Xbox 2 using G5 processors?

Icmoigigan · Post by **Icmoigigan** » 2004-12-12 12:47pm

http://www.theinquirer.net/?article=14407

As a person, using a G5 as we speak I find this highly amusing. Can anyone confirm this? I did hear it from a few places.

Hamel · Post by **Hamel** » 2004-12-12 12:52pm

Mmmmm old news~ That and Ati supplying the video card~

Nvidia helping Sony with PS3 too~

Kreshna Aryaguna Nurzaman · Post by **Kreshna Aryaguna Nurzaman** » 2004-12-12 12:58pm

The Apple Power Mac G5 is based upon two of IBM’s 64-bit Power PC processors and features ATi RADEON 9800 Pro (R350) graphics.

NVidia no more, huh? Well, I've been hoping NVidiot someday would pay for killing 3dfx....

Vendetta · Post by **Vendetta** » 2004-12-12 01:57pm

nVidia didn't kill 3Dfx. 3Dfx killed themselves by failing to update the core Voodoo processor, whilst companies like nVidia pushed ahead with better texture and colour handling, and eventually hardware T&L

Seriously the Voodoo 3 was of questionable value, the 4 and 5 had a grand total of one trick, Antialiasing, which didn't matter since the entire rest of their rendering was so far behind technically.

I was glad to see the back of them when I got my TNT2.

Anyway, all of the next gen consoles are using Power chips, the XBox Next and the next gen Nintendo 'Revolution' are both IBM/ATi powered, and word is that the Cell processor has Power DNA in as well, and the PS3 will be IBM/nVidia.

(Oh yeah, and whilst the current PowerMac devkits for the XBox Next might be R350 graphics powered, the console itself will be the R500 core.)

Just makes you wonder: Will they all use XNA? It was, after all, meant to be cross-platform all along, and I doubt it will take much effort, since the spec already includes Power and x86 architectures in it's target base.

Hotfoot · Post by **Hotfoot** » 2004-12-12 02:06pm

Kreshna Aryaguna Nurzaman wrote:NVidia no more, huh? Well, I've been hoping NVidiot someday would pay for killing 3dfx....

Yes, because 3dfx was such a wonderful company, sitting on its ass and making shit proprietary cards while the evil Nvidia blew them away by actually making quality equipment that didn't need closed standards.

Yes, I will weep the loss of the company that, when they dominated the market, used a closed standard. At least with Nvidia, if they ever go down, you can still play games optimized for Nvida with an ATI card with little to no problems. With 3dfx, if you don't have an old Voodoo card laying around, or you can't juggle a million different glide wrappers, you're shit out of luck if you want to play your old games.

3dfx killed itself with bad business practices by using proprietary technology and by sitting back and resting on their laurels instead of actually competing for consumer favor by making a product capable of working on par with its rivals. That you want to blame Nvidia for being the only real competition against what was essentially a developing monopoly seems to me to be, well, stupid.

Ace Pace · Post by **Ace Pace** » 2004-12-12 02:34pm

Vendetta wrote:Just makes you wonder: Will they all use XNA? It was, after all, meant to be cross-platform all along, and I doubt it will take much effort, since the spec already includes Power and x86 architectures in it's target base.

Yes, I recall some developer being quoted that they are using a basic form of XNA, or maybe I'm just confused about it, i'll see if I can dig up a source.

Praxis · Post by **Praxis** » 2004-12-12 03:58pm

While I find it equally amusing, this is INCREDIBLY old news. I've known this for at least half a year at this point.

Praxis · Post by **Praxis** » 2004-12-12 04:06pm

For the thing on NVidia, I personally perfer them because of their OpenGL support and better drivers.

BTW, the Inquirer also reported that there will be 3 versions of the XBox 2, the standard one, an XBox 2 HD edition (higher priced, includes a hard drive), and an XBox 2 PC edition that can run all standard PC software.

Microsoft to release three versions of Xbox 2
Friday November 12, 2004 theinquirer (uk)
By Wil Harris

Microsoft is launching three versions of the Xbox 2, one of which is a fully functioning PC.

The standard Xbox Next will not include a hard drive, which will allow Microsoft to cut costs on this basic unit. Xbox Next HD, as you might imagine, does include a hard drive and will offer increased functionality based on this. Xbox Next PC is an entry-level PC that runs Windows and all standard PC software. It also includes CD Burner, Wireless keyboard, mouse and controller and will work best connected to a high-definition TV or PC monitor. Media Center functionality - like movies, music and photos - is also included. The device will also play most available PC games.

System outline specifications note that internet browsing and instant messaging would be key applications, and that the entire unit will be smaller than the current Xbox, although it will not be possible to upgrade the shipping memory or processor. The year-long gap between the mooted introductions of the two standard Xboxes before the Xbox Next PC is an interesting decision, which suggests that Microsoft realises the time that the market needs to acclimatise to TV media functionality.

http://www.theinquirer.net/?article=19615

I'm EXTREMELY skeptical. Unless MS has drastically improved emulation software (VirtualPC is slow as heck and can't even access the host system's graphics card), there is NO WAY that the XBox 2 could run Windows AND run all standard Windows software. Sure, they could recompile Windows for PowerPC, but it wouldn't be able to run 'most windows games' as it states. And even if they integrated VPC, it'd run fairly slow processor wise, and the current version can't even use the graphics card!

So I'm not sure if I trust that article.

Ace Pace · Post by **Ace Pace** » 2004-12-12 04:08pm

The first 2 were confirmed by both GS's, not sure about the last.

phongn · Post by **phongn** » 2004-12-12 04:25pm

This "news" is ten months old and comes from the Reg to boot. I'm skeptical if it'll run the PPC 970 anyways, the thing produces a huge amount of heat. It'll use the PowerPC ISA, that's for sure, but how it'll be implemented is anyone's guess.