PS4 Pro launched as a primarily 4K console when it hit store shelves last November, but the upgraded hardware left many gamers with one big question: why can’t its increased specs have a positive impact on every game, like one would commonly see with a PC upgrade? Fast forward to today, and Sony has introduced Boost Mode to the 4.50 firmware update beta. Digital Foundry analyzed the feature, and the results might surprise you.
For those who missed the memo, Boost Mode is a method of offering “improved gameplay,” in the form of increased framerates and load times, to titles that aren’t specifically patched with PS4 Pro enhancement in mind. In simple terms, it uses the Pro’s beefier chips to make all games run better.
To find out just how well this feature works, Foundry tested several titles including Knack, Assassin’s Creed Unity, Project CARS and Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition. The precise findings were that Boost Mode raises the internal GPU clock to 911 MHz from 800 MHz and the CPU from 1.6 to 2.13 GHz. What you’re getting from that in a GPU-heavy game like Knack is a 14 percent boost in performance. It’ll add another five or so frames to those titles that couldn’t quite hit 60.
Probably more impressive, however, are Boost Mode’s CPU ramifications. For that, Foundry analyzed an unpatched copy of Unity. Where the unpolished code sometimes struggled to hit 20 frames on standard mode, everything stayed locked at 30 with Boost enabled. If you’re still not convinced, let’s consider Project CARS. While 60 frames still isn’t quite achieved, you’re getting a whopping 49 fps during times where that rate would normally dip down to 37.
With regard to loading, it was determined that textures do indeed load a fair bit quicker during high-octane moments.
Will PS4 Pro’s new Boost Mode magically make every game hit the 1080p/60fps standard? Definitely not. However, the feature does go a long way toward making the PS4 Pro a product that’s viable for any PlayStation fan even if they don’t have a 4K TV. To a tech enthusiast, these framerate bumps could potentially offer night and day gameplay differences over the standard console. For a feature still in beta, that’s an impressive feat.
It’s not yet known when firmware update 4.50 and Boost Mode will be released to the wider public, but we suspect it’ll be reasonably soon since testing is already underway.
PS4 Pro is available now for $399 from various retailers.
Do the improvements of Boost Mode make PS4 Pro a much more attractive product? Are we getting too excited over a few extra frames? Tell us in the comments section!
