UPDATE: RUMOR: PS5 Dev Kits Sent Out This Year. Launch 2019. BC With PS1/PS2/PS3. Sony acquires Silent Hill. Blade Runner PS5 Game At PSX. And More.

[JEMC]

EricHiggin said:

JEMC said:

Now that you mention it, I remember the slides claiming Vega on 7nm and claiming it would launch this year. And it makes sense because AMD can't leave Vega at 14nm against whatever Nvidia launches in July (or whenever they do).

But I'm not sure Vega would be a jump big enough compared to the hardware they're using now to warrant a new console. But I thought the same about PS4Pro and Polaris and they did it anyway so everything is possible.

As for the CPU, I wouldn't worry too much. Even a 4 or 6 core Zen processor would destroy those Jaguar chips, so they don't really need to wait for Zen+ or Zen2, but only for the appropiate node. That they'll be able to use a better arch. is just a nice bonus.

The biggest problem will be mixing both things into a single APU. Even Raven Ridge features up to 11 Vega cores, and the Vega 56 has ... well, 56. That's a lot to cramp together while using a new node. So yeah, late 2019 or early 2020 would be much more likely than early 2019.

Plus it would give devs more time to finish their current PS4 projects and start the ones for the new machine.

Nvidia '20' series is most likely going to crush AMD anyway, but Vega on 7nm should at least give AMD a chance. I myself don't see the next console, PS5 or PS4 Premium or whatever, having a massive jump in GPU specs. The CPU however should be like jumping the Grand Canyon. I think PS5 could get away with a 6 core Ryzen (+,2,+,3), in terms of future proofing, but I would assume they stick with 8 cores if physically possible to allow for lower clocks and also marketing since PS4 is 8 as well. I think the XB1X APU die is 360mm2 on 16nm and Raven Ridge is only 210mm2 on 14nm, so there is definitely more room for more cores/CU's, and if they use 7nm that's even better. PS4 Pro already has some Vega baked in as well, while XB1X does not, so I wonder if that had anything to do with the next console on deck.

According to Glofo's Chief Technical Officer, Gary Patton, 7nm will bring a 2.7 ratio of space savings, which is huge. Couple that with better clocks and power consumption, and waiting for 7nm is a no brainer.

But I disagree with you about the sump in GPU specs. When this gen started, there were a lot of complains because of the lack of a noticeable visual upgrade, and they can't really afford that again. Also, because of the Pro scalling and the XboxOne X offering 4K games, that moniker won't be enough to sell the next consoles and could bring the "why they don't launch this game on PS4 at FullHD instead of 4K?" kind of questions that nobody wants. Nah, it will have to pack some power.