As fans look forward to the PlayStation 5 Pro's rumored release some time in late 2024, the leaked specs have surfaced, providing a glimpse into the potential power of Sony's upgraded console. According to reports, the PS5 Pro promises a host of significant improvements, but potential issues could prevent it from fully harnessing its new capabilities.
As per RedGamingTech, the PS5 Pro is set to feature impressive GPU upgrades, with a near 2x increase in total Compute Units. However, the console might remain anchored to the Zen 2 CPU, albeit with a slightly enhanced clock speed. This CPU architecture, which has become increasingly outdated, may not be up to the task of complementing the GPU and all of its advancements. The Zen 2's meager speed bump might lead to a bottleneck, potentially stifling the GPU's full potential, making it a potential concern.
The good news is that the PS5 Pro may have a trick up its sleeve. Let's rewind to February 2022, when Mark Cerny filed a patent on Sony's behalf for a dedicated ray-tracing unit. Comparable to the iPhone 15 Pro's specialized neural engine, this RTU would have a unique core set devoted to speeding up certain tasks, in this case, ray tracing. In theory, the RTU would manage all light calculations in a 3D environment, leaving the GPU to handle shaders and additional details. It's this separation that could allow both components to work independently toward a common goal. But here's the snag: Ray tracing remains a CPU-intensive process. With the rumored retention of the Zen 2 architecture, achieving peak frame rates with ray tracing might remain an elusive dream.