Is PS3 able to do DX 10 effects ?

[archangelmorph]

both platforms seem to be taking a different approach, the PS3 takes a conventional graphics core and combines it with a massive complex processor, while the 360 took a common processor and integrated an advanced graphics core.

So while the Cell processor itself requires a lot of knowledge to fully utilize it, nvidia's thorough penetration in the developer market makes it hard not to get acquainted with it's graphics language.
So I don't think graphics development is holding any of the platforms back, it's getting used to cell is what's challenging in development.

What makes you think a triple core PPC CPU like Xenon can be considered "common"?

I don't think Xenon is anymore common than Cell when you observe the bones of the architecture with respect to PC CPUs. It's just a little easier to get code up and running with moderate performance whereas I'm sure an architecture like Cell would require a pretty comprehensive re-imagining or how to tackle things..

Ultimately both CPUs will require pretty drastic changes in terms of code design and exploiting the hardware parallelisms from what can be considered "conventional" or "common" in the PC space today.. At least if devs ever hope to see the intended performance gains dictated by such specialised hardware designs..

 

[neliz]

What makes you think a triple core PPC CPU like Xenon can be considered "common"?

Because I've been working with them for a decade? These processors are the foundation of both computing and networking. You know apple had them, they power IBM workstations and Servers and they're the foundation of all Cisco Catalyst switches.
It doesn't matter if it's one two or three cores, it means ample opportunity for developers! development is so much easier if you have a final product that is so similar to off-the-shelf equipment.

 

[Shifty Geezer]

I don't think Xenon is anymore common than Cell when you observe the bones of the architecture with respect to PC CPUs. It's just a little easier to get code up and running with moderate performance

The CPU isn't common in terms of parallelism, but in the meat-and-bones Xenon is common, because it's three classic CPU's with L1 and L2 cache. The same algorithms that run well on PPC can be ported to a Xenon core and run well. Those algorithms can't be ported to Cell with the expectation of sterling results. And it's the implementation of software that matters - a CPU that can run common algorithms well is a common CPU, no? The only clear difference for Xenon, apart from multicore, is the large VMX units that will benefit from custom implementations. But the algorithms should still be the same as an ordinary PPC core.

 

[archangelmorph]

The CPU isn't common in terms of parallelism, but in the meat-and-bones Xenon is common, because it's three classic CPU's with L1 and L2 cache. The same algorithms that run well on PPC can be ported to a Xenon core and run well. Those algorithms can't be ported to Cell with the expectation of sterling results. And it's the implementation of software that matters - a CPU that can run common algorithms well is a common CPU, no? The only clear difference for Xenon, apart from multicore, is the large VMX units that will benefit from custom implementations. But the algorithms should still be the same as an ordinary PPC core.

Pardon me..
I was under the impression we were taking about not being "common" with respect to PC game developers bring their PC (x86) experience over to the next gen consoles..

I wasn't aware that in-order PPC CPU programming experience was consired a "commonality" in the PC games programming space also..

 

[inefficient]

Pardon me..
I was under the impression we were taking about not being "common" with respect to PC game developers bring their PC (x86) experience over to the next gen consoles..

I wasn't aware that in-order PPC CPU programming experience was considered a "commonality" in the PC games programming space also..

Generally speaking, programmers don't write "in-order PPC code" or "out of order x86 code". 99% of the time they are not even thinking about it. They are thinking about higher level things like how to build and manipulate their data structures, their threads, do IO etc. And for these types of activities it is only necessary to have an awareness of the platform differences between PPC and x86 for performance optimizations. And a fundamentally good design on one, will likely be a good design on the other.

Cell on the other hand, is going to slap you in the face and say "You idiot, that algorithm is simply not going to fly here. Go re think it and start from scratch."

 

[Fafalada]

a CPU that can run common algorithms well is a common CPU, no?

Whatever gave you the impression that Xenos runs common algorithms well though?

 

[Darkon]

Whatever gave you the impression that Xenos runs common algorithms well though?

I knew you or either SMM would reply with that

 

[Shifty Geezer]

Whatever gave you the impression that Xenos runs common algorithms well though?

Microsoft's marketting speak