CGTalk - MS Could Make its Own CPU for Next Xbox

Szos

10-23-2006, 11:51 PM

Define the word "make" - HUGE difference between MS designing the next chip... and them actually building the fab, and actually manufacturing the ship itself.

No reason for them not to design the chip, but absolutely no way that they would manufacture it.
And if they do design it, I would fully expect for them to either buy up some small chip-designing company, or license a core from some other company that they could then alter. No reason to start from scratch if they don't have to.

rakmaya

10-24-2006, 02:39 AM

They may very well be able to design the chip for their new game system, just like Sony and IBM did. But manufacturing it in the near future is a big question. Even if they are, it would be just be for the gaming system. Even MS can't go up against Intel and AMD at the same time. My guess is it would be a deisgn in collaboration with one of the 2 giants just like Sony did with Cell. Since this is a perfect decade for architectural changes, I don't see why not.

jeremybirn

10-24-2006, 07:00 AM

Maybe Bill Gates has enough change left over from lunch to buy SGI. They're good at this kind of work.

-jeremy

CaptainObvious

10-24-2006, 12:05 PM

Maybe Bill Gates has enough change left over from lunch to buy SGI. They're good at this kind of work.

-jeremy
They WERE good at it, you mean...

almux

10-24-2006, 12:19 PM

lol Good luck MS... (Ooh dear... why wasting all that monney?)

Squash-n-Stretch

10-24-2006, 12:34 PM

lol Good luck MS... (Ooh dear... why wasting all that monney?)

So they can have a marketing gimmick ready for next time round maybe?

dotTom

10-24-2006, 02:43 PM

So they can have a marketing gimmick ready for next time round maybe?

Yeah, cause SONY really delivered on the "Emotion Engine" ;-)

RuinedMessiah

10-24-2006, 02:50 PM

Yeah, cause SONY really delivered on the "Emotion Engine" ;-)

Delivered or not, people bought it. The EE was the core of PS2's problems (along with their OWN GPU rather than simply buying one like Microsoft and Nintendo did). People claim the Cell will be PS3's downfall but, unlike the EE, blogs and post-mortums showing hatred towards the Cell have been excessively rare indeed.

Speaking of which, remember Lorne Lannings tantrums? Good times...

Qslugs

10-24-2006, 05:05 PM

Well with all the hardware Microsoft is making these days, it acutally makes a bit of sense. I bet if they do make their own chips they end up in all sorts of stuff, not just the xbox.

TheNeverman

10-24-2006, 05:15 PM

They WERE good at it, you mean...

that reminds me - SGI was in the news a few days ago talking about a comeback... they ain't dead yet...

almux

10-24-2006, 06:08 PM

So they can have a marketing gimmick ready for next time round maybe?
As concept, or abstract idea, it could be good... but it'll have to be better than zune...

heavyness

10-24-2006, 06:29 PM

only makes sense that they try to do this. if they can save money on the chip, that means they can sell the system for less. who wins? consumers.

enygma

10-24-2006, 06:30 PM

that reminds me - SGI was in the news a few days ago talking about a comeback... they ain't dead yet...
Doesn't surprise me. For the last few years, they have been looking at reconfigurable computing technologies, based on user memberships I've seen in the relevant channels. I am betting that they are going to try and push that as the next big thing for performance computing and believe they are going to make a come-back because of it.

Would be interesting to see, but I don't think it will make them the next "SGI". Cray has already started pimpin' their reconfigurable computing platform with the XD1. Their problem though is they are relying on the customers to develop for the hardware. Just one problem... it is hard as hell to do. Maybe SGI is trying to get software vendors on board and co-develop software for their computing platform.

almux

10-24-2006, 06:53 PM

only makes sense that they try to do this. if they can save money on the chip, that means they can sell the system for less. who wins? consumers.
Starting to make own chips will just cost other billions... noway a win for consumers...

P_T

10-24-2006, 07:43 PM

Maybe we'd get a better Windows OS if MS doesn't dabble in too many markets.

Tan

10-25-2006, 01:59 AM

Microsoft:
jack of all trades, master of none.

thoughtlesswhisper

10-25-2006, 11:06 AM

Microsoft:
jack of all trades, master of none.

apart from the OS market. oh, and the console market. oh and the pda market.

EnlightenedPixel

10-25-2006, 04:06 PM

apart from the OS market. oh, and the console market. oh and the pda market.

MS sells more, doesnt mean theyve actualy perfected their programming. I may use windows and like it a hell of a lot more than Apple, but Im still not going to be so blind as to ignore the blatant holes in security and other issues.

They deffinately dont dominate the Console market either, thats obvious from sales of both of their boxes compared to the compedators stationary and handheld device sales.

thoughtlesswhisper

10-26-2006, 02:14 AM

MS sells more, doesnt mean theyve actualy perfected their programming. I may use windows and like it a hell of a lot more than Apple, but Im still not going to be so blind as to ignore the blatant holes in security and other issues.

They deffinately dont dominate the Console market either, thats obvious from sales of both of their boxes compared to the compedators stationary and handheld device sales.

yea but the dominate in the online multiplay aspect of the console market. and thats the most important thing in games today. im jus saying ms arepretty good at what they do.

EnlightenedPixel

10-26-2006, 04:10 AM

yea but the dominate in the online multiplay aspect of the console market. and thats the most important thing in games today. im jus saying ms arepretty good at what they do.

That would mean they dominate online console gaming, not consoles.

atzfratz

10-26-2006, 08:15 AM

yea but the dominate in the online multiplay aspect of the console market. and thats the most important thing in games today. im jus saying ms arepretty good at what they do.

What was that number ? 4 mio live users?
With over 6 mio subscribers to WoW and Nintedos Wifi already 2 mio unique users with like 5 online games i find that number not very impressive.

For being the most important thing in games today, those numbers tell quite a different story.

almux

10-26-2006, 09:06 AM

yea but the dominate in the online multiplay aspect of the console market. and thats the most important thing in games today. im jus saying ms arepretty good at what they do.
"Domination" has never been a sign of perfection...

Fredl

10-26-2006, 10:29 AM

apart from the OS market. oh, and the console market. oh and the pda market.
Don't forget the music market. Selling songs online.

And soon they are going to go up agaist Nokia in the telephone handset market. I believe Microsoft's Zune department must be working on a cellular telephone.

They want to compete against everyone!

CaptainObvious

10-26-2006, 11:41 AM

Don't forget the music market. Selling songs online.
Wait, what? Are you saying Microsoft is in a dominating position when it comes to selling music online? :curious:

thoughtlesswhisper

10-26-2006, 12:05 PM

That would mean they dominate online console gaming, not consoles.

yes thats what i said in that same post u quoted

thoughtlesswhisper

10-26-2006, 12:10 PM

What was that number ? 4 mio live users?
With over 6 mio subscribers to WoW and Nintedos Wifi already 2 mio unique users with like 5 online games i find that number not very impressive.

For being the most important thing in games today, those numbers tell quite a different story.

Those numbers sound fine to me. Hardly says they are shit dus it. Coupled with the fact that DS is much cheaper, smaller and has free online service, those figures still tell me their domintaing. nice try though.

EDIT: oh yeah and 5 million online subscribers to wow, does not mean 5 million different people are playing it. Plus wow is a pc game last time i checked. Your figures actually back up what i said quite nicely. thanks for making it official.

atzfratz

10-26-2006, 02:27 PM

I guess you see what you want to see. When 3.2 mio people bought the new Mario Game for example, i find 4 mio subscribers to the whole xbox live service quite a low number. You said its the most important part of console gaming. hmmm, when i look at the sales numbers of the console charts i see something different.
Self acclaimed hardcore gamers may say Mario is just kiddy stuff and Brain Age is not a game, but from a buissness standpoint the big money is not made with online shooters. For me console gaming was always about getting some friends over and play WWF, Tekken, MicroMachines or MonkeyBall or whatever against each other. Playing against a stranger on the internet just doesn`t compare.
You say MS dominates Console online gaming, fine, they do right now. Noone is competing in that area right now. Wait a year after the ps3 launch and then lets check again. Not because Ps3 is better or their service will offer more. Just because its free and the Ps3 will sell more units.

CaptainObvious

10-26-2006, 02:32 PM

Self acclaimed hardcore gamers may say Mario is just kiddy stuff
Few things annoy me more. The idea that games that are cheerful and fun are just for kids is downright idiotic.

atzfratz

10-26-2006, 02:36 PM

Few things annoy me more. The idea that games that are cheerful and fun are just for kids is downright idiotic.

it just isn`t cool without rapmusic, lots of blood and shooting people :)

almux

10-26-2006, 04:09 PM

apart from the OS market. oh, and the console market. oh and the pda market.
Yet the microsoft OS "market"... is well... a sort of doping affair. And maybe MS dominates the % of sales... but not the % of scripting and programing ease... yet more to wait for Vista! http://www.cio.com/blog_view.html?CID=26081 I wonder how people will be able to test it for real...

CaptainObvious

10-26-2006, 08:55 PM

it just isn`t cool without rapmusic, lots of blood and shooting people :)
So every game except Postal sucks? Yeah, that makes sense...

almux

10-26-2006, 08:59 PM

So every game except Postal sucks? Yeah, that makes sense...
Do people who create these games have time to play games? (I mean elses then their own for testing...)

Chome

10-27-2006, 01:47 PM

With all the next gen console threads, this seems appropriate....

http://www.dilbert.com/comics/dilbert/archive/images/dilbert2006114659027.gif

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