Gaming Peak

What is PS5 3D Audio?

2020-11-23T19:12:00.005+05:00

Innovation and immersion seems to be the two things Sony's pushing for with the release of the new PS5, and honestly, it's got us pretty excited. Knowing from experience that not all features are used to market and sell a console contributes to enhancing the gameplay experience.

It's a harsh truth, but some of the features are just gimmicks. Take the DualShock 4's touchpad, for example. Gaming on the PS4 would not be any different if the touchpad never existed.

Cost

The only thing it has going for is that it didn't cost gamers anything extra, so it doesn't garner ill will from the community. Suppose the touchpad had bumped up the price of the PS4 by a noticeable margin while still being a gimmick. It would have been as hated as the dumpster fire that was the Kinect.

Features

Unfortunately, we can't tell which of the many new features Sony is developers will use advertising. The folks at Sony might not know either. The haptic capabilities of the dual sound's controllers sound incredible. Still, we wouldn't be surprised if developers ignored this feature when making a game set to release on all gaming platforms.

Potential of 3D Audio

Nevertheless, of all the new features the next console generation is promising, we feel 3D Audio has the most potential and is most likely to deliver on all of its promises. That's why we'd like to take this opportunity to break down what exactly this new 3D Audio feature is? How does it work? And what you will need to make use of it? So, without any further ado, let's begin,

What is PS5 3D Audio?

To tackle 3D Audio in a new and exciting way, Sony has developed a proprietary audio engine called Tempest. It is a re-engineered AMD graphics chip that has repurposed to deliver immersive object-based sound.

What Exactly Does This Mean For Us?

The users' crux is that 3D Audio can realistically simulate hundreds of sound sources in a 3D environment. It should allow gamers to determine the exact point that a sound is coming from with minute precision. The result is similar to how surround sound works only in terms of immersion, and precision 3D Audio is supposed to leave Dolby powered surround sound in the dust.

HRTF

With the HRTF algorithm's help, this is all achieved, which stands for the Head-Related Transfer Function. A complicated name that can describe in a relatively simple way as it works. Namely, just by adding subtle alterations to the audio signal, the listener's brain is tricked into perceiving where the sound is coming from, but hearing is believing right. So, check it out for yourself.

How does It work?

A very famous example of how this works is the virtual barbershop video released 13 years ago on YouTube and has over 30 million views. We highly suggest you check it out if you want to get a taste of what you can expect from 3D Audio.

It hadn't made using the tempest engine itself. It didn't even exist back then, but the basic idea is the same. Even with regular stereo headphones, you can expect quite an immersive experience. Now imagine that level of audio immersion in PS5 titles. It's a game-changer.

PS5 A Game Changer

Even games that aren't genuine works of wonder as far as the graphics are concerned will still be able to pull gamers into their world and immerse them through audio and let's not even get into how this will enhance VR gaming. But that's just for casual gaming experiences. We don't need to tell you how this will affect a player's online multiplayer landscape with access to Audio? This precise will have a tangible advantage over players who don't or can't take advantage of 3D Audio. Speaking of which, what exactly do you need to make use of this cool new feature? Sony has already showcased the new Pulse 3D Headset but is this peripheral mandatory?

Audio equipment needed

The short answer is NO. The long answer depends on your wants and needs. When the console launches, the Pulse 3D headset will likely be the only headset on the market capable of fully taking advantage of the PS5 3D Audio.

Accessibility of Sony

However, Sony has stated that they wish to make ti feature accessible to everyone. There likely won't be any other headsets that can handle 3D Audio and the Pulse 3D when the PS5 launches. We're sure to get third-party headsets that are just as capable in this regard down the line.

Benefits Of 3D Audio

But here's the best part you won't require to game with headphones of any kind to reap the benefits of 3D Audio. Soundbars surround setups, and even your average stereo TV speakers will all sound more immersive on the PS5.

Grand edition, you shouldn't expect the Audio to be as immersive when using stereo speakers and soundbars as when you're using headphones and surround setups. But it's nice that all users will get some benefits of 3D Audio. And that's why we said the short answer to this question is NO.

Choice is Yours

No, you won't have to buy the pulse 3D headphones to make use of 3D Audio. You won't have to use any headphones whatsoever, for that matter, but when the PS5 launches, this headphone will be the only peripheral those looking for the most immersive gaming experience will turn. Whether it's worth it or not will be up to you, but it won't be mandatory.

Conclusion

That's all you need to know about the new 3D Audio that the PS5 will utilize. In terms of the potential for immersion, it's an immense step forward from consoles' current generation. But as for whether developers will take full advantage of it, only time will tell.

Nevertheless, we don't think 3D Audio dismissed when deciding on which console to get. Out of all of the new features coming to the PS5, this one is the most promising. If nothing else, we can't wait to see what first-party developers will make of it.

What is GDDR Memory?

2020-11-23T19:04:00.001+05:00

Suppose you've never built or upgraded a gaming PC before things can get quite daunting once you start evaluating and comparing graphics cards after all graphics cards are a ton of specs that all sound is super important. The good thing is they aren't all that important at least not for gaming.

So, it's better to focus on a couple of key specs and let the rest work itself out. And one of the important graphics card specs is Video Memory. Most graphics cards in 2020 utilize GDDR memory, but not all of them have the same number affixed to them.

There's GDDR5, GDDR6, GDDR6x that's why we'll be covering everything you need to know about GDDR memory when picking out a graphics card for a gaming PC.

What is GDDR?

We'll start with the basics, and there's nothing more essential than understanding what the acronym GDDR stands for.

Full Acronym

It isn't even the full acronym GDDR SDRAM stands for Graphics Double Data Rate Synchronous Dynamic Random-Access Memory. It is just a big mouthful honestly thankfully there's no need to memorize this.

What's good to know is that unlike your standard DDR SDRAM, GDDR SDRAM is designed and optimized specifically for graphics processing tasks.

Different Iterations of Name

There have been several iterations of GDDR RAM over the years. Initially, this technology was called DDR SDRAM. Which stand for Double Data Rate Synchronous Graphics Ram, but it was rebranded into GDDR SDRAM what followed was GDDR2, GDDR3, GDDR4, GDDR5, GDDR5x, GDDR6, and finally GDDR6x in this order.

Each iteration was better than the last offering higher capacities, higher clock speeds, higher data transfer rates and so on. In short, each new iteration of GDDR RAM brought further improvements to the overall graphics performance.

So, what type of GDDR RAM should you look for in a graphics card? Should you always get the best one? Or is it okay to go with an older version?

Which version of GDDR should you get?

Here's the thing outside of a few very niche cases where a specific GPU was initially released with one type of GDDR memory and later revamped and sold with another you don't get to choose which GDDR RAM you get with which graphics card.

Choosing GDDR RAM With Which Graphics Card?

In 2020 nearly all the latest graphics cards utilize GDDR6 with only a couple of high-end models like the RTX 3080 and the RTX 3090 featuring GDDR6x RAM with its higher bandwidth and greater power efficiency. It's been some time since GDDR5 was the dominant type of video memory on the market. At the moment it is only be found in graphics cards from a few years ago and some entry-level solutions that aren't suited for gaming in 2020.

Overall Impact

So overall it's not like you given much of a choice. Unless you're buying a used graphics card, you're pretty much guaranteed to get one that equipped with GDDR6 VRAM. So, we've seen why you most likely won't get a say in deciding which version of GDDR you'll get with your graphics card? However, this doesn't mean you won't have to ask yourself some tough questions regarding VRAM. That is,

How Much VRAM Do You Need?

In 2020, the question of VRAM mostly has to do with the resolution you're planning to game on. It isn't to say that there aren't other memory-intensive graphics settings out there like textures and view distances, but the resolution is easily the most significant factor right now.

VRAM And Resolutions

As things stand, you'll need at least 4 gigabytes of VRAM for gaming in 1080p. Anywhere between 6 and 8 gigabytes of VRAM for gaming in 1440p and at least 8 gigabytes of VRAM for gaming in 4k although you can never go wrong with more VRAM when 4k gaming is concerned.

Getting Good Performance

You should know that these are generalizations there's more to getting good performance than just having plenty of VRAM. For example, the RX 570 GPU is a mid-range GPU released back in 2017. Isn't fit for running games in 1440p? At least not on a high graphic setting with reasonable frame rates. It is even though the RX 570 can come with 8 gigabytes of VRAM. Nevertheless, this is still a pretty good estimate that will hold for most graphic cards, especially newer ones.

Are there other types of VRAM?

Lastly, we want to address the issue of using other types of VRAM instead of GDDR SDRAM. HBM, which stands for High Bandwidth Memory, is another increasingly popular type of VRAM. It far exceeds GDDR VRAM in many ways.

IS HBM Memory Is Fit for Modern Gaming graphics cards?

Although this HBM memory is nowhere found in modern gaming graphics cards, why is this? Well, the short of it is that this memory isn't fit for gaming. Instead, it is best to use in workstations that can make use of its incredible specs. What you need to know is that there is no reason whatsoever to get a graphics card with HBM VRAM if you're just interested in gaming.

Conclusion

In conclusion, GDDR memory is a type of VRAM that can found in most gaming graphics cards. At the moment GDDR6 is the most prevalent type of GDDR memory, and you'd have to go out of your way to either purchase a super high-end graphics card to get GDDR6x VRAM or a dated and likely used graphics card to get GDDR5 VRAM.

For the most part, how much VRAM you have should reflect? What resolution do you plan to game on?

· With 4 gigabytes is being incredible for 1080p gaming.

· 6 to 8 gigabytes being good for 1440p gaming.

· And 8 gigabytes and beyond being necessary for 4k gaming.

Xbox Series X VS Xbox Series S - Which One is the Best?

2020-11-23T18:05:00.002+05:00

The next-gen console prices are out in the open, and it's safe to say that things are looking good. No company has gone past the $500 threshold, which is impressive considering the kind of hardware these new consoles are packing. However, this console gen release is a bit different from all the previous ones in that both companies are offering two versions of their new consoles straight from the start: this standard $ 500 version and a more budget-friendly option.

· Sony is offering the PlayStation 5 and the PlayStation 5 Digital Edition.

· While Microsoft is giving us the Xbox Series X and the Xbox Series S.

So, we will discuss all of the differences between the Xbox Series X and the Xbox Series S to help you choose the console best suited to your needs if you've already decided to follow the Xbox route. We'll also explain the difference between the two PlayStation consoles, which can sum up in a single sentence.

So, we won't discuss the point any further. Lastly, we'll take a look at how the budget-friendly consoles measure up against each other. So, without any further ado, let's begin,

What is the Series S?

First things first, let's take a look at exactly what the Xbox Series S is? The Series S is a budget-friendly variant of the new Series X console. It's a lot slimmer than the monolithic Series X and comes with a two-tone black and white finish that's a bit unusual for an Xbox console.

Series S and Series X will launch on November 10th at 300 and 500 dollars, respectively. Purchasing the console that's going to be compatible with the next-gen games for 60% off the price is an outstanding deal, and the folks at Microsoft are adamant about this point.

The Series S will run all of the games that get released on the Series X, but obviously, there will be some trade-offs. So, let's go over the difference between the two versions of Microsoft's new console, starting with the hardware.

XBOX SERIES X VS XBOX SERIES S

The Hardware

Based on just the spec sheet, things aren't looking too good for the Series S. It features the same 8 core custom Zen 2 CPU as the Series X, only it runs at a lower clock speed. So far, so good, but things start a little bit shakier when we get to the GPU. Both the Series X and the Series S utilize a custom RDNA 2 GPU.

However, the GPU that comes with the Series S is significantly less potent than the one found in Series X. Not only does it run at a lower clock speed, but it also features a mere 20 compute units. Which seems like a paltry amount compared to the Series X is 52 compute units.

Teraflops

To put this into perspective, Series S scores only 4 teraflops while Series X boasts a whopping 12.15 teraflops. So, if we were to look just at the teraflops, we can conclude that the GPU found in a Series S console has only a third of the Series X packs' power.

We can see a similar trend with regards to RAM and storage.

RAM

Both console versions will utilize the same GDDR6 RAM, but in terms of volume, the Series S will only come with 10 gigabytes of RAM than the 16 gigabytes found in the Series X console.

Storage

As far as storage, both versions will get custom NVMe SSDs, but the Series S console will only come with a 512 gigabytes SSD. In contrast, the Series X SSD will come with a full terabyte of storage space.

4k UHD Blu-ray drive

Finally, the Series S will be a digital-only console, meaning that it won't come with a 4k UHD Blu-ray drive. Honestly, there's no getting around this. An excellent 4k UHD Blu-ray drive can cost well over $200. So, it was inevitable that the console's lower-priced version would lack this feature, but specs aren't the best indicator of performance on paper.

So, have a look at what kind of performance you can expect from these consoles?

The Performance

As consumers, we are thrilled that Sony and Microsoft will be offering these more budget-oriented versions of the new consoles. However, Microsoft's approach to this left us feeling anxious at first.

Potential of Hardware

Series S

If the Series S will be compatible with all next-gen games, does this mean that developers will have to work with its more limited hardware as a baseline? It would undoubtedly stifle the developers working on titles from multiple platforms as they wouldn't be able to push the next-gen hardware found in the $500 versions of the consoles to its fullest potential. Thankfully this doesn't seem to be the case, and the reasoning is fairly straightforward.

Series X

The Series X will not attempt to tackle the 4k resolutions. Instead, it'll look to render games in 1440p, also known as 2k. According to the folks at Xbox, this change alone will be enough to account for the weaker hardware.

Resolution

You will play the same games on both the Series X and the Series S, but the games will render in a different resolution. In this regard, the situation isn't too different from the one we've got going with the Xbox One and the Xbox One X same games but different resolutions.

Frame Rates

What's more, the Series S will also support frame rates of up to 120 fps. Whether or not we'll see this in action is another thing entirely, but the potential is there. And finally, if you hook up the Series S console to a 4k TV, you will have the option to upscale the resolution to 4k.

It won't look as good as the native 4k that the Series X delivers, but it's a nice perk nonetheless.

Game Performance

Ultimately the actual in-game performance will vary from game to game based on how demanding and optimized it is. Suppose all next-gen titles end up running great on the Series S without forcing any developers' restrictions because of the less powerful hardware. In that case, this version of the console will offer incredible value. It won't be the version for everybody, but it will be an excellent pick for the right people. So, let's consider whom the Series S is for exactly,

What Should We Choose? And Why?

The Series S is the more affordable version of the new console that anyone who can't afford the Series X will get. But there are also several reasons you might want to pick the Series S instead of Series X? Even if you have the money for it?

Reasons

The first reason would be if you don't want a 4k TV and don't plan to get one shortly. Based on what we've heard from Microsoft, the two versions of this console will only differ in the resolution that the games are rendered, at least on the user's end.

So, if you already don't own a 4k TV, Series X will not offer a more tangible value than the Series S. This is, of course, based on the assumption that the decreased RAM volume and less powerful GPU won't cause any other issues.

It also holds if you don't mind the lack of a physical disk drive, but if all of these conditions meet, the Series S will be the superior product as far as value is concerned. The only limitations you'll still feel will be the cramped storage space with as massive as next-gen AAA titles will get. We could see that the 512 gigabytes of storage on the Series S getting filled up rather quickly.

You will have the option of expanding the storage, but NVMe SSDs aren't exactly what we'd call affordable. With the console and the extra storage accounted for, you may get closer to the PlayStation 5 digital edition price point. So, have a look at how the Series S handles this competition,

XBOX SERIES S VS PLAYSTATION 5

Digital Edition

As we mentioned in the introduction, the difference between the PlayStation 5 and the PlayStation 5 Digital can sum up in a single sentence. The Digital Edition doesn't come with a disk drive; that's it; everything else is the same. The $400 Digital Editions still have the same hardware that the $500 PS5 has. The CPU, GPU, RAM, and storage solutions are all identical.

So, the PS5 Digital Edition will run all games just as well as the $500 version of the console. Now we won't get into the comparisons between PS5 and the Xbox Series X here. It's quite comprehensive, and we suggest you check it if you still don't know how these consoles stack up. In this sense, comparing the Xbox Series S to the PS5 Digital Edition might seem a little unfair.

It would be like comparing the Series S to the regular PS5 or the Series X. The PS5 Digital The edition is significantly more powerful and fully capable of embracing everything the next-gen console generation is. The Series S is still the better pick for anyone on a strict budget or anyone who doesn't have a 4k TV.

Price According to Storage

And the $100 difference between the Series S and the PS5 Digital Edition isn't at all negligible. But if you're worried about storage and could see yourself expanding it on the Series S, then the playing field becomes more even in terms of the overall price. 500 gigabytes of Samsung 970 EVO plus NVMe SSD goes for $100.

Sure, you don't have to get the Samsung 970 EVO, plus there are more affordable NVMe SSDs out there. But this would give you an idea of how much updating the storage would cost you. It's not a small penny. That is why we said the Series S console is comparable in price to the PS5 Digital Edition once your account for the extra storage.

The PS5 doesn't come with a full terabyte of storage space either, but the 825 gigabytes it does have to leave you with significantly more space to play around. To be exact, that's 60% more storage, and as a nice little perk, you get 60% more RAM and almost twice as much graphics processing power to boot.

So, if you think 500 gigabytes of storage isn't enough to accommodate your next-gen gaming needs, then the PS5 Digital Edition is the better pick. Otherwise, nothing can top the 300-price point of the Series S.

Conclusion

· To summarize, the Xbox Series S is a budget-friendly version of the Xbox Series X that looks to render games in 1440p instead of 4k.

· In terms of hardware, it's substantially less potent than the Series X. But if we can trust Microsoft words, this won't be an issue because of the lower resolution that the console will target.

· However, even if everything ends up exactly as Microsoft promises, the Series S owners will still just half a terabyte of storage space to play around with it.

· Gamers who like to focus on one or two games should find this perfectly manageable, but others will likely feel cramped by the storage limitations.

· The option to expand the storage is there but given how expensive NVMe SSDs are at the moment. It would be better to save yourself the trouble and either get the Xbox Series X or the PS5 Digital Edition from the get-go.