IBM wins the CPU contract for the Microsoft's X-BOX 2.

[PastAmigaOwner]

@PastAmigaOwner: All the Macs I've taken apart have HUGE heatsinks, though. The G3 I used to have at work has a heatsink about 18 square inches, with a 120mm case fan blowing on it. That's one advantage of being able to build custom cases. The G5 Mac also has a case fan in front of each CPU heatsink. That's hardly passive cooling. Maybe Apple is really pushing these processors to their limit?

While I agree with you that PPCs definitely do generate some significant heat, I have a dual G4 PowerMac (with just normal sized heat sinks), a 1.25Ghz G4 PowerBook with passive cooling only (unless it gets really hot, then the fan kicks in), and a Dual 2Ghz PowerMac G5.  While the G5 certainly does have its fair share of active cooling (9 fans), the fans spin at very low RPMs and this is the quitest computer I've ever owned.  

Bottom line is that there are numerous PPC processors that could fit into the form factor of game machine without cooling issues.  Apple is looking at using liquid cooling systems to get a G5 into a PowerBook and Sega has done this before with the Dreamcast, so it's not out of the question.

[SamuraiCrow]

ZiffDavis on Yahoo says the next generation X-Box will use PPC but doesn't say which.

[jj]

Well I wouldn't all get your hopes anyway.  Two points relating to if and when the xbox uses ppc.

1) The first xbox hasnt exactly taken over the console market has it.  So whats to say the xbox2 would.

2) both the N64 and Gamecube use ibm supplied ppc.  And of course the gamcube also uses custom graphic from ATI.  so it won't be anything new.


I wonder also has this got anything to do with that big batch of G5's that microsoft had delivered the other day

[mikeymike]

C3 are waaaay slower than ppcs... they are waaaaay slower than celerons at the same clock rate.

A friend of mine has a Cyrix 700MHz processor that, especially regarding FPU capabilities, equals that of a P166MMX I had a good few years ago :-)

[mikeymike]

Well I wouldn't all get your hopes anyway. Two points relating to if and when the xbox uses ppc.
1) The first xbox hasnt exactly taken over the console market has it. So whats to say the xbox2 would.

I don't think anyone here is hoping either would 'take over the market', but what it does do, which we do want, is that it helps IBM to put more funding into CPU development/production.

[Hammer]

Erm, what? Does someone need to read up on .NET?

“The Common Language Runtime (CLR) of dotNet is similar to Java Virtual Machines, in that it allows byte-coded applications to run, without the need for applications to be fully compiled for the local platform. “ – Australian PC Authority Nov 2003 Edition.

Example of high performance dotNET game is  Quake II .NET
Refer to http://www.vertigosoftware.com/Quake2.htm

" using the Microsoft Common Language Runtime (CLR) without noticeable performance delays. " - Vertigo Software.

Adding PowerPC to mix only strengthens Microsoft’s position within the embedded market since PowerPC has significant share in this particular market. I don’t think MS has completely abandoned the Windows NT every-where’s goals.

Updated Windows NT (cut-down) PPC edition + MS dotNET framework + ATI GPU (DirectX 9+ Class) should be attainable for MS.

[Hammer]

And what was the last x86 CPU that could run without a large (more than 3cm^2) cooler and fan? 266 MHz Pentium 2?

Intel's "Pentium M".

[Waccoon]

@PastAmigaOwner:

Interesting.  I wish more PC vendors used heatpipes.  The dual heatpipe cooler in the Dreamcast is a wonderful piece of engineering, and makes the unit far, far quieter than my PS2.  :-)

[fx]

Hmmm, my Dreamcast sounds like a steamroller or something  :-)  

The gamecube is waaaay more quiet. Don't know how much noise an XBox or PS2 makes though.

[downix]

XBOx is loud.

Now, my Jaguar, that's quiet.

[Rodney]

wow, i wonder why eyetech think of this. The X-Box was just an x86 PC. This would be perfect for tha microA1... Morethan perfect. I'ts already here with onboard graphix... Im not sure about what chip their using but maybe the chip could be upgraded or a special microA1 supplied for the Xbox?

With Eyetechs good relatinos with IBM it might be just what their looking for. Also i wonder if this has any implications about the china thing and alternative platforms?

Also, what about games compatibility? Are all those games companies going to want to recompile/rework their games just so they'll run on the xbox? Probably but i cant be sure!

Interesting!

[Hammer]

wow, i wonder why eyetech think of this. The X-Box was just an x86 PC. This would be perfect for tha microA1... Morethan perfect. I'ts already here with onboard graphix... Im not sure about what chip their using but maybe the chip could be upgraded or a special microA1 supplied for the Xbox?

The current solution from A1-lite (i.e. ATI Radeon 7000 IF the rumour is true) wouldn't be adequate to replace the following;
1. nVidia's DirectX8 class GPU.  
2. nVidia's nForce 1 class core logic chipset, memory bandwidth and APU/DSP solution.

The next question we can ask is “Who will provide the core logic for X-BOX 2?”

ATI’s core logics chipsets (for the Pentium IV markets) may give some clues on what components/performance can be included in the X-BOX 2 (assuming IF ATI will embark on such a project for the PowerPC).

There’s nothing new with the use of non-X86 CPU in an X-BOX2 since Sega's Dreamcast** was powered by  Hitachi SH4 CPU. **It was a variant of MS Windows CE box with DirectX ~6 class GPU i.e. PowerVR.

[Damion]

Not quite, IIRC average power for the 2GHz G5 is 50-70W, Intel P4EE is 92W, the next gen will be over 100W.

Hmmm....I would have expected better, if a
1GHz G4 consumes around 10W, I would figure -
considering more advanced fabrication process/
etc - that the G5 would maybe consume 20 - 30%
more...50-70W is a huge jump from 10 or even 20W.

I hope IBM can cut power consumption to
a more reasonable amount in future chips.

[whabang]

C3 are waaaay slower than ppcs... they are waaaaay slower than celerons at the same clock rate.

Time to go OT! :-D

As someone allready stated, the C3's are specifically made for running cool.
It is based on IDT's Centaur core and, to some extent, the Cyrix III-core.

VIA is NOT a poor company! Being one of the most successful chipset-makers for the x86 platform, they got enough cash to keep developing CPUs.
The successor to the C3, the C4 (too bad it ain't a High Performance-CPU, the commercials would be cool :-)), is sheduled for release late this  year.

BTW, they're not that slow. The newer versions even have full-speed FPUs! :-D

[Hammer]

From this source i.e.
http://www.theinquirer.net/?article=12523

It would seem that the cheap & cheerful SIS was contracted to produce I/O chipsets for Microsoft’s X-BOX 2.

[MarkTime]

I don't know if this was said, but the website www.macosrumors.com is reporting the PPC cpu is a derivative of what apple would call the 'G6'
(PowerPC 980)

it is a rumor site.