PS4 hardware overview

We break down what you need to know about Sony's new hardware.

With the PlayStation 4's public release just two days away, Console-info continuing coverage of the next-generation console continues today with an in-depth hardware overview.

In terms of specifications, the PS4 features PC-like architecture and is powered by a 64-bit Jaguar CPU from AMD. APU is combined with CPU and GPU onto a single chip, which streamlines communication between the two components. The GPU half of the APU uses 1,152 shader cores to push 1.8 teraflops of data per second.

The power supply is internal, unlike the Xbox One, which will ship with a power brick.

The PS4 sports 8GB of GDDR5 RAM and a 500GB SATA II 5400 RPM hard drive. Of note, all PS4 games must be installed to the hard drive, though it can be swapped out for a larger hard drive, so long as the replacement meets certain requirements.

The PS4's slot-loading optical drive plays DVDs and Blu-rays, but CDs are not supported, at least not at launch. Two USB 3.0 ports are featured on the system's front. External storage is not supported. Meanwhile, the back of the PS4 features ports for optical audio, HDMI, and Ethernet. An AUX port used exclusively for the PlayStation Camera is also featured on the back of the PS4.

Lastly, the PS4 can be oriented horizontally or vertically, with or without the official $20 accessory.