All Things Microsoft > Microsoft as a Company
Xbox 360 demos running on Macs
piratePenguin:
Does anyone have a clue how much it's gonna cost?
KernelPanic:
--- Quote from: Aloone_Jonez ---I knew somene would say that.
Not if they keep the processor information secrete and only allow companies access to their compilar tools under a non-disclosure licence.
--- End quote ---
How is this possible?
Unless they (MS) are commisioning IBM or Motorola or whoever to create a completely new processor for them, there will have to be engineering documents for other OEM's available. The CPU would be a bloody expensive block of silicon without those!
Now I don't know, or particulaly care, about consoles enough to know if this core will be a completely new design or not but it would be economic stupidity if it is.
EDIT: I just read the thread :)
It seems it will be based on IBM 'Power', I doubt it will be significantly different in fabrication or instruction sets to the current Power (5 is it?). Again, unless MS are throwing huge wedge at IBM there will be no need to extensively modify the already kick-arse processor. I'm aware consoles are loss-leaders but I doubt even Microsoft would see the need to shell out for a clean sheet design CPU, solely to confubjulate any obcessive NetBSD porters :)
PS. If i'm talking crap tell me, you're the EEng dude :)
Aloone_Jonez:
Now I've thought about it a bit more I feel a bit silly, you're right I should've known that. Oh well I'll try to learn to think before I open my big mouth.
M51DPS:
I think the processors used in the Xbox 360 will be very similar to the current G5, which is based on Power4. The next version of the G5 will probably be based on the Power5 archictecture, but we're still waiting. I also heard the processors used in the next Xbox will also be stripped down versions of the G5 so they can get higher GHz.
Will they be able to run Linux? Sure, this will not be a huge jump from processors already in use, a project will eventually come along to make it run (hey, Linux on the GameBoy DS already boots the 2.6 kernel).
skyman8081:
Theres so much crap, I had to get my waders.
The CPU in the 360 is a custom design based on the Power5 that MS owns. The G5's are the closest commercially available chip on the market right now.
Microsoft make the mistake of licensing the chip designs from Intel and nVidia for the Xbox, and has not made the same mistake again.
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