Microsoft licensed microchip technology from IBM

[ector]

Don't you see? Going PowerPC would make sense since Microsoft has now bought Connectix Virtual PC which makes it possible to run PC programs on ... yes.. PowerPC Macs. They could use the tech to do the same thing to run x86 Xbox1 games on a PowerPC based Xbox Next.

 

[Tuttle]

So that's what it was. I felt a great disturbance in the Force. As if a million wintel fanboys cried out in torment and were silenced at once.

Thought it was just gas and too many Red Bulls. Back to coding on my dual G5 and 9800 Pro...

 

[clem64]

The next version of Xbox is expected to be announced in January by Microsoft founder and Chairman Bill Gates and to be on sale next fall ahead of the holidays, according to Doherty.

Xbox2 out by Fall 2004?

 

[Qroach]

Well all I can say is that I know people in vovled with xbox 2. I don't have any details but they are well into development for the project.

 

[archie4oz]

Back to coding on my dual G5 and 9800 Pro...

Cool! I thought I was the only one around here...

 

[Qroach]

I still have a feeling it won't be a G5 processors, but somehting else... G5's are good chips and all, but there's nothing there that's revoloutionary when compared to PS3 and Cell.

 

[passerby]

So that's what it was. I felt a great disturbance in the Force. As if a million wintel fanboys cried out in torment and were silenced at once.

<evil-mode on>
On a similar note, its quite fun watching the behaviour of the very vocal pro-intel XB pple(embaressments) on various forums react to this. The soon-to-come "loss of memory about months of pro-IA32 posts" as well as the "change in camp" should be amusing to observe.
<evil-mode off>

To be serious no one knows what IBM will eventually provide. Choosing a non-intel CPU or non-x86 solution is strange, considering that a hugh attraction of the current XB for devs is its similarity to the PC. What happens to directX? Can a trimmed-down Win OS to support directX be loaded into a non-X86 machine? Can a PPC-based CPU be used with X86 architecture? Will future XB devs just use OpenGL(very strange possibility here)? What happens to all those devs who were attracted to the XB because of its PC characteristics?

Despite the "evil" statement above, the notion of a PPC-based CPU seems strange, and seems more trouble than it is worth. Also strange that the nice Wintel relationship won't be leveraged.

Anyway, we should know what is really being provided next year.

 

[Tuttle]

I believe Apple is paying about 300 dollars for 970s from IBM. Very cheap for such a new chip, but way too expensive for a console.

I can't imagine anything they come up with being able to compete with Sony's Cell.

 

[cthellis42]

Especially if they plan on launching fall of 2004...? I don't know where that guy gets his information, but such a prospect is pretty screwy. Maybe he's confusing it with the launch of an Xbox redesign? (Solid info on MS's next console I'm sure we'll see next year.)

At any rate, I was thinking at first that MS may be using IBM to fab the IP they licence from ATi instead of it being the core processor, but considering the statements coming out about displacing Intel, they would seem to be in that position. But hey, if MS wants them to fab the GPU as well, that may be a driving factor for getting IBM in both ends. (I postulated that before when the ATi IP-licensing deal was made public. Could still be the case.)

 

[Vince]

Pretty Decent Article[/url]]Sources said the chip powering the next Xbox will be a PowerPC, although they could not confirm which processor will power the device.

With the deal, IBM now is involved in the design of microprocessors to be used in two different next-generation entertainment consoles, each designed by two different customers. IBM, Toshiba, and Sony have each contributed to the design of the "Cell" microprocessor, which Sony Entertainment has said will be used to develop future entertainment consoles, largely thought to include the PlayStation 3.

Because of IBM's close ties with rival Sony, Microsoft probably is taking a hands-off approach to the Xbox deal, said Peter Glaskowsky, an analyst with In-Stat/MDR. "My guess is that IBM is coughing up something along the lines of one-directional transfer," he said. "Microsoft is telling IBM what will happen, and designing the machine (itself)."

This has to be a joke or misunderstanding. It's so... illogical from what we've heard so far. We need to be missing something major.

Well, as for the known members of the Power Series, we have: Power3, Power4, Power5 in 2004 @ 130nm, Power5+ in 2005 @ 90nm, Power6 in 2006 @ 65nm.

 

[b3d_suxxor]

IBM already started to fab a revolutionary beast with the Berkeley IRAM design. With a Vector IRAM design, Microsoft would get a very high performance part, without serious thermal issues, and at a reasonable cost.


According to this page, IBM sent Berkeley completed wafers in June 2003.

http://iram.cs.berkeley.edu/chip.html


An article on the IRAM concept.

http://iram.cs.berkeley.edu/papers/IRAM.computer.pdf

IRAM?? ROFL. You make funny post.

 

[Tuttle]

"Cool! I thought I was the only one around here... "

Yeah, boards like this one tend to be dominated by wintel freaks.

I don't think I every imagined I could be more blown away by a machine than my dual G5.

Dual 2gig 750
Altivec
Apple Tech
NeXT Tech
Java Tech
BSD Tech
9800 Pro
iTunes+iPod

Oh my god yes.

The only thing missing is one of those 23" displays, hopefully the rumored new models will be out soon.

 

[McFly]

I don't think I every imagined I could be more blown away by a machine than my dual G5.

I will get my dual G5 this week. Can't wait.

Fredi

PS: I think the strategy of MS is not even that bad with a Q4 2004 launch if they know that they would not have a CPU in Q4 2005 to challenge the cell chip.

 

[cthellis42]

Being a Mac fan, all of you with or getting G5's should send me a PM with your address and the times at which you will be out of the house so that I can burg... er... protect your computer from all the hooligans who would obviously be after it. ^_^;;

I want a G5 like nobody's business... I also want there to be not so many moths in my wallet.

(Ok, technically I want a cinema display more, since I can use it with the computer I have now. I'll just have to resist the temptation to lick the screen.)

 

[bbot]

Here's part of what teamxbox had to say:

"One month ago we brought you the exclusive. Now, you see why we are the Insider's Choice for Xbox Information!"






Azbat,

Did any of your sources tell you of this deal?

 

[McFly]

From Gamasutra:

IBM To Power Xbox 2

Representatives from Microsoft have confirmed that IBM will be creating various chips for the next generation Xbox console. The first Xbox console uses Intel technology but the switch for the next machine is thought to be due to the lower power consumption and running temperature of IBM’s PowerPC chips.

Sounds like they will not only do the CPU, maybe they will even fab the ATI GPU.

Fredi

 

[London Geezer]

i knew it.... Always thought IBM and ATi would make a mountain of cash from the next gen consoles.......

 

[McFly]

Not sure if already posted:

SiS Announces Technology Development Agreement with Microsoft

~ Xbox Integrates SiS Media I/O Technologies Into Future Xbox Products and Services ~

Taipei, November 04, 2003 – Microsoft Corp. (Nasdaq "MSFT") today announced it has entered into a technology development agreement with SiS (Silicon Integrated Systems) Corp. (TSE: 2363). Under the agreement, SiS is developing advanced media Input/Output technologies for use in future Xbox® products and services.



"We're integrating SiS' cutting edge, media I/O technologies into future products to create innovative Xbox products and services that serve the digital entertainment lifestyle." said Todd Holmdahl, general manager Xbox hardware.



"The selection of Silicon Integrated Systems Corporation (SiS) by Microsoft Corporation to partner in future Xbox gaming technologies confirms the SiS track record for innovation in design and supplying leading edge technologies to the market." said Michael Chen, President and Chief Executive Officer, SiS Corp. "Microsoft's decision clearly demonstrates its confidence in SiS' ability to deliver cutting edge technologies, design & integration expertise that will be vital to future the Xbox platform."



About Silicon Integrated Systems Corp. (SiS)
Silicon Integrated Systems Corp. (SiS) is a worldwide leader in the development, manufacturing and marketing of leading-edge logic products, including core logic, multimedia, communcation and information appliance. The company was founded in 1987 in the Hsin-Chu Science-based Industrial Park in Taiwan and has been listed on the Taiwan Stock Exchange (TSE2363) since August 1997. SiS combines professional chip design with advanced semiconductor manufacturing technologies. For more information, please visit www.sis.com.

So it is:

CPU: Power PC
GPU: ATI
In/Out chip: SiS

Fredi

 

[notAFanB]

i knew it.... Always thought IBM and ATi would make a mountain of cash from the next gen consoles.......

good move, kudos to them.

 

[Rodéric]

So it is:
CPU: Power PC
GPU: ATI
In/Out chip: SiS

Fredi

And NES5 is:
CPU : PowerPC
GPU: ATI

I see a pattern here...