14 DAY TRIAL // Neither Sony nor Microsoft has offered official information on their coming next-generation home consoles, but speculation among the gaming industry is still widespread.
The most recent rumor states that the PlayStation 4 is more powerful than the Xbox 720, with a raw computation power of 1.84 teraflops to 1.23 teraflops.
Sources from development teams have spoken to VG247 about the performance of the two devices during CES 2013 and their information is based on extensive testing of both the Sony platform, codenamed Orbis, and the Microsoft one, named Durango at the moment.
The same sources also say that the Xbox 720 will have 8 GB of RAM, with 3 of them reserved for the proprietary operating system and the rest available for video game use.
Durango is set to use the HD 8770 GPU.
The Orbis from Sony will have 4 GB of RAM, with just 1 of them linked to the OS, apps and security and the rest available for other processes.
The PS4 is allegedly using the AMD-made A10 processing unit.
Apparently, both Sony and Microsoft are also introducing the technology required to read 100 GB Blu-ray disks.
The technology is not yet available commercially, but it seems that Sony has been working with manufacturers to make it a reality for movies that use the 4K standard.
It seems that both companies are getting ready to announce their hardware during March of this year with the devices in stores in November, before the big Christmas shopping season.
Sony and Microsoft offered details on the new devices during CES 2013 to a limited number of partners because both the Xbox 720 and the PlayStation 4 need support, both in the form of video games and other apps, on launch.
Nintendo launched the Wii U in late 2012 and will already have a sales advantage by the time the new devices are out.