Firday puzzle
How come the Xbox is only a:
Intel Celeron 733 MHz CPU, an nVidia GeForce 3MX, 64 MB of RAM, a 8/10 GB hard disk, a DVD drive and 10/100 Ethernet
Yet my PC with a AMD Athlon chip, 128 mb graphics card still hasnt got enough power to run certain games as well as the Xbox????
Yes yes i know it might have something to do with the fact the Xbox isn't runnin Windows, IIS, CFMX, SMTP etc etc......but still an Intel Celeron 733 MHz !!!!!
Comments
I've heard people saying that XBox can run Linux and CFMX... High-performance server's manufactures, take care! ;-)
I suppose it's because of optimisation: every XBox uses exactly the same architecture and hardware so developers can squeeze every last drop of performance out of what they're given using lower-level drivers etc. without worrying about incompatible components.
The PC "platform", on the other hand, is a disparate jumble of different bits and bobs and so developers have to cater for the lowest common denominator. Perhaps that's also the reason why Macs, with their consistent specification, are so suited to high-end video and animation.
The PC "platform", on the other hand, is a disparate jumble of different bits and bobs and so developers have to cater for the lowest common denominator. Perhaps that's also the reason why Macs, with their consistent specification, are so suited to high-end video and animation.
I agree with Barry. Its all about optimization.
When someone makes a game for the Xbox, they have a very specific set of hardware to optimize for and test against.
When someone builds a game for pc, they have to work towards the lowest common denominator. There by not being able to truely optimize for anything.
When someone makes a game for the Xbox, they have a very specific set of hardware to optimize for and test against.
When someone builds a game for pc, they have to work towards the lowest common denominator. There by not being able to truely optimize for anything.
Don't forget resolution! TV rez is much lower than common computer resolutions. set your monitor to 640x480 and play your games they'll run much faster... that is if the game allows a rez that low.
Just to correct something, the Xbox doesn't run on a Celeron, it's based on a Intel Pentium III - Coppermine - with half the L2 Cache !
It also features a nForce based controler ( yes nForce and P3 !! ) and has a 'costumized' version of the NV20 core, called NV2A, wich stands between the NV20 and NV25. Also it uses 200MHz DDR, wich is pretty fast for that time, although somewhat limited by the 133Mhz FSB by the CPU.
Dave is correct, most games are internally rendered at 640x480@32, wich allows to deliver a very good and stable framerate.
I wont comment about how the console is faster than a computer, gaming wise that is. It's all about optimization, both from the hardware layer as for the software layer - not only from the software/game developers but from the built in API XBox has wich is highly optimized.
An interesting fact is that XBox dropped Intel based processors, giving IBM the task. The XBox 2 will feature an IBM processor, based on the G5 processor, no more x86, PPC now =D
Also nVIDIA is out of the loop, XBox will now be powered with a ATI chip - well almost, the chip itself is produced by Microsoft, they just pay a fee for the licence of the chip's design. The next chip will be probably based on the R520 ( formerly know as R500, R500 is now XBox2 only ), wich will hv more power than the current X800.
Just an FYI ;)
It also features a nForce based controler ( yes nForce and P3 !! ) and has a 'costumized' version of the NV20 core, called NV2A, wich stands between the NV20 and NV25. Also it uses 200MHz DDR, wich is pretty fast for that time, although somewhat limited by the 133Mhz FSB by the CPU.
Dave is correct, most games are internally rendered at 640x480@32, wich allows to deliver a very good and stable framerate.
I wont comment about how the console is faster than a computer, gaming wise that is. It's all about optimization, both from the hardware layer as for the software layer - not only from the software/game developers but from the built in API XBox has wich is highly optimized.
An interesting fact is that XBox dropped Intel based processors, giving IBM the task. The XBox 2 will feature an IBM processor, based on the G5 processor, no more x86, PPC now =D
Also nVIDIA is out of the loop, XBox will now be powered with a ATI chip - well almost, the chip itself is produced by Microsoft, they just pay a fee for the licence of the chip's design. The next chip will be probably based on the R520 ( formerly know as R500, R500 is now XBox2 only ), wich will hv more power than the current X800.
Just an FYI ;)
