I'd seriously stop and think about what the Microsoft Xbox 720 powerpoint says about the target hardware for the Xbox 720. Then assume Microsoft will release it when it's possible which looks like 2013 with a SOC.
SOC or System On a Chip to be economically practical which AMD says is coming in 2014 and like Car models a 2014 model sells late 2013. Further a SOC in 2014 is the start of "Custom" SOCs for partners. Till that point it's APUs and SOCs designed for PCs.
So a PS4 will be a SOC with as much as can be packed into it as is possible. Heat/physics is going to be the primary limit. Complexity (massive number of shaders etc.) of GPU causing yield issues and high price can be solved by splitting the GPU into 2 parts, pre-testing and 2.5D assembly in the SOC.
I can't believe that the discussions in this thread don't reference the Xbox powerpoint. Both Microsoft and Sony are targeting the same audience in the same way, they want their Game consoles as the "only Does Everything" "all-in-one" "everything you need" for a TOTAL living room experience.
And here is where I loose it as far as discussions in this thread; given the above and that AMD is making not only the GPU but Southbridge and ALL support hardware except possibly a CPU and have the same "PLANS" to target the same audience and if the SOCs for Xbox 720 and PS4 are to be built in the same time frame they will be nearly identical at the very least.
Heat/physics for the SOCs can have more powerful CPUs but extra heat would require the GPU to be less powerful, more powerful GPU and CPUs power has to be downscaled. There is a mix of CPU + GPU in the CPU that will be optimum and AMD already has that figured. Since both Sony and Microsoft have the same target they should be identical given a SOC produced at the same time by AMD. Only if there is a second GPU outside the SOC could there be differences and GDDR5 memory be used. This is less efficient and will cost more. If this is the case then a future refresh would move the second GPU inside the SOC to reduce costs. The release design should reflect/ insure the possibility of such a refresh.
And again the Xbox 361 and Xbox 720 will support XTV and have HDMI pass-thru, Microsoft expects Sony to provide Google TV support for the PS4 which in an external box requires HDMI pass-thru. Since AMD is making the GPU that must have HDMI pass-thru, this will also be identical between Xbox 361, Xbox 720 and PS4.
I find it interesting that the Xbox powerpoint mentioned every competitor's platform for the living room (in timeline) but did not mention the PS3. Either they knew that Sony was not going to refresh the PS3 or it was deliberately left out of the presentation.
1) Case one; Sony not refreshing the PS3 The notes for the speaker have this: STRATEGY: Maximize PS3 lifecycle with 3D and BluRay. Leverage ecosystem.
2) Case two; Sony is refreshing the PS3, If deliberately left out why???? Because they would have to tell their potential partners for the Xbox 361 SOC to be used in other third party platforms that Sony is doing the same.
A Xbox 361 with more memory, newer hardware, HDMI pass-thru, low power modes and a blu-ray player would be more attractive than a PS3 and would unbalance the market. I can not imagine that Sony would allow this. We have the Digitimes rumor, a users that says a new PS3 is coming and PS3 firmware 4.20 which has changes indicating SSD memory (may be a model without hard disk) and top loading blu-ray drive.
