Rumor: Xbox "Lockhart" specs leaked, is $300

[Mr Puggsly]

EricHiggin said:

Mr Puggsly said:

I don't think a device just for xCloud streaming is a good idea per se. Makes more sense to just make an apps for existing devices. The best cheap option might just be using a X1 console.

Regardless what X1 hardware you use, it should be fine for xCloud streaming. Even the PS3, Vita and PS TV supported PS Now well.

DigitalFoundry has done theoretical tests showing modern AMD cards can get similar results as their older video cards with a significant disparity in TF. Hence, a newer card clocked at 4TF is getting similar results as an older one clocked at 6TF. It also depends on how the GPU is designed/balanced, the base X1 for example gets great results for only 1.2 TF. Again, I'm no expert but it certainly looks like a 4TF Lockhart could have GPU power at par with X1X.

I never suggested somebody would buy a Series X for xCloud. If you buy a Series X it's because you want the best visual fidelity.

I don't necessarily think that either, but I and quite a few others didn't think XB1SAD was a great idea, yet MS launched it. If the device needed to take some of the brunt of the workload, a cheaper smaller console, made using the most up to date hardware, would make sense. That doesn't mean old XB1 hardware definitely can't make use of xCloud.

I understand the TF performance between archs. I understand that Lockhart as rumored would take the place of XB1X. In which case keeping XB1X on the market makes no sense. In order for it to remain on the market and make sense though, Lockhart would have to be different than what the leaks suggest. I was just making the case as to how it could potentially remain, based on posts about what may happen to it. I don't necessarily think that's going to be the case, as I mentioned earlier.

It's possible all XB1 hardware or newer will be capable of xCloud streaming, but it's also possible that the XB Series hardware will offer you a more reasonable experience and for cheaper. Streaming only on old hardware vs hardware assisted streaming with new hardware would likely be a worthy selling point. I thought you said XB hardware earlier but you said X1 hardware, which wouldn't include XBSX. My mistake.

The X1SAD made sense if it was simply $149, most seemed unhappy with the launch price. A device dedicated to xCloud in comparison might cost $99 bundled with a controller. At that rate, a X1SAD is a better choice.

I'm not sure how hardware assisted streaming works better. I mean having used PS Now, it seems to work great as long as your internet connection is up for the task and wired in to reduce latency. I think hardware assisted streaming is more beneficial when streaming your gameplay out, like for people to watch or maybe to another device. I believe Wii U had unique hardware to seamlessly stream video to the tablet controller.