Question about SSD in next consoles

Can SSD (solid state drives) be used basically as RAM in the next consoles, say to take on some of the memory that is needed to be accessed in games?

They already do data-caching with the hardrives in 360 & PS3 now right, so do SSD allow them to utilize it more like RAM is?

I dunno if they'll have SSDs in the next consoles, the price would have to fall a lot. Having more space to pack in more DLC will be much more important to them.

But in any case, it would essentially just be a hard drive with faster read/write speeds, so they could use it however they wanted. I doubt we'll see them in the next generation though, at least not in the form of a drive, maybe just a few gigs of built-in flash memory.

It is definitely doubtful. What I would like is a small amount of SSD and then be able to buy additional SSD down the line that you can connect via usb port or even be able to attach it to the bottom of the console.

Just go buy your own...

It is a lot cheaper to just add more RAM instead.

Too expensive to happen.

Lets keep dreaming though. On top of the standard hard drive every box has a small RAM drive. The OS is loaded onto it from the traditional drive when you turn it on, and the game install data is loaded onto it whenever you start a game.

Alternatively, we go back to cartridge games.

[quote name='blader16']Just go buy your own...[/QUOTE]
Yes, but it needs to be standard on each console for them to utilize it in the way I was talking about.

[quote name='62t']It is a lot cheaper to just add more RAM instead.[/QUOTE]
Would it be years from now, like 2012, having more RAM & a regular HDD versus less RAM & a SSD? Probably still more expensive, I have no idea, but for less memory than an SSD could provide.

[quote name='Dr Mario Kart']Too expensive to happen.

Lets keep dreaming though. On top of the standard hard drive every box has a small RAM drive. The OS is loaded onto it from the traditional drive when you turn it on, and the game install data is loaded onto it whenever you start a game.

Alternatively, we go back to cartridge games.[/QUOTE]
Nice thinking there. That is one benefit we could see when consoles no longer require disc drives they can put that cost towards more RAM. How expensive is RAM anyways?

the main use for a HDD is still for storage, and even 7200 rpm would be faster than anything we have now

Slow, traditional storage for saves/media/downloads, no disc drive. Cartridge games would probably be the cheapest solution. At the manufacturer's level, 4 gigs of flash couldnt possibly be more than a couple bucks. For the larger PS3 games for instance, the premium is charged back to the consumer through more expensive games.

Otherwise you'd be stuck with EVERY box having an additional unit of RAM storage/SSD equal to at least the biggest possible game on the system, which would be even more prohibitively expensive, especially with these multi-disc or PS3 games.

Plus, with cartridge games the system itself is vastly quieter than is possible in disc based systems.

I can see cartridges coming back hard when SSD prices drop.

[quote name='J7.']
Nice thinking there. That is one benefit we could see when consoles no longer require disc drives they can put that cost towards more RAM. How expensive is RAM anyways?[/QUOTE]

But when will we stop needing disc drives? When they institute across the industry digital downloads as standard?

The day that happens is the day I stop playing video games, since I refuse to buy anything I have zero resell rights to. Unfortunately, judging by the number of people who pick up the PSP Go, we will see if such a switch will be sustainable over the long term.

I'm hoping it proves not to be.

SSD drives have fininte write/read life.

SSD cannot replace RAM. It is slower and much more expensive.

Changing the enviroment would either mirror alot like DD will be, one step closer, or going back to cartridges for games.

Would be cool, but expensive like everyone else said. Who knows though I'm hoping these current consoles have a long life cycle. I'm not ready for anything new for quite some time.

SSD makes no sense in a console at this point. However, it might make a great deal of sense for a future portable system. But even that is a generation or two away.

I would expect much larger hard drives in the next consoles.

I agree with other people, it's too soon to be seeing SSD in consoles. Within a couple years they'll become common in computers but I don't think it'd make as much sense in consoles. With a computer you can have an SSD that has your OS and applications on it which would benefit from the speed and a second traditional drive to store your music, videos, etc. which don't need the speed but need more space. With the move towards digital distribution, consoles are going to require space more than speed, and big enough SSDs aren't going to be economical within a couple years.

[quote name='Dr Mario Kart']Slow, traditional storage for saves/media/downloads, no disc drive. Cartridge games would probably be the cheapest solution. At the manufacturer's level, 4 gigs of flash couldnt possibly be more than a couple bucks. For the larger PS3 games for instance, the premium is charged back to the consumer through more expensive games.

Otherwise you'd be stuck with EVERY box having an additional unit of RAM storage/SSD equal to at least the biggest possible game on the system, which would be even more prohibitively expensive, especially with these multi-disc or PS3 games.

Plus, with cartridge games the system itself is vastly quieter than is possible in disc based systems.[/QUOTE]
The only problem is that CD's cost a fraction of what flash costs I believe. What large PS3 games and premium are you talking about? The RAM/SSD would be part of the system and it would depend on developers to make use of it, I'm sure most games would take advantage of all the RAM.

[quote name='IAmTheCheapestGamer']But when will we stop needing disc drives? When they institute across the industry digital downloads as standard?

The day that happens is the day I stop playing video games, since I refuse to buy anything I have zero resell rights to. Unfortunately, judging by the number of people who pick up the PSP Go, we will see if such a switch will be sustainable over the long term.

I'm hoping it proves not to be.[/QUOTE]
Yes, there's not much we can do to stop it. The younger generations aren't that upset about it either, a large number actually embrace it. Like those who dig DLC. It has been said that DLC was MS's strategy all along, by using DVD's they are big on DLC so they can extend games and make more money. If it won't fit on the DVD move part of it to DLC. If it's really large then make the 2nd disc.

[quote name='rlse9']I agree with other people, it's too soon to be seeing SSD in consoles. Within a couple years they'll become common in computers but I don't think it'd make as much sense in consoles. With a computer you can have an SSD that has your OS and applications on it which would benefit from the speed and a second traditional drive to store your music, videos, etc. which don't need the speed but need more space. With the move towards digital distribution, consoles are going to require space more than speed, and big enough SSDs aren't going to be economical within a couple years.[/QUOTE]
Yeah you're right. Even if a company made a console with a 40gb SSD & then offerred cheaper add on SSD throughout it's lifetime, the avg person would still prefer the console that offered a regular 500 gb HDD.

[quote name='J7.']Yes, there's not much we can do to stop it. The younger generations aren't that upset about it either, a large number actually embrace it. Like those who dig DLC. It has been said that DLC was MS's strategy all along, by using DVD's they are big on DLC so they can extend games and make more money. If it won't fit on the DVD move part of it to DLC. If it's really large then make the 2nd disc.[/QUOTE]

Damn those youngin's for embracing new technology. Don't they know that DD will be the downfall of gaming?

Next gen, if the console prices surpass the price level seen at the beginning of this gen or the consoles are all DD, then I say it and stop with the PS3/360/Wii generation.