Meanwhile the A1 powers the current XBox generation ;-P:

http://members.optusnet.com.au/tsigos1/OSXBox.png

I did find one quote from the article as being news to me:

"In addition, Microsoft's Windows XP Embedded operating system also runs on the PowerPC, Glaskowsky pointed out. Either piece of software would still entice developers to write games for the Xbox that they could later port to the PC, he said."

Thought the last Microsoft OS to run on PPC was an old NT version

Oi! Lay off... I wanna play Max Payne now


-edit-

On a more serious note... what does this mean for the longstanding M$-Intel relationship?

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Quote:

Poster: Bodie_CI5 Date: 5-Nov-2003 8:49:18 Oi! Lay off... I wanna play Max Payne now -edit- On a more serious note... what does this mean for the longstanding M$-Intel relationship?

I had the impression M$ and Intel had a tiff, and are not such good friends anymore. Hence the descision on processors for Xbox2. (Would it be called X^2box ?)

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Any views, opinions, statements or advice in this message are solely those of

Quote:

I had the impression M$ and Intel had a tiff, and are not such good friends anymore

Yes probably

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ikir

First Apple (PPC and ATI) (later included nVidia)
Then the GameCube (PPC-[Gecko] and ATI)
Then Amiga (PPC and ATI)
now Microsoft (PPC and ATI)

I'm seeing a trend here.... This should be good for PPC chip prices.

not to mention ATI gfx chips...

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XH558 - the worlds last flying Vulcan.
ok, its actually XL426 in the picture but you know what I mean.

It seems most articles are stating that the Next Box Microsoft produces will use the IBM PowerPC chip. The statement is...
"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," the statement said.
....

So, we don't know for sure if it's a PowerPC or not. Who knows perhaps Microsoft decided that IBM needs to get into x86 line again and a new CPU will be created using IBM's technologies, such as SOI. The Xbox is still at least 2 years from shipping so there's sometime in there to ramp things up. IBM is a good choice if you want to get a new processor ASAP.

One of the things that's drawn developers to the Xbox is the use of DirectX8. By using DirectX8 a developer can make a game for the PC and help ease the porting of a game to the Xbox. I can't see Microsoft wanting to make DirectX9, or 10 at that time, for PowerPC and for x86.

Doesn't AMD use IBM to manufacture some of it's chips? http://www.theinquirer.net/?article=9784 states that an Opteron 2 project is under way with AMD-IBM. Maybe Microsoft injected some money into the program to help it along... Personally, if this is the case I think it makes sense for Microsoft to jump on this bandwagon rather then the PowerPC one.

I have no idea if this is genuine, but anyway:

********************
John E. Kelly III
Senior Vice President and Group Executive
IBM Technology Group
(Embedded image moved to file: pic26920.jpg)

Subject: Today's Announcement -- Our Win with Xbox

Dear TG Colleague:

A few minutes ago we announced that we have won a deal to design, develop and make the processor for the next generation of Microsoft's Xbox game system.

Microsoft selected us for one very simple reason -- we are the leaders in the advanced technologies they need for Xbox.

This is a major win for us on several fronts:

It illustrates and capitalizes on our deep technology and service capabilities. The new Xbox technologies will be based on the latest in IBM's family of state-of-the-art processors;

It is the single largest win for Engineering & Technology Services and a substantial foundry win for our 300 mm facility;

We've handed Intel another defeat. Earlier this year, we kept them out of the Apple G5 and now we've thrown them out of Xbox. (Not bad, considering one Intel executive recently called us "trivial");

We are now the undisputed leader in providing advanced chip technology for the gaming industry. We make the CPUs for Nintendo's GameCube systems. We are shipping in volume the GeForce FX advanced graphics processor for NVIDIA, the premier supplier of graphics chips for the gaming industry. We are working with Sony Computer Entertainment to develop the processor for its PlayStation3 system. And now we've won the next-generation Xbox.

Many of our major worldwide operations will be involved in this project including -- Rochester for design, Austin and RTP for development, East Fishkill for manufacturing and packaging, and Burlington for mask and test work. It exemplifies the type of deals we're starting to win and must continue to win -- deals that use our full capabilities.

More and more, companies like Apple, Intersil, Sony Computer Entertainment, Qualcomm and others are turning to us for advanced chip technologies and the expertise in applying them. And the list continues growing. Finding
more opportunities such as these, closing the deals and delivering on our commitments to our customers all are essential to returning our business to profitability.

So congratulations to everyone on winning this outstanding deal.
***************

Also according to some sources it seems that M$ will use virtualPC based emulator to handle the backwards comatibility with XBOX1. Imagine when such emulator is hacked out of the XBOX2 and put to run on future PPC Amigas...

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- KimmoK
// For freedom, for honor, for AMIGA
//
// Thing that I should find more time for: CC64 - 64bit Community Computer?

@ TheJackal (great movie the original one BTW )

You're probably right, and I do seem to remember something of a rift being mentioned somewhere a while ago.

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All,

http://www.theinquirer.net/?article=12523

is a decent read.
Summary...
IBM PowerPC - G5 is a problem for Microsoft as they'd have to compile a new OS and support another processor. It questions the G5 ability to run x86 emulation, this is a problem for Virtual PC right now due to changes in the G5 it removed some stuff that Virtual PC uses in the G4 so performance isn't as good.

IBM does make the AMD64 - Makes more sense especially seeing as SiS has signed for the I/O chipset. Microsoft can leverage Windows tech as they did on the Xbox.

IBM-Toshiba-Sony -- Could Microsoft leverage the 'Cell' processor used in the PS3? I doubt Sony would allow this. Once again porting to a non-x86 processor is questionable. But, will Microsoft use an AMD64 which is estimated to be 1/2 the performance of the Cell?

However, IBM is to be the big winner by making processors for all 3 console systems.

As long as there's enough chips left for us .

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I dont suffer from Insanity - I enjoy it

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Don't know if anyone is bothering to read this column or not anymore but there's a fourth consideration I didn't lay out. IBM-Microsoft to make a whole new processor. This actually might be the case...

http://news.com.com/2100-1006_3-5104656.html?tag=nefd_lede

'According to sources, the Redmond, Wash.-based software giant will more actively participate in the design of the brains for the next version of its Xbox gaming console, tentatively called Xbox Next. By switching from using relatively standard parts to more customized silicon, the company can better optimize its game console, due in 2005'

Interesting.