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NextGen_Gamer on 23 February 2018
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My realistic, most likely scenario prediction for PlayStation 4 specs and a Fall 2019 release date:

 

  • 7-nm GlobalFoundries or TSMC process
  • Single-die APU style chip
  • 8-core/16-thread AMD "Zen 2" cores (these cores are spec-complete & on track for release early 2019, according to AMD)
  • *This would represent the same actual core count as PS4, but with VASTLY improved performance per core, plus a doubling overall of threads
  • 64 CPU / 4096 Stream Processors GPU based on AMD "Navi" architecture
  • *This would be a ~50% increase in shader unit count from the Xbox One X GPU - not too outrageous. Along with being an improved architecture overall, it should allow PS4 to hit native 4K in all titles with no issues.
  • 16GB 16Gbps GDDR6 RAM, giving 512GB/sec memory bandwidth
  • *These exact chips are already in mass production at Samsung for release later this year with discrete GPUs. So by fall 2019 prices should be easily mainstream enough for Sony to manage. 512GB/sec of bandwidth sounds like a lot, but really it's not a massive jump over the XBX's 326GB/sec
  • 2TB 5400 RPM 2.5" Hard Disk Drive
  • *Yes, another generation with a 5400 RPM laptop drive. SSD prices will still be too high to include a large enough drive. Considering how big games already are (nearly 100GB for GTA V now), by 2019 things will only be worse. 2TB is the MINIMUM that both Sony/MS should shoot for.
  • Odds and ends: HDMI 2.1, Gigabit Ethernet, 802.11ac & 802.11ax Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5
  • *By fall 2019 all of these will be standard on every device, so I would hope Sony would include them...

And now for the DREAM PS5 specs (i.e. no chance of any of this happening but it would all be AVAILABLE to happen for either Sony or MS)

 

  • 7-nm GlobalFoundries or TSMC process
  • Two chips again, one discrete CPU and one discrete GPU, connected over AMD's InfinityFabric bus
  • 16-core/32-thread AMD "Zen 2" CPU
  • 8GB 2GBps HBM2 on 4096-bit bus, 1024GB/sec Memory Bandwidth attached to CPU
  • 96 CU / 6144 Stream Processors GPU based on AMD "Navi" architecture
  • 8GB 2GBps HBM2 on 4096-bit bus, 1024GB/sec Memory Bandwidth attached to GPU
  • *Two chips means 2 pools of memory. However, I put the same type/speed on both in order to make it easy for the GPU to pool memory from the CPU if needed, and vice-versa.
  • 512GB NVMe Solid State Drive + 2TB 5400 RPM HDD
  • *The SSD would be built-into the motherboard and managed by Sony's OS as a permanent, insanely large cache. Whatever games you play most or have most recently downloaded would be put here, to optimize loading. The 2TB HDD would be where all of your data resides and still be user-upgradable.
EDIT: Forgot the most important thing: PRICE! My realistic specs PS5 above would be $399 and that is 100% realistic. I would guess those parts would cost right around $250 in 2019 - meaning even with packaging, shipping costs to retailers, and retailer cuts factored in, Sony would still be profitable at $399 on day-one just like they were with PlayStation 4
The dream specs build however would be more like a PS3 scenario. $599 at launch and Sony might still take a loss on it haha

 

Last edited by NextGen_Gamer - on 23 February 2018