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Xbox 2 to use IBM tech

B

bernse

Diamond Member
HERE
Press Release

REDMOND, Wash., and EAST FISHKILL, N.Y. -- Nov. 3, 2003 -- Microsoft Corp. today announced that it has entered into a semiconductor technology agreement with IBM Corp. Under the agreement, Microsoft has licensed leading-edge semiconductor processor technology from IBM for use in future Xbox® products and services to be announced at a later date.
Click to expand...

Sooo... does that mean that Xbox 2 won't be basically an x86 machine like it is now? Wasn't that supposed to be one of the great things about Xbox was that ganes were easily portable from PC?
 
The only issue that has been thrown about this changing of alliances from the current Intel chips is that they may not be compatible with older original Xbox games. This is a CRUCIAL selling point.

Xbox, to stay competitive, MUST make the machine backwards compatible to older games, otherwise they risk mass defection of the existing customer base to Nintendo or Sony which have promised to be backwards compatible.

.........To that end, Microsoft acquired Connectix that developed software to enable Windows to run on PowerPC-based Macintosh systems. Since the code has to be TRANSLATED by the Connectix software, there has to be assurances that older Xbox games can run at REASONABLE speeds.
 
this doesnt mean that the main core cpu will be an IBM chip, IBM chips may be used for other parts of the xbox
 
Originally posted by: dr150
The only issue that has been thrown about this changing of alliances from the current Intel chips is that they may not be compatible with older original Xbox games. This is a CRUCIAL selling point.

Xbox, to stay competitive, MUST make the machine backwards compatible to older games, otherwise they risk mass defection of the existing customer base to Nintendo or Sony which have promised to be backwards compatible.

.........To that end, Microsoft acquired Connectix that developed software to enable Windows to run on PowerPC-based Macintosh systems. Since the code has to be TRANSLATED by the Connectix software, there has to be assurances that older Xbox games can run at REASONABLE speeds.
Click to expand...

Just sell an add on attachment that you can purchase that will aloow you to play Xbox games in it.
 
Sooo... does that mean that Xbox 2 won't be basically an x86 machine like it is now? Wasn't that supposed to be one of the great things about Xbox was that ganes were easily portable from PC?
Click to expand...

Actually, when they made the XBOX, Fries and the other developer at MS expressly said no PC games will be ported to the system. If a game is put on XBOX, the game would be rebuilt for the specific XBOX hardware.

I think the x86 decision was simply economics. Using common parts like that allowed them to cut costs. And as the years pass, those parts just get cheaper. GC and PS2 are still having to produce more propriety stuff which is slightly more costly.

Sony set a precedent with the backwards comp of PS2. Great decision. I think XBOX and PS3 will both do this as well.
 
this has been discussed in length in Gen Hardware. thare are 2 threads over there now

go look at them
 
Originally posted by: bernse
HERE
Press Release

REDMOND, Wash., and EAST FISHKILL, N.Y. -- Nov. 3, 2003 -- Microsoft Corp. today announced that it has entered into a semiconductor technology agreement with IBM Corp. Under the agreement, Microsoft has licensed leading-edge semiconductor processor technology from IBM for use in future Xbox® products and services to be announced at a later date.
Click to expand...

Sooo... does that mean that Xbox 2 won't be basically an x86 machine like it is now? Wasn't that supposed to be one of the great things about Xbox was that ganes were easily portable from PC?
Click to expand...
No where does it say anything about Microsoft purchasing PowerPC-based chips for the Xbox2. Only that Microsoft will possibly be using IBM's fab equipment to cut dice for their own chips - most likely the licensed core from ATi.
 
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