

The PS4 launched for $399 today



Let's dive right in.

The Specs
  • Octa-core, x86 AMD "Jaguar" CPU
  • Radeon GPU capable of 1.84 teraflops
  • 500GB hard disk drive
  • 8GB of GDDR5 memory
  • Six-speed Blu-Ray drive
  • USB 3.0
  • Ethernet
  • HDMI
  • optical audio output
  • AUX connector for the camera
Pricing & Availability 

November 29. The console is priced at $399. 


Hardware - Console 


Here's what Engadget's Ben Gilbert had to say:


Richard Mitchell, Joystiq:


Hardware - Controller


Engadget's Gilbert seems to feel the same way:


Mitchell, Joystiq


Software - UI


Engadget's Gilbert describes the UI as an improvement:


And he's also fond of the PlayStation Store: 





Joystiq's Mitchell even found a couple hiccups in the UI:



Software - Games


Here's Gilbert's guide to PS4 games: 


The Verge has a different perspective on the PS4 launch titles: 


To Buy or Not to Buy?

Ben Gilbert, Engadget:


The Verge


Kyle Orland, Ars Technica:



Sources: The Verge, Ars Technica, Joystiq, Engadget

Comments     Threshold


RE: First thing
By Reclaimer77 on 11/16/2013 5:15:14 PM , Rating: 1
It would be worth it IMO.

SSD's should have been standard on next gen consoles. But at least Sony allows you the option.

The load times on current consoles when installed to the HDD are just painful. That's not looking to get any better going forward.

RE: First thing
By stm1185 on 11/16/2013 6:07:12 PM , Rating: 2
Why do you need 500gb of storage? Whats the system taking up? You'd think a $175 250gb SSD would do just fine.

RE: First thing
By The Von Matrices on 11/16/2013 7:46:39 PM , Rating: 2
Just like most PS3 games, PS4 games need to be partially or completely installed to the HDD before being played, so the SSD does increase performance by reducing load times. However, if you pick a small capcity drive you are going to have to be constantly installing and uninstalling games as you want to play them. If you play multiplayer games, it will make no difference because the games are designed so that the match does not start until all consoles have loaded, which would be limited by all the consoles with HDDs.

RE: First thing
By Reclaimer77 on 11/17/2013 1:21:23 PM , Rating: 2
Constantly? You exaggerate. A 256 gig drive will hold a TON of games.

In a few years SSD's will be even better than they are now. The flexibility Sony gave consumers will allow new life to be breathed into the PS4.

RE: First thing
By The Von Matrices on 11/18/2013 2:55:42 AM , Rating: 2
Okay, with a 256GB drive it might not be a constant constraint for space, but I think you're forgetting one thing. Since PS4s ship with 500GB HDDs, there will be less focus on keeping installation sizes small compared to the PS3 where a significant portion of the consoles had 60 or 80GB HDDs. Remember that the Blu-ray drive is only 3x faster than the PS3 while the memory is 16x larger, so there will be more dependence on files stored on the HDD.

Since the number of people who replace their hard drive let alone replace it with a SSD is extremely small, games will still be designed to compensate for the HDD's access time and transfer rate. This strongly limits the number of situations where a SSD would help.

Also, remember that the PS3 only supports SATA2, so a modern SSD might not perform any better than an old one. The minimum required HDD size is 160GB, so the person who suggested a 128GB SSD is suggesting an incompatible product.

RE: First thing
By The Von Matrices on 11/18/2013 2:56:21 AM , Rating: 2
In the last paragraph I meant that the PS4 supports SATA2 only.

RE: First thing
By Reclaimer77 on 11/18/2013 4:30:11 PM , Rating: 2
The interface only matters when it comes to maximum sustained throughput. What's really important, and where SSD's excel, is in random reads/writes. That is what kills HDD performance, random seek times.

RE: First thing
By Kiffberet on 11/18/2013 8:20:16 AM , Rating: 2
I don't think sizes will balloon, just because they device has 500Gb.

Games will probably get bigger as time goes by, mainly due to the additional design and detail that goes into making games, but on the flip side, on-line downloads are the future and these can't be too big or they'll take too long, and put people off.

RE: First thing
By FITCamaro on 11/18/2013 9:42:39 AM , Rating: 2
At average install sizes on the PS4 so far, a 250GB hard drive will hold 6-7 games.

RE: First thing

RE: First thing
By lexluthermiester on 11/17/2013 6:43:51 PM , Rating: 2
You'd think a $175 256gb SSD

Fixed that for ya. $175 for 256GB SSD? I paid $135 for mine. You're getting shafted where-ever you buy your stuff. Even for a performance drive that is a way high price.

RE: First thing
By lexluthermiester on 11/17/2013 6:38:36 PM , Rating: 2
Agreed. I'd do something more in the middle like putting in a 750GB hybrid drive in it. Increase in both speed and capacity.

