Key Takeaways
1. The AMD BC250 APU, claimed to be similar to the PS5’s graphics card, was purchased by a modder for £96 ($120) and successfully powered on.
2. The BC250 resembles a server-style motherboard and features AMD’s Zen 2 CPU and RDNA 2 GPU architecture with 16 GB of GDDR6 memory.
3. Initial tests showed compatibility issues with Linux drivers, but the modder managed to run Half-Life 2 and achieve decent benchmark performance.
4. The BC250 has hardware limitations, including six Zen 2 cores and 24 compute units, which are fewer than the PS5’s specifications.
5. Despite stability issues with RAM-heavy games and Linux drivers, the BC250 performed surprisingly well and even supported ray tracing in certain games.
A modder recently got their hands on what is claimed to be the graphics card for the PlayStation 5, or more accurately, the AMD BC250 APU. This is a simplified version of the custom chip used in the PS5. The modder purchased it from a Chinese seller for just £96, which is about $120. Against all expectations, the unit not only powered on but also managed to run various PC games on Linux, such as GTA V, Cyberpunk 2077, and Counter-Strike 2.
Unboxing the BC250
The creator of the YouTube channel Budget-Builds Official ordered the BC250 board, which is said to have the same AMD architecture that Sony uses in the PlayStation 5. Upon unpacking, it became evident that this is not a standard GPU card; instead, it resembles a server-style motherboard featuring power headers, I/O ports, and a large passive heatsink, suggesting it was originally intended for use in cryptocurrency mining setups.
Specifications of the Chip
The chip at the core, the AMD BC250, is similar to the PS5’s Zen 2 CPU and RDNA 2 GPU architecture. The board is equipped with 16 GB of GDDR6 memory, divided equally between system and graphics, just as in the console.
After constructing a temporary setup powered by a 1,000 W Corsair PSU, adding a CMOS battery, and connecting external storage along with a mouse, keyboard, and monitor, the YouTuber started the board in a Linux environment. To everyone’s surprise, it powered up almost instantly, recognizing itself as the AMD BC250 with 12 threads and integrated Radeon graphics.
Performance Results
However, initial attempts to run Half-Life 2 and 3DMark’s Time Spy and Fire Strike benchmarks did not succeed due to conflicts with Linux drivers. After seeking help on online forums, the YouTuber managed to run Half-Life 2 without any hitches, but both 3DMark benchmarks still could not be completed.
The benchmark results showed decent performance, although the chip has fewer compute units compared to a full PS5 APU. Overall, the chip functioned like a budget gaming PC while consuming similar power to mid-range GPUs, though thermal management was a significant issue, primarily because the entire setup was quite makeshift.
Hardware Limitations
Upon inspecting the hardware, it was confirmed that the BC250 has six Zen 2 cores (instead of the eight found in the PS5) and 24 compute units (compared to 36 in the console). It does not support traditional DDR memory or SATA ports, relying instead on M.2 storage and the onboard GDDR6 for both system and VRAM tasks.
The YouTuber reported frequent stability problems when playing RAM-heavy games like Oblivion Remastered and ongoing quirks with Linux Wi-Fi drivers. Nonetheless, the BC250 managed most gaming titles surprisingly well, even offering ray tracing support in the Enhanced edition of GTA V.
For a more detailed look at the one-of-a-kind PS5-based AMD BC250 compute board, you can check out the full video below.
Source:
Link
Leave a Reply