Hardware PS4 = Easy to Emulate?

[The Suspect]

Just saw this video on the tubes. Is there something to it, or is he just simply, uneducated?

Link:

 

[yuyuyup]

That would be badical

 

[Sop]

Just saw this video on the tubes. Is there something to it, or is he just simply, uneducated?

Link:

Haha, no. Uneducated.

 

[The Real Jdbye]

The new systems coming out will be easier to emulate as they are all PC-based, and you won't need a supercomputer to do it, but coding a hypervisor is not easy either, and there are still parts of the system that will need to be emulated just not the CPU which is the heaviest in emulation.

 

[The Suspect]

I know that one of the main reasons that we still have a hard time emulating Xbox (Original) and the old Sega Saturn, is because they're operating via a different, complex CPU system, so... In that sense, it would be logical that the PS4 would be ''easy'' to emulate.
However, I am no programmer, or anything close to it...
So want to hear what the rest of the Temp thinks, especially if you're a tech geek, understand emulation and so forth...

 

[BlackWizzard17]

Who rich of view tech USA, no he's a smart guy but what he saying is he bascially knows that since the ps4 system is x86 it's very easy to work with, so interms some one could probably be able to make an emulator but it won't be perfect or close to good if you have a 4-500 dollar computer

 

[TemplarGR]

Actually, it will be extremely easy to emulate... Both in terms of hardware requirements and programming of emulators...

It will take some time, but expect usable PS4 emulators far earlier than PS3 ones...

 

[Qtis]

While the architecture may look like a PC, we're still miles away from a proper emulator. Remember the original Xbox? It was x86 based and still there is no proper emulator for it.

 

[K3Nv4]

Haha, no. Uneducated.

I love it when people say uneducated then give no information as to why he's wrong, it's a personal thought get over yourself.
The guy did say more than once it wont be right away.

 

[Rydian]

It will be easier to emulate than if it was using something else, yes.

 

[DinohScene]

PS4 hasn't been released yet and people are already talking about emulating it?

This is an odd world we live in...

 

[Psionic Roshambo]

Emulating the CPU and GPU will not be required as PC's will be able to run all of that code native.

The problem will be the custom chips and the encryption/DRM that is sure to be loaded and checked at every stage.

Probably a special chip on the drives of these things just to make sure the data coming off the drive is encrypted and only decrypted after it hits main RAM.

At least that's how I would do it, encrypted disk, hits chip with key right on the drive encrypted data sent to RAM then decrypted by another chip on a need to know basis... Different schemes for the GPU and the CPU so that even if one is cracked the other can be used to re secure the system using some of that fancy GPU code stuff... lol

Encryption on a GPU is probably pretty effective, since using a GPU to crack encryption is one of the best ways to do it... I can only imagine the tool would be equally useful on the other end of the spectrum.

 

[K3Nv4]

PS4 hasn't been released yet and people are already talking about emulating it?

This is an odd world we live in...

Welcome to 2013

 

[trumpet-205]

Emulating the CPU and GPU will not be required as PC's will be able to run all of that code native.

Even though original Xbox uses x86, no decent emulator exists. One of the reason is that despite using x86, it also incorporates a lot of undocumented instructions, instructions that were not found in x86.

GPU is even a harder one, because you are forgetting 8 GB GDDR5 unified memory. You'll need a way to keep up the speed and the size of the memory. Like CPU, it'll also use various undocumented low level instructions.

Just because it is x86, does not mean it'll be easy. The possibility is there yes, but not a definite one.

This thread needs to be locked.

 

[Foxi4]

Even though original Xbox uses x86, no decent emulator exists.

Yup - not even a good interpreter exists. The CPU architecture match doesn't mean that you'll be able to run the software just fine - consoles are full of customized features and hardware which all have to be emulated.

 

[Rydian]

And then the OS (for modern ones) and encryption...

 

[tbgtbg]

I know that one of the main reasons that we still have a hard time emulating Xbox (Original) and the old Sega Saturn, is because they're operating via a different, complex CPU system, so... In that sense, it would be logical that the PS4 would be ''easy'' to emulate.

Xbox (original) isn't complicated at all. It's basically a consolized PC. PS2 has a far more complex CPU system than Xbox and it's been emulated. Only thing I can think of holding it back is no real demand for Xbox emulation. Most of the wanted games have ports on other systems (or PC).

 

[samljer]

If these new systems are indeed x86-64 and not too modified they will be possible.
But remember they are 8 core systems(xbone too) and emulation would probably require a PC in the i7 category (or the amd 8 core equivalent) running like 4.5GHZ.
they are 8gb systems, sot he pc would likely need 16 or 24gb

i would say, the thing that would keep it hard isnt the hardware, but the operating system(fw) in the console.
first step would be to get that emulated properly; at full speed, with proper IRQ handlers.

its not like the old days were you could just emulate calls tot he hardware.

Now you need to emulate calls to a ever evolving operating system - or emulate it thoroughly.


is it possible? hell ya
is it likely? rofl no.

 

[samljer]

Xbox (original) isn't complicated at all. It's basically a consolized PC. PS2 has a far more complex CPU system than Xbox and it's been emulated. Only thing I can think of holding it back is no real demand for Xbox emulation. Most of the wanted games have ports on other systems (or PC).

ps2 is just reaching full speed now on near top of the line systems like ivy bridge
and even that has slow downs.
i would say its emulated sure, but theres still games unplayable - its not complete.

 

[Rydian]

Hardware-assisted virtualization says hi?

But that that's also assuming it's using standard instruction sets.