Chief - CHAAARGE!

            November 30, 2015 at 10:31

            Good plan!
            TO THE COFFEEMOBILE…thingamabob

          • Alien Emperor Trevor

            November 30, 2015 at 10:30

            I thought that was Julius.

          • Kromas untamed

            November 30, 2015 at 10:30

            Oh … maybe.

          • Admiral Chief - CHAAARGE!

            November 30, 2015 at 10:31

            Pity, you had my hopes up

          • HvR

            November 30, 2015 at 10:26

            To be fair if he takes all his wives a long nothing smaller than heavy lift capable 737 will be able to take off,

          • Admiral Chief - CHAAARGE!

            November 30, 2015 at 10:27

            Puh-lease, you need one of those Antonov’s to generate enough lift!

            http://www.poandpo.com/s0513/antonov_an225_mriya_2v.jpg

          • HvR

            November 30, 2015 at 10:31

            “Comrade Veektor vot is vrong barely cleared the tree”
            “He brought all six”
            “Suka Blyat!!!”

          • Admiral Chief - CHAAARGE!

            November 30, 2015 at 10:31

            HAHAHAHAHA

          • Kromas untamed

            November 30, 2015 at 10:33

            I have seen those words in Dota before!

          • Admiral Chief - CHAAARGE!

            November 30, 2015 at 10:21

            That poepol will probably never even see the inside of a jail

          • miaau

            November 30, 2015 at 10:21

            yeah, tax is awesome.

            Seen what they do, if you get it, to an end of year bonus?

          • HvR

            November 30, 2015 at 10:22

            What is an “end of year bonus”? Mythical unicorn made of money?

          • Kromas untamed

            November 30, 2015 at 10:24

            It is a thing you hope for every year to help clear off debt but never comes. 😛

          • Admiral Chief - CHAAARGE!

            November 30, 2015 at 10:25

            Mine is coming in 12 days…..but the funds are already allocated everywhere except where I want it

          • Kromas untamed

            November 30, 2015 at 10:26

            My dad is flying to Dubai and all my money went with him cause I don’t have to but NEED to upgrade my pc.

            #PCGamerProblems

          • Admiral Chief - CHAAARGE!

            November 30, 2015 at 10:28

            So ask him to get me a GFX card!

            I’ll trade you fancy wine and brandy! (this is no lie)

          • Kromas untamed

            November 30, 2015 at 10:32

            If I want fancy wine and Brandy (Cognac) I just go visit my dad. He likes that stuff. 😛

            Also he is checking for a R9Fury or two for me. 🙂

          • Admiral Chief - CHAAARGE!

            November 30, 2015 at 10:54

            So put an order in for me, I trade you case of Kanonkop wine (which by the way, has just won international wine of the year award)

          • Kromas untamed

            November 30, 2015 at 11:57

            I strongly dislike wine. Unless it is brandy-wine. 😛

          • Admiral Chief - CHAAARGE!

            November 30, 2015 at 12:07

            This can be arranged. We have a new 10yo potstill brandy that launched recently!

          • Kromas untamed

            November 30, 2015 at 12:08

            Hmm … this sounds about right. 🙂

          • miaau

            November 30, 2015 at 10:34

            If you are a good little boy / girl / it the whole year and you do your job according to some random expectations and you get outcomes that look ok and you handed in most of your projects on time and were recognised in your field / department, then, and only then, at the end of the hard year of graft, your company will then flip a coin and decide if you deserve a bonus or not.

            Then, they look at cash flow and decide that bonus’s to all staff cannot be paid out, despite the 22 months of operations money in the bank account. So, senior managers only.

            That, in a nutshell, is a bonus.

          • miaau

            November 30, 2015 at 10:36

            In all seriousness, I like the way our company did bonus’s last year.

            funds were limited, so all staff below a certain salary bracket got 100% bonus, those above got a lesser percentage, but still something. That seems fair, start from the bottom up.

          • Alien Emperor Trevor

            November 30, 2015 at 10:39

            My company did the exact opposite a few years ago with their short-lived incentive scheme.

          • miaau

            November 30, 2015 at 10:40

            I have implemented (read- been told to by bosses) an incentive scheme…..

            Crapping myself a little bit, we have tried to be as simple as possible, but still it is complicated. Next year goes live, this year started…..

          • Admiral Chief - CHAAARGE!

            November 30, 2015 at 10:54

            Wow, ok, that is cool

          • Admiral Chief - CHAAARGE!

            November 30, 2015 at 10:22

            Something that does NOT involve vaseline

          • Alien Emperor Trevor

            November 30, 2015 at 10:37

            What we get, which is quite nice, is the option to pay a little extra tax each month so we get the bonus “tax-free” at the end of the year.

          • miaau

            November 30, 2015 at 10:39

            That is pretty nice.

            We also get tax money back each year from medical expenses which is nice. Wait? What? Um. no.

  10. Darren Peach

    November 30, 2015 at 13:55

    Marketing gimmick ? I hope not. I have always been very disappointed at the overall performance of the PS4. At least the PS3 could claim the use of exotic non mainstream processing tech.

    Reply

  11. Skoobaz

    November 30, 2015 at 15:13

    My year end bonus? Get to keep my job!

    Reply

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