PS5 Pro – Is it Worth a Purchase?

As someone who has been following the gaming industry for decades now, I must say, the evolution of console technology never ceases to amaze me. The latest addition to Sony’s family, the PS5 Pro, is a testament to that progression.

Following several months of memes, ridicule, and puzzlement over who would purchase it, the PS5 Pro is set to go global on November 7th at a hefty price tag of $699.99. Many questions arise – what exactly comes in the package, considering Sony is offering the disk drive and vertical stand separately? What are its technical specifications, and how do they compare to similar PC hardware? How do various games, both updated and unupdated, from previous and current generations, take advantage of the console’s power? Lastly, is it truly essential to own one?

Let’s dive into everything you should know about the PS5 Pro and whether it’s worth picking up.

What’s in the Box?

In various unboxing videos you’ve likely watched, the PS5 Pro comes packaged with the main console unit, one DualSense wireless controller, an HDMI cable, and a power cord for AC. It also includes two plastic stands to position the console vertically, similar to the PS5 Slim if you prefer not to spend extra on the vertical stand priced at $29.99. From initial impressions, these stands seem to function just as effectively for the Pro model as they did for the Slim. Additionally, there’s a safety guide included in the box detailing the console’s specifications and other key features. Essentially, it aligns with what has been marketed thus far.

Final Specs

PS5 Pro – Is it Worth a Purchase?

Indeed, it’s the internal components that truly matter, and we’ve now received the definitive details about the PS5 Pro. Its processor is a custom AMD Ryzen Zen 2, boasting eight cores and sixteen threads, while its graphics processing unit, based on Radeon RDNA, delivers an impressive 16.7 TFLOPS. Additionally, it comes equipped with 16 GB GDDR6 RAM, supplemented by an extra 2 GB DDR5 RAM, along with a custom 2 TB SSD (with a portion yet to be specified for console operations).

About the ports, there are two USB Type-A ports that can handle SuperSpeed USB at 10 Gbps, and you’ll find two USB Type-C openings, one with Hi-Speed USB capability, and the other offering SuperSpeed USB 10 Gbps. An expansion connector for M.2 SSD (Key M) is also included, along with a slot to add an optional Blu-ray disc drive, priced at $79.99.

Additional features include Wi-Fi 7 version, Bluetooth 5.1, HDMI output, and an electrical rating of 220-240 volts ~ 1.9 amps (50/60 Hz), with a maximum power output of 390 watts. The operating temperature ranges from 5 to 35 degrees Celsius. Lastly, the PS5 Pro measures about 388 mm in width, 89 mm in height, and 216 mm in depth, and weighs roughly 3.1 kilograms.

From the get-go, I must admit that the design of this next-gen console is significantly more streamlined and lighter than the standard model, tipping the scales at 4.5 kg and boasting measurements of 390 mm width, 104 mm height, and 260 mm depth. Even compared to the PS5 Digital Slim Edition, which lacks a disc drive like this one, it’s still slightly heavier by approximately 2.6 kg and has dimensions of 358 mm in width, 80 mm in height, and 216 mm in depth. However, when it comes to size and dimensions, the PS5 Pro holds its own quite admirably. But let’s delve into its hardware specifications…

The upgraded PS5 model maintains the same CPU speed at 3.5 GHz as the standard PS5. Yet, it’s capable of switching to a “High Performance CPU Mode” that increases the speed to 3.85 GHz. This boost causes the GPU to run at a slightly lower rate by approximately 1.5%. However, it’s important to note that Sony has not yet officially verified this feature.

This GPU is quite intriguing, boasting a 45% speed increase in rendering and a 67% enhancement in compute units. It delivers a memory bandwidth of 576 GB/s, and on the whole, its performance slightly surpasses that of the AMD Radeon RX 6800.

Of course, we can’t ignore the topic of how long the PS5 will remain current. Launched in 2020, while it didn’t quickly become outdated like its predecessor, the PS4, the hardware has been surpassed by newer technology over time. The High-Frequency Mode on the Pro model could potentially offer an advantage, but its practical application (assuming it does exist) will depend on specific situations. The GPU is expected to give it a boost compared to most commonly used PC counterparts, but its main rival, the RX 6800, also came out in November 2020. Despite being superior to the base PS5’s 10.23 TFLOPS, there’s no denying that this is a mid-generation console upgrade without a doubt.

Features

PS5 Pro – Is it Worth a Purchase?

As a gamer, I’ve been blown away by the standout features of the PS5 Pro. The PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution is undoubtedly the star, leveraging machine learning to boost resolutions to unbelievable levels. So far, the clarity it brings to images is simply jaw-dropping, and it’s a testament to Sony’s commitment to delivering both stunning visuals, as found in Fidelity Mode, and smooth gameplay, which Performance Mode promises.

“Another notable aspect is the sophisticated ray tracing technology, boosting light rendering speeds by up to three times in certain games. Enhanced dynamic lighting effects, including reflection and refraction, are also noticeable, though these improvements may vary from game to game (and this applies to PSSR too, which we’ll discuss later). Interestingly, this advanced feature is currently not available on AMD GPUs.

For individuals who are keen on fully utilizing ray tracing technology, given its significance as a key selling point in this console generation and the varying outcomes, particularly regarding performance, the Pro model is an attractive choice.

Indeed, the console comes equipped with additional features such as taking what appears to be 8K screenshots and supporting Variable Refresh Rate (VRR). The PS5 Pro Game Boost is a significant addition, enhancing or, as Sony describes it, maintaining the performance of over 8,500 PS4 games that are backward compatible. Furthermore, you can enhance the resolution on certain PS4 games with the Enhanced Image Quality feature.

The Games

PS5 Pro – Is it Worth a Purchase?

Rift Apart” stand out as advanced examples, enhancing existing graphics and providing greater control in customizing the ray tracing effects.

Both versions, Performance Pro and Fidelity Pro, come equipped with features. The Performance Pro mode aims for a smooth 60 frames per second and incorporates ray tracing for water, interior windows, and additional details. The PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution maintains image quality at the level of Fidelity Mode, but Fidelity Pro takes it a step further. Although it targets 30 frames per second, it enhances details in hair and increases the density of traffic and pedestrians in Spider-Man 2.

In addition, it provides switches for ray-traced reflections, shadows from the key light (unique to Spider-Man 2), and ambient occlusion through ray tracing. These features offer additional adjustments to fine-tune (such as screen space GI bounces and smoother reflection animations) while maintaining performance. However, it’s only beneficial if your display supports Variable Refresh Rate (VRR).

Intriguingly, Guerrilla Games’ “Horizon Forbidden West” stands out due to a novel anti-aliasing technique it employs, one that doesn’t depend on PSSR or checkerboarding, as confirmed by Digital Foundry. This upsampling method is designed with future games in mind, but the visual quality is simply breathtaking and consistently runs at 60 frames per second, delivering a stable performance.

While the Performance Mode limits the resolution to 1584p and boosts details, there’s an alternative Quality Mode that supports native 4K. Plus, players can enjoy enhanced shadow filtering on objects in the foreground, including skin and hair, which are rendered exceptionally well due to their intricate details. The lighting effects also benefit from improved sample quality.

One effective way to rephrase the given sentence is: “Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth demonstrates exceptionally well how Fidelity and Performance modes can complement each other, outperforming either on PS5. Despite some debate over the image quality of Performance Mode in the PS5 version, Quality Mode was preferable, but it ran at a mere 30 frames per second and had additional problems.

The updated Versatility Mode on the PS5 Pro enhances performance by merging two settings for a smoother 60 FPS experience and clearer images. However, certain geometric aspects could use improved resolution, and LOD pop-in still presents some challenges. Nevertheless, it’s a noticeable improvement over the standard PS5, so let’s hope this latest update brings even more enhancements.

Although thorough testing of numerous PS4 games hasn’t been completed yet, curiosity arises as to how FromSoftware’s Bloodborne runs on this console. Officially, there is no patch for the game and it doesn’t even have a basic PS5 upgrade, meaning the 30 frames per second limit persists. However, what about the Enhanced Graphics Quality?

In this situation, it appears to provide some enhancement for better readability of text and navigation within the user interface. Although the resolution remains similar, there’s no significant change in pixel density (at least not noticeable from the initial videos). We’re still waiting for a substantial update or complete overhaul – hopefully coming soon!

Conclusion

PS5 Pro – Is it Worth a Purchase?

As a gaming enthusiast, I can’t forget the excitement when the PS4 Pro was unveiled! Although the hype wasn’t as massive as some other releases, its affordable price of $399, considering the PS4’s price drop to $349 and the even cheaper PS4 Slim at $299, definitely caught my attention. However, according to Sony Interactive Entertainment CEO Hideaki Nishino, it only represents around 20% of total lifetime PS4 sales.

Moving forward from the days of high-priced hardware, the PS5 Pro, due to its steep price difference from the standard model, is quite difficult to suggest for the typical consumer. However, with many contemporary games showing significant graphical improvements, there’s certainly a market for those who want the best gaming experience on their PS5. While features like 8K resolution sound appealing, even if you have an 8K-compatible TV or display, they are not as prevalent as 4K displays. Consequently, the Pro seems to excel in what the standard PS4 should have provided – primarily, smooth 4K gaming at 60 frames per second (although it may use AI upscaling, it still meets the mark).

Regardless of whether you consider the cost of a disc drive or vertical stand, asking consumers to pay nearly $700 is quite a steep price. Additionally, there’s speculation about the PlayStation 6 on the horizon. Given that much of the PS5 Pro’s hardware is based on older technology, is it wise to invest in it long-term? Might the next generation of PlayStation feature a Zen 3 CPU and adopt RDNA 3 or even future RDNA 4 GPUs, making the current model obsolete?

Considering your budget and passion for gaming with a high-end home theater setup, the PS5 Pro is definitely worth investigating due to its impressive advancements in ray tracing, visual quality, and resolution. However, it’s important to keep in mind that there are several terms, conditions, and extra costs associated with it, which can make the process less straightforward.

2024-11-06 20:11

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