The new PS5 model uses the 6nm AMD Oberon Plus chip

At the end of August, Sony began the distribution of a new PlayStation 5 model (CFI-1202B) that drew attention for being the first to significantly redesign the interior of the console, resulting in a device with the same performance but more light and with less consumption. Today we have discovered that the one responsible for these improvements is the SoC, that is, the chip where we find most of the PS5 components and modules.

According to angstronomics, the new PS5 model equips an improved version of AMD’s Oberon SoC known as Oberon Plus, which has been manufactured by TSMC following a 6nm (N6) process. The chip of the two previous models is 7nm (N7). In the image below you can detect the difference in extension between both integrated circuits. The new Oberon Plus is around 260mm2 in size, a noticeable reduction from the Oberon’s 300mm2. By comparison, the Xbox Series X tablet is 360mm2.

TSMC reports that the migration from N7 to N6 is direct And that means the customer, in this case Sony and AMD, can reuse existing designs and get chips with an 18% increase in transistor density in return. In addition, in this case the node is changed but the performance is maintained, so we also have a reduction in energy consumption that implies thermal improvements. This has allowed Sony to reduce the cooling system of the new PS5 model without the temperatures suffering.

Going to N6 also carries an advantage for the coffers of the Japanese company. With the N7 process, each SoC measures about 300 mm2 and now thanks to N6 its size drops to 260 mm2, which implies a greater production of chips on a single wafer. According to Angstronomics, each Oberon Plus wafer can bring to life around 20% more chips at a similar cost to Oberon. The aforementioned medium calculates that each PS5 model CFI-1202B (N6) costs Sony approximately 12% less than the previous ones manufactured with the N7 process.

Despite this reduction in the cost of the console, the same week that the new PlayStation 5 model (CFI-1202B) with Oberon Plus (N6) began to arrive in stores, Sony announced an increase of 50 euros in the price sale of PS5 and PS5 Digital Edition, which have since been shipped in Europe (including Spain) in exchange for 549.99 euros and 449.99 euros respectively. According to the company, this decision has been made due to “high global inflation rates” and “adverse monetary trends.”

Angstronomics adds that TSMC’s goal is to stop the 7nm manufacturing process and produce only Oberon Plus (6nm), which will sooner or later lead to Xbox Series X switching nodes.