What CPU is equivalent to PS4 Pro?
Match the processing power of the PS4 Pro on a desktop
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The PS4 Pro remained a powerful console for the better part of the last decade and continues to be a great option for casual gamers today. If you’re looking to replicate the PS4 Pro’s performance on a PC build, you may be wondering what CPU to go for.
In this article, we determine what CPU is equivalent to PS4 Pro.
What CPU does the PS4 Pro use?
The PS4 pro uses a custom AMD Jaguar processor with the following specs:
- 8 cores – 2 connected 4-core modules
- 8 threads
- 2.1 GHz clock speed
As you can probably tell, these specs are extremely lacking when compared to modern processors. So much so that you have to wonder how the PS4 Pro is able to deliver the performance it does, considering that a similarly powered CPU would get you nowhere on a desktop PC.
Well, the answer is twofold. First, many of the more demanding titles actually run at 30FPS on the PS4 Pro. 30FPS on console feels much smoother than on PC due to the clever inclusion of lots of motion blur and consistent frame times.
Secondly, console games are very well optimized compared to PC. When developers optimize a game for a console, there’s only 1 hardware configuration that they need to account for. When optimizing for PC, there are limitless combinations that can exist, so the game isn’t optimized for any of them to the same degree.
What CPU is equivalent to the PS4 Pro’s CPU?
The closest desktop equivalent to the PS4 Pro’s CPU is likely the Intel Atom c2750. This is also an 8-core, 8-thread processor but it has a clock speed of 2.6GHz compared to the PS4 Pro’s 2.1GHz clock.
Therefore, you would have to underclock it significantly to end up with a processor that resembles the specs of the PS4 Pro’s CPU.
Of course, we don’t recommend you do that. You can’t comfortably play PC games on a processor with a 2.1GHz core clock, regardless of the number of cores it has. If you want to create a budget system that offers you the affordability, practicality, and performance of the PS4 Pro, we recommend you go for the Intel Core i3-12100F.
Intel Core i3-12100F
Intel Core i3-12100F
Core (threads)
4/8
Boost clock
4.3 GHz
Socket
Lga 1700
The Intel Core i3-12100F is a 4-core, 8-thread Alder Lake processor that’s considered by many to currently be the best entry-level gaming processor you can get.
While this CPU has 4 fewer physical cores than the Jaguar, it has an equal amount of threads due to hyperthreading, which compensates for the lack of cores. The CPU also has a respectable 4.3GHz max clock speed, which is almost twice that of the PS4 Pro’s Jaguar.
4 cores and 8 threads may seem low by modern standards, but 8-threaded quad-core i3 processors are still very competent at gaming. Games don’t utilize many cores and threads.
We’re recommending the “F” edition 12100 for extra savings and increased price efficiency. Pair it up with something like an RTX 3050 or RX 6600 to create the ultimate budget gaming rig.
