Microsoft Xbox One Revealed (Coming Holiday 2013) $599 AUS RRP / $499 US RRP

[Cpt.J.Sparrow]

Originally Posted by soulblade64

-We’ve also been told that the next generation of Kinect will be built into the device as standard.
So now does my 360 have to be front and centre infront of my TV?

I am guessing it will still have a separate Kinect sensor, but all the sensory data processing will be done on the console side to cut the cost.

Two relatively powerful GPUs with a 4-/6-core CPU will require a very efficient cooling system until these parts undergo a die shrink or two.

[SLATYE]

I think power will be okay. Start with a pair of HD 7770s (because 128-bit RAM is cheaper than 256-bit RAM), underclock them a little bit, add an 80W CPU, and you're at 200W - much the same as the original PS3.

Alternatively, it might be two different GPUs - for example a 7470 that handles all the 2D stuff and basic 3D games, with a 7850 that only gets used in "real" games that need the performance.


Cpt.J.Sparrow may well be right with the Kinect stuff. Include a bit of Kinect processing hardware in the console, but keep the sensor separate.

[lithos]

Originally Posted by soulblade64

-Multiple sources have confirmed this morning that the machine will have two GPUs. One said: “It’s like two PCs taped together.”
LOL

Two words:

"Sega Saturn".

[Philll]

I wonder, with all this new hardware + doubling up, if hardware failure will be even more common than with the current generation

[.Radiant]

Biggest issue with this gen of console was the move to lead free solder. They should have their way around it by now but you never know

[lithos]

All I can say is that it better have a fuckton of RAM - I'm talking 12GB, at least, preferably more - and an SPU.

And a fucking reasonable lifespan.

[ni9ht_5ta1k3r]

Originally Posted by SLATYE

I think power will be okay. Start with a pair of HD 7770s (because 128-bit RAM is cheaper than 256-bit RAM), underclock them a little bit, add an 80W CPU, and you're at 200W - much the same as the original PS3.

Alternatively, it might be two different GPUs - for example a 7470 that handles all the 2D stuff and basic 3D games, with a 7850 that only gets used in "real" games that need the performance.


Cpt.J.Sparrow may well be right with the Kinect stuff. Include a bit of Kinect processing hardware in the console, but keep the sensor separate.

remember the structure of the GPUs isn't the same as crossfire though I wonder if they'll figure out a way to put 2 GPUs and 1 CPU on the same chip?

[SLATYE]

Originally Posted by ni9ht_5ta1k3r

remember the structure of the GPUs isn't the same as crossfire though I wonder if they'll figure out a way to put 2 GPUs and 1 CPU on the same chip?

I doubt they'd put a high-end GPU and a high-end CPU on the same chip - too hard to get heat out of such a small space.

However, it wouldn't surprise me at all if they took something like AMD's Fusion (ie a slow GPU and a decent CPU) for the basic stuff and then added a high-end GPU elsewhere on the mainboard.


Edit: there's no reason to put them in "CrossFire" configuration. The whole point of CrossFire is that, from a game programmer's point of view, it looks like a single GPU. This makes it straightforward to write games that work on any PC. On a console, where there's one fixed set of hardware and the developers will put a lot of effort into making it work well, they'll get much better performance without using CrossFire.

[ni9ht_5ta1k3r]

Originally Posted by SLATYE

I doubt they'd put a high-end GPU and a high-end CPU on the same chip - too hard to get heat out of such a small space.

However, it wouldn't surprise me at all if they took something like AMD's Fusion (ie a slow GPU and a decent CPU) for the basic stuff and then added a high-end GPU elsewhere on the mainboard.


Edit: there's no reason to put them in "CrossFire" configuration. The whole point of CrossFire is that, from a game programmer's point of view, it looks like a single GPU. This makes it straightforward to write games that work on any PC. On a console, where there's one fixed set of hardware and the developers will put a lot of effort into making it work well, they'll get much better performance without using CrossFire.

isn't AMD fusion rumoured to used on the PS4?

[SLATYE]

Originally Posted by ni9ht_5ta1k3r

isn't AMD fusion rumoured to used on the PS4?

Quite possibly, I haven't been paying close attention to the PS4 thread.


If both systems end up using an AMD Fusion chip plus a dedicated AMD GPU, that's going to make porting games rather straightforward. It'd also make comparing specifications very easy.

[richan3185]

There are more and more reports coming that Sony is heading down the x86 route for CPU, those same reports are saying AMD for both cpu and gpu. I suspect the Xbox will retain its PowerPC CPU, however a much upgraded unit, and retain an AMD GPU, in whatever form it comes in.

[ni9ht_5ta1k3r]

would be nice to see the adoption of x64 over staying with x86 as x86 is getting old now.

[SLATYE]

Originally Posted by ni9ht_5ta1k3r

would be nice to see the adoption of x64 over staying with x86 as x86 is getting old now.

When people say x86 these days, what they mean is x86-64. I doubt that AMD would sit down and deliberately cut out the 64-bit parts of a Phenom II, and Sony wouldn't ask for that anyway.

POWER advantages:

• Well suited to consoles
• Might be easier to get a more "customised" chip from IBM
• Compatibility with current generation
• Harder to emulate on a PC - at least if someone breaks the encryption, they'll still be playing on the right console.

x86-64 advantages:

• Easy to port between PC and console, increasing potential market size
• 20+ years of development experience - good tools, easy to find programmers, etc.
• Could be cheaper due to mass production advantages, if they are just using desktop cores.

[ni9ht_5ta1k3r]

interesting, there's nothing to do than wait for the official announcement then.

[richan3185]

Originally Posted by ni9ht_5ta1k3r

would be nice to see the adoption of x64 over staying with x86 as x86 is getting old now.

Yep was referring to a 64bit chip.