Feasibility of a 1000W console

[QPlayer]

As performance improvements from node changes become smaller performance will scale with power or things like ai, or more efficient upscale. PC will always have a power advantage. No one wants a 1000W console.

I think the majority of people would easily buy the 1000 watt console, so don't think that everyone is so environmentally conscious... it's just the opposite. The reason is prosaic, it was expensive until now. But if they bring it at an affordable price, many people would buy it.

However, it is more likely that from now on manufacturers will produce hardware that consumes less and less power instead of performance. Marketing can also be built on this.

 

[iroboto]

I think the majority of people would easily buy the 1000 watt console, so don't think that everyone is so environmentally conscious... it's just the opposite. The reason is prosaic, it was expensive until now. But they will buy what they bring at an affordable price.

However, it is more likely that from now on manufacturers will produce hardware that consumes less and less power instead of performance. Marketing can also be built on this.

To note: Consoles go into spaces like AV cabinets. There's an upper limit on how high the wattage can go because the heating becomes a major issue. Consoles are meant to run quietly, in a small package, in a small space, for hours on end. A high powered unit loses all it's natural advantages and suddenly you're paying a significantly higher costs to have the same types of attributes.

 

[QPlayer]

To note: Consoles go into spaces like AV cabinets. There's an upper limit on how high the wattage can go because the heating becomes a major issue. Consoles are meant to run quietly, in a small package, in a small space, for hours on end. A high powered unit loses all it's natural advantages and suddenly you're paying a significantly higher costs to have the same types of attributes.

They did a particularly good job in 2020 with the XSX and PS5. Especially the SeriesX, 12TFlops, practically silent (!!), durable and all this in a 15x15x30cm box. If we compare it with PCs of similar performance at the time, in terms of size and heat production, we can see that the engineers did not only good but rather outstanding work.

 

[Charlietus]

They did a particularly good job in 2020 with the XSX and PS5. Especially the SeriesX, 12TFlops, practically silent (!!), durable and all this in a 15x15x30cm box. If we compare it with PCs of similar performance at the time, in terms of size and heat production, we can see that the engineers did not only good but rather outstanding work.

My thinking with consoles is that the priority should be the price. On that front, PS5 did a decent job, aside from the dimensions and form of the device that's bigger than it should (the collar look) and the SSD that's too fast without much usage so far.

But the series x is just overkill. A double motherboard setup? A big chip that runs at low frequencies? As far as we know it costs a lot more than the PS5 to produce, and it's just not worth it.

Make a simple rectangular box and reduce the price please.

 

[cheapchips]

practically silent (!!)

You make that sound like a plus. I've just looked over at the TV and my daughter's left the XSX on again. It's so quiet I didn't notice.

 

[QPlayer]

My thinking with consoles is that the priority should be the price. On that front, PS5 did a decent job, aside from the dimensions and form of the device that's bigger than it should (the collar look) and the SSD that's too fast without much usage so far.

But the series x is just overkill. A double motherboard setup? A big chip that runs at low frequencies? As far as we know it costs a lot more than the PS5 to produce, and it's just not worth it.

Make a simple rectangular box and reduce the price please.

In the context of what we are talking about here, the point is not how much the hardware costs the manufacturer (no one really knows exactly), but the fact: in 2020, both the PS5 and the Xbox SX were sold for $500 to us customers. Fact: have any prices decreased since then? Not. Sony even increased the price LOL...

Technically, we compared it with the expensive and noisy energy-guzzling PC of the time. So the conclusion: yes, you can make the console quiet, small and strong. That was then. Well, what will be the question now. They could easily be console PC hybrids in the future.

 

[Shifty Geezer]

They did a particularly good job in 2020 with the XSX and PS5. Especially the SeriesX, 12TFlops, practically silent (!!), durable and all this in a 15x15x30cm box. If we compare it with PCs of similar performance at the time, in terms of size and heat production, we can see that the engineers did not only good but rather outstanding work.

At circa 200W. 1000W...how do you cool that affordably and quietly and what do you do about all the heat being dumped into the cabinet?

 

[Scott_Arm]

At circa 200W. 1000W...how do you cool that affordably and quietly and what do you do about all the heat being dumped into the cabinet?

I can feel the pain of customer support explaining to people why their game consoles are overheating and tripping breakers on power strips.

 

[QPlayer]

At circa 200W. 1000W...how do you cool that affordably and quietly and what do you do about all the heat being dumped into the cabinet?

The original suggestion was that gamers would buy this 1000-watt console if it were affordable. Of course, 1000 watts cannot be implemented in a 15x15x30cm box, that's out of the question.

 

[iroboto]

The original suggestion was that gamers would buy this 1000-watt console if it were affordable. Of course, 1000 watts cannot be implemented in a 15x15x30cm box, that's out of the question.

The power supply unit for 1000W machine is $$$$$. Playing on your console will cost you 1kWh. So if you’re paying 11c per kWh, lol. Good luck. 9hrs is a $1 of electricity. You’re gonna feel that on your wallet the more you play. 90hrs a month is $10 more a month.

 

[RobertR1]

To note: Consoles go into spaces like AV cabinets. There's an upper limit on how high the wattage can go because the heating becomes a major issue. Consoles are meant to run quietly, in a small package, in a small space, for hours on end. A high powered unit loses all it's natural advantages and suddenly you're paying a significantly higher costs to have the same types of attributes.

I don’t think this is needed any longer. Look at the shift in a/v trends. With such a push towards streaming, smart tv’s and front end devices like ATV, shield etc, the AV cabinet isn’t needed,

Sound bars with or without surrounds and a sub have replaced standalone speakers going into a receiver for many.

I personally don’t think a form factor to slot into an av cabinet should be a consideration going forward for console design. In the next 2 to 3 years the above will continue to be more prominent thus making the traditional av slotted cabinet a relic of the past.

 

[London Geezer]

The power supply unit for 1000W machine is $$$$$. Playing on your console will cost you 1kWh. So if you’re paying 11c per kWh, lol. Good luck. 9hrs is a $1 of electricity. You’re gonna feel that on your wallet the more you play. 90hrs a month is $10 more a month.

Also, pretty sure those pesky EU lawmakers would stop any console from sucking that much energy.

 

[Nesh]

I think the majority of people would easily buy the 1000 watt console, so don't think that everyone is so environmentally conscious... it's just the opposite. The reason is prosaic, it was expensive until now. But if they bring it at an affordable price, many people would buy it.

However, it is more likely that from now on manufacturers will produce hardware that consumes less and less power instead of performance. Marketing can also be built on this.

I can't imagine how a 1000 watt console can retain form factor with good enough cooling. It's gonna be bigger than the PS5

 

[Shifty Geezer]

The power supply unit for 1000W machine is $$$$$. Playing on your console will cost you 1kWh. So if you’re paying 11c per kWh, lol. Good luck. 9hrs is a $1 of electricity.

UK electricity is 3x that.

You’re gonna feel that on your wallet the more you play. 90hrs a month is $10 more a month.

1000W console isn't going to be cheap. The hypothetical was 'if it was affordable, would consumers reject it on drawing too much power'. Once we factor in reality, such a beast would cost, and I doubt those willing to pay will care about an extra $10 a month electricity, but I also doubt there'd be that many people willing to game on an expensive console.

I personally don’t think a form factor to slot into an av cabinet should be a consideration going forward for console design. In the next 2 to 3 years the above will continue to be more prominent thus making the traditional av slotted cabinet a relic of the past.

Perhaps. We've seen consoles positioned as a life-style object, and it hasn't gone down that well. They look good in designer apartments with glossy-lifestyle cleanliness (why do models have no possessions?), but the typical home makes the product just be there as more clutter, and I think the average person would rather not have the object clearly visible. My sphere of experience in the UK is definitely that consoles are out of the way somewhere. There's isn't an AV cabinet per se but there is something, like under-TV shelving, where the console resides. Adding cooling requirements on where a console can be placed would be an additional factor to discourage purchasers.

1000W is plenty warm though! Going back to Iroboto's electricity price, if people crank up the AC to counter that heat output, that'll be more energy and costs (ignoring environmental politics).

 

[Dominik D]

Most homes have lower grade wiring for living room than for the kitchen where you have stuff like electric kettle. 1kW console in a living room is a recipe for disaster(s). Power supply would be massive, console would be large, loud, and hot. But if you combine it with something else...

 

[Shifty Geezer]

Hmmm. In UK there's no risks running a 2kW electric heater in any room so I'm surprised at the notion some places have wiring that can't be trusted with a 1 kW console.

 

[iroboto]

Wattage should be OK for most homes. Amps is where it gets tricky

 

[Caayn]

Wattage should be OK for most homes. Amps is where it gets tricky

Assuming North-America. Is 9~10amps really such a big deal for the wiring that's used in north-American homes? How thin are those wires.

 

[iroboto]

Assuming North-America. Is 9~10amps really such a big deal for the wiring that's used in north-American homes? How thin are those wires.

I can’t speak for everyone. But most of our fuses in Canada at least are between 10-15AMP, 20 and 30- 40 for joint circuits. Really depends on the age of the building. They stopped with 10 amp fuses a while ago.

But a console pulling 10amps itself is a big deal. Nearly a dedicated socket for it.

 

[Cyan]

They did a particularly good job in 2020 with the XSX and PS5. Especially the SeriesX, 12TFlops, practically silent (!!), durable and all this in a 15x15x30cm box. If we compare it with PCs of similar performance at the time, in terms of size and heat production, we can see that the engineers did not only good but rather outstanding work.

it's all about how they designed the Xbox. AMD also can't beat nVidia at efficiency, in fact they can't beat Intel either efficiency wise in the dGPU department, but when it comes to APUs their iGPUs are tremendously good at efficiency and power.

AMD Strix Halo and its super GPU. Vs the 4070.