think about it.. Ati chip in next X box 2 ???

[mexell]

If our NV40 is so good..Why is it that an ATI chip is going to be in Xbox 2...
does Microsoft know something we dont know???

[Diamond_G]

ATI cost them less... (think: ATI is also in GameCube and it is what 99 dollars??)

[Edge]

Microsoft had some disputes with Nvidia over the Xbox GPU (costs and other things, MS even took Nvidia to court...and won). So they're going with ATI this time. However since the Xbox 2 will likely use technology based on the NEXT generation (as in after the 6800/x800), the current video card generation won't affect how the Xbox 2 will turn out.

Oh, and ATI didn't design the Gamecube chip. It was made by a company called ArtX, who were bought out by ATI after the chip was finalised and before the GC was launched.

[nVidi0t]

nVidia also ran into supply problems and weren't fully pleasing Microsoft. Hence the change.

[CaiNaM]

Microsoft had some disputes with Nvidia over the Xbox GPU (costs and other things, MS even took Nvidia to court...and won). So they're going with ATI this time. However since the Xbox 2 will likely use technology based on the NEXT generation (as in after the 6800/x800), the current video card generation won't affect how the Xbox 2 will turn out.

Oh, and ATI didn't design the Gamecube chip. It was made by a company called ArtX, who were bought out by ATI after the chip was finalised and before the GC was launched.

and artx was responsible for much, if not all of r3xx... ati scored big acquiring them.

[Shamrock]

*thinks about it for .627 seconds*

Ok I thought about it, I'm not getting an XBox2....as a matter of fact I didnt get XBox 1 either

[volkskrant]

If our NV40 is so good..Why is it that an ATI chip is going to be in Xbox 2...
does Microsoft know something we dont know???

1) Wait for the R420 before putting final judgement on the NV40

2) The Xbox 2 will be based on a R500 derative, not R420

3) other arguments mentioned in earlier posts

[Zeta]

Microsoft had some disputes with Nvidia over the Xbox GPU (costs and other things, MS even took Nvidia to court...and won). So they're going with ATI this time. However since the Xbox 2 will likely use technology based on the NEXT generation (as in after the 6800/x800), the current video card generation won't affect how the Xbox 2 will turn out.

Oh, and ATI didn't design the Gamecube chip. It was made by a company called ArtX, who were bought out by ATI after the chip was finalised and before the GC was launched.

I don't think that's exactly right. As I recall reading they took it to a mediator (not court) and they both compromised a little bit: nvidia dropped the price but not as much as M$ wanted them to.

[Ruined]

It's pretty simple, XBOX1 was Microsoft's attempt to make a name for themselves in the video game industry, so they put huge amounts of money into the console including its software, hardware, and advertising. Now that they have made a name for themselves, basically outselling longtime videogame maker Nintendo in North America, the second generation they have to focus on continuing with high performance, but also cutting down in costs so they don't lose as much money as they did with XBOX1. Going with IBM/ATI over Intel/Nvidia is just one way they have saved money in XBOX2. There is even talk of them dropping the hard drive in XBOX2 to save money which would suck (no backwards compatibility, no custom soundtracks, no infinite memory card, etc)

[-=DVS=-]

Actually they droping harddrive to implement new flash-harddrive , there was news about it somewhere if anything it might increase prise :p

[oqvist]

It was decided long before anything was known about the NV40 or R420. It was because ATI having the superior hardware in the R300 which made Microsoft to go with ATI. That and they perhaps got a better deal ;)

[Morrow]

If our NV40 is so good..Why is it that an ATI chip is going to be in Xbox 2...
does Microsoft know something we dont know???


Microsoft forgot to tell nvidia that they never intended to make any profit with the Xbox... Of course nvidia is no longer interested in deals where they can't make any profit or at least break even.

[Ruined]

Actually they droping harddrive to implement new flash-harddrive , there was news about it somewhere if anything it might increase prise :p

That's just a rumor too, there is no concrete 'news' on the XBOX2's storage format, though the strong rumors suggest no hard drive. If they do go flash, it will likely be because of costs, because there are too many downsides to losing a harddrive to go flash for any other reason (i.e. size).

[Arrghman]

Microsoft forgot to tell nvidia that they never intended to make any profit with the Xbox... Of course nvidia is no longer interested in deals where they can't make any profit or at least break even.

nVidia made a profit on their XBox parts, it was Microsoft who took the hit... but of course, they expected to.

[stncttr908]

Microsoft forgot to tell nvidia that they never intended to make any profit with the Xbox... Of course nvidia is no longer interested in deals where they can't make any profit or at least break even.Microsoft is the one that is absorbing the losses from the Xbox hardware. Who would ever go into a contract like that? I don't think NVIDIA ever would.

[ChrisRay]

Microsoft is the one that is absorbing the losses from the Xbox hardware. Who would ever go into a contract like that? I don't think NVIDIA ever would.



Actually what happened was Microsoft told Nvidia they wanted parts cheaper Than the original contract, Nvidia didnt like that idea (They wanted to make a profit)

Nvidia managed to keep its per wafer/price agreement with Microsft (contract Microsoft signed) And Nvidia made money from it, and Microsoft took a hit, This of course probably left a sour taste in Microsofts mouth and it is very likely Microsoft remembered that when discussing Xbox2 contract.

[evilchris]

It was decided long before anything was known about the NV40 or R420. It was because ATI having the superior hardware in the R300 which made Microsoft to go with ATI. That and they perhaps got a better deal ;)

:lol2:

Actually it had nothing to do with "ATI having superior hardware in the R300". Your comment reaks of fanboi. The reason is NVIDIA DIDN'T WIN THE BID. Aka, they refused to license their IP to Microsoft for X dollars, but ATI did.

[saturnotaku]

It was decided long before anything was known about the NV40 or R420. It was because ATI having the superior hardware in the R300 which made Microsoft to go with ATI. That and they perhaps got a better deal ;)

:rofl

Ooh, I think bknblk should add this to his list of absolute most stupid statements ever made on this board.

[photophreak314]

Who really cares? If we're all PC enthusiasts, why get any sort of console? I know that there is no way I would go with a console if I had a good PC. Although, consoles are more cost effective than PC's, so some might consider them an option too. But I don't.

[evilchris]

I have a 3.2GHz P4 with 2GB of DDR and a 9800 Pro. I also have an Xbox and love it. 65" Mistubishi Diamond plus Denon AVR 3805 receiver in DD is unbeatable by a PC. Each platfrom has strengths. Consoles are good at giving the "whole experience". Awesome sound, display, and decent graphics. Sitting in a chair 12 inches from a 21" monitor with some pseudo wanna be DD soundcard doesn't always cut it :P

[CaiNaM]

I have a 3.2GHz P4 with 2GB of DDR and a 9800 Pro. I also have an Xbox and love it. 65" Mistubishi Diamond plus Denon AVR 3805 receiver in DD is unbeatable by a PC. Each platfrom has strengths. Consoles are good at giving the "whole experience". Awesome sound, display, and decent graphics. Sitting in a chair 12 inches from a 21" monitor with some pseudo wanna be DD soundcard doesn't always cut it :P

hmm.. well i have all 3 consoles in our house, along with multiple pc's, and frankly the audigy2 w/ logitech thx system is hardly a "wanna be" setup... i am sure most ppl who have both hi end audio equip as well as a logitech or klipsch setup on their pc's would mostly agree.

that being said, the games are for the most part just different. the consoles are for multi/co-op games, and the pc is the far superior platform for singe or online fps/roleplay, etc.

[evilchris]

hmm.. well i have all 3 consoles in our house, along with multiple pc's, and frankly the audigy2 w/ logitech thx system is hardly a "wanna be" setup... i am sure most ppl who have both hi end audio equip as well as a logitech or klipsch setup on their pc's would mostly agree.

that being said, the games are for the most part just different. the consoles are for multi/co-op games, and the pc is the far superior platform for singe or online fps/roleplay, etc.

I disagree. I liked Halo Xbox better than PC. KotOR Xbox better than PC. Morrowind Xbox better than PC, Splinter Cell better on Xbox, Ghost Recon better on Xbox, etc. Conversely, some things I obviously prefer more on PC. Such as games like Farcry ( not released on Xbox but making a point ). The Dolby Digital support in Xbox is light years ahead of IN GAME DD support on PC's. the communicator is awesome too, expecially for FPS like Ghost Recon. The only thing the Xbox can't do is run 16x12 AA/AF graphics. As far as the "usual" argument of M+K versus controller, once I learned, FPS with a controller is easy.

As far as audio setups on PC's go, they don't touch home theater equipment, not even close. I am not saying your setup isn't good, I am just saying it wasn't meant to nor could it compete with home theater. For example, I have an SVS sub of the model below:

http://www.svsubwoofers.com/subs_pb2_ultra.htm

No PC sub is going to touch home theater equipment like that. The Xbox games I play do DD in real time, and you need to hear Ghost Recon machine gun sounds with that sub :p Then you'll be a believer.

[CaiNaM]

well, we'll just have to disagree.. i have an Onkyo 6.1 Channel THX which may not be "the" best, but it's pretty dang good, and some polk audio speakers... in gaming frankly they are not that far apart... for audio i prefer my home theatre setup, but frankly, my pc sounds far better than most people's home theatre systems...

when you get that high up in terms of good audio equipment, only a small % of people can even tell the difference, let alone the fact that much of it is subjective in the first place.

no, i don't have $2500 investing in just my subwoofer, but frankly not many people do, so you would be the exception more than the rule, so, i'll stand by what i said.. :)

[evilchris]

well, we'll just have to disagree.. i have an Onkyo 6.1 Channel THX which may not be "the" best, but it's pretty dang good, and some polk audio speakers... in gaming frankly they are not that far apart... for audio i prefer my home theatre setup, but frankly, my pc sounds far better than most people's home theatre systems...

when you get that high up in terms of good audio equipment, only a small % of people can even tell the difference, let alone the fact that much of it is subjective in the first place.

no, i don't have $2500 investing in just my subwoofer, but frankly not many people do, so you would be the exception more than the rule, so, i'll stand by what i said.. :)

Yeah, agree to disagree :P The sub is awesome though man, I love showing it off. It's an earth mover, Ghost Recon took on a whole new meaning after I got it. I upgraded from a $500.00 170W RMS Velodyne so it was a massive difference.

[Carbon Unit]

The next generation consoles wont come out until 2006, by then the NV50 will have been out for allmost a year, anything can happen between now and 2006, MS might go with matrox, who knows