Official speculate before its too late: RSX Spec thread

[j^aws]

That is what makes Rambus so compelling, the massive bandwidth it would supply on a 128 bit bus. If Rambus is used for the memory bus, the RSX would be able to take advantage of GPU features designed for a 256 bit bus running on high speed GDDR3 memory. Things like A.A. and HDR consume a lot of bandwidth.

When XDR2 was promoted earlier this year for GPUs, I thought it would make a good candidate for RSX too. However, it was surprising to see GDDR3 mentioned at E3 and there was a subsequent interview by a Sony exec (foroet who), that mentioned that GDDR3 was left basically for cost/benefit reasons...

 

[!eVo!-X Ant UK]

The RSX will be a GPU that's powerful enough to run at an acceptable temperature threshold, powerful enough to be produced by the millions by an inexperienced fabricator, and powerful enough for a sub $500 console.

My guess? RSX = G70 at 90nm with RAMBUS memory interface and useless features stripped out. It will allow the console to be relatively small and in the $399 range.

Since when has sony been inexperienced at fabbing??

 

[Carl B]

When XDR2 was promoted earlier this year for GPUs, I thought it would make a good candidate for RSX too. However, it was surprising to see GDDR3 mentioned at E3 and there was a subsequent interview by a Sony exec (foroet who), that mentioned that GDDR3 was left basically for cost/benefit reasons...

Isn't the word also though that NVidia was having issues with implementing the memory controller for XDR? Granted with over a year to work on it you'd think that wouldn't be an issue... still, I do believe this was mentioned at some point.

XDR2 I think would be too late in any event; on Rambus' site it says it's available for license now, but gives 2007 as the estimate for shipping products.

Even just normal XDR would be great on RSX if they managed to pull it off however.

 

[!eVo!-X Ant UK]

What do you guys think of this:

http://forum.pcvsconsole.com/viewthread.php?tid=17875

pcvsconsole.com??

ROFLZ....chairmansteve...hahaha

He runs the forum, but has the same attitude as the people from the GS forums.

 

[j^aws]

Isn't the word also though that NVidia was having issues with implementing the memory controller for XDR?

Never heard that, do you have a link?

Granted with over a year to work on it you'd think that wouldn't be an issue... still, I do believe this was mentioned at some point.

XDR2 I think would be too late in any event; on Rambus' site it says it's available for license now, but gives 2007 as the estimate for shipping products.

Even just normal XDR would be great on RSX if they managed to pull it off however.

Well the thing I find strange is that interfaces like FlexIO and XDR from Rambus are inherently designed to be modular/ bolt-on type products, so I still find it strange that 1) RSX hasn't tapped out and 2) XDR/XDR2 (I believe the close Sony/Rambus ties would give them an early eye on XDR2) wasn't announced for RSX...we'll see though...

 

[Carl B]

Never heard that, do you have a link?

I don't off the top of my head unfortunately... I'm searching now among the places I would have seen it to see if I find it. I may have constructed that 'fact' out of theory and discussion back in the day though, so no guarantees.

 

[Brimstone]

Samsung has been nailed in court over Rambus. About 85% of the world wide GDDR3 supply comes from Samsung. I think Samsung is very eager to to work with Rambus these days and get the lawsuit behind them.

 

[psurge]

How do we know that RSX hasn't taped out? (I thought that tape out to mass production was ~6 months now in the GPU world...)

 

[j^aws]

How do we know that RSX hasn't taped out? (I thought that tape out to mass production was ~6 months now in the GPU world...)

Well, it could well be but it's been kept a big secret. We usually hear a tapeout via some source, at least on the net, e.g Xenos, G70, R520... it could well be that because Sony is fabbing it, that we'll never hear it from the usual sources...

 

[ERP]

Well, it could well be but it's been kept a big secret. We usually hear a tapeout via some source, at least on the net, e.g Xenos, G70, R520... it could well be that because Sony is fabbing it, that we'll never hear it from the usual sources...

If Sony is going to get even close to it's "Final devkits in December" thing then RSX must have taped out and probably have at least one spin back from the fab at this point.

Just because you haven't heard it doesn't make it untrue.

 

[Brimstone]

If Sony is going to get even close to it's "Final devkits in December" thing then RSX must have taped out and probably have at least one spin back from the fab at this point.

Just because you haven't heard it doesn't make it untrue.

But if you combine the rumored "no final kits yet", with the lack of gameplay shown, and the shifting of nVidia design teams at some point last year (the latest rumor that the upcomming G80 is a unfied architechture which is a big suprise) you have to begin to wonder a little.

 

[overclocked]

But if you combine the rumored "no final kits yet", with the lack of gameplay shown, and the shifting of nVidia design teams at some point last year (the latest rumor that the upcomming G80 is a unfied architechture which is a big suprise) you have to begin to wonder a little.

Well all want more memory/MHz whatnot but i would say that RSX is likely based on the new highend card from nvidia ie G71, highly likely.

 

[chachi]

Well all want more memory/MHz whatnot but i would say that RSX is likely based on the new highend card from nvidia ie G71, highly likely.

I'd guess it'll be a 90nm respin of the G70 with Flex I/O. What?! Same as before? Yep. Since everyone is already convinced it's more powerful why bother with any improvements to the spec? Getting to production and/or profitability quicker is more important at this point. The more time they let MS sit as the sole next gen console the harder it's going to be to maintain their current level of dominance. According to EA the sales for current gen titles (at least in not-Japan) have fallen way off, times a wastin'.

Well, if they really wanted to be Sony Claus they could add more GDDR, bring it up to 512MB would be about right and have a bigger impact on graphics than a slightly more powerful GPU. C'mon Ken, you know you want to do it.

 

[Zen]

I think those drawings have been featured prominently throughout this thread already and are the object of discussion at this very moment.

Plus I should mention that that post they're discussing originated back on my home forum, so 'Chairmansteve' if you're reading this, chillax a little bud!

A speculation thread being billed as a Sony-FUD campaign places the onus on *you* to justify your words and actions, not on those who are clearly and openly speculating. And oh my god, Polygon Crusher - LOL!

Chairman Steve is a purely corrupted ****** who runs his own site/forum, you'd have as much progress in reasoning with him as you would with an uneducated diehard of Xbox.com.

 

[overclocked]

I'd guess it'll be a 90nm respin of the G70 with Flex I/O. What?! Same as before? Yep. Since everyone is already convinced it's more powerful why bother with any improvements to the spec? Getting to production and/or profitability quicker is more important at this point. The more time they let MS sit as the sole next gen console the harder it's going to be to maintain their current level of dominance. According to EA the sales for current gen titles (at least in not-Japan) have fallen way off, times a wastin'.

Well, if they really wanted to be Sony Claus they could add more GDDR, bring it up to 512MB would be about right and have a bigger impact on graphics than a slightly more powerful GPU. C'mon Ken, you know you want to do it.

Sounds to boring Nah but i guess besides marketingspin and such that its likely that whatever they do "in timeframe" for PS3 should be the same that will be out on the PC.
But anything is possible i guess.

 

[_xxx_]

But if you combine the rumored "no final kits yet", with the lack of gameplay shown, and the shifting of nVidia design teams at some point last year (the latest rumor that the upcomming G80 is a unfied architechture which is a big suprise) you have to begin to wonder a little.

Just waiting for nV to release G80 with the line "Unified architecture done right"!

 

[London Geezer]

Just waiting for nV to release G80 with the line "Unified architecture done right"!

*The Way It's Meant To Be Unified!*

 

[weaksauce]

Do they gain anything on scrapping the directX "hardware support"?

 

[_xxx_]

Do they gain anything on scrapping the directX "hardware support"?

What's that about?

 

[weaksauce]

What's that about?

Hey I don't know.
I was thinking that if the video features that were taken away saved trasistors maybe this would too.
I know the FX series had the worst DX support but kicked ass in openGL, so I guess there some hardware stuff there for DX that they could take away and save some money or replace it with something more useful.