Predict: The Next Generation Console Tech

[kagemaru]

In addition, would they have a need for additional GDDR5 or Edram?

I would think so, yes. Unless they want to run into many of the same issues devs had this gen with the PS3.

 

[aaronspink]

Question, what is the highest density g-spec DDR3 and how would they be able to get 8GB of it into a console?

You can currently use 4gb DDR3 devices in g-spec but MS is most likely targeting 2gb x16 devices currently due to cost. g-spec is basically just a limited subspec of the normal DDR3 using only a point to point connection without connectors which allows faster transmission frequencies.

 

[aaronspink]

Is DDR3 too low for videogames?

PTP DDR3 can run upwards of 2.6 Gb/s with potential to hit 3 Gb/s. You are looking at 96 GB/s on a 256b bus.

 

[torque]

PTP DDR3 can run upwards of 2.6 Gb/s with potential to hit 3 Gb/s. You are looking at 96 GB/s on a 256b bus.

So its enough?

 

[XpiderMX]

PTP DDR3 can run upwards of 2.6 Gb/s with potential to hit 3 Gb/s. You are looking at 96 GB/s on a 256b bus.

Ok thanks... And GDDR3? with a bigger bus than Xbox 360?

 

[ninelven]

Given the fixed resolution of 1080p & the adoption of alternate AA methods, it would be workable (if somewhat disappointing). I wouldn't expect 4xMSAA on AAA titles though.

 

[bgassassin]

Weren't you the one they linked saying nextbox looks to be "high end PC" in comparison with the other two? Man this is always like this when next generation is near:smile:

Yes, it was in the post I responded to. And like mentioned, that was before I saw the "rough draft".

I don't know if ShockingAlberto (in NeoGAF) is legit, but he said that MS is going "batshit crazy"

He's also said that he's not "tech guy".

 

[AlNom]

g-spec is basically just a limited subspec of the normal DDR3 using only a point to point connection without connectors which allows faster transmission frequencies.

Just to clarify the technology & numbering:

GDDR4/5 is derived from DDR3
GDDR3 is derived from DDR2

 

[XpiderMX]

Yes, it was in the post I responded to. And like mentioned, that was before I saw the "rough draft".



He's also said that he's not "tech guy".

Good point, but Epic, "raising the ceiling" and "generational leap" must have some meaning...

 

[tunafish]

4 GB is simply not viable with current GDDR5. The chips required to do it aren't currently sampling.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but can't you use normal GDDR5 memory modules as 16-bit chips? (Clamshell mode) That way, 256-bit bus, 16 2Gbit chips makes for 4GB ram.

Of course, this is really expensive, and I would be very surprised to see this in a console. But it's possible.

 

[Acert93]

Back on the 8GB thought train... what would be the best way to do that? 8GB DDR3 with eDRAM for the GPU? 6GB DDR3 and 2GDDR5? And what of AMD showing off some stacked memory last year for a "future" GPU? Could we not maybe see 256MB or 512MB of stacked memory for speed and then a larger pool of slower DDR3?

 

[shiznit]

For the Durango, would a two chip solution such as this be feasible:

chip one: CPUs + cache/eDRAM + fixed-function GPU components + memory interface
chip two: shader processors

High speed bus between them and you can always combine to SOC later in the life cycle.

 

[Acert93]

So where do you exactly want to cut this architecture? And how are you going to keep up the bandwidth (internal bandwidth is very high) and the latency (which is very low--and will become very high with off chip traces)?

 

[shiznit]

I'm not an expert at this, what do you call the grey bar above the memory controllers?

 

[itsmydamnation]

my guess would be a cross bar.

my uneducated guess is you really dont want to split it there, lots of wires running really fast == make the wire distances as short as possible.

you would want to split it in the location where least amount of data moves. its the whole AFR issue all over again.

 

[shiznit]

Good point, I was hoping for something exotic but if they are sticking with GCN unchanged that seems unlikely. The pastebin dual-gpu rumor got me thinking and I spoke too soon

 

[XpiderMX]

Can the HD 6670 (from IGN rumour) be the "not-so-powerful-GPU" in the latest Durango rumours?

Is this GPU like "6X" Xenos? Can a "very powerful" CPU + HD 6670 + 4/8GB be a good next gen console?

 

[torque]

Can the HD 6670 (from IGN rumour) be the "not-so-powerful-GPU" in the latest Durango rumours?

Is this GPU like "6X" Xenos? Can a "very powerful" CPU + HD 6670 + 4/8GB be a good next gen console?

Absolutely sure that they could make some pretty major changes to that card. However, raw horsepower and some features would still be missing.

 

[kalelovil]

Can the HD 6670 (from IGN rumour) be the "not-so-powerful-GPU" in the latest Durango rumours?

Is this GPU like "6X" Xenos? Can a "very powerful" CPU + HD 6670 + 4/8GB be a good next gen console?

If that rumour has any credence, then it must have been an early prototype.
There is no reason for Microsoft to go with Turks for the final release when Cape Verde is almost a drop in replacement (roughly the same TDP and die size) and 80% faster.

 

[liolio]

Even in something conservative, the hd 7750 is the botton line for gpu performance at this point.
Lower would be indeed a suicidal and that's even with an APU to back up.
That's my pov at least.