Wednesday, April 11th 2012
Xbox Durango Packs 16-core PowerPC CPU
A report in the the latest issue of Xbox World print magazine suggests that developer kits (devkits) of Durango (next-generation Xbox console), were implementing a "state of the art" 16-core IBM PowerPC CPU, its companion graphics processor is AMD-made, spec'd equivalent to AMD Radeon HD 7000 series, as previously reported. The 16-core CPU is said to have been implemented with a far-sight on the platform's longevity. "It's a ridiculous amount of power for a games machine - too much power, even. But remember, Kinect 2 could chew up four whole cores tracking multiple players right down to their fingertips, so it'll need a lot of power," the Xbox World article commented.
Source:
CVG
93 Comments on Xbox Durango Packs 16-core PowerPC CPU
I think everyone needs to stop comparing this to standard desktop CPUs unless you happen to be running a RISC processor on your tower, which I seriously doubt.
Basically it works like this.
Reasons for RISC:
• Small, heavily optimized instruction set executable in single short cycle
• All instructions same size
• No microcode = faster execution
• Extra speed more than offsets increased code size, reduced functionality
• Better compiler target
Reasons for CISC:
• Fewer instructions per task
• Shorter programs
• Hardware implementation of complex instructions faster than software
• Extra addressing modes help compiler
Source for lists since I'm lazy.
I bet it does exist, but then creating multiple risc and cisc procs in a console would be kickass, say a risc for antialising, one for color, one for physics, etc and the ciscs for game normal code
Bulldozer has extra resources for multi-threading.
Intel uses unused resources for multi-threading.
Neither of which is bad, because Intel doesn't have to add much of anything to add HyperThreading but AMD gains extra full powered threads at the cost of single-threaded performance (which can be improved,) and die space. (Poor IPC is due to the slower cache and poor branch prediction on a long pipeline in comparison to Intel's current offerings.) Sun Microsystems (now owned by Oracle,) has the SPARC CPU, which runs RISC and multiple threads. In fact the SPARC T4 has 8 cores, each of which can run 8 simultaneous threads per core and runs at 2.8ghz to 3ghz iirc. Now, this isn't a desktop chip, it is designed for servers and server workloads, but it shows that it is possible to run multiple cores and multiple threads per core. Now, unless you have any facts instead of criticizing what I have to say, I recommend that you stop trolling and only post if you actually have something useful to contribute.
Seems alot of people here want to bash the new systems because they will not be dual octo-core Xeons running HD 8990 GPUs. No crap! Get over yourselves. Consoles will always be favored by the majority of casual AND hardcore gamers for so many reasons.
As for this Durango rumour, sounds more like 2 x 8-Core CPU's working in tandem along with 2 x GPU's most likely based on the HD 7900 series.
The difference I believe is the ability for MS to release the new XBOX with an approximate 12 to 14 months head start over the PS4.
The benefits, the XBOX having processing power via the CPU's where as the PS4 having the newer GPU(s).
Of course, this is all speculation based on a number of rumors.www.fudzilla.com/home/item/26730-durango-to-pack-16-core-cpu
16 physical cores, but oh can build on, and outperform 16 threads. CPU's are Cheap now, 16 cores sound a lot more reasonable, especial. When trying to somewhat future proof a console.
(part 2) This is simply not true and you know it. I can easily afford a powerful rig, but after a hard days work, I like to sit back on my comfy couch, grab my controller and throw on my XBL headset. It takes just a minute to get in a match with friends and I can sit back with the controller. I know everybody here has a boner for keyboard and mouse, but it is simply not practical with that set up.
Effectively, you're asking me to show you a game that is really unoptimized, like Saints Row 2.
Edit: It is easy to scale graphic features according to GPU but it is not easy to scale game logic according to CPU. The CPU handles tasks that are essential so to increase CPU load in a meaningful way often means changing how the game plays in some major way (like lots of AIs, scientific phsyics calculations instead of guesstimates, updating more objects in the game, etc.) I have a comfy $400 office chair. I have an Xbox 360 controller, mouse, and keyboard always plugged in to my computer--I pick which tool is best for the game and use it. I got my Razer Carcharias headset too. I can get into a match in a minute with any game installed as well (currently 55 titles). If I really wanted to, I could grab that controller (yes, it is wireless) and play virtually any game from my bed.
In truth, the controller collects dust 95% of the time. It only really beats keyboard/mouse in racing and platformer games and I do little of either.