Project Scorpio specs revealed

Project Scorpio was first name-dropped in a teaser at the tail-end of Microsoft’s 2016 E3 presentation, leaving Xbox fans salivating for both 4K visuals as well as any hint of what kind of specifications the console would pack.  After many different small leaks, Digital Foundry got to visit Microsoft’s Redmond headquarters to see first-hand how the pre-production hardware and software handled some gaming, and see what exactly would be powering the show.  Now, we know a lot more about Project Scorpio’s hardware and capabilities.
First and most importantly, Microsoft has indeed upgraded from the original Xbox One’s Jaguar-based AMD processor cores.  According to Digital Foundry’s Richard Leadbetter, Project Scorpio will have an 8-core processor whose architecture somewhat resembles Jaguar, though it’s definitely not Ryzen.  These cores will be grouped into two 4-core clusters, and will clock in at 2.3 GHz each.  Those cores will be working with 12GB of RAM, with 4GB dedicated to system functions, leaving 8GB for games and developers.
That RAM is, as mentioned, 12GB of GDDR5 memory with a 4GB / 8GB split for system tasks and gaming.  This memory will be clocked at 6.8GHz, or 6800MHz if you prefer bigger numbers.  The compute units handling the native 4K rendering with the help of that memory will be clocked at 1172MHz, rising from 853MHz on the original Xbox One.  There will also be 40 of these compute units in Project Scorpio.
Along with the raw specifications, it’s extremely important to know how the hardware holds up in actual games.  When visiting Redmond, Leadbetter got to go hands-on with the Forza Motorsport 6 engine ported to run on a prototype of sorts.  He provided a few screenshots of the in-game performance, showing resource utilization as well as the full-resolution game as a backdrop.  Starting at the Nurburgring, with the maximum number of AI cars allowed and running at native 4K resolution, Project Scorpio was able to push the game at a stead 60fps using only around 65% of the GPU and around the same 65% of the available 8GB of RAM.  Leadbetter critically points out that the demo he saw was a direct port with 4K assets added in, rather than a game built specifically for Project Scorpio’s hardware.
Regarding the processor, we’ve already discussed the clock speeds and core count, but cooling a processor that processes and outputs native 4K is no small feat.  Leadbetter specifies that the hardware he saw didn’t have a vent along the top, and instead used a vapor chamber cooler directly contacting the processor paired with a “large, centrifugal fan” to push heat out the back of the console.  Microsoft’s experience with vapor chamber cooling is rather extensive, given it’s what they use in their Surface line of 2-in-1 computers as well as what was incorporated into the last Lumia flagships, the 950 and 950 XL, all of which handle high-performance processors well.
While Project Scorpio is aiming to output native 4K visuals at 60fps stable, the majority of people playing will likely still want to hook up to their 1080p TV and the hardware looks to easily handle this task, with a small possible problem.  In discussing Xbox One titles running on Project Scorpio hardware, Xbox One Backwards Compatibility came up, and he addressed that some games (an admittedly small number) will face problems when transitioning from their native, ESRAM-clad, Xbox One hardware to Project Scorpio, but the majority of games would likely be able to hit their 1080p and/or 60fps targets from when they originally launched.
For now, those are all the hard numbers we have on Project Scorpio.  To delve into some less-solid figures, Leadbetter believes the console will cost in the neighborhood of $499 USD, though nothing regarding price has even been remotely discussed this far ahead of launch this holiday season.  So while we may not know a price, we still expect to hear more on Project Scorpio around E3, and especially as fall approaches and pre-orders likely open up.  When we hear more on Project Scorpio, we’ll keep you updated.  Until then, be sure to stay tuned to Rectify Gaming for the latest.
Source: Digital Foundry