Xbox 2 - ATi power...?

[Lonyo]

Senior development sources in the UK have today revealed to us that Microsoft?s next generation Xbox will use an ATi graphics chipset, following Microsoft?s apparent inability to work cohesively with former provider nVidia.

Link to story

If it is going to happen, it will be quite a win for ATi, especially as they also seem to be getting the new Nintendo contract, so they'll be doing alright for themselves.

 

[Schadenfroh]

most likely just a ploy by microsoft to get nvidia to drop their prices on the chips

 

[Tab]

Maybe, but now since ATi deals with Microsoft all of the lamers will flame ATi since everyone knows how evil MicroSoft is.

 

[rickn]

Originally posted by: Schadenfroh
most likely just a ploy by microsoft to get nvidia to drop their prices on the chips

microsoft wouldn't bother with such a tactic, they'd just buy them outright if they wanted it that bad

 

[nick1985]

i like microsoft...

 

[ZimZum]

Wasnt the Xbox more of a hassle to nVidia than anything? I remeber reading that it was one of the reasons they got behind with the NV30. Besides that, ATI owns the company that provides the graphics for the Gamecube. Seems like a conflict of interest.

 

[Schadenfroh]

Originally posted by: ZimZum
Wasnt the Xbox more of a hassle to nVidia than anything? I remeber reading that it was one of the reasons they got behind with the NV30. Besides that, ATI owns the company that provides the graphics for the Gamecube. Seems like a conflict of interest.

xbox was one of the best things nvidia did. 30% of its revenues come from it

 

[bluemax]

Originally posted by: nick1985
i like microsoft...

Staying on their good side so they don't come knocking on your door trying to buy you?

Keep a pie in the fridge.....

 

[Lonyo]

They said that ther is no real conflict of interest, as both Nintendo and Microsoft get on well and are aiming for different areas of the market in the future (Home media center - Xbox, Games console - Nintendo).

I thought the reason the NV30 got messed up was because of TMSC and the 0.13u process.

 

[nemesismk2]

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[BoomAM]

Originally posted by: Lonyo
I thought the reason the NV30 got messed up was because of TMSC and the 0.13u process.

Thats what i thought.

The problem will be for ATI, if they are developing chips for both consoles, then they are going to get complaints from both MS and the BigN about the power of the chip.
For example, ATI could create the next 9700 for the GC2, but something lesser for the XBox2, so microsoft will complain and say that they want somthing more powerful, so ATI would then make a 9800 for them, then Nintendo would complain and want something better, and so on.
Obviously the above chip names arnt real its just an example.
The best thing that ATI could do in that situation is create the same gpu for both platforms, and leave it to Nintendo and MS to create the rest of the system around that. So Nintendo and MS, would have to create a memory system for the gpu that`ll perform how they want it to, and a cpu to do the gpu justice, and so on.

 

[DevilsAdvocate]

There are some rumors that nVidia will be making part of the graphics sussystem of the PS3. If you consider that, this makes perfect sense.

M$ and Nintendo are not necessarily buying the same chip from ATi. There is a good chance that, though similar, the parts provided will be different. There is also a chance that they will be the same GPU. M$ and Nintendo purchasing the same graphics chip makes sense. Both will have to be produced in volume, and if there are 2 volume purchasers, this should lower prices - making more systems more competitive against Sony.

 

[Genx87]

xbox was one of the best things nvidia did. 30% of its revenues come from it

Who told you that?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?

Nvidia and MS just settled and Microsoft agreed to pay some of the money Nvidia was demanding per chip.
What happened was there was a schedule for pricing setup pre-production of the XBox. Microsoft would pay so much upto a certain volume. Say Microsoft pays 70 bucks per chipset upto 500,000, 65 bucks 500,000-1 million, 55 bucks 1 million - 2 million ect......

The problem was the xBox did so poorly sales wise Microsoft had to gut the price but they were stuck in the higher end for the pricing deal.

Not sure if it was really beneficial for Nvidia to do the Microsoft deal when you look at it.

 

[dfloyd]

If it does happen would be very messed up for both Xbox and Gamecube.

For one, you cannot create advancements for one chip over the other and they would both be built almost the exact same. How else could they please both companies otherwise? Which would hurt both companies as they are both going for brand recoginition. How can you seperate them when they would both be the same.

I would go as far as to sate this almost has to be false. Maybe M$ outbids Nintendo and gets Ati to just make a chip for them but for Ati to do both smells very much like walking through my Grandpas field.