PS6 Leaks Reveal Zen 6 CPU and RDNA 5 GPU Details

PlayStation 6 and Project Helix Leaks Reveal New CPU, GPU, Memory, and Handheld Hardware Details for Next-Generation Consoles.

PlayStation 6 and Microsoft's Project Helix are getting closer, and more PlayStation 6 specifications have leaked online, along with details on its handheld variant. The latest information paints a clearer picture of the next generation, including the expected CPU and GPU configurations for Sony's consoles, along with details on Zen 6 and Zen 7 for PC.

In raw compute performance, measured in TFLOPS, the PS6 seems to trail Project Helix by about 40%. That would be 40TFLOPS versus 56TFLOPS. However, TFLOPS aren't the only factor to consider with a GPU. There's fill rate, texture mapping, and lots of other stuff.

PlayStation 6 Could Trail Project Helix

The GPU for the PS6 is probably running in the high 2GHz range, maybe up to 3GHz. Obviously, we're not 100% certain yet. Whereas Helix is expected to run at about 3.2GHz. There is also quite a difference in the number of compute units. PS6 Orion GPU is expected to have 54 compute units, with 52 active, while Project Helix is expected to have 68 compute units.

The clock frequency listed previously is also well below where it actually is. The memory configuration may also differ from earlier reports, as indications suggest Microsoft could cut the memory configuration for Project Helix. Earlier specifications for Orion, the PS6 home console, largely mirror what has already been reported.

The chip is expected to use the TSMC 3nm process and have a 60W TDP. For PC gaming, 60W might seem low for a GPU, but these chips go in the living room, and the more elaborate the cooling system, the more expensive it gets.

Regulatory considerations in some regions, along with system power requirements, also matter. That means you need better MOSFETs, VR components, and other parts. A lower TDP makes sense for cost and heat output. Most people also know someone who stuffs a console into the worst-ventilated space possible.

At that point, the console might as well be surrounded by a towel, placed next to an electric heater, wrapped in an electric blanket, and thrown into an oven because that's how much airflow it has. Console manufacturers have to account for these situations when designing their systems.

PS6 is expected to use 54 RDNA 5 compute units, with two disabled. This is basically for yield purposes. If a chip is designed with 56 compute units, and one fails during manufacturing, the entire chip would have to be thrown away. Having two disabled units provides some room during manufacturing.

PS6 Handheld Could Use Zen 6C and RDNA 5

As for the CPU, the PS6 is expected to include two Zen 6 LP cores. These handle the operating system, offloading tasks so the game doesn't have to worry about thread contention. Having a CPU to handle background tasks isn't anything new. The S5 has one, and the PS4 does too, although it isn't quite as powerful.

Some CPU cores can also handle background tasks. For example, the PS5 has eight Zen 2 CPU cores, with about one and a half of those used for background tasks. It's unclear whether the PS6 will use its cores the same way for drivers and other tasks. Based on what we're seeing here, that may not be the case with the PS6, but we'll have to wait and see.

Canis, which is the PS6 handheld, is expected to have four Zen 6C cores and two Zen 6 LP cores. It is also expected to use a GPU with 16 RDNA 5 compute units alongside 192-bit LPDDR5X memory. For raster performance compared to the base PS5, Sony is reportedly targeting 3x performance.

That does not include ray tracing performance. Ray tracing performance is expected to be much better with the PS6, while RDNA 5 is expected to provide a larger increase in that area. There is also an interesting development related to PC handhelds. Earlier information suggested that Gainsborough Z3 and Z3 Extreme could be related to Valve's Steam Deck 2 rather than the Z3 or Z3 Extreme configurations.

The configuration being discussed includes four cores alongside LP cores, although that could change. The GPU is based on RDNA 3.5, although it could technically be somewhat better than that. RDNA 5 refreshes are also continuing. The rumor was originally that this configuration was being designed around the Steam Deck 2. As always, we'll have to wait and see what happens with that information.

Moving to PC GPUs and CPUs, Grimlock is another development worth mentioning.

Grimlock is reportedly going to use the AM5 platform, though rumors suggest it could use AM6. Instead, Grimlock, based on Zen 7, is expected to increase its core count. Zen 5 has 16 cores and 32 threads. Zen 6 is expected to increase that to 24 cores and 48 threads for the highest-end SKU.

With Grimlock, each CCD is reportedly going up to 16 cores, which would bring the total to 32 cores, at least according to the rumors. Grimlock is also reportedly using RDNA 5+. The reason for using RDNA 5+ could be that Grimlock is expected to launch before RDNA 6 becomes available.

There have also been reports that Zen 6 for desktop lacks an iGPU. It's still unclear whether the iGPU is present but disabled or not included at all. From what I've heard, it is not there whatsoever, but these are still rumors. There is also a report involving Take-Two agreeing to publish new games on all Xbox devices.