Rumour: Intel wants Larrabee in Xbox 720

[Kushan]

That's my point, it would run DirectX, so why use Larrabee instead of an nvidia or ATI chip (that's been tested, proven, etc.)?

[Yusuf M. Veteran]

Microsoft went with NVIDIA with the original Xbox, ATi with the Xbox 360, and perhaps they'll go Intel with the Xbox 720. I doubt it though. ATi did a wonderful job on the Xbox 360 and I'm sure Microsoft will strike a deal with them again.

[A Clockwork Lime]

I pay no attention to rumors originating from articles written by people who cant proof read their own work.

You left out an apostrophe.

[Kushan]

You left out an apostrophe.

You left out a swastika.

[Ricardo Gil]

You left out a swastika.

Ouch :laugh:

[The_Decryptor Veteran]

That's my point, it would run DirectX, so why use Larrabee instead of an nvidia or ATI chip (that's been tested, proven, etc.)?

The only "tested, proven" chips are old chips.

If you're using a brand new chip design, it doesn't matter who makes it, there will be the same risks (And Intel has a great history at making chips)

[Digitalx]

table an deal

An Hero!

[Kushan]

The only "tested, proven" chips are old chips.

If you're using a brand new chip design, it doesn't matter who makes it, there will be the same risks (And Intel has a great history at making chips)

That is true, but larrabee's design is vastly different to previous graphics cards on the market today. While nvidia/ATI's latest chips may be considered new, they'll be based on previous designs and, more importantly, experience gained from those previous generations. That's why they're the "safer" bet than Intel, even though intel does make some really great stuff.

Plus there's the issue of sheer power, as I said before there's nothing to indicate that larrabee is faster than current generation chips, so what exactly would be the advantage of using it in a console?

[Yusuf M. Veteran]

In the end, all that matters is performance and efficiency. That's what Microsoft is striving for and that's all they care about. If Intel can deliver, then chances are Microsoft will choose their GPU. The likelihood of that happening seems slim (for now).

[Ayepecks]

For some reason I think nVidia's manufacturing woes indicate it's no "safer"... Intel's working to make DirectX work fine on the Larrabee. If they can test it to work on it and it doesn't run any worse, there's absolutely no reason to think it would become defaulty.

[DrunknMunky Veteran]

Another article on the subject..

Next Xbox in 2011?

Techtree News Staff

Whispers on the wind suggest a 2011 release date for the neXt box. Moreover, Intel wants in on the action as well

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According to the industry insiders close to the Inquirer, Intel is rumored to be pursuing Microsoft quite aggresively, with the intent of putting its upcoming Larrabee chip inside Microsoft's next XBOX console. Yes, you read it rigt -- Microsoft's next-generation XBOX console -- already.

In a related development, AnandTech predicts that Microsoft is already planning for the next Xbox console -- let's call it the Xbox 720.

For a historical perspective on this timeframe, recall a Peter Moore interview -- March 2007, with the Electronics Gaming Monthly magazine. Back then Peter Moore was the head of Interactive Entertainment Business division for Microsoft (he is now gainfully employed by EA), he had indicated that the production team was already working on next-gen Xbox. Fast forward to June 2008 when Robbie Bach, president of the entertainment and devices division at Microsoft also indirectly confirms that people were already working on new technologies.

As per the rumour yarn currently spinning, Microsoft will officially announce their next console come end of 2009. During the first quarter of 2010, Microsoft will finalize the components to be included in the console. Incidentally, the year 2010 happens to be a 'Tock' phase as per Intel's 'Tick Tock' model wherein Larrabee's refreshed version built on a 32nm process can be expected.

The first Larrabee version will be able to directly tap Microsoft's DirectX and Apple's Open CL API, without needing any special go-between software. This would imply that Larrabee will be compatible with all current games. However, new instruction sets such as the Advanced Vector Extensions for Intel's 32nm process chips 'Sandy Bridge'. Larrabee is also expected to have computing power in the teraflop range.

Furthermore, the next Xbox will feature HDMI output as well as WiFi but might not use the Blu-ray disc format for its game media; instead opting for a high-capacity proprietary optical disc format. This next-gen console will also be compatible with the Xbox 360 game line up and will come with 60GB, 120GB, and 200GB hard disk variants.

Even Xbox Live will get structural changes -- like an extensive music download service along with movies and TV shows. The next XBOX consoles in 60GB, 120GB and 200GB versions would be available for $299, $399, and $499. It will be released in 2011 where it might compete with the Sony PlayStation 4.

While all of this looks like so much speculation, it would be interesting to see if Intel does pursue Microsoft for adopting Larrabee. It would be a wise move on Intel's part as such a deal would instantly make the Larrabee a must-support processor for game developers and would put Larrabee on both the PC and the console maps.

Source: Tech Tree

[Andrew Lyle Global Moderator]

LOL, you got to love people making up logos for the "Xbox720". I wish microsoft would just release a temporary logo and/or name so people would stop calling it that.

Microsoft is not going to use the same technology in the Xbox360, for it's next generation console, it would be dumb to do that.

I think everyone has a fair shot at the next xbox console, if they come to the table with a great presentation, and can PROVE they would be the best for the next console, plain and simple. Microsoft won't go with less, just because they were good last time. Things change, people change, and technology is no different.

[Kushan]

Microsoft is not going to use the same technology in the Xbox360, for it's next generation console, it would be dumb to do that.

Why would it be dumb? Sure, the first 360s were unreliable, but the core technology inside wasn't the problem, it was the overall design of the system that did it (new 360s are a lot better, which proves this point). It makes sense to build on the existing technology for their next console. Throw in an upgraded CPU and GPU (6-core CPU clocked at 2x the speed, for example) and you get the benefit of a much faster system, a system developers are already very familiar with (The ease of use of the 360 is what gained it so much developer support in the first place) and almost certain native backwards-compatibility with all previous 360 games. Not to mention that development costs would be significantly reduced.

It's what Nintendo did with both the GBA/DS and the Gamecube/Wii and it seems to be working pretty well for them.

Of course, there are disadvantages as well, but with the amount of money Microsoft has pumped into the 360, they probably want to keep it around as long as possible and maximise it's success.