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?

I expect the next round of consoles to match PCs of the time. But be outdated by them in a year...as always.

I don't believe that the hybrid chips are mature enough at this point in time to use as a complete solution for a gaming system of any kind ...

This isn't to say that these chips won't be used in the next generation, or the approach might not be viable in the following generation, but I think there will still be a stand alone GPU in the next generation of consoles; and if these consoles do have a hybrid cpu-gpu I suspect that the gpu on the cpu will be used in a similar way to how a onboard GPU is used in the hybrid crossfire x (or possibly used as a PPU).

XBOX360S says hello...

Just make a console/freezer hybrid.  Basically, build a small freezer and put the console in it and leave enough room to put drinks.  You put a sensor inside and the cosole will tell you when your drink is cold.  They could also put in a camera that watches water freeze.  You can have a game that makes you complete sections before the water turns to ice.  The possibilites are endless!!!!!!!!!!!!

The PS2 slimline also had the GPU on the same die as the CPU, but that doesn't mean that is the kind of approach most manufacturers would choose from launch ...

Consider that to get the CPU and GPU on the same die the total performance of the system would be similar (in relative terms) to what the Wii was at launch; and being that a system could be produced that was significantly more powerful with modest increases in manufacturing cost and energy consumption, and the only "fault" consumers and developers (really) found with the Wii was its lack of performance, I couldn't see this approach being taken by any manufacturer next generation.

In certain way, it is also what Sony intended with the cell has originally they plan to do the console without GPU have the cell CPU/SPU do all the work. they added the GPU later because of the complain of the developpers that are more use of this separate architecture.

Actually, Sony's original plan was to use 3 Cell processors but by using a GPU in place of 2 Cell processors they got better performance for a lower manufacturing cost ...

Thanks for the information, just i find it little strange as the GPU on the PS3 is pretty weak and that the best graphics on the PS3 are archieved through intensive use of the SPU not the GPU.

No, that's not an accurate way to put it at all ...

The GPU on the PS3 has greater theoretical floating point performance than the Cell processor does, is designed to efficiently produce graphics (meaning it will come far closer to achieving its theoretical limit when producing graphics than the Cell processor would be), and the best looking games on the PS3 will be pushing the GPU pretty hard. The SPEs may be used to enhance the graphics of a game, but all of the "heavy lifting" would have already been done by the GPU already.