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Nv40
03-23-04, 09:06 PM
if Pc graphics keep at this pace ,will the Xbox2 be outdated before its released?

Will M$ allow ATI to release something faster than the R500 version in the Xbox2 before the console its released?

just think about this carefully before replying..
it took ~1 year or less for PC market to catch the power in the Xbox1 with graphics cards. the cpu power in the console and memory ram was already a year behind with the standar in high machines.

graphics power inside the incomming Xbox2 (R500)is part of the marketting, a big selling point for Microsoft next generation console . i ask this because RIght now its looks like Nvidia is changing their roadmaps ,releasing more powerfull hardware ..much much earlier than their old roadmaps pointed. with all this rumors with some credibility about 16x1 pipes cards not far from ~ 200 million transitors ,from both ATI and NVidia. and releasing in every new generation of card ,insane speed at least 2x-3x from previous generation.

if the info around the internet is more or less reliable ,and the performance and features too ,what will happen if this graphics cards competition continues at this level in the pcmarket. ?

MIcrosoft is looking for better tech ,but at the same time they want to reduce costs in the hardware inside of the Xbox2. (that was part of the conflict between NV and M$ in the Xbox1) so dont expect something as ambitious there as SOny PSx3 with its multi processors parallel aproach.

xbox2" will not be released most likely until ~2006 ,thats a long time.. and the design of the hardware should be set on stone at the least 1-1.5 year before it launch. so what will happen if we continue to see a strong competition with this 2x-3x times faster in every new generation of cards ,and with features that already are at the level of DX10. (remember that ATI released at DX9 chip ~7 months before MS Dx9 was oficially released.

what will happen if NVdia and other companies ,push the performance and features too far beyond M$ expectations ,when the Xbox2 was designed? can this contract of ATI with M$ in the Xbox2 be an obstacle ,and limit their freedom with the features and performance in the PC graphics card market.

who will buy an Xbox2 if the graphics/performance in the PC gaming is already superior than the Xbox2 when its released?
not many .. probably the people that doesnt have Pc's .
sure we are discussing here the powerfull R500 version of the Xbox2 ,a directx10 gpu. but remember how powerfull was the "geforce 3.5" and Xbox machine ,and how quicky the PC gaming catched the tech. and that was in a time when there was no competition at all.


if im not mistaken ,the design of Xbox2 hardware is based on a target ,where cost$$/performance/features is important but also is based on a "prediction" of where the tech will be far ahead on time.
but that prediction it just that a prediction. and can be completly wrong IF the competion who drives the industry its everytime more and more stronger,with more companies joining.
i will not be surprised to see PC's gaming surpassing the capabilities of consoles like Xbox2 and gamecube2 ,much before they are released.. thats why im curious about if there are disadvantages on having a contract with M$ (or any other company) to design a console ,that can limit the freedom of a company about how far they can go in features and performance in the PC gaming. because its already normal to see hardware released much before the "standars" are final.

the more i analize this,the more it looks that microsoft not only wants to compete againts other consoles ,but also to againts the PC market in general. if they are sucessfull , you not only will need to buy from them the Operating system WIndows_ ,but also the computer. "Xbox2" specially if you want to play state of the art games ;)

any ideas?

LiquidX
03-24-04, 01:41 AM
Will M$ allow ATI to release something faster than the R500 version in the Xbox2 before the console its released?
Why not? That would be hindering ATI's core business.

what will happen NVdia and other companies ,push the performance and features too far beyond M$ expectations

This wont happen if one goes by current trends. Take a 9700, 9800 and 9800XT for example. The ony thing that has really pushed these cards to warrant there upgrade from the previous incarnation is the ego of the user IMO.

who will buy an Xbox2 if the graphics/performance in the PC gaming is already superior than the Xbox2 when its released?

Those who can't afford a $1,000 "uber" game system even though there getting cheaper but can afford a $300 console with not so much worries. Also as fun as it is to sit in front of a monitor some prefer a huge ass T.V with a bunch of friends.



In the end X-Box 2 will not be outdated if you look at if from the console tecnology view. Also PC's will always outperform consoles to an extent based on the fact that there upgradable. But as years come it wont be by much because I do not think devolpers are pushing the technology of these cards to there limit which is causing consoles to catch up. And I dont think anyone should be surprised if consoles surpass PC's in graphics quality based on the fact every console user has the same system specs and thus devolpers are not held back in what they want or intend to do because of scaling back for some users (Ninja Gaiden and the up coming Resident Evil 4 are evidence of this). This is whats happening to pc games at the moment IMO, devolopers have to scale back because of the many users who do not have high end cards or the same configuration. So we have cards which are capable of DX9 but no real games to take avantage of it because designers are scared they might eliminate there core and majority of buyers, those with DX.8 and below cards. This wont be a problem for consoles and with television tecnology improving and Microsoft trying to port every shooter (the biggest seller on the pc front and the stickler for most gamers) be afraid, very afraid...or in some peoples cases happy. :bye:

Lezmaka
03-24-04, 01:53 AM
Even if it is outdated compared to ati's high-end offering, it doesn't mean a damn thing because it's a console, not a computer. The PS2 is really outdated, and xbox is pretty outdated as well, yet people are still buying them like crazy.

One could argue that even the xbox was outdated when it was released. It's gpu is a somewhat enhanced GF3 running at a lower speed.

mikechai
03-24-04, 02:09 AM
Short answer: No.

Long answer: Noooooooooooooooo!

-=DVS=-
03-24-04, 05:18 AM
I think it doesn't realy matter if R500 in Xbox 2 would get outdate next day , whats important is its not a PC microsoft better pack it all in small box aka Game Cube with nice graphics and small space needs its a killer product , not a green tower case with Xbox painted on it :| and computer parts.....

sxotty
03-24-04, 09:05 AM
You do realize you can plug any new graphics card into a huge ass TV right? And then you get antialiasing and stuff as well as a decent resolution that HDTV's can actually take advantage of.