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Forums - Nintendo Discussion - Wii HD and the possibilities to see it happen.

Squilliam on 21 May 2008
bdbdbd said:
jlauro said:
USB doesn't have the bandwidth to drive HD. To run DVI / HDMI requires a pixcel clock of about 1485Mhz or about 1.485Gb/sec. USB typically only runs at 12Mbps, although high speed can run at 480mbps.

So, as you know, such a device would really have to do all the processing itself, have it's own memory, and only use the wii as an interface to the DVD and bluetooth and 802.11 controllers. It might save $50 from the cost of an entire new console, or maybe $100 as it wouldn't need a backward compatibility chips if existing video is also routed through it...

Far more likely for a new model with backward compatibility than an add on kludge.

 

As i said, it would have its own memory and processor. What it would basically do, is use the "chewed" data through component and get the additional data through USB.

What you're basicly proposing is for those people who have a Wii and an HD TV something to "upscale the signal" so it appears better on the TV?

Most HDTV's pretty much have an upscaler built into the TV. Problem solved.

Though if you're thinking about an external attachment to boost the Wiis' power? Won't work

The hardware would run through a high latency - low bandwidth link. 240 megabits each way duplex and you propose to put an external GPU to replace the one in the Wii? Apart from a few filter passes, some upscaling and AA you would have to completely rewrite the software to do much more than that. Console games are written very tightly to the hardware specs available. You can't slap it into a more powerful system and expect better results unless you rewrite the software.

Sorry, its a cool idea but the practice sucks.



Tease.

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bdbdbd on 21 May 2008
Cheebee said:
I can't see this happening, it's just not a part of Nintendo's strategy these days. Plus the Wii is already selling insane amounts, they can't keep up with demand, so it'd make no sense to release a peripheral like that.. Also, it'd kind of alienate lots of Wii owners.

How so?

Ei Kiinasti.

Eikä Japanisti.

Vaan pannaan jalalla koreasti.

 

Nintendo games sell only on Nintendo system.

Lingyis on 21 May 2008
bdbdbd said:
Lingyis said:
bdbdbd said:
jlauro said:
USB doesn't have the bandwidth to drive HD. To run DVI / HDMI requires a pixcel clock of about 1485Mhz or about 1.485Gb/sec. USB typically only runs at 12Mbps, although high speed can run at 480mbps.

So, as you know, such a device would really have to do all the processing itself, have it's own memory, and only use the wii as an interface to the DVD and bluetooth and 802.11 controllers. It might save $50 from the cost of an entire new console, or maybe $100 as it wouldn't need a backward compatibility chips if existing video is also routed through it...

Far more likely for a new model with backward compatibility than an add on kludge.

 

As i said, it would have its own memory and processor. What it would basically do, is use the "chewed" data through component and get the additional data through USB.

and the whole point is, USB doesn't have enough bandwidth, whether for HD content or RAM access.


 

It would be seen as increased loading times. The peripheral would have its own RAM. Look, even the GPU rarely has RAM access, usually they read from their own VRAM. @Stephen700: But that's exactly what the HD consoles seem to be doing these days. Besides, the upscalers in TV:s seem to be pretty bad. And this peripherals idea was to add hardware effects besides upscaling.

which means, it's hardly a peripheral.  it has poor performance. it'll have complex instructions for developers to port something to it. it'll have specialized components, leading to being pricey.

it's got zillions of issues that just can't quite jell together.



the Wii is an epidemic.

Squilliam on 21 May 2008
bdbdbd said:
Cheebee said:
I can't see this happening, it's just not a part of Nintendo's strategy these days. Plus the Wii is already selling insane amounts, they can't keep up with demand, so it'd make no sense to release a peripheral like that.. Also, it'd kind of alienate lots of Wii owners.

 

How so?

Its funny, you pay 50,000 for a new BMW. Next year they release a New model that is better than the old one in most significant ways. Its cheaper too, $5000 less so it really causes a depreciation hit on the older model. Does the previous year owner feel alienated that BMW released a new model?

 I never get it when people say that!



Tease.

GrimPoppet on 21 May 2008

No.
"Hardcore" gamers are just a minory, so there is no point. If they want super duper HD graphics let them go and buy a ps3 or 360



Work in progress for now...

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Imperial on 21 May 2008

I don't think the cost of implementing HD would be worth the return , regardless of cost I don't think the Wii userbase would embrace the HD option to a great extent.

If you look at the best sellers on the Wii , Wii Fit , Wii Play , Mario Kart etc are the kind of people who buy these games going to want HD version of them ? maybe a % of them but a very small percentage.

Wii HD doesn't make sense now , it won't make sense next gen or any other generation for that matter ( asusming Nintendo stays with their current demographic) HD is on relevant to the time it's in and HD this gen probably won't be considered HD next gen.



bdbdbd on 21 May 2008
Squilliam said:
bdbdbd said:
jlauro said:
USB doesn't have the bandwidth to drive HD. To run DVI / HDMI requires a pixcel clock of about 1485Mhz or about 1.485Gb/sec. USB typically only runs at 12Mbps, although high speed can run at 480mbps.

So, as you know, such a device would really have to do all the processing itself, have it's own memory, and only use the wii as an interface to the DVD and bluetooth and 802.11 controllers. It might save $50 from the cost of an entire new console, or maybe $100 as it wouldn't need a backward compatibility chips if existing video is also routed through it...

Far more likely for a new model with backward compatibility than an add on kludge.

 

As i said, it would have its own memory and processor. What it would basically do, is use the "chewed" data through component and get the additional data through USB.

What you're basicly proposing is for those people who have a Wii and an HD TV something to "upscale the signal" so it appears better on the TV?

Most HDTV's pretty much have an upscaler built into the TV. Problem solved.

Though if you're thinking about an external attachment to boost the Wiis' power? Won't work

The hardware would run through a high latency - low bandwidth link. 240 megabits each way duplex and you propose to put an external GPU to replace the one in the Wii? Apart from a few filter passes, some upscaling and AA you would have to completely rewrite the software to do much more than that. Console games are written very tightly to the hardware specs available. You can't slap it into a more powerful system and expect better results unless you rewrite the software.

Sorry, its a cool idea but the practice sucks.


No, it wouldn't replace Hollywood, it would work in sync with it. And as for the code, to put it short, basically it would just be a multithreading code. For the old games, it would just add some HW effects, AA, motion blur, etc. And the "HD" games would fully use it's potential, being "hybrids", similar fashion like the GB and GBC compatible games.

Ei Kiinasti.

Eikä Japanisti.

Vaan pannaan jalalla koreasti.

 

Nintendo games sell only on Nintendo system.

jlauro on 21 May 2008
bdbdbd said:
Lingyis said:
bdbdbd said:
jlauro said:
USB doesn't have the bandwidth to drive HD. To run DVI / HDMI requires a pixcel clock of about 1485Mhz or about 1.485Gb/sec. USB typically only runs at 12Mbps, although high speed can run at 480mbps.

So, as you know, such a device would really have to do all the processing itself, have it's own memory, and only use the wii as an interface to the DVD and bluetooth and 802.11 controllers. It might save $50 from the cost of an entire new console, or maybe $100 as it wouldn't need a backward compatibility chips if existing video is also routed through it...

Far more likely for a new model with backward compatibility than an add on kludge.

 

As i said, it would have its own memory and processor. What it would basically do, is use the "chewed" data through component and get the additional data through USB.

 and the whole point is, USB doesn't have enough bandwidth, whether for HD content or RAM access.


 

It would be seen as increased loading times. The peripheral would have its own RAM. Look, even the GPU rarely has RAM access, usually they read from their own VRAM. @Stephen700: But that's exactly what the HD consoles seem to be doing these days. Besides, the upscalers in TV:s seem to be pretty bad. And this peripherals idea was to add hardware effects besides upscaling.

Actually, USB does have the bandwidth for HD content (faster than DVD access), and the wii could use it's RAM as a cache buffer and decrease load times for games running on the "periphial".  So, it could outpreform a 360, but wouldn't be cost effective, unless Nintendo waited to release it until after the market was saturated with the existing wii model.  Otherwise, it would make more sense to sell two models, in order to lower demand of the lower-cost SD version...



fazz on 21 May 2008

I think you people REALLY need to remember Sega's 32X



jake_the_fake1 on 21 May 2008

Hmmm, interesting, people actually want Nintendo to segment the user base!?!?!

Sega has proven how devastating it is to segment not only the end consumer but the developers, so NO their will never be some HD enhancing device that will give the Wii the power to render HD graphics.

Now what's possible is a Wii branded HD scaler, all it would do is take the output signal from the wii, apply some scaling algorithm, and then output a HD signal that would then go into your HD tv. This way Nintendo won't segmanet users and developers, but give those willing to spend the money to buy a special device that will do a better upscaling job than the HD tv.