Squilliam said:
They can license X86 without a fee paid directly to Intel. In addition to this, they have more flexibility as to whom can fab the X86 style of CPU. Now both of the major contract fabricators, TSMC and Global Foundries have a license to fab the chips the console makers have a lot more choices. In terms of console design, its a lot easier to qualify and produce a console based of pre-existing technology. They would not have to send out development kits early on because any software which was designed to run on X86 could run on their consoles. This speeds up time to market and enables the console maker to keep the existance of a new console that much closer to their chests. So just because we haven't heard about it, doesn't mean it isn't coming. The only people who would need to know would be the executives, they can tell their staff to build a game for PC and target X specification. Who is the best bet for Nintendo at the moment for low power, higher performance designs? Arm is too weak, Power PC just doesn't have the low power options and with X86 they can go AMD and get high performance graphics on the chip and from just the one vendor with built in power management options. I also expect Microsoft would be seriously considering a return to X86 as well. Given the time-frames, Bulldozer/Llano would be quite a good match for their console, especially if they target late 2012 with a quick shrink to 22nm in 2013/2014 close at hand. A system on a chip makes a lot of sense given the form factor and cost requirements for a console. They more than anyone understand how much easier it is to manage one thermal spot rather than two. |
Yeah, Xbox 3 to have Bulldozer. I want that!
| Squilliam said:
A system on a chip makes a lot of sense given the form factor and cost requirements for a console. They more than anyone understand how much easier it is to manage one thermal spot rather than two. |
