Poll: Personal Speculation: Microsoft X-Box to use VIA Cyrix III processor

[Cobrageneral]

It was assumed that the X-box would use an Intel processor at first.

Then there was speculation that it would use an AMD processor.

The X-Box website posted the processor as "Intel" some time ago, then removed the brand, sparking speculation of AMD again being used.

The X-Box packs a lot of heat: 733Mhz processor, HardDrive, Geforce3, etc, etc.

All these things add up to a pretty expensive $375 dollar box. I'm sure Microsoft would like to keep prices down as much as possible. Which is why i speculate:

They won't use Intel processors because:
1) of their expense. 733 Mhz PIII's are too expensive.
2) Celeron's not powerful enough.

They won't use AMD processors:
1) Too hot
2) AMD doesn't have the fab capacity (look at PS2 problems)
3) No 733 Mhz AMD processor
4) AMD not making anymore low clock speed processors.

They will use Cyrix III(Joshua II core 0.15 micron)
1) cool
2) cheap
3) perform well enough for a dedicated gamebox using GeForce3
4) VIA has the fab capacity to exclusively supply X-box.

Do you agree?

Cobra

 

[nateholtrop]

no i think they will go with a laptop chip.
nate

 

[Wingznut]

I would be absolutely shocked if Via could fab enough .15um cpu's for the X-box.

I can't see MS willing to take that chance.

 

[jeffrey]

NO Cyrix.

Intel pentium III 733

Cool doesn't really seem to be a mission for the xbox. Most electronics generate a lot of heat and MS is putting a big fan in the back. XGPU will undoubtably be a hot chip even with .15micron manufacturing. Cool is not a necessity. PIII 733 on .18 will most likely be used, but maybe the die could be shrunk to .13 when Intel moves there at the end of the year. Unlikely though, as they need the shrink to decrease the die size of the Pentium 4 because that chip is so large it is very expensive to manufacture and that squeezes profits, production, and increases the penalty of dead chips. .13 capacity would be best utilized for the p4. That leaves the pIII 733 on .18 but remember console life is around five years, so Intel will eventually have the capacity at .13 to manufacture the part on that process. I think it is also a marketing ploy, Intel will sell those chips at steeply reduced prices just to have their name inside instead of some other brand.. cough... amd.
jeffrey

 

[Finality]

Besides what jeffrey said the Cyrix is in no way powerful enough to use the NV2As capability. Besides stability with Cyrix chips is also a major issue.

 

[Noriaki]

1) cool Stick your hand on the underbelly of a first playstation, and you'll see how much of a concern this is Besides, if you are careful you can run a P3 fanless, granted not in this tight space, but I also doubt the NV2A will be cool. No I don't think cool is a big issue.

2) cheap Game consoles are never cheap, you take a hit on the console and make back the money on game pricing, that's how the console market works. Do you think that it really only costs sony $200 to make a PS2? BWA HAHAHAHA! Not likely.

3) perform well enough for a dedicated gamebox using GeForce3 Maybe..but I don't think so.

4) VIA has the fab capacity to exclusively supply X-box.Intel could give over half their fabs to producing solely for the X-Box and still outfab AMD and Via combined. Intel has an insane amount of plants.

No I'm pretty sure it will be Intel. It would be interesting to see Via in the X-Box but I doubt it.

 

[MGMorden]

I would like to see this as it would give Via more business (and nobody outside of the techies and the developers is gonna really give a sh!t about what cpu is in a game console. they care about how the games look/perform. putting a slower chip in there just makes it harder on the developers. Afterall though it's on it's way out, the PSX1 is still a decent system and it's only got a 33mhz 32-bit cpu. i'm sure it's faster than an x86, as most everything is, but it's still all about how the developers use a chipo), but I seriously doubt it. MS just wouldn't take this kind of a chance, because they don't need to.

 

[miniMUNCH]

Gotta go with Noraki's opinion...

Something else to remember...Intel, AMD, or VIA could always find a contract manufacturer such as TSMC or IBM for instance. Set-up time is costly, of course, some body probably would have heard something if this was the case.

Also, I'm not up on the X-box, but it has a chipset, right? If it has a chipset then the processor is pretty much set in stone...maybe not the clock speed. It is going to be an Intel chip. You can't change around the chipset this late in the game...the fab line(s) need to get set-up here pretty quick if the X-box is to debute before Christmas.

 

[MGMorden]

Via Cyrix III's use the same chipsets as Intel chips. Not that I'm saying that they're going to use it, but they could without changing chipsets.