XBOX 2 to contain ATi graphics

sash1

Diamond Member
Jul 20, 2001
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I did a search real quick and didn't find anything. Sorry if this is a repost:

I read this in my GMR magazine. Here is the article:

Back in 2000, nVidia was flush with cash and on top of the world. It was leading the 3D graphics card race by a mile, and on top of that, it designed custom graphics chips for Xbox. Now, things ain't looking quite so green for the Big N. Longtime upstart ATi has been knocking at the door with its graphics powerhouses, the Radeon cards, and now comes the final insult: Microsoft has signed up ATi to deliver the 3D chip for the next Xbox.

Already a bunch of rumors about what's in store for the next Microsoft console have been floating around--namely, TiVo-like functionality and a huge hard drive. So, this move makes lots of sense, considering ATi's All-in-Wonder TV tuner/graphics cards are becoming a staple of media-ready PCs. As a supplier of PC cards, GameCube's 3D chip, and now the new Xbox chip, ATi is angling to become the prime player in the graphics card industry.

Robbie Bach, senior vice president of the Home and Entertainment Division at Microsoft, has this to say on the matter: "We selected ATi after reviewing the top graphics technologies in development and determining that ATi's technical vision fits perfectly with the future direction of Xbox." Translation: Those crazy Canucks can deliver a buttload of powerful graphics cards for less than nVidia can. Word, Robbie.

-Darren Gladstone


Interesting.

`K
 

*kjm

Platinum Member
Oct 11, 1999
2,222
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With all ATI and nVidia bashing aside it makes since for Microsoft to go this way. If you think about it they will have the best thing out if it can play games, tivo, online and play dvd?s.
 

jiffylube1024

Diamond Member
Feb 17, 2002
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Yeah, I'm sure this was posted awhile ago.

"Back in 2000, nVidia was flush with cash and on top of the world"

... Part of the reason, I'm sure, that Microsoft has switched to ATI has nothing to do with technology, it is to spite Nvidia. When MS was losing hundreds per Xbox in the first couple of years, they wanted to renegotiate with Nvidia prices that were more "fair". Nvidia scoffed at the idea, thinking only of their bottom line for the next few years. Consequently Microsoft sued Nvidia, but lost the lawsuit. Feelings were hurt, relationships were strained.

Part 1 of MS's "spite Nvidia" plan seems to be the quick changing of DirectX9 specs while Nvidia was working on it's next hardware (NV30). Supposedly this is when Microsoft changed the minimum precision from 32-bit to 24-bit.
 

50

Platinum Member
May 7, 2003
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It's really too early to know what xbox2/ps3 will have since they won't be out for at least another 2 years...
 

sash1

Diamond Member
Jul 20, 2001
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Originally posted by: 50
It's really too early to know what xbox2/ps3 will have since they won't be out for at least another 2 years...
True, but it was said that they already signed ATi... Though I haven't heard anything definite about otehr features on the xb2 nor much on the ps3.

`K