[Teasy]

Originally Posted by Nightz

It's funny that they have been quick to name drop IBM as the CPU supplier. But are very quiet about the GPU. Could that mean there is a possibility that AMD may not end up with the contract for the final GPU design?

Remember how Nintendo removed the Tegra from the 3DS in the last minute, when they discovered real performance was not anywhere near the published specs.

Whoever has the contract hasn't announced it yet, but I don't think that gives us any clues as to know has it. I definitely think it'll be locked down by now. Even though 3DS's GPU was changed late it was still locked down as DMP a year or so before launch.

[dobwal]

Originally Posted by V3

The Wii U form factor is a little too small for anything significant over PS360. I am not really digging the new screen controller. Sony could easily offer those functions when PSV is release later this year. I still think the Wii crowd will switch over to Kinect eventually instead of this. Nintendo lost the plot.

Yeah, I believe it could be something similar to ATI HD 5450. Its passively cooled and can be had in the Dell Zino (small form factor) and retails for ~$50.00 and comes with 1 GB of ram.

Engine clock speed: From 400Mhz to 650Mhz
Processing power (single precision): 104 GigaFLOPS
Polygon throughput: From 400M to 650M polygons/sec
Data fetch rate (32-bit): 12.8 Billion to 20.8 billion fetches/sec
Texel fill rate (billinear filtered): 3.2 Gigatexels - 5.2 Gigatexels/sec
Pixel fill rate: 1.6 Gigapixels - 2.6 Gigapixels/sec
Anti-aliased pixel fill rate: 10.4 Gigasamples/sec
Memory clock speed: 400 MHz DDR2 and up to 800 MHz DDR3
Memory data rate: 0.8 Gbps DDR2 and up to 1.6 Gbps DDR3
Memory bandwidth: 6.4 GB/sec (DDR2) and up to 12.8 GB/sec (DDR3)
Typical power: 19.1Watts

[Dr Evil]

I Like the controller and the idea. That tech demo doesn't really impress me, especially when that is all it is. I'm not expecting much in terms of a tech leap, but looking forward to seeing more. I quess we have to wait quite a bit for better videos of it in action.

Anyway tech has imo already became secondary to talent, effort and dollars spent on the visuals even if extra power naturally helps.

[Teasy]

Originally Posted by dobwal

Yeah, I believe it could be something similar to ATI HD 5450. Its passively cooled and can be had in the Dell Zino (small form factor) and retails for ~$50.00 and comes with 1 GB of ram.

Engine clock speed: From 400Mhz to 650Mhz
Processing power (single precision): 104 GigaFLOPS
Polygon throughput: From 400M to 650M polygons/sec
Data fetch rate (32-bit): 12.8 Billion to 20.8 billion fetches/sec
Texel fill rate (billinear filtered): 3.2 Gigatexels - 5.2 Gigatexels/sec
Pixel fill rate: 1.6 Gigapixels - 2.6 Gigapixels/sec
Anti-aliased pixel fill rate: 10.4 Gigasamples/sec
Memory clock speed: 400 MHz DDR2 and up to 800 MHz DDR3
Memory data rate: 0.8 Gbps DDR2 and up to 1.6 Gbps DDR3
Memory bandwidth: 6.4 GB/sec (DDR2) and up to 12.8 GB/sec (DDR3)
Typical power: 19.1Watts

Don't think that fits the criteria of being more powerful than 360/PS3.

[Pete]

Originally Posted by Teasy

Whoever has the contract hasn't announced it yet

AMD got it: http://www.marketwire.com/press-rele...md-1523972.htm

[mrcorbo]

Originally Posted by temesgen

That would be in line with what I mentioned earlier, they will mention specs when it distinguishes their platform. The retina display isn't available anywhere else so it makes sense to hype it.

You were agreeing with a statement that said Nintendo don't promote specs and neither do Apple. The above statement I can agree with more as I believe that for any of the 3, if the hardware power is an advantage it will be hyped, just like any other feature that is in their favor over the competiton.

[Teasy]

Originally Posted by Pete

AMD got it: http://www.marketwire.com/press-rele...md-1523972.htm

Thanks for the link.

[dobwal]

Originally Posted by Teasy

Don't think that fits the criteria of being more powerful than 360/PS3.

Based on limited memory its seem very much in line with the gpus found in the 360 and the PS3 except its paired with twice the amount of RAM. If you put double the amount of RAM in the 360 and the PS3 you would have a "more powerful" console.

You could go up a notch to a 5550 which would give you...

Engine clock speed: 550 MHz
Processing power (single precision): 352 GigaFLOPS
Polygon throughput: 550M polygons/sec
Data fetch rate (32-bit): 35.2 billion fetches/sec
Texel fill rate (bilinear filtered): 8.8 Gigatexels/sec
Pixel fill rate: 4.4 Gigapixels/sec
Anti-aliased pixel fill rate: 17.6 Gigasamples/sec
Memory clock speed:
DDR3: 800-900 MHz
GDDR5: 900-1000 MHz
Memory data rate:
DDR3: 1.6 – 1.8 Gbps
GDDR5: 3.6 – 4.0 Gbps
Memory bandwidth:
DDR3: 24.5 – 28.8 GB/s
GDDR5: 57.6 – 64 GB/s
Maximum board power: 39 Watts

Go down to 32nm and its possible you could passively cool it and throw it into a small form factor.

[pc999]

Dontknow if anyoneposted but

http://www-03.ibm.com/press/us/en/pr...ease/34683.wss

The all-new, Power-based microprocessor will pack some of IBM's most advanced technology into an energy-saving silicon package that will power Nintendo's brand new entertainment experience for consumers worldwide. IBM's unique embedded DRAM, for example, is capable of feeding the multi-core processor large chunks of data to make for a smooth entertainment experience.

IBM plans to produce millions of chips for Nintendo featuring IBM Silicon on Insulator (SOI) technology at 45 nanometers (45 billionths of a meter). The custom-designed chips will be made at IBM's state-of-the-art 300mm semiconductor development and manufacturing facility in East Fishkill, N.Y.

I would have loved tohave 4 USB3 ports instead of USB2

[Entropy]

Nintendo has taken a HUGE step up in terms of CPU. It would be strange indeed if the GPU didn't scale upwards accordingly.

[ToTTenTranz]

Originally Posted by dobwal

Based on limited memory its seem very much in line with the gpus found in the 360 and the PS3 except its paired with twice the amount of RAM. If you put double the amount of RAM in the 360 and the PS3 you would have a "more powerful" console.

No. An 80-shader, 8 ROP, 4 TMU Cedar GPU is NOT comparable to G71 or Xenos, that'd be a LOT slower.

I'd also have a hard time believing it's a Redwood Pro (HD5550).
As most rumours point out, the absolute minimum would be a RV730 and not an inch less, and as stated by some as an "HD4850 equivalent", it's probably closer to a RV740 (maybe done by GF at 32nm).




Regarding the eDRAM: suddenly those SDK V1.3 are our best bet again, uhn?

[ShadowRunner]

So far its unclear how many taablets will be supported by the base station. There ar mutterings that it is only one, which i dont believe for a second, but so far nothing has suggested otherwise wich is strange.

[obonicus]

Originally Posted by ShadowRunner

So far its unclear how many taablets will be supported by the base station. There ar mutterings that it is only one, which i dont believe for a second, but so far nothing has suggested otherwise wich is strange.

There are also games/demos designed around 1 screen controller and 4 remotes.

[nintenho]

Stupid question but would the amount of processing power/RAM needed scale linearly depending on the number of tablets the WiiU is outputting to? I'd imagine it does and that it wouldn't make any difference whether you're outputting to the Wii's tablet or just making it split-screen on the TV.

Also does anybody know the resolution of the Wii tablet? Somebody on another forum said he thinks it's about 800X500 which is less than half of 720P making me think that a two player split screen may be possible on two tablets.

[dobwal]

Originally Posted by ToTTenTranz

No. An 80-shader, 8 ROP, 4 TMU Cedar GPU is NOT comparable to G71 or Xenos, that'd be a LOT slower.

I'd also have a hard time believing it's a Redwood Pro (HD5550).
As most rumours point out, the absolute minimum would be a RV730 and not an inch less, and as stated by some as an "HD4850 equivalent", it's probably closer to a RV740 (maybe done by GF at 32nm).




Regarding the eDRAM: suddenly those SDK V1.3 are our best bet again, uhn?

I sorry but you're even if you get to 32nm with a 4850 its not going to fit within the power envelope of the Wii-U. Its too small of a form factor.

[L. Scofield]

AMD has the contract for the GPU:

http://www.marketwire.com/press-rele...md-1523972.htm

[ShadowRunner]

Originally Posted by ShadowRunner

So far its unclear how many taablets will be supported by the base station. There ar mutterings that it is only one, which i dont believe for a second, but so far nothing has suggested otherwise wich is strange.

The info on Nintendos site points to this aswel: http://www.nintendo.co.uk/NOE/en_GB/news/2011/nintendos_upcoming_wii_u_console_features_controll er_with_62-inch_screen_43187.html

In multiplayer games:

* The player using the new controller can have a different experience than those looking at the TV. This will offer a wide variety of competitive and cooperative opportunities.

Each Wii U console will be partnered with a new controller and can also use up to four additional Wii Remote™ or Wii Remote Plus controllers.

[BoardBonobo]

The all-new, Power-based microprocessor will pack some of IBM's most advanced technology into an energy-saving silicon package that will power Nintendo's brand new entertainment experience for consumers worldwide. IBM's unique embedded DRAM, for example, is capable of feeding the multi-core processor large chunks of data to make for a smooth entertainment experience.

IBM plans to produce millions of chips for Nintendo featuring IBM Silicon on Insulator (SOI) technology at 45 nanometers (45 billionths of a meter). The custom-designed chips will be made at IBM's state-of-the-art 300mm semiconductor development and manufacturing facility in East Fishkill, N.Y.

East Fishkill, multi core? Wouldn't it be amusing if nintendo had gone CELL for this!!

[fellix]

[patsu]

^_^ Cool ! Good to see Blu-ray media getting more use.

[Reznor007]

Makes me curious what kind of wireless connection the controller uses, and if it's possible to rig up a PC driver for it to use it as a fancy PC remote control.

[nintenho]

Is that spec sheet from a reliable source?

[obonicus]

Don't we already know that the CPU is on 45nm? I mean, it's in IBM's press release.

[Grall]

Originally Posted by nintenho

Stupid question but would the amount of processing power/RAM needed scale linearly depending on the number of tablets the WiiU is outputting to?

Most likely it would scale worse than linear since GPUs dislike rendering multiple targets; they have super mega-long pipelines that would need to be flushed multiple times per frame which is a drag on performance. But considering this is a closed platform with a custom API, it wouldn't be as big a drag as on the PC with its more flexible but more overhead-loaded DX API...

Somebody on another forum said he thinks it's about 800X500 which is less than half of 720P making me think that a two player split screen may be possible on two tablets.

I'd be more concerned with available wireless bandwidth for multiple tablets, I'm sure that is much more of a stumbling block than rendering performance. If the screens start glitching because your neighbor is torrenting anime shows over his wifi connection or someone turns on a microwave oven, well then you have a huge problem.

Maybe the screen wireless link runs over the 5GHz band... Yeah, probably. Still, 5GHz is getting more crowded all the time too as dual-band n-compatible routers start becoming more and more prevalent. That's probably why you'll "only" get one screen per console; there must be sufficient bandwidth available to safeguard there won't be interruptions in the data stream.

Also regarding that spec sheet, I'd take that with an Emma Maersk-sized load of salt...

[pc999]

That thing is false, it is official that the CPU is on 45nm.