TSMC says Xbox 2 plans are on schedule

[Xenon]

Xbox 2 manufacturing plans are on schedule - TSMC

Rob Fahey 11:14 20/09/2004
Reassurance on next-gen development progress

A representative of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing, the company tasked
with fabricating the chips being used in Microsoft's next Xbox console, has
told the media that the development of the console is proceeding to plan.

Speaking at a press conference, senior vice president Kenneth Kin said that
the firm's manufacturing plans for Xbox 2 chips is "proceeding according to
plan," scotching recent murmuring about a possible further delay to
Microsoft's schedule for the system.

TSMC has been tapped to develop the core chipsets for the Xbox 2 platform,
including ATI's GPU chip, which the graphics company said was nearing the
end of its development stage earlier this month.

It's believed that Microsoft is planning to launch the Xbox 2 in late 2005,
which would give it a significant headstart over its rivals, as neither Sony
nor Nintendo is expected to have a new home console ready until 2006.

Xbox 2 - which is reportedly codenamed Xenon in the development community -
will feature multiple IBM Power5 processors, an SIS motherboard chipset and
the aforementioned ATI graphics unit. Early development kits for the
hardware have already been sent to selected developers, based on Apple
PowerMac G5 units running a custom version of the Windows NT kernel.

 

[Paul Heslop]

Xbox 2 manufacturing plans are on schedule - TSMC

why is it that when folks buy a system all they seem to do from then
on is wish for it to become obsolete?

I'm happy as punch with my xbox and almost as happy with my ps2
(though it's showing signs of wear and tear) and I have no wish to
rush into an expensive upgrade which will see either of these reduced
to the cupboard.

 

[Jason Sayer]

Xbox 2 manufacturing plans are on schedule - TSMC

Rob Fahey 11:14 20/09/2004
Reassurance on next-gen development progress

A representative of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing, the company tasked
with fabricating the chips being used in Microsoft's next Xbox console,
has
told the media that the development of the console is proceeding to plan.

Speaking at a press conference, senior vice president Kenneth Kin said
that
the firm's manufacturing plans for Xbox 2 chips is "proceeding according
to
plan," scotching recent murmuring about a possible further delay to
Microsoft's schedule for the system.

TSMC has been tapped to develop the core chipsets for the Xbox 2 platform,
including ATI's GPU chip, which the graphics company said was nearing the
end of its development stage earlier this month.

It's believed that Microsoft is planning to launch the Xbox 2 in late
2005,
which would give it a significant headstart over its rivals, as neither
Sony
nor Nintendo is expected to have a new home console ready until 2006.

Xbox 2 - which is reportedly codenamed Xenon in the development
community -
will feature multiple IBM Power5 processors, an SIS motherboard chipset
and
the aforementioned ATI graphics unit. Early development kits for the
hardware have already been sent to selected developers, based on Apple
PowerMac G5 units running a custom version of the Windows NT kernel.

So how powerful are 'multiple' Power5 processors? I've never worked with
Macs so how does it compare with the current Xbox or the PS3 spec etc?

Is a PowerMac G5 fast compared to it's PC equivalent?
(I know it's all a bit pie in the sky at the moment but i'm interested to
know)

 

[Jonas Maebe]

So how powerful are 'multiple' Power5 processors?

Quite. See e.g. http://www.aceshardware.com/read.jsp?id=65000325

I've never worked with
Macs so how does it compare with the current Xbox or the PS3 spec etc?

Current Macs don't have a Power5 in them. The G5 is a slimmed down
Power4.

I also doubt they will cram "multiple Power5's" into one XBox, unless it
comes with watercooling and lots of fans (and even then...). One Power5
consumes 160 Watt at 1.8GHz
(http://www.computerweekly.com/Article128448.htm)


Jonas

 

[Xenon]

So how powerful are 'multiple' Power5 processors? I've never worked with
Macs so how does it compare with the current Xbox or the PS3 spec etc?

Is a PowerMac G5 fast compared to it's PC equivalent?
(I know it's all a bit pie in the sky at the moment but i'm interested to
know)

The Mac G5 uses a cut-down version of the Power4.

Power4 is a twin core CPU, meaning it has 2 full processors on 1 chip.
the G5 uses a PowerPC processor that is based on Power4, but the PowerPC
version has only 1 core.

the upcoming Mac G6 computers will have PowerPC processor(s) based on the
Power5.

I don't know if these new PowerPC processors will keep the twin cores in the
Power5, or have only 1 core like the PowerPC in G5s.

Anyway, the PowerPC processors in G5 are generally faster than Intel or AMD
processors, clock for clock. of course, Intel clocks their processors much
higher, whereas IBM/Apple cannot clock PowerPC very high. (2.5 Ghz is the
max right now)

I admit I don't know my Power/PowerPC/ Mac technology all that well. just
telling you what little i know.

 

[Sir Chewbury Gubbins]

: Xenon wrote:
:>
:> Xbox 2 manufacturing plans are on schedule - TSMC
: why is it that when folks buy a system all they seem to do from then
: on is wish for it to become obsolete?
:
: I'm happy as punch with my xbox and almost as happy with my ps2
: (though it's showing signs of wear and tear) and I have no wish to
: rush into an expensive upgrade which will see either of these reduced
: to the cupboard.

I couldn't agree more, mate. It's bizarre, but true. People were talking about
the cube becoming obsolete five minutes after release.

Choobs

 

[Paul Heslop]

: Xenon wrote:
:>
:> Xbox 2 manufacturing plans are on schedule - TSMC
: why is it that when folks buy a system all they seem to do from then
: on is wish for it to become obsolete?
:
: I'm happy as punch with my xbox and almost as happy with my ps2
: (though it's showing signs of wear and tear) and I have no wish to
: rush into an expensive upgrade which will see either of these reduced
: to the cupboard.

I couldn't agree more, mate. It's bizarre, but true. People were talking about
the cube becoming obsolete five minutes after release.

Choobs
--

You mean it wasn't?

:O))