DVD Talk Forum - Let the N5 hype begin!

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Let the N5 hype begin!

http://gamesindustry.biz/content_pag...e=dev&aid=2567

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Computing giant IBM is now involved in chip design for all three next-generation consoles, announcing late last week that it will be providing processor technology for Nintendo's next games system.

The company demonstrated a supercomputer capable of performing 2 trillion operations per second, which it claimed was based on a variation of its PowerPC technology which will be rolled out in Nintendo's forthcoming hardware.

However, the system demonstrated was running on 1000 of the processors, and was roughly the size of a television. IBM highlighted the low power consumption and low heat of the individual components, suggesting that it'll be useful in miniaturisation efforts - something Nintendo has always been very keen on.

It's not clear whether the processors will be used in the "N5" home console, the successor to the GBA or even in the mystery product which Nintendo will unveil at E3 next May, but N5 does seem like the most likely candidate.

This confirms what many technology commentators had speculated some weeks ago - that the line-up of companies providing the core technologies for Nintendo's future efforts is almost identical to those working on the successor to Microsoft's Xbox, codenamed Xenon.

IBM - which is also one of Sony's technology partners on the next-generation Cell microprocessor to be used in the PlayStation 3 - will be replacing Intel as the supplier of core CPUs for Xenon, while ATI, already announced as Nintendo's graphics technology partner going forwards, will be replacing NVIDIA as Microsoft's provider for GPU technology.

IBM hopes to offset the costs of building supercomputers based on this technology - such as the forthcoming Blue Gene/L, which is being built for a laboratory in California - by licensing and selling the chip technology developed for them to game console manufacturers.

1. Its actually good to see that Nintendo is sticking with what works for them. They obviously were happy the way things ended up with IBM and ATI and will again use their services to produce their next console (or portable?).

2. Its also good to see that Nintendo has jumped on the hype train that so many Nintendo fans are quick to jump all over Sony and Microsoft for doing. Nintendo understands that a strong hype can help sales and are no longer affraid to use it as they post their first financial loss since going public.

I'd like to see a smaller gamecube with a lcd screen!

So what exactly will be the difference between XB2 and GC2?

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Originally posted by keyed
So what exactly will be the difference between XB2 and GC2?

The XBox2 will play XBox2 games and the GC2 will play GC2 games.

Oh and the XBox 2 will play dvd's in progressive scan when you buy the remote kit whereas the GC2 will not play dvd's at all.

isn't there another thread with this same topic?

Can we just have one thread where people get all fired up and console bash game companies for hyping up their future products, instead of one for each company? maybe we could call the other thread (this one) "the offical next gen hype thread" or something. but this is getting petty...

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Originally posted by gcribbs
The XBox2 will play XBox2 games and the GC2 will play GC2 games.

Oh and the XBox 2 will play dvd's in progressive scan when you buy the remote kit whereas the GC2 will not play dvd's at all.

Not to mention, the GC2 will be less expensive.

Here is a question for you folks:

Did Nintendo have IBM make the chip for the GC or did they just licence to the technology? We know that Microsoft has licenced the technology from IBM to use the PowerPC chipset, but they will be designing and manufacturing the chip themselves. If Nintendo relied on IBM to make the chip last time, then it might be okay to assume that will happen again. They will both be using the PowerPC chipset.

If this does happen, who do you think will end up with the best chip? Microsoft or Nintendo?

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Originally posted by joshd2012
Here is a question for you folks:

Did Nintendo have IBM make the chip for the GC or did they just licence to the technology? We know that Microsoft has licenced the technology from IBM to use the PowerPC chipset, but they will be designing and manufacturing the chip themselves. If Nintendo relied on IBM to make the chip last time, then it might be okay to assume that will happen again. They will both be using the PowerPC chipset.

If this does happen, who do you think will end up with the best chip? Microsoft or Nintendo?

I would say that both chips will be made by IBM in IBM's plant. They have a new multi-million dollar facility if I am not mistaken to build the chips in New Jersey, why if you are MS and have zero experience manufacturing chips would you try to start now. Hell, they do not even assemble the XBox. They let Flextronics do it down in Mexico. I am sure the chips will be different as the companies have different goals. As I said in the other thread MS is the good of eye candy and brute force - expect a big ime expensive chip for them. Nintendo will problbly stay smaller with less cost and less power needs - especially if they are thinking portable console which more and more people are mentioning (some sort of handheld GC seems to be a possible new product in some minds).

Before people start jumping down my throat, these are educated guesses for the most part with some factual basis- Flex does assemble the XBox. So, if you have facts that disprove any of what I said, please in a polite way share your knowledge.

speedyray - IBM confirmed the Microsoft licenced the PowerPC chip and that Microsoft would be making the chip themselves. That is not in question. What is in question is if IBM will be making the Nintendo chip. And if so, who do you think will end up with the better chip, Microsoft or IBM? (since they are bothing using the PowerPC chipset)

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Actually the N5 will play DVD's in addition to DVD games. From what I've read I think thats what they are planning anyway.