joint Nintendo-NEC console?

[V3]

I just remember NEC has its name stamped on the Flipper, so I am guessing they are providing the process. And they are in discussion to do the samething for Nintendo next gen.

 

[PC-Engine]

I just remember NEC has its name stamped on the Flipper, so I am guessing they are providing the process. And they are in discussion to do the samething for Nintendo next gen.

Yes, they manufactured the Mosys 1T-SRAM and Flipper which also has embedded 1T-SRAM. Flipper also incorporates the Macronix sound block and I think north bridge and of course the GPU.

NEC also has mass production for regular eDRAM process technology. My guess is that the CPU might be manufactured by them too since IBM is working with SONY and Toshiba on PS3.

 

[clem64]

Aparently the report is not true.

http://www.gamecubicle.com/news-intendo_gamecube_successor_nec.htm

UPDATE DECEMBER 14, 2002:

According to Jiji Press of Japan, Nintendo has denied that they're engaged in discussions with NEC regarding the co-development of a chip for a next-generation Nintendo game console. Jiji Press writes, "Nintendo Co. on Friday denied a media report that the company has begun joint development of a new game machine with NEC Corp. Nintendo is always working on developing new game machines, the major home-use game machine maker said, but it has not carried out specific talks with a particular firm for this purpose." Because of Bloomberg's trustworthiness, GameCubicle is not going to discount their story unless it's retracted.

 

[PC-Engine]

This might not be directly related, but it's interesting nonetheless.

Mosys' 1T-SRAM-Q technology will be ready for sampling in the second quarter and can be ready for mass production by late in the year, the company said. Jones said an undisclosed customer has already designed the embedded memory into a device that will be manufactured on a 90-nm process technology.

http://www.eet.com/semi/news/OEG20021216S0028

 

[megadrive0088]

oh but it probably is PC Engine, thanks for posting it.

I wonder if next generation 1T-SRAM will have a large increase in bandwidth. hopefully.

The likely candidate for PS3's main memory is Rambus Yellowstone
which is ment to get 10-12 GB/sec PER CHANNEL.

 

[Brimstone]

Wasn't NEC a big partner with Power VR? That might be an intresting thing to see the Power VR get a second shot in the console market. They have that general purpose media chip to go along with their gpu?

 

[megadrive0088]

As said before, PowerVR in the next Nintendo console is a longshot, but definitally at least a possibility. In all likelihood, Nintendo will choose ATI to design the chip, with NEC manufacturing the thing. Nintendo will most likelu go with ATI because ATI has most of the people who designed the previous two Nintendo graphics subsystems, RCP and Flipper. Maybe PowerVR will make a small contribution to the next console, however, in a similar way that S3 contributed to Flipper.

A PowerVR-based Nintendo handheld would be magnificant, though.

 

[cybamerc]

megadrive0088:

> A PowerVR-based Nintendo handheld would be magnificant, though.

Ugh... I fear for the day 3d a portable console needs to come with a 3d chip to sell. The GBA is the last bastion of 2d gaming and for that reason I hope there will never be another handheld (except maybe a backlit GBA).

 

[Legion]

its coming. You can't escape it.