Future Console CPU-GPU solutions

[freedquaker]

freedquaker said:

 

 

The Memories in computers are not improving as fast as they used to, so the next generation console systems are likely to include several GBs of RAM, and several Hundred GBs of Hard drives as given. On the other hand, the CPUs and especially the GPUs are still improving remarkably. However, they are also the major source inside consoles. They cause instabilities such as overheating, they are usually victimised by the system bottlenecks since they are, by definition, the fastest parts of the system, they cost the most among all others, and they are subject to the most fierce competition. In short they are of the most crucial importance of the system.

In addition to all that, we know that a system is only as fast as its slowest piece. In CPU - GPU solutions, one of those components are always the bottleneck (apart from the other unavoidable memory bottlenecks). Therefore it is logical to try to balance the power of those two. Given all that, it makes a lot of sense to create a cost effective and integrated CPU-GPU design like the AMD Fusion / Zacate.

http://www.anandtech.com/show/4023/the-brazos-performance-preview-amd-e350-benchmarked

This kind of approach, although not up to the modern mainstream CPU performance levels yet, is very effective in providing a very balanced and reasonable CPU-GPU performance with a very cost effective and power efficient way. I believe that should be the future of console CPU-GPU solutions. It's not only efficient & cost effective but also easily scalable. In other words, the APU (CPU-GPU package) can easily be upgraded without further complications.

What do you guys think?

 

With the incoming WiiU, later the PS4 and new Xbox, my original predictions seem more and more likely. We almost certainly know that WiiU will come with 1 GB of ram and a modest cpu-gpu configuration whereas the next gen hd console will likely opt for 2 GB RAM or in this ballpark, with more integrated CPU and GPU solutions so AMD's APUs approach sounds perfect.