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[Deleted member 774430]

It all started with the first images of the back of Xbox Series X which @CurryPanda posted here on NeoGAF 2 weeks ago

According to rumors that one port on the red circle is for storage expansion. We had also seen in recent history Microsoft launching its first Surface Pro with an SSD slot just few months ago but it arguagbly makes even more sense here as games are constantly increasing in size (except on Switch where developers are forced to optimize due to the limited internal storage), not only the main file but we often see dozens of GB just for updates. This issue is so common with current gen consoles that makes me believe Sony is surely working on a similar solution.

Now, we don't know what kind of technology Microsoft and Sony will use for expandable storage yet, i do wonder if that is going to be a proprietary port, which could mean consoles are going back to memory cards.

This solution is certainly more elegant and practical than opening the case to install an SSD, if they decide to go with a proprietary solution Microsoft and Sony would have full control on price: it's a double-edged sword becuase on the positive side that would represent a new source of revenue for the console manufacturers, on the negative an high price could scare people away as it happened with previous dedicated video game systems like the Playstation Vita.

What do you think about that? Are you excited/worried by the possible return of memory cards? Do you think they'll just offer external storage support via USB on the final release product?

 

[DeepEnigma]

Look at the bottom curve of that slot on that fake ass "prototype".

Molder or 3D printer must have been off.

 

[Deleted member 774430]

Look at the bottom curve of that slot on that fake ass "prototype".

Molder or 3D printer must have been off.

That could be a dummy, idk, still there are rumors that do confirm that is the back of the Xbox Series X.

 

[Shin]

rumors

1. Sony has a cartridge patent for this or something like it, there's a .pdf file to go with it
2. WindowsCentral sources (industry people) say it's for expandable storage, thus making it all but confirmed IMO
3. Both companies push proprietary things so not surprised, I would be if they would be lacking such a port

 

[DeepEnigma]

1. Sony has a cartridge patent for this or something like it, there's a .pdf file to go with it
2. WindowsCentral sources (industry people) say it's for expandable storage, thus making it all but confirmed IMO
3. Both companies push proprietary things so not surprised, I would be if they would be lacking such a port

1. That patent was for an unrelated device.

2 and 3 can still work with M.2 NVMe off the shelf parts if the internal SSD and controller are non-replaceable.

 

[Mr Hyde]

If Sony brings out their own memory cards for storage they can flush the PS5 down the toilet like they did Vita.

 

[darkinstinct]

It all started with the first images of the back of Xbox Series X which @CurryPanda posted here on NeoGAF 2 weeks ago

According to rumors that one port on the red circle is for storage expansion. We had also seen in recent history Microsoft launching its first Surface Pro with an SSD slot just few months ago but it arguagbly makes even more sense here as games are constantly increasing in size (except on Switch where developers are forced to optimize due to the limited internal storage), not only the main file but we often see dozens of GB just for updates. This issue is so common with current gen consoles that makes me believe Sony is surely working on a similar solution.

Now, we don't know what kind of technology Microsoft and Sony will use for expandable storage yet, i do wonder if that is going to be a proprietary port, which could mean consoles are going back to memory cards.

This solution is certainly more elegant and practical than opening the case to install an SSD, if they decide to go with a proprietary solution Microsoft and Sony would have full control on price: it's a double-edged sword becuase on the positive side that would represent a new source of revenue for the console manufacturers, on the negative an high price could scare people away as it happened with previous dedicated video game systems like the Playstation Vita.

What do you think about that? Are you excited/worried by the possible return of memory cards? Do you think they'll just offer external storage support via USB on the final release product?

Of course we do know what it is. The creator of the Phison controller for the Xbox SSD gave the production ID, that ID can be found on Phison and says CFx and PCIe 4.

 

[Gavin Stevens]

This won’t be for bloody memory cards you tits that’s what usb is for, when they can bother to use it, anyway.

If anything, this is for expandable memory so that they can keep check on which SSDs are used with the system and flog it for 5x the price.

 

[darkinstinct]

If Sony brings out their own memory cards for storage they can flush the PS5 down the toilet like they did Vita.

There's really only two ways this can go. Either they have an incredible SSD with speeds like no one else. Then they have to use proprietary external storage to reach those speeds. Or they have a standard PCIe 4 SSD and can go with CFx like they do with cameras already. Can't have both, though.

 

[darkinstinct]

This won’t be for bloody memory cards you tits that’s what usb is for, when they can bother to use it, anyway.

If anything, this is for expandable memory so that they can keep check on which SSDs are used with the system and flog it for 5x the price.

USB isn't fast enough for external storage that rivals PCIe 4 SSDs. You would need USB 4 for that, which isn't out until sometime in 2021, so absolutely not in next gen consoles.

 

[Gavin Stevens]

USB isn't fast enough for external storage that rivals PCIe 4 SSDs. You would need USB 4 for that, which isn't out until sometime in 2021, so absolutely not in next gen consoles.

Sorry if I wasn’t clear, I meant for MEMORY CARDS, as in save games. Memory cards are seen as something different to proprietary storage. I should have made that more clear.

 

[kiphalfton]

SD cards only make sense for tablets, phones, or handheld consoles due to size limitations of those particular pieces of hardware. But to try and use an SD card for console games, which can be 50gb-100gb is stupid. A good SD card costs more per gigabyte than an SSD (granted you're comparing apples to oranges, since they don't interface the same, but still it's not ideal in the least in comparison to even USB hard drives).

 

[Birdo]

EDIT: Made mistake.

 

[jshackles]

OP failed to convince me that the return of proprietary storage would have any upsides

 

[DonF]

2 and 3 can still work with M.2 NVMe off the shelf parts

thats what im hoping

 

[Deleted member 774430]

OP failed to convince me that the return of proprietary storage would have any upsides

It's the convenience for casual audience to buy that card and know there is only one option.

I believe for us enthusiasts there isn't a true positive aspect about a proprietary option cause it removes alternative and cheaper options.

 

[jshackles]

It's the convenience for casual audience to buy that card and know there is only one option.

I believe for us enthusiasts there isn't a true positive aspect about a proprietary option cause it removes alternative and cheaper options.

I suppose that makes sense, but like others have said: if the competition allows people to use "off the shelf" parts then that aspect of the system (regardless of how convenient it is) it's going to be a HUGE black eye on the feature set. This is especially true later in the generation, where consumer storage will be significantly faster/cheaper than what is currently possible in 2020. Microsoft or Sony won't want to change their spec because they'll be counting on making a huge profit selling the memory upgrades at a progressively larger profit margin as the years go on. Even a year after the Vita launched, SD memory cards were 1/2 of the price of the proprietary cards for the same capacity, or 2x the capacity for the same price. Eight years later, you can buy a micro SD card that is over 10x the capacity of their highest capacity Vita card for less than $100 and cards with 4GB are given away as party favors. Meanwhile the 3DS could use SD cards from day one so when it came time to make a purchasing decision between the two handhelds, the Vita just became a progressively worse deal all around.

Consumers are not always the idiots corporations want them to be.

 

[Shin]

.

https://nl.letsgodigital.org/uploads/2019/11/sony-playstation-cartridge.pdf

 

[DeepEnigma]

https://nl.letsgodigital.org/uploads/2019/11/sony-playstation-cartridge.pdf

Did you even watch the video?

I am thinking you did not. The patent was for the item in the video, regardless of LetsGo render (that came before).

PS5 cartridges aren't real, patents are for Sony kids toys

Just as we predicted, the purported PlayStation 5 cartridges aren't actually for a console, but for Sony's Toio line of kids toys.

www.tweaktown.com

 

[Stray Parts]

Microsoft may not be using a proprietary system but rather the not well known CFexpress standard, via speculation on Thurrot.

CFexpress is a PCI-E based external storage system that supports NVM.

It is not cheap, a 512GB CFE card on Amazon is $600 but maybe the price will come down in time.

 

[Shin]

watch

I watched it for 1 whole seconds.

 

[DeepEnigma]

I watched it for 1 whole seconds.