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ATI Wins Bid For Next Xbox

Posted by simoniker on from the nvidia-grizzling-in-corner dept.

TypoNAM writes "CNET News is reporting that graphics chip underdog ATI Technologies has signed a contract with Microsoft to produce components for future versions of the Xbox game console, beating out market leader Nvidia." According to the article, "The announcement ends months of speculation over whether Nvidia, the leading maker of graphics processors for PCs, would renew its troubled partnership with Microsoft on the Xbox."

5 of 466 comments (clear)

  1. No backwards compatibility? by JamesSharman · · Score: 5, Interesting

    If this is the case it seems unlikely that we will see any backwards compatibility between xbox2 and the original. The original Nvidia chip was based on a DX part (and it's likely the ATI one will be as well) but the better games access a lot of the hardware directly.

    Of course it's possible that MS were smart enough to have conditions in the original X-Box contract with Nvidia that would allow them to produce a more or less compatible chip.

  2. ATI = Gamecube by WhytTiger · · Score: 5, Interesting

    How do you think this will affect the current relationship between ATI and gamecube?

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    My Sig Beat up your Honor Roll Sig
    1. Re:ATI = Gamecube by mattwolfewvu · · Score: 5, Interesting

      *Sigh* ArtX did the graphics hardware for the GameCube. ATI bought them out sometime between the time the bulk of the design for the hardware was completed and the release of the console. Thus, the GameCube has a little ATI sticker on the front, even though it's not really an Radeon type product.

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      "I think that when you become a Republican, you don't get to score any more." -- Butt-head
  3. Talking Out my Ass Here... by ewhac · · Score: 5, Interesting

    I imagine the "troubled partnership" between Micros~1 and NVidia is largely based on the fact that NVidia made damn sure they had a good contract in place.

    NVidia and Microsoft cut their deal when NVidia was the undisputed leader in graphics chips, and Microsoft was the undisputed leader in anti-trust crimes. NVidia, being founded in part by ex-Sun employees, knew full well that dealing with Microsoft was a sure-fire way to get screwed. So no small amount of time was spent making absolutely certain the contract between them left no room for "creative misinterpretation" on either side.

    I imagine NVidia wants/wanted to exercise the same care in the Xbox2 deal, but Microsoft would rather have someone they can walk over. Hence the "troubled partnership."

    This is, of course, all pure speculation.

    Schwab

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  4. So much for linux drivers. by Bruha · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Wonder if MS would push them to not make Linux drivers anymore.. They've done things similar in the past. Though the driver quality is dominated by Nvidia I'd like my 9700PRo to work in Linux.