# PlayStation 4 APU

> main system-on-a-chip of the PlayStation 4, containing the CPU and GPU

**Wikidata**: [Q107435420](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q107435420)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/playstation-4-apu

## Summary
The PlayStation 4 APU is the main system-on-a-chip of the PlayStation 4 console, combining both the CPU and GPU into a single integrated component. It was designed by AMD and manufactured by TSMC, featuring 8 processor cores and a clock speed of 1.6 GHz for the CPU and 800 MHz for the GPU.

## Key Facts
- The PlayStation 4 APU was designed by AMD and manufactured by TSMC
- It contains 8 processor cores and has a total area of 348 square millimeters
- The CPU portion operates at 1.6 GHz while the GPU portion runs at 800 MHz
- It is based on AMD's Jaguar microarchitecture and Graphics Core Next technology
- The APU was released in November 2013 as part of the PlayStation 4 console
- It delivers 1.84 teraflops of graphics processing power
- The APU's working title during development was "Liverpool"

## FAQs
### Q: What is an APU and how is it different from a CPU or GPU?
A: An APU (Accelerated Processing Unit) combines both a CPU and GPU on a single chip, unlike traditional systems where these components are separate. This integration allows for more efficient power usage and smaller form factors.

### Q: Who manufactures the PlayStation 4 APU?
A: The PlayStation 4 APU is manufactured by TSMC (Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company) based on AMD's design.

### Q: What is the clock speed of the PlayStation 4 APU?
A: The CPU portion of the PlayStation 4 APU runs at 1.6 GHz, while the GPU portion operates at 800 MHz.

## Why It Matters
The PlayStation 4 APU represents a significant advancement in console hardware design by integrating both processing and graphics capabilities into a single chip. This approach allowed Sony to create a more power-efficient and cost-effective gaming console while maintaining strong performance capabilities. The APU's design enabled the PlayStation 4 to deliver high-quality gaming experiences at a competitive price point, helping establish it as one of the best-selling consoles of its generation. Its use of AMD's Jaguar architecture and Graphics Core Next technology also demonstrated the viability of x86 architecture in gaming consoles, influencing future console designs.

## Notable For
- First major gaming console to use an AMD APU design
- Achieved 1.84 teraflops of graphics performance in a single chip
- Featured 8-core CPU design based on AMD's low-power Jaguar architecture
- Integrated both CPU and GPU on a 348mm² die size
- Codenamed "Liverpool" during development

## Body
### Technical Specifications
The PlayStation 4 APU is built on a 28nm manufacturing process and features a total of 8 Jaguar CPU cores arranged in two clusters of four cores each. The chip integrates a GPU with 18 compute units, providing the console with its graphics processing capabilities. The APU's design allows for shared memory access between the CPU and GPU, improving overall system efficiency.

### Architecture and Design
The APU is based on AMD's Heterogeneous System Architecture (HSA) foundation, which enables more efficient data sharing between the CPU and GPU components. This architecture allows developers to write code that can execute on either processing unit depending on which is most appropriate for the task, leading to better performance optimization.

### Performance Capabilities
With its 1.84 teraflops of graphics processing power, the PlayStation 4 APU was capable of delivering 1080p gaming at 60 frames per second for many titles. The integrated design helped reduce latency between the CPU and GPU, contributing to smoother gameplay experiences.

### Manufacturing and Production
TSMC manufactured the PlayStation 4 APU using their 28nm process technology. The chip's relatively large die size of 348mm² reflects the complexity of integrating both CPU and GPU functionality on a single piece of silicon.

## Schema Markup
```json
{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "Thing",
  "name": "PlayStation 4 APU",
  "description": "Main system-on-a-chip of the PlayStation 4, containing the CPU and GPU",
  "url": "https://www.techpowerup.com/gpu-specs/playstation-4-gpu.c2085",
  "sameAs": [
    "https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q7328884",
    "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PlayStation_4_hardware"
  ],
  "additionalType": "system on a chip model"
}

## References

1. [Source](https://www.techpowerup.com/gpu-specs/playstation-4-gpu.c2085)
2. [Source](https://www.ign.com/articles/2018/08/30/the-internet-thinks-its-found-the-ps5s-codename-erebus)
3. [Source](https://web.archive.org/web/20131207102125/http://www.chipworks.com/en/technical-competitive-analysis/resources/blog/ps4-core-processor/)
4. [Source](https://www.eurogamer.net/digitalfoundry-2016-ps4-pro-boost-mode-tested-a-game-changer-for-unpatched-titles)
5. [Source](https://www.eurogamer.net/df-hardware-spec-analysis-playstation-4)
6. [Source](https://web.archive.org/web/20130424075309/http://scei.co.jp/corporate/release/130221a_e.html)