Xbox 720 to Exceed Current PC Tech

[Badger3920]

This rumor sounds very likely to disappoint. 16 cores (wtf??)? 7000 series graphics cards? The latter sounds feasible if it's not a 7900 series; those are like $300-$500 a pop. That's the price of a console right there before bulk discount.

[CorruptedDragon]

This rumor sounds very likely to disappoint. 16 cores (wtf??)? 7000 series graphics cards? The latter sounds feasible if it's not a 7900 series; those are like $300-$500 a pop. That's the price of a console right there before bulk discount.

Well, remember the 360 launched with a video card design that wasn't even available yet at the time and when it was released (x1900xt) it was $400. Since it's "based on" it's not exactly the same and they get a much bigger discount. Same with the ps3, that card was somewhat new and was still pricey.

[Badger3920]

Well, remember the 360 launched with a video card design that wasn't even available yet at the time and when it was released (x1900xt) it was $400. Since it's "based on" it's not exactly the same and they get a much bigger discount. Same with the ps3, that card was somewhat new and was still pricey.

Anything is possible, but I dont buy it. This generation is going to be an all out price competition. In my opinion, the winner will launch with parts that are, or are soon to be, very mainstream and will be in general production for at least the next few years. Today's top notch PC rigs are mostly running quad core cpu's (the very expensive are running hyperthreading, and some are hexacore, and everyone ignores bulldozer with its 8 cores for various reasons).

Having lots of cores is very desirable in a console like these because many can be used to run a game while the leftover cores can be full-time designated to running background processes like chats and other background activities, but 16 cores sounds very 'out of left field.'

[hdinred]

but 16 cores sounds very 'out of left field.'

Well, the rumor states that 4 cores would be for Kinect 2, which other rumors have said would be included and “always on.” That gives you 12 left, with no doubt, some being reserved for system functions. At the end of the day, you might have 8 cores left for games and apps to use. For a system designed for a long lifespan starting in 2013, it doesn’t seem that out there.

[hdinred]

architecture complexity is just that.
perhaps the cell processor was universally mocked for other reasons

Games will be programmed for DX11, which Microsoft will modify to use the available cores. It should be seamless for the developer. PS3 games started getting better when Sony provided easier APIs for developers. Of course, more cores don’t compensate for lack of RAM or other bottlenecks.

[michealo]

Games will be programmed for DX11, which Microsoft will modify to use the available cores. It should be seamless for the developer. PS3 games started getting better when Sony provided easier APIs for developers. Of course, more cores don’t compensate for lack of RAM or other bottlenecks.

which makes "16" seem even more like some arbitrary buzz number when a better GPU and more RAM is far more important.

[hdinred]

which makes "16" seem even more like some arbitrary buzz number when a better GPU and more RAM is far more important.

Well, these are just rumors.. it remains to be seen if a high core count means an insufficient amount of RAM or GPU. On its face value, the more cores the better.

[Badger3920]

Well, these are just rumors.. it remains to be seen if a high core count means an insufficient amount of RAM or GPU. On its face value, the more cores the better.

If everything is optimized or suited to multicore activity, then yes

[michealo]

Well, these are just rumors.. it remains to be seen if a high core count means an insufficient amount of RAM or GPU. On its face value, the more cores the better.

Not if it's unnecessary complexity and cost.
I also have to doubt kinect 2.0 needs 4 cores

[Almril]

Anything is possible, but I dont buy it. This generation is going to be an all out price competition. In my opinion, the winner will launch with parts that are, or are soon to be, very mainstream and will be in general production for at least the next few years. Today's top notch PC rigs are mostly running quad core cpu's (the very expensive are running hyperthreading, and some are hexacore, and everyone ignores bulldozer with its 8 cores for various reasons).

Having lots of cores is very desirable in a console like these because many can be used to run a game while the leftover cores can be full-time designated to running background processes like chats and other background activities, but 16 cores sounds very 'out of left field.'

Well core2duo was just coming out in 05-06 when 360 came out with its tri-core and PS3 has 7-8 (I can't remember which). 16 isn't really that outlandish for 2013. MS was set up for a price competition quite well until they blew that up with RROD. Starting at $400 again seems like its pretty much assured. The only expensive parts will be the custom silicon, and that comes down in price pretty quickly. All the storage will be proven tech, nothing like the blu-ray situation this time.

But as I've said before, MS and Sony can't go fully casual with their machines, Apple will just ride in and smoke them. Neither of them have the compelling software that would overcome an Apple onslaught in the living room, they have to put out cutting edge tech and hope the business model scares Apple off for the time being. But Apple could just pull a Wii, and get COD and Madden yearly releases on a cheap set-top box along with all their apps and destroy the industry. I'm not optimistic at this point.

[Favelle]

This rumor sounds very likely to disappoint. 16 cores (wtf??)? 7000 series graphics cards? The latter sounds feasible if it's not a 7900 series; those are like $300-$500 a pop. That's the price of a console right there before bulk discount.

As for the graphics cards, that is AFTER they have gone to a vendor to add their own PCB and fans, etc etc. So EVGA, Gigabyte, Asus, PowerColor, Sapphire, XFX, HIS, etc etc all make their cut of the $$ as well. A 7xxx series card on an Xbox would likely be coming DIRECTLY from AMD. As in, the chip, the GPU, that's it. And it would cost a HELL of a lot less than what we pay RETAIL for our video cards.

[Badger3920]

As for the graphics cards, that is AFTER they have gone to a vendor to add their own PCB and fans, etc etc. So EVGA, Gigabyte, Asus, PowerColor, Sapphire, XFX, HIS, etc etc all make their cut of the $$ as well. A 7xxx series card on an Xbox would likely be coming DIRECTLY from AMD. As in, the chip, the GPU, that's it. And it would cost a HELL of a lot less than what we pay RETAIL for our video cards.

MS would still then have to figure out what to do with that chip and put their own components on it etc, but sure lets follow your hypothetical and generously say that they realize 100% of those savings.

Sure, say there is even a MASSIVE savings, upwards of one-third/33% off. Then you have cards at $200-$335 a pop. You'd like to sell your console for $300ish, and so far we've only discussed a gpu.

Numbers can go lots of different ways in hypotheticals, but it's clear that we're still talking very expensive hardware with these rumors, even after bulk discounts.

[CorruptedDragon]

MS would still then have to figure out what to do with that chip and put their own components on it etc, but sure lets follow your hypothetical and generously say that they realize 100% of those savings.

Sure, say there is even a MASSIVE savings, upwards of one-third/33% off. Then you have cards at $200-$335 a pop. You'd like to sell your console for $300ish, and so far we've only discussed a gpu.

Numbers can go lots of different ways in hypotheticals, but it's clear that we're still talking very expensive hardware with these rumors, even after bulk discounts.

I don't think it will cost more than $400

[Badger3920]

I don't think it will cost more than $400

I would think they're aiming for $400 sale price as well

[CorruptedDragon]

I would think they're aiming for $400 sale price as well

You would Wiibot!!!!!!