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Intel To Design PlayStation 4 GPU

Posted by ScuttleMonkey on from the wtb-cash-cow dept.

madhatter256 writes "According to the Inquirer it looks like Intel will be designing Sony's next gen console GPU. It will most likely be an off-shoot of the Larrabee GPU architecture. It is also unknown as of yet if Intel will also take part in the CPU design of the console. Due to current economic times it was a no brainer for Sony to go with Intel. " The article also mentions rumors of ATI getting the Xbox3 GPU and, if history is any judge, the Wii2 as well.

31 of 288 comments (clear)

  1. Grammar Junta, attack! by RyanFenton · · Score: 4, Funny

    >> Wii2

    Sheesh - The proper term is WiiAlso.

    1. Re:Grammar Junta, attack! by frosty_tsm · · Score: 4, Funny

      >> Wii2

      Sheesh - The proper term is WiiAlso.

      Not the WiiWii?

    2. Re:Grammar Junta, attack! by RyanFenton · · Score: 3, Funny

      Not the WiiWii?

      That's a limited european marketing name. And it's spelled OuiiOuii.

    3. Re:Grammar Junta, attack! by dgatwood · · Score: 5, Funny

      After the Wii2 comes the Wii3... which comes in a special "R" edition with a digital video recorder, and also comes packaged with the ever popular game, Kings of Orient, making it the Wii3/Kings of Orient/R.

      --

      Check out my sci-fi/humor trilogy at PatriotsBooks.

    4. Re:Grammar Junta, attack! by InlawBiker · · Score: 3, Funny

      I believe it will be:

      Xbox 3 Basic
      Xbox 3 Home
      Xbox 3 Media Center
      Xbox 3 Premium
      Xbox 3 Business
      Xbox 3 Ultimate
      Xbox 3 Ultimate - Halo Edition
      Xbox 3 Ultimate XTreme Turbo Black

      The will all do exactly the same thing.

    5. Re:Grammar Junta, attack! by Jherek+Carnelian · · Score: 3, Funny

      That's a limited european marketing name. And it's spelled OuiiOuii.

      And the version for playstation fanbois will be the ennui.

    6. Re:Grammar Junta, attack! by interkin3tic · · Score: 5, Funny

      And the Xbox3

      They meant the XBOX 129600. The correct formula for Xbox naming is XBOX 360^(N-1) where N is the generation number.

    7. Re:Grammar Junta, attack! by Faylone · · Score: 4, Funny

      Puu?

    8. Re:Grammar Junta, attack! by frehe · · Score: 3, Funny

      Is that like the MacBook Pro Black edition, now only $200 for the privilege of us changing the pigment color in the injection mould!

      No, that's only $200 for the priviledge of you owning a computer that has the same color as The Lord's Own Turtlenecks. In addition, highly scientific studies have shown that having a black Mac, instead of a regular color Mac, will result in you attracting 150% more chicks when you sit sipping $15 soymilkchocolatelattefrappuchinomochaorangemintlattes while writing the great next american novel at your local coffeshop.

  2. im full of jokes today by ionix5891 · · Score: 5, Funny

    that should be Playstation 3.99967873 :P

    1. Re:im full of jokes today by rcuhljr · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Shouldn't they put out games for the PS3 before they make the PS4?

  3. Re:Xbox3 and Wii2? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Yes.

  4. Because when I think graphics, I think intel by scubamage · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Seriously - about the only thing intel graphics offers is raytracing. Their graphics chipsets are notoriously subpar, even the very best of them. Why would sony send it their way? ATI makes sense for the Wii2 since they've been working with the gamecube platform since its inception... but intel? Can someone clear this up? Do they have some magically awesome chipset that has never graced the consumer market?

    1. Re:Because when I think graphics, I think intel by Kneo24 · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Which is precisely why I think this story is bullshit. No gaming machine, whether it be console or PC, will want an Intel GPU as it's workhorse for graphics. It just isn't possible. Not today. Probably not in the near future either. Unless, however, they plan on making the PS4 some super casual console that doesn't need a lot of oomph for their up and coming stick figure games.

    2. Re:Because when I think graphics, I think intel by Guspaz · · Score: 5, Informative

      Do they have some magically awesome chipset that has never graced the consumer market?

      Yes, Larrabee. It's a massively-multicored x86 processor designed to act as a GPU (it has some fixed-function GPU stuff tacked on).

      In effect, Intel intends to build a GPU powerful enough to get software rendering (and all the flexibility and power that brings) up to the same speed as hardware-accelerated rendering. Intel is also going to be providing OpenGL/Direct3D abstraction layers so that existing games can work.

      Larrabee is expected to at least be competitive with nVidia/AMD's stuff, although it might not be until the second generation product before they're on equal footing.

    3. Re:Because when I think graphics, I think intel by LordKaT · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Unless, however, they plan on making the PS4 some super casual console that doesn't need a lot of oomph for their up and coming stick figure games.

      Which wouldn't surprise me in the least, since Sony is more than willing to follow the pack leader to grab more marketshare and force their ill-conceived DRM laden formats on the masses.

    4. Re:Because when I think graphics, I think intel by ByOhTek · · Score: 3, Interesting

      wouldn't that be a Wii^2?

      Anyway, I think part of the reason Intels offerings suck, is they are going for the majority of the graphics market - integrated. They aren't really trying for powerhouse GPUs.

      I'm not saying this is a sure fire thing, but as a rough indication, compare their primary competitor that does try for powerhouse GPUs and CPUs. Look at how they perform on the former with their competitors, and the latter with Intel.

      If intel decides to make a performance GPU, it might actually work.

      Add to that the fact that, using a static architecture, consoles don't /need/ the raw power of memory, CPU or GPU that a gaming computer needs, I think Intel has the potential to provide a very reasonable GPU for a console.

      --
      Self proclaimed typo king, and inventor of the bear destroying coffee table (patent not pending).
    5. Re:Because when I think graphics, I think intel by geekoid · · Score: 3, Informative

      No.
      It's designed to be used as a GPU:
      http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Larrabee_(GPU)

      looks really nice. I am looking forward to seeing what the finished product could do. The graphics market could use another competitor at the high consumer end.

      --
      The Kruger Dunning explains most post on /. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunning%E2%80%93Kruger_effect
    6. Re:Because when I think graphics, I think intel by nschubach · · Score: 5, Informative

      Which is precisely why I think this story is bullshit.

      This helps too: http://www.techradar.com/news/gaming/sony-shoots-down-intel-gpu-in-ps4-rumours-525563

      --
      Every time I start to have faith in humanity, I ruin it by driving to work between 7 and 8 am.
    7. Re:Because when I think graphics, I think intel by FunkyELF · · Score: 5, Informative

      Someone Please add this link as an update to the main summary.

    8. Re:Because when I think graphics, I think intel by theaceoffire · · Score: 5, Informative

      Out of the three consoles, Sony is the only one who lets you use a browser with flash, use standardized cords and hard drives, use generic keyboards / mice/ tablets/ printers/ cameras/ etc, and play almost any format video off the disk.

      They even allow you to install another OS on their system. Compared to this, it is MS and Nintendo who are "Forcing their ill-conceived DRM laden formats" on the masses.

      Unless you are talking strictly about Blu-Ray instead of Hardware. Don't know why that one would bother anyone, since DVD's and CD's also have DRM but no one seems worried about that.

      --
      I steal signatures. This one used to be yours.
  5. Inquirer bullshit by Trepidity · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I know Slashdot isn't known for its high standards of editorial oversight, but do you really have to waste our time parroting Inquirer bullshit?

    Note that the only media source claiming that Intel is designing the PS4 GPU is The Inquirer, which is wrong more often than they're right. And Sony has explicitly denied the rumors.

    Intel might end up designing the PS4 GPU, who knows. This story doesn't give us any more information than we had before either way, and the headline is certainly wrong in concluding otherwise.

    --
    10 PRINT CHR$(205.5+RND(1)); : GOTO 10
    1. Re:Inquirer bullshit by qoncept · · Score: 3, Interesting

      Ars doesn't think the story is so ridiculous. http://arstechnica.com/gaming/news/2009/02/intel-is-shooting-for-playstation-4-but-has-it-scored.ars

      --
      Whale
  6. Slow down and consider the implications by Bruce+Perens · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Remember that Intel has been willing to open its drivers and specifications. Any improvements they make to their graphics core (which, yes, is in need of improvement) will probably make their way to motherboard and laptop chipsets, and will have nice Open Source Linux drivers made for them. So, this is a good thing.

    --
    Bruce Perens.
    1. Re:Slow down and consider the implications by Bruce+Perens · · Score: 3, Funny

      Yes. The article you cited is from 2004. Good morning, Rip van Winkle! There have been a lot of changes. :-)

      --
      Bruce Perens.
  7. Cell? by Major+Blud · · Score: 3, Interesting

    So after all the smack talking that Sony did about the power of Cell being untapped....they've decided to abandon it for the their next console? But if you listen to Sony, PS3 is a "10 year platform" anyways. This means that we wouldn't see the PS4 until at least 5-6 years from now. There is no telling what kind of processors would be available during that time frame. Do we really know if Larrabee would still be available by then? I think it's still way to early for Sony to start talking about specs for the PS4. Some people are bound to stop buying PS3s because it would just mean that the PS4 is right around the corner, and Sony knows this. They really can't afford to halt sales of the PS3 at their current selling rate.

    --
    If you post as Anonymous Coward, don't expect a reply.
  8. Re:Xbox3 and Wii2? by eln · · Score: 5, Interesting

    The obvious follow-up to the Wii would be the Super Wii.

  9. Re:Bizarre metaphor by Gizzmonic · · Score: 3, Insightful

    History: I put on my robe and judge's wig.

    --
    (-1, Raw and Uncut is the only way to read)
  10. Why Intel? Because IBM screwed Sony... by NullProg · · Score: 4, Informative

    From the article:
    How Sony inadvertently helped a competitor and lost position in the videogame market.

    Read here: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123069467545545011.html

    Enjoy,

    --
    It's just the normal noises in here.
  11. Console timing strategy by CopaceticOpus · · Score: 3, Interesting

    I'm expecting to see the PS4 come out at least 3 years after the Xbox3. For one thing, the PS3 has technical advantages over the 360 which should give it more legs. Sony designed the PS3 with a target of a ten year lifespan.

    Also, Sony is really stinging from the cost of trying to compete with a same-generation Xbox. They should be able to hit a sweet spot by spacing their machine a half a generation away. When the Xbox3 is released, Sony can drop their PS3 prices to very low levels, and capture the large, budget-minded segment of the market. After 3 years, once the Xbox3's newness has worn off, Sony can release a system which is technically unmatched, and which Microsoft won't be able to respond to for another 2-3 years.

    Anyway, that's what I'd do if I ran Sony. It will be interesting to see how it plays out.

  12. What IDIOCY! by seebs · · Score: 4, Informative

    No, not the article.

    The editor.

    First off, Sony denied this already -- yesterday . So this isn't news, and it's already-rejected news.

    Secondly, what kind of idiot links to the Inquirer as a source? Remember, they're the ones who posted the article claiming the PS3 was "slow and broken" because they didn't understand a memory bandwidth chart.

    --
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