They're practically using tablet CPUs (AMD's answer to the netbook/cellphone Atom but weaker and cheaper.) on the PS4 (2 Quad Core Modules).
Combined with the fact that it uses a stripped down Tahiti/Pitcairn XT GPU (modified and down-clocked to be used for an APU), the build I gave is a little bit higher in the PS4. The PS4 has unified memory and the walled garden specs will help optimization so all in all, they're more or less the same. The PC I linked will play games at settings a little bit higher than the PS4 for years to come. If the PS4 can't run a game on Ultra 6-7 years later, why should the PC? It's meant to be contemporary specced with the PS4 and Xbox One.
For Monitor, You can just use your TV or you can use the Vidiuu Streamer when it's finished.
For OS, Valve and the other software houses are already working on porting games to Linux and Steam OS. Metro Last Light now has a Linux version. So do most Valve and Id games. Mantle will also provide excellent support to Steam OS (Which is free)
Of course, like 3Dude said. exclusive games will always find a bypass to "surpass" the limitations of the system (More Pop-in, Heavy Scripting and Texture Streaming from Disk). However, Mantle will most likely bring the same optimization to PC's (AMD of course).
also, you know, an operating system?
Let's be honest. That system is not going to play the newest games in seven years at 60 fps. Consoles are great because games are developed FOR them. Battlefield 8 will run on a PS4 as well as Battlefield 4 (if it ran well lol) does. Yeah, the graphics will be toned down compared to the newest PC then, but my PC won't be able to run it smoothly on any settings because it won't be developed for older PC's.
Of course it won't at max. The PS4 won't either. The term "optimization" as most console users use it is getting more and more voided due to all of them sharing x86-x64. Combined with Mantle, this generation is probably going to have equal performance from all platforms at the same price point. A PC from 2006 can run games that are also on PS3 albeit at medium-low settings just like it's console contemporaries who run at an optimized low equivalent
The AMD A10-6700 Richland is the apu both ps4 and xbone were based on, they are simply tweaked customized versions of that apu... I remember early dev kits actually using that apu. In fact, if you compare the dieshot of the apu on the link you provided, its near identical to the die shot of the ps4/xbone:
http://www.chipworks...2013/11/041.jpg
(this ones the ps4, just remove almpst half the rows of gcn cores to get the xbone)
The biggest change is they swapped out the 3-4Ghz piledriver desktop cpu cores, with the jaguar 1.6-8 Ghz Jaguar mobile phone/tablet cpu.
Even so, the ps4/xbone are closed systems, that gives them the potential, with exclusive games, to do things seemingly beyond their reach.
The Richland APU's aren't exactly know for their power. Swapping them out for Jaguar only makes it worse. I do however, acknowledge the fact that "optimization works great on closed platforms.
An HTPC would actually be cheaper than an XBone in general, A W Reezy.
Edited by Stromdeath, 29 November 2013 - 10:24 PM.