Playstation 4 Runs a Modified FreeBSD 9

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Sony's Playstation 4 will be running a modified version of FreeBSD 9 OS.

It has been revealed that the PS4's operating system is Orbis OS, which is a Sony modified FreeBSD 9.0. Sony has chosen to use FreeBSD over Linux, in part due to the more liberal licensing. It's a bit surprising to see FreeBSD being used when at the heart of the PS4 is an AMD 8-core APU with Radeon graphics. Because there isn't a Catalyst driver available for any BSD OS, Sony in cooperation with AMD must have developed their own graphics drivers for the Playstation 4.

-Erik

Posted:
Related Forum: PlayStation Forum

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"Playstation 4 Runs a Modified FreeBSD 9" :: Login/Create an Account :: 47 comments

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LeapPosted:

BDB I hope this turns out good, could go wrong to though :(


hopefully not :c

splot9Posted:

Steam runs better on linux than on windows so I think it's OK to make the assumption that freebsd 9 is better for gaming than a modified version of Windows 8 for example.

KRATOS897Posted:

Artro
EstablishedGaming Sony creating their own systems drivers this could be good or go terribly wrong in the future.


Knowing Sony it will probably go both ways


I think it's gonna be a good move, it means the driver was developed whitin Sony and AMD, and runing under FreeBSD it will get the best performance on hardware.
If you remeber Xbox One will be running a mod of Windows 8 as OS, :/ I think that's enough to see which system is better ^^

MentalistPosted:

KarmaRambo Alright smart *****.

FreeBSD is an open source alternative to Linux, but it's much easier to use than Linux.
This means that Sony were able to manipulate FreeBSD into soon whatever they could really think of.

There are not much, if at all, any companies that develop and produce software drivers for FreeBSD, simply because the platform isn't used commonly.
The Catalyst driver is the driver series used by the AMD graphics cards, I take it you guys already knew that if you're on a gaming website.

This is weird because it means that SONY either had to inject more money into the PS4 to enable the system to run basically.
There is a very good chance that the driver in the PS4 will be used in no other system in the entire world.


Thanks for clearing this our. You sir, deserve a medal.

MentalistPosted:

I hope this turns out good, could go wrong to though :(

ArtroPosted:

EstablishedGaming Sony creating their own systems drivers this could be good or go terribly wrong in the future.


Knowing Sony it will probably go both ways

skathe665Posted:

KarmaRambo Alright smart *****.

FreeBSD is an open source alternative to Linux, but it's much easier to use than Linux.
This means that Sony were able to manipulate FreeBSD into soon whatever they could really think of.

There are not much, if at all, any companies that develop and produce software drivers for FreeBSD, simply because the platform isn't used commonly.
The Catalyst driver is the driver series used by the AMD graphics cards, I take it you guys already knew that if you're on a gaming website.

This is weird because it means that SONY either had to inject more money into the PS4 to enable the system to run basically.
There is a very good chance that the driver in the PS4 will be used in no other system in the entire world.


Best thing I've read in here in weeks.

-LivePosted:

KarmaRambo Alright smart *****.

FreeBSD is an open source alternative to Linux, but it's much easier to use than Linux.
This means that Sony were able to manipulate FreeBSD into soon whatever they could really think of.

There are not much, if at all, any companies that develop and produce software drivers for FreeBSD, simply because the platform isn't used commonly.
The Catalyst driver is the driver series used by the AMD graphics cards, I take it you guys already knew that if you're on a gaming website.

This is weird because it means that SONY either had to inject more money into the PS4 to enable the system to run basically.
There is a very good chance that the driver in the PS4 will be used in no other system in the entire world.


But a lot companies do since FreeBSD is a base to a lot of OS's including Mac's OSX. There will probably be something similar to the Catalyst drivers in the PS4 and I also heard the GPU is going to be reminiscent to the Radeon 7870

WageringPosted:

Hmmm, not sure how I feel about this.

EstablishedGamingPosted:

Sony creating their own systems drivers this could be good or go terribly wrong in the future.