AMD Heavily Hints at PS4K and Other Consoles (Again)

We’ve survived weeks of PS4K rumours without going mad, so what’s one more on the pile? AMD has once again hinted that we can expect three new consoles coming later this year and sometime in 2017.

[DopeTech]

We all knew this was coming from Sony and MS too, PS4 NEO is coming. Xbox 1.5 is coming too.

In 2016 & 2017, now I think Xbox 1.5 is gonna come out in 2017 alone, that'll even let MS make the most powerful console this time around at the same price of a PS4 NEO or at 499$ If they want to go crazy with the technology. I hope the PS4 NEO is priced at 499$ so we can see a big leap from PS4.

[MasterCornholio]

Neo may come out in 2017. One thing thats for certain is that if Sony and Microsoft dont confirm anything at E3 the two systems will come out in 2017.

Who knows which one will be more powerful though.

P.S Microsoft wont give Sony a headstart.

[nveenio]

What's ridiculous about the speculation we're seeing is that the PS3 also saw chip upgrades during its life cycle, and no one speculated that it would be sold as a new system. I hold to my speculation that, if anything, Sony will market this as the PS4K and nothing more. A PS4 that's built for UHD discs and maybe is even a little better at handling PSVR. Other than that, the chip upgrades are probably just standard updates based on manufacturing and cost differential. Nothing to do with trying to out-power anything else. It's way too early in the cycle to do this to so many adopters of the PS4.

[starchild]

It's anybody's guess. Honestly the leaked specs really aren't making any sense to me.

Original PS4
CPU: 8 Jaguar Cores at 1.6 GHz
GPU: AMD GCN, 18 CUs at 800 MHz
Memory: 8 GB GDDR5, 176 GB/s

Neo
CPU: 8 Jaguar Cores at 2.1 GHz
GPU: Improved AMD GCN, 36 CUs at 911 MHz
Memory: 8 GB GDDR5, 218 GB/s

I just can't see what the purpose for this hardware would be. It certainly won't run modern AAA titles at 4k resolution.

It doesn't have enough additional graphics processing oomph. Nor is there an increase in VRAM amount, which you would expect because devs tend to use all the memory they can get and if a game is already maxing out the memory in the PS4 to do1080p (or in some cases 900p) you're certainly not going to be achieving 4k resolution, even with a bump to the bandwidth. 4k can use well over two times as much VRAM as 1080p, depending on the game.

So it's definitely not for AAA 4k gaming, but what about framerate? At first seeing that the GPU is supposed to be around twice as powerful as the one in the PS4 made me think it's intended purpose is to run PS4 games at 60fps instead of 30fps. But thinking about it more I don't believe that the new CPU will reliably support a doubling of framerate. While CPU requirements don't necessarily double the way GPU requirements do, since a lot of the game logic is the same whether at 30fps or 60fps, it is still generally going to require more than the 30% this upgrade seems to offer. Certainly many games that are already tapping out the PS4's CPU will have issues achieving 60fps on the PS4 Neo.

All of this makes me doubt the veracity of these specs. But if the leaked specs are wrong it makes you wonder how accurate other aspects of the leak are.

[IGiveHugs2NakedWomen]

Since there is absolutely no credible or official evidence to suggest that Sony has any plans to release a new console with new hardware in this console cycle, wouldn't actually be prudent to assume that AMD is making a chip for the PS5?

[Nemo88]

Yep and actually, if this report is accurate in its insinuation and AMD is only forecasting revenue this upcoming quarter from the "semi-custom" wins, and talking about RECENT wins, then Neo couldnt be coming up this October. Or they are talking about somethig else. But the deal for Neo hardware would have been closed a while ago if the finished product is due in 4 months...obviously

[Satou]

Honestly they said Nex-gen will be 5x as powerful and ready in 2018, so I highly doubt it's a PS5 chip this early. I'd kinda rather see them do PS5 in 2017 than PS4 Neo in 2016 though. The node switch isn't going to be any different to the tech will be the same whether PS5 is released in 2017 or 2018. It just makes more sense to release a PS5 a year early and just charge an extra $100 or so, than to do a halfstep PS4.5 in 2016 only two years off from nexgen, when they could just bring nex-gen a year early. Imagine upgrading to PS4.5 then PS5. What a waste. Just give us PS5 early the tech isn't going to be any different, and the extra $100 you spend for getting the console a year early is nothing compared to wasting $399 on a half-step PS4.5.

[DeadlyFire]

AMD stated they would start producing next gen chips by 2018.

Since nothing has leaked from Microsoft. It's safe to say nothing is coming in 2016, or 2017 from them. So next gen PS, XB won't come until at least 2018 or later. Like 2018-2020.

[ooquis]

AMD makes the hardware for all consoles, this was their strategy from the beginning. The console upgrade is AMD's doing. Maybe it makes business sense.....what do i know.

[Junior4565]

Well it would help keep AMD in the black I guess.

[bf000777966]

Amd really have the hobby of leaking their partner's imformation

[Fatal-Aim]

@ Dopetech

The PlayStation 4 Neo is twice as powerful as the PS4. The PS4 is 50% as powerful as the Xbox One. If the XB1 is to be more powerful than the Neo, it has to be 250% more powerful, which is going to lead to cost issues. If Microsoft's XB1 had trouble breaking even when compared to the PS4 ( https://technology.ihs.com/... ), it'll either be more expensive or weaker than the Neo but I doubt both. Microsoft is already losing money on every XB1 that is sold below the PS4 price, which is why they have to bundle in so many games to help reduce some of that cost, which is also why such a price cut is only available in select regions -- starting with their own.

[Muzikguy]

How does bundling games to a system that's "losing money" reduce cost? That doesn't make sense. Games cost money too and publishers aren't just handing them out for free

[Fatal-Aim]

@ Muzikguy

When compared to the PS4, the XB1 is about $15 more. Which means at $400, Microsoft was just breaking even on the console if not losing a few dollars. At $350, Sony is making a profit off the PS4. Microsoft undercut them $50, putting the XB1 at $300. If they were already breaking even at $15 more than the PS4, then certainly $50 cheaper than PS4's $350 price must have set them back by $65 as loss on the console. If they bundle two games, one of those games is going to eat most of that cost lost on the hardware, essentially taking the XB1 back to an imaginary $350. From here, the second game eats the remaining loss and in return provides very small profit. Why do you think Microsoft are always bundling their own games with the system. They are using it to eat to losses being made on the XB1 at it low price tag

[conanlifts]

Your sums are off a bit. The ps4 is closer to 37% more powerful. This doesn't take into account the xbox one has 10% extra cpu power, nor that it has slower memory. Now on the other side if ( i have no idea where you got 2x more powerful from) the ps4.5 were 2x more powerful than the ps4 the xbox 1.5 would actually need to increase in power by 2.75% ( or 3% by your rule of 50%power difference between the two).

[madworld]

with all due respect I'm with new upgradeable consoles without doubt for god sick people why you fraeking out if you want the new consoles buy it if you don't like IT leave it ,it is very damn simple
final thing the current consoles can't even running some games like the division on 1080p 60frs and the consoles version is like mid,low setting on PC ..holy moly indeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeed we need new upgradeable consoles people understand this after 2 years with same consoles with these hardwere it is gonna be very huge gap between consoles and PC

[uth11]

Could it be that AMD are the ones forcing this change? Sony/MS need new chips to allow for slim designs, maybe AMD cant/won't deliver them without more power?

[Fin_The_Human]

Stop bringing MS into this.

Its only a PS 4.5 coming out.

[Ceaser9857361]

Whats with this Universal Windows Platform (UWP) xbox fans are talking about. A fren of mine says UWP will help to port games on the new xbox easily where as devs need to work twice for each games releasing on the ps4 and neo???

[Ysmir6723]

100$ more for better cpu,gpu,power supply???Educate yourself.But i forgot that people actually bought a plastic box with a 40$ mb.,60$ cpu and 70$gpu for 400$,excluding online,bigger hardrive,extra controller and warranty...

[Aloy-Boyfriend]

PS4 and Xbox One are one gen late. Had they come between 2010 and 2011, it would have been amazing and many games held back like BC3 and TLoU would have benefited a lot. Right now we would have been excited PS5 and XboxTwo coming with a significant upgrade, but no. We are getting PS4K that if the specs reported by Eurogamer are true, then it is not that significant.

Fk this gen!

[Rimeskeem]

If the specs that are reported are true, they are actually decently significant. The whole console gets like a 1.5 times boost compared to the normal PS4.

[Whirlwind_Fanfare_08]

Indeed. I'm definitely getting the NEO!

[Movefasta1993]

Wouldn't you rather them wait just 2 years for a huge upgrade?

[Liqu1d]

Yet it'll still be held back by weaker hardware.

[JayH1980]

The increased specs are decent on paper but really aren't crap in real-world usage. The system will still not exceed 1080p in any graphically challenging games and 60 fps stable may even still prove to be challenging at times. It's just not enough of a jump in hardware to make a WOW! Stuff will run smoother and may have cleaner sharper lines but don't expect to see much else.

[WhoCaresWhatMyNameIs]

Original PS4
CPU: 8 Jaguar Cores at 1.6 GHz
GPU: AMD GCN, 18 CUs at 800 MHz
Memory: 8 GB GDDR5, 176 GB/s

Neo
CPU: 8 Jaguar Cores at 2.1 GHz
GPU: Improved AMD GCN, 36 CUs at 911 MHz
Memory: 8 GB GDDR5, 218 GB/s

The Neo console is just spec'ed out for 4k resolution output since 4k is basically twice the resolution as 1080p. Internet is blowing this up over nothing. They are strict about supporting the original PS4 so I don't see the big deal.

[Randostar]

the gpu is getting quite a hefty boost. Everything else was a lil more minimal.

[DeadlyFire]

GPU is significantly better. RAM and CPU are just clocked higher. Could still be impressive.

[madworld]

it's a good thing guys we have upgradable consoles believe me people!!!!!

[KillZallthebeast]

I think those are called PCs

[madworld]

of course it is..

[KillZallthebeast]

Well mad if you knew why didn't you say!? D:< I am perturbed

[Muzikguy]

I think this is a bad move on Sony's part. Good luck selling weak PS5s if this is true. People will just wait for the 5.5. It's a trend I don't ever want to see happen

[KillZallthebeast]

Why is this a thing? Most people don't even have 4k tv's. And we all saw how gloriously awful consoles do with a high price tag *looking at you ps3 E3 announcement* And the fact that they would have to make games that actually utilize the hardware and also play on the lesser ps4 since unless Sony payed them off no sane person would drop 100 million to develop a game with a user base of like 3 million tops.

[jaycptza]

Do you think they develop for each possible configuration on PC? They would produce for the higher spec device and because of the design they would scale it down for original PlayStation 4. The specs are literally 2x as powerful

[KillZallthebeast]

You do know the most popular console sets the benchmark for the game standards, the rest might get better graphics, but why in any world would someone buy a whole new console to essentially get shafted like any PC gamer does when they blow 3K on the set up and get something far better looking, but nothing other then that differentiating it. Also I do know graphics and the power needed are anything but linear. to go from a iffy 1080P to 4k you would need a lot more then just twice the specs. It's a joke to think you can squeeze 4 times as many pixels out of something just twice as strong. Even the sad short bus kid can call that stupid.

[KillZallthebeast]

And again 4k is 4 times as many pixels as 1080p. 1X2=2 1X2=/= 4 assuming the games native resolution is even 1080p

[KillZallthebeast]

And to just rant apparently even more most generations of consoles are ten times as powerful so this isn't even really an upgrade in console terms its just buying a new 3ds

[KillZallthebeast]

Uh huh Mr disagrees is it not the same thing? I guess when I pretend to get my new Ps4ds I will enjoy the 1 game it has

[KillZallthebeast]

there was an entire generation of X is holding X back. How do you think it will play out in the same situation

[WhoCaresWhatMyNameIs]

Original PS4
CPU: 8 Jaguar Cores at 1.6 GHz
GPU: AMD GCN, 18 CUs at 800 MHz
Memory: 8 GB GDDR5, 176 GB/s

Neo
CPU: 8 Jaguar Cores at 2.1 GHz
GPU: Improved AMD GCN, 36 CUs at 911 MHz
Memory: 8 GB GDDR5, 218 GB/s

Neo's GPU cores are 'twice' as many as the original GPU cores, doesn't mean the GPU or console is twice as powerful. This is basically a console that can display 4k resolution.

[SirBradders]

@thebeast Optimisation for a slightly more powerful console ain't that hard. Pc developers have done it for years with multi gpu configurations.

If Sony or Microsoft where smart they'd open up a mod workshop for all their games and allow the community to be involved subject to devs.

Theirs nothing wrong with a newer console, no one has to buy it unless they really want to. If consoles are to succeed and not sizzle out they need to stay relevant with tech updates.

With all the second hand ps4's potentially generated it will drive a market price drop and more people will own them resulting in more software sales it's simple.

I will buy it because I have the money if true, but if all games are universal there is literally no argument.

[KillZallthebeast]

Well it boils down to where the population is. I worked retail in gaming for a bit and the general population will go cheap, pushing out a high end console is moronic on every level. It won't succeed and it won't have more then a few exclusives games that face plant. I get this site is a bunch of elite gamers but I like to look at reality.

[jaycptza]

This isn't about 4K it wont be able to render 4K gaming. It's for improved fidelity i.e. 1080p 60fps

[TheCommentator]

Yeah, not for any AAA games anyways. Just think about this for a minute too; if the leaked specs are true the GPU will rival a $500 PC card. How much do people think the PS4 Neo will end up costing consumers when it finally releases?

[Geoff900]

4K t.vs are becoming increasingly popular, and are being more quickly adopted than HD t.vs within the same time frame.

MS and Sony need to get their new machines out, otherwise MS and Sony will left in the dark.

All it takes is a PC manufacturer, or another hardware manufacture to make a 4k ready console/pc for the same price of the PS4/X1 and both companies will be left behind.

[jmc8888]

Exactly. We've been able to buy them online for the last 2 years for under $300. The Seiki could do 1080/120 as well.

Now you can get Vizio's for $599-1299. The price on these things have dropped so much faster then HDTV's did.

At this point in time, if you need to buy a HDTV and aren't trying to get some $169 HDTV, you really should be buying a 4ktv. If one wants to hold out, then hold out for HDR. But getting a 4k/60 tv that can do 1080p/120 is still really sweet.

People are just ignorant. Many people don't know what's going on in the PC space, and how many consoles games are running with much better graphics, at higher resolutions, and higher framerates.

Lots of people seem to think no game will use it... when most games on the PS4 ARE USING it on the PC version. It's just straight ignorance.

A PS4 Neo will allow some of that to filter down to consoles.

While I do believe most games will be 1080/60, if the Neo is as powerful as they say, it can definitely do 4k/60 in many but not all situations. A PS4 Neo almost assuredly could run say, Battlefield 4 at 4k/60. Probably bump a few settings too. Indies could definitely do this.

But this also helps get many games to perform better on PSVR. I'm sure the PS4 games will probably be 60FPS reprojected to 120, and some of the less taxing ones 90 FPS. But with Neo they'll be able to do 90 or 120hz native and not have to lower settings. Even raise them.

Sony wants to people to buy a whole lineup of their products, so they are getting their ducks in a row.

PS4 Neo, PSVR, UHD Blu ray (which may be in Neo), and 4ktv's. Either way they want people to buy these things.

Additionally they have to fend off the Nintendo NX, which if rumored is somewhere around plus or minus what the Neo is power wise.

[jiggyteddy]

Semi custom could also refer to POS systems right?

So let's say McDonalds wants a new register system, and AMD designs the chips for their custom setup. That counts right?

[Muzikguy]

Eeeeww McDonald's 😄️

[S2Killinit]

Now that the cat is out the bag there is less "angry" comments. I personally look forward to these upgrades.

[spartan_dx]

This is actually pretty exciting as a tech junkie any new hardware is always exciting, bloodborne wouldve been way better at 60 fps, right now im playing dark souls 3 at 1440p at 60fps plus reshade and it is glorious.

[starchild]

Yes, yes it is. I have a 1440p Gsync monitor I'm playing it on and it's awesome. Such an incredible game too. My favorite Souls game yet.

ReShade truly is a great tool. Being able to add post process effects, SMAA anti-aliasing, and completely change the look of our games with one app like that is so nice.

[Tsunade]

Wait for the double standards guys. When MS announce their upgraded console, the same people that have criticize Sony will praise MS for exactly the same thing.

[S2Killinit]

Dont you notice nobody is "angry" anymore now that the article mentions MS is doing it too? Lol

Poof, anger be gone.

[Khaotic]

Obviously you are oblivious to gaming news so let me educate you little one. MS was the first one outed for rumors of a new console upgrade and they were hammered so hard Phil had to come out and say he thought it was a bad idea. So if you want to comment I would at least stay up to date so as not to sound ignorant

[TheCommentator]

The door swings both ways, because many people here were criticizing MS when they were first to suggest the idea of upgradeable consoles, an abandonment of the notion of a traditional console cycle, and forwards compatibility. Ironically, some of those critics are now praising PS4 Neo like nobody suggested it before Sony did.

[Bruh]

Think its the either way around bud

[ABizzel1]

Well it seems that the PS4K / XB1.5 will simply be Polaris refresh, that use the new 14nm / 16nm fabrication and fills the smaller node up with more GPU cores (and while rumors say No, hopefully improved CPU cores too).

If that's the case then games will run just fine on both the current and upgraded consoles.

We can expect the PS4k to be around 3.68 TFLOPS give or take, and the XB1.5 to be around 2.62 TFLOPS (3.7 vs 2.7) or basically 2x the performance unless MS goes with a completely new chip.

It's going to take some time getting use to for many gamers, but I feel this is about to become the industry standard, and it's great for developers and progressing the technology of the industry. But we'll have to see if it splits the market, which it shouldn't considering the industry and gamers have had success with cross-platform play on PS3 -> PS4, and 360 -> XBO, which was a greater technology leap.

If anything it opens up a potential for easy access $199 - $249 console after 3 - 5 years on the market (hopefully 4 - 5), and a more powerful hardware refresh for those who want it for $399 - $499 3 - 5 years after the original launch.

For those complaining about having to spend $400 on a new PS4, then another $400 on a PS4k, you just simply need to let it go. It's a new business model and you're not use to it, but if it's that big of a deal just sell your current PS4 for $200 and upgrade to the new model for $200.

Also hopefully they add new features to the new model as well like 3.5" HDD so we can have faster read times and larger TB space. And maybe even a Cell Processor for full backwards compatibility with PS3 games (it's been well over 10 years Cell should be much more affordable to produce).

[Ck1x]

Why does everyone believe that the PS4 Neo will be using Polaris?
Sony wants to ensure compatibility with no issues, why would people think that they would use a gpu that's from a completely different family of chips and is designed fundamentally different than the older gcn cards.

[ScorpiusX]

So the company that has help AMD in recent news with certain software , now refer to that companies consoles as other . Wow talk about being a two face POS company .

[Ck1x]

Still I don't understand the lack of upgrading the CPU! This was easily where the PS4 suffered the most and it's quite baffling to throw the hardware balance off like this.

[GamingIVfun]

Why is their so many articles and people harping on PS4K, when Microsoft started the conversation of upgrading a console rather than releasing a totally new console, before the PS4K rumors.

I see very few articles about Microsoft and Xbox 1.5 when the whole thing was really started by Phil Spencer to begin with.

[uth11]

Because the Sony rumors are more solid and persistent and Phil Spencer tried to squash the Xbox rumors. Sony hasn't commented on them.

[MasterD919]

My money is on the slim models...we get them with every iteration almost, and we're overdue for them. New consoles? We just barely tapped into our current ones.

[showtimefolks]

too many rumors. both ms and sony said this gen would be shorter than last gen so what makes anyone think we won't see ps5 and Xbox 2 in 2017-2018?

[uth11]

I'm fine with PS5 in 2018. I'm not fine with a half-baked upgrade in only two and a half years, before the big games of this gen have even arrived!

[Ck1x]

After the PS4 Neo, Sony probably isn't releasing a PS5 in 2018! They are pretty much making their beds now with this upgrade system...

[starchild]

This is probably the biggest concern I have with this. If they release a PS4.5 in late 2016 or early 2017 how many people are going to want to turn around and buy a PS5 in 2018?

Which means this will probably lengthen the generation. And since Sony is supposedly mandating that all games work on the PS4 and the Neo will only be for increased framerate the result will be a stagnation in graphical progress. Everything will be held back by the older PS4 and XB1 until perhaps 2019 or 2020.

[danny818]

this is in response to NX. Its more powerful than Microsoft and Sony saw coming from Nintendo. If they re upgradable consoles then they are fucking up if they think cutting this generation short and doing that shit was a good idea.

[Yetter]

Is it possible that Sony (and possibly MS) just don't want Nintendo to have a more powerful console than they do?

[jc12]

I understand people's frustration with sony releasing another system already, but to be honest, I'm ready for some 4K gaming!

[Ck1x]

Well you won't get it with this upgraded console!
Just look at most of the 4k graphics cards used on PC and look at what CPU they are paired with and the memory bandwidth of these cards.

[jc12]

nothing is official yet...But I have a hard time believing sony will release a new console in late 2017 that's not 4K capable. 4K TVs are now ubiquitous - you can't even find 1080P TV's at best Best Buy anymore.

4K capable GPU's will continue to fall in price too - like anything else...

I'd pay 450-550 for a new console right now, as long as it's quite a bit more powerful than PS4.

[threefootwang]

I'm honestly annoyed at the fact that a new console upgrade is apparently imminent and yet the current line up for the PS4 is absolutely brutal (my focus is mainly on the PS4 because that's the only next gen console I decided to go with). Say what you want, but my PS4 has been sitting for the last 3 months collecting dust. I've never been more disappointed with the three big console makers, it was definitely way better during the 360/PS3/Wii era. If they want to make a new console then fine, but for pete's sake include the line up to go with it. No, I'm not talking about all the games that are "about" to come out better yet the ones that have been "delayed." This next generation has been beyond lack luster. The current games I have played feel boring, rushed, and very uninspired....to be a gamer from past generations in the current one; first world problems lol

[xYESIAMYOURGODx]

Guys this is the trend thats coming okay just like we get an iPhone 6 then the 6s or a galaxy s6 then the s7 its called people want the latest n greatest n the same goes for consoles their gonna start doing mid cycle upgrades between full blown next generations as hardware is accelerating more quickly n thus systems need to have upgrades its that simple so for everyone crying and whining stfu already dont be a spolied brat because you cant afford the upgrade and wanna spoil it for all of us who can because all the ignorant people sayin sony is making a mistake are completely wrong as its been 3 years and people are gonna jump all over this new ps4k neo whether you wanna like it or not thats how its gonna be going forward as console's will launch and then 2 to 3 years at most we will see the upgraded version with better graphics better framerate etc..... While still being compatible with the original versions of the console its that simple and i believe this is the best thing to ever happen to console gaming as its long over due