What are your predictions for the PS4?

[Ket]

As much as we all love PCs here its also very likely many of us also own a console. I've been a PS man since the PSX, so my next console will also likely be a PS. Title tells the whole story really, what are your predictions for the PS4? Preferably predictions with solid reasoning behind them please Not just "I want this and that" posts

My Prediction:

CPU: Hex core Cell @ 2.2GHz per core

A lot of you may not like my prediction here, but the simple truth is Sony poured a LOT of $$$ into developing the Cell Processor and setting up manufacturing plants for it. It would not make financial sense to write off the investment costs and development costs of the Cell as a "mistake". So my prediction is a 6 core Cell CPU @ 2.2GHz per core built on a 32nm or 45nm process.

RAM: 2GB XDR2

Its not the smartest choice, but its the most likely choice. The memory controller of the Cell shouldn't require too much modification. DDR3 would obviously be the best choice because its so much cheaper, but AFAIK adapting the Cell CPUs memory controller for DDR3 would be very difficult. I would hope this time Sony design the PS4 with a combined memory pool, not a segmented one.

GPU: 1.6GHz nVidia RSX "Reality Synthesiser" w\ 2GB vRAM

I've chosen this as the PS3 already uses a nVidia RSX chip and it makes sense that a updated version of the chip would be used again as Sony have good relations with nVidia here. I would hope this GPU sports all the modern features and support we are familiar with, DX11, SM5, Tessellation, etc. At the very least I would expect DX10.1, SM4 and Tessellation.

Storage: 8x Blue-Ray drive, 320GB+ SATA3 HDD

Simple logic here, Sony poured a crapload of resources into developing blue ray, it doesn't make sense to abandon it so soon. Standard mechanical SATA3 HDD because their cheap as chips and give lots of space.

General Connectivity: USB3, wireless, all the modern standard stuff we are used to.

Nothing out of the ordinary here but for the love of all that is good Sony better not put the same POS wireless adapter in the PS4 as what they use in the PS3.

Well, thats my "prediction" if you will. Anyone else care to take a stab?

[jimba86]

it makes some sense for a Cell CPU but due to the cost they might do one from AMD or another specialised one form IBM due to how hard the cell processor was to program for.

I think that it might have 2-3GB of ram (a major drawback of this generation of consoles is lack of ram)

and a AMD or Nvidia GPU based upon keplar.

[Ket]

After the PS3 Sony are going to be looking to minimise production and R&D costs as much as possible. With a semi modern GPU under the hood of the PS4 the Cell can basically be forgotten about and leave everything to the GPU, treat the updated Cell more like a regular CPU. While the Reality Synthesiser won't be a great GPU in terms of raw horsepower and I do hope something better is used, the chip should have all the modern bells and whistles which will greatly help PC gaming. I'm tired of all the piss-poor looking console ports.

[IFMU]

apologies for the slight off topic, but i saw that you posted that the wireless in the ps3

Sony better not put the same POS wireless adapter in the PS4 as what they use in the PS3.

was so bad?
i honestly don't know much about sonys console(s), but i'm curious, what made the wireless so bad?

[EniGmA1987]

Didnt AMD already get the contract for the PS4's graphics chip?

EDIT: here, did a quick 30 second search:
http://www.overclock.net/t/1219643/c...-claims-report
http://gamerant.com/amd-collaboratin...-brian-134964/

As far as I know, AMD has the contract for all 3 next gen consoles. Sony has also said it will be re-using the Cell in the PS4 so it is likely that we will see that + and AMD GPU. But it could change and just be a straight APU like people are expecting in the next XBox as well.

[Ket]

apologies for the slight off topic, but i saw that you posted that the wireless in the ps3

was so bad?
i honestly don't know much about sonys console(s), but i'm curious, what made the wireless so bad?

The wireless adapter in the PS3 is just shockingly bad. Might be down to placement in the console itself meaning it has to deal with loads of electronic crosstalk or something, but the wireless signal is crap unless your PS3 is literally right next to the router. Many people hav complained about just how bad the adapter is, even with me where I can get maximum signal from my router across the road the wireless adapter in my PS3 struggles for 55-60% signal strength and its only about 7 meters away from the router.

[IFMU]

hmmm... did not know that. -_-
thanks and apologies for the OT

[zanzabar]

i am predicting

faster cell but the same as the ps3
powerVR graphics (from what i understand MS locked up amd for HD 3d consoles and i do not see sony going with NV again)
2GB system, 2GB gpu (not enough for 3d or 4k like sony wants)
BDXL disk drive
cable card/mcard slot so it will work as a DVR, it may be optional or an accessory but i think it will come out for the US and euro regions this time.

Didnt AMD already get the contract for the PS4's graphics chip?

EDIT: here, did a quick 30 second search:
http://www.overclock.net/t/1219643/c...-claims-report
http://gamerant.com/amd-collaboratin...-brian-134964/

As far as I know, AMD has the contract for all 3 next gen consoles. Sony has also said it will be re-using the Cell in the PS4 so it is likely that we will see that + and AMD GPU. But it could change and just be a straight APU like people are expecting in the next XBox as well.

amd sampled chips for all 3, but since the MS chips started wide sampling at the end of last year sony has said nothing and no non standard parts have been sampled and info got out about them. i had heard that sony was going to powerVR and samsung to fab a part for the ps4. but i would bet real money that nvidia is not making the parts for the ps4 affter what they pulled with the original xbox, the ps3 and sony having enough time to get a fully custom part without MS screwing them out of the chip they were looking at with an exclusive agreement.

[CrazyNutz]

features and support we are familiar with, DX11

Huh?? DirectX is a MS only API. I don't think MS would allow it to be used by a competitor. Well I quess they would if Sony paid them, but that would be kind of goofy.

[zanzabar]

Huh?? DirectX is a MS only API. I don't think MS would allow it to be used by a competitor. Well I quess they would if Sony paid them, but that would be kind of goofy.

OGL 4.2/4.3 is about the same as dx11. i would love to see more ogl support and less dx.

[El Mano]

Nobody believes this?
http://semiaccurate.com/2012/03/02/s...th-an-amd-gpu/
I do.

[zanzabar]

Nobody believes this?
http://semiaccurate.com/2012/03/02/s...th-an-amd-gpu/
I do.

i like that idea but ms has bought exclusive agreements for every gen so far, i assume that they have for this one to keep sony (and back in the day sega) from getting the same parts

[Ket]

Huh?? DirectX is a MS only API. I don't think MS would allow it to be used by a competitor. Well I quess they would if Sony paid them, but that would be kind of goofy.

AFAIK the PS3 uses DX, or maybe I'm remembering a 360 article I read, can't really remember now :/ Eitherway if Sony go ATI or nV it seems like the console would support DX but might only have games programmed using OGL 4.3 for legal reasons or something like that.

[Chickenfeed]

I personally have had no such issues with the PS3's wireless. I've owned both the 2nd and current generation PS3 and they've both been solid. I currently have 60 feet between my AP and the console and get a 70-80% connection readout with
about 20Mbit/s throughput on my 100Mbit connection. There is no congestion in my area for what thats worth. My main complaint is the lack of N support in the slim. It should have been a given addition.

I fully expect the next round of consoles to be quite tame however. Given the weak performance of Sony as a whole these last few years and the fact that even Nintendo is managing to bleed money, it would be a very risky proposition for any of the big three to put out expensive, loss incuring hardware. Hell the cost on the PS3 was close to $900 for Sony when it launched. You sure as hell can't expect to see that same scenario repeated.

In the day and age of mobile device proliferation (cheap subsidized smart phones and tablets ) along with numerous free to play games, maintaining customer interest will take more than some fancy hardware and pretty graphics. Percieved value has changed significantly over the last few years and with cheap $1 games available on more and more platforms, shelling out another $60 for the latest Call of Duty: Modern Wheelchair Massacre looks less and less appealing. Not to say these cheap bargin bin experiances are up to par with whats fiscally possible on a full AAA title, it does make people think twice and stop to ask themselves whats good enough.

I'll be honestly shocked if we see a healthy number of well performing games running at 1080 at launch. I laugh at the fan boys drooling over the mere mention of possible 4K support. The run up to console launch has always been over hyped and over marketed false promises that set people up with unrealistic expectations. Sure the PS3 *supports* full scene anti aliasing and filtering at 1920x1080 but we all know how many games lived up to those lofty expectations ( I'll give you a hint, it ryhmes with hero ) I hate to feel so pesimistic about this but this isn't Star Wars a New Hope now is it...

[Ket]

Thats why my prediction is what it is. No new hardware needs to be made its mostly common enough hardware so should be cheap. Lets face it making a good cheap console isn't difficult assuming Sony doesn't try to do anything "innovative" like with the PS3.

[BlindShot]

My PS3 is only used for movies. $600 to buy new and $300 for two repairs lol. I'm done with Sony!

[Kingcarcas]

Probably the most sane prediction i've seen around.

[Splave]

HD5830 GPU XD jk jk

All i know is I want a quieter fan, either redesign the vents so they can be cleaned easier or make the fan itself large. Mine eats dust, and I need to clean it out weekly or else I get 70% fan while watching netflix XD (I have the slim 2nd rev)

[Ket]

Probably the most sane prediction i've seen around.

Why thankyou I may own a console, but I'm by no means a fanboy or somebody who becomes deluded by all the hype and PR BS. I'd like the PS4 to be a little more ambitious than my prediction (more vRAM & RAM, and use a HD7750 or better) but in the case of the RAM, only if Sony switch from XDR2 to DDR3 to keep the console nice and cheap.

HD5830 GPU XD jk jk

All i know is I want a quieter fan, either redesign the vents so they can be cleaned easier or make the fan itself large. Mine eats dust, and I need to clean it out weekly or else I get 70% fan while watching netflix XD (I have the slim 2nd rev)

I think I have the V2 slim as well, never had any problems with dust although for some reason my PS3 is very pissy about reading my Uncharted 3 disk even though its in perfect condition and I'm only playing the damn game for the second time in all the time I've owned the game (almost 1 year now). All other media the PS3 reads fine so I know its not the drive in the console, must be a issue with the copy protection on the game and the latest system software.