Rumor: Next Xbox Will Have ARM CPU, Windows 9 Core

[alextheblue]

[citation][nom]molo9000[/nom]I don't think porting from ARM to x86 is any more difficult than porting from PowerPC to x86. (All current consoles use PowerPC).Porting is going to more difficult if they use specialized coprocessors for AI, physics, etc.I think that's why there were much fewer console ports back in the days of the N64 and PSX. Consoles back than used a lot of very specialized hardware and were too different from PCs to make ports viable.[/citation]
APIs. Middleware. Etc. It doesn't matter as much what the underlying hardware is, anymore. I mean shoot, how many developers even write their own 3D engines completely in-house from scratch anymore? Those that do, typically get them running on every major platform and license them out.

 

[Guest]

I tend to disagree with most of the comments on this one.

The ARM SoC will be co-designed by three companies and, being a future chip, will surely take advantage of smaller nm manufacturing processes, more cores, and new strategies for multicore architectures.

I think that the Windows 9 core will be used, not 8. Windows 9 might not even be available for developer preview by then, but we're not talking about the full- fledged OS here, it's just the core. Since the job here is not to operate a PC, but a gaming console, the software around the win core can be a bit simpler (as in "unburdened" or "unbloated"), and that means faster development time.

Performance-wise, nothing can stop them from customizing the chip, making it more powerful. It's ARM allright, but it's only made for the XBOX, not for general, multipurpose usage. They're already planning for specialized ("assistive") cores for graphics, AI, physics etc. Equally important is the fact that the software developer, is also the chip designer, translating to less compromises and tighter integration between h/w and s/w. Now, considering M$'s efforts towards better and more efficient utilization of multiple core chips, especially in Windows 8, this upcoming console looks very promising. Let's hope M$ will make it right.

The most important part for me, is the development platform. I hate ports just as every other PC user out there. Ports, not only take away from PCs the better visuals, but even worse, they take away the very essense of gaming, the gameplay. That's where fun in gaming mainly comes from.

If, by using the Windows 9 core, they can make development transparent between PCs and the new XBOX, then I think that's really good news. Normally, developers will only need to consider the Windows 9 core when programming, not the underlying architecture. That's what M$ has been doing on PCs so far, and I believe that's were they're taking XBOX, too. I'm sure many disagree with M$ on that, especially developers who like to push hardware to the limits (id software is one I guess), who will lose their freedom of "talking" directly to the h/w (maybe even more), but that's a different story.
As long as that's what they're aiming for, I think we should be somewhat (yes, I hate it when developers have to compromise, like they do with DirectX) happy, because this means better ports. Not really ports, but if developers still need to reprogram controllers from gamepads to mice and keyboard, I'd rather call it a port.

One thing is certain, the world of computing is undergoing dramatic and radical changes. I cross my fingers.

 

[eddieroolz]

For a moment I thought the next Xbox will have 9 cores. Then I realized they probably mean the Windows 9 OS.

Well, given that Xbox has 3-core processor now, I wouldn't be surprised if Microsoft goes odd again...

 

[Borisblade7]

[citation][nom]alidan[/nom]i want them to drop a hdd altogether, have 4gb internal for the core system, and allow us to buy what ever hdd we want, and put it in, i dont want to be paying 2 grand for a 1 tb harddrive.[/citation]

1tb costs like 55 bux not 2grand its still under 100 bux for a 2tb even, that is if they let you use any HD. But as is they force you to buy their overpriced complete crap HD's that are slow and literally 10x as much as one on a pc. By the time those consoles come out, you are easily talkin 5tb for under $100, puttin 4gb versus the 5000gb of the 5tb like you say would be mental retardation. The joys of teh crappy closed system consoles. Really dont miss my
360. Usin it to prop up a few of my pc accessories atm, it rarely ever sees actual use.

 

[Guest]

@borisblade7

the reason why the xbox (and other consoles) work well on modest hardware is because they remove alot of middle-ware, they dont need that many hand shaking protocols because the hardware profile is known down to the exact firmware, often allowing games to access and address the hardware directly. Allowing users to utilize generic hardware will require the reintroduction of middle-ware to negotiate with the hardware which would impose (often very significant) operational overheads on the OS

not saying it's right, just pointing out why it might be the way it is

 

[theconsolegamer]

This looks like a PS3.5 LOL Oh M$, you sure are fking shit.

 

[iam2thecrowe]

i hope it will have more than 512mb ram this time!

 

[dimar]

If anything, the next Xbox should be the first to have holodisk optical drive, with ultra high def support 🙂 Can Ballmer do it?

 

[sayantan]

[citation][nom]darkchazz[/nom]YESSS I WANT AVATAR GRAFIX !!!/sarcasm[/citation]
Wait until 2019..

 

[mickey21]

[citation][nom]molo9000[/nom]Having several separate cores for AI, physics, etc. only makes development and porting between platforms more difficult.Keep it simple![/citation]
Although, if it is in fact based on the Windows 8 core, which is supposed to support ARM, this may make it easier to port from Console to PC. Not that I am in favor of this behavior, but it may be easier if both games can run on a similar kernel, something I am sure MS isnt overlooking.

 

[Guest]

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