Joystiq

Report: Next-gen Xbox to launch October/November 2013 with this GPU

Jessica Conditt — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 18:30:00 EST

The next-gen Xbox's GPU will derive from 2011's AMD 6000 series, similar to the Radeon HD 6670, which supports DirectX11, 1080p HD, multi-display output and 3D, IGN reports, citing sources close to the project. Mass production of its GPU will begin at the end of 2012, IGN says, with a full-console launch scheduled in October or November 2013.

With these specs, the next Xbox will have six times the processing power of the Xbox 360 and is expected to support performance 20 percent greater than Nintendo's Wii U, which is using the R770, a chip that is competitively stronger than the GPUs of both the Xbox 360 and PS3.

Previously uncovered Microsoft resumes listed gesture and voice input, which suggests some form of Kinect integration will be present in the coming Xbox model.

Report: Next-gen Xbox to launch October/November 2013 with this GPU originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 24 Jan 2012 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Wii U graphics chip outed as last-gen Radeon (which is still pretty good, apparently)

Ben Gilbert — Tue, 14 Jun 2011 16:15:00 EST

Let's be upfront here: we don't know thing one about chipsets and motherboards. We play video games, we don't build the hardware they come on. But our friends at Engadget, well, they're all about that kinda stuff. So when they tell us that Nintendo's Wii U console will come packing a custom Radeon GPU with a chip similar to the R770, and that the chip is competitively stronger than the GPUs of the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3, we believe them.

Additionally, the chip is said to run DirectX 10, and is capable of handling four SD video streams -- presumably only one of those streams will be necessary, however, given Shigeru Miyamoto's statements about the WiiPad. As GAME Watch points out, the Xbox 360 was limited to a variation of DirectX 9, while the PS3 employs OpenGL APIs. But now we've gone right off the deep end -- what we're trying to say is this: the Wii U has a pretty decent graphical processor. Or, more simply, Wii U games will look good, and likely even better than Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 games. There, that wasn't so bad!

Wii U graphics chip outed as last-gen Radeon (which is still pretty good, apparently) originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 14 Jun 2011 16:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Borderlands Glitch Watch 2009: Radeon-powered PC crashes

David Hinkle — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 20:00:00 EST

Oh, poor little Borderlands -- Gearbox just can't catch a break! On top of the ongoing list of things that need to get fixed and the still unresolved character-nuking glitch on consoles, now PC players are starting to experience some serious issues. Specifically, the game is crashing for those who have certain ATI Radeon graphics cards.

Reader Bryan tipped us off to three different forums on Steam, AMD and Gearbox, where numerous users haven't even been able to get past the game's first mission. We've reached out to Gearbox for comment and will be sure to update the post when we hear back.

[Thanks, Bryan!]

Source - Steam forums
Source - AMD forums
Source - Gearbox forums

Borderlands Glitch Watch 2009: Radeon-powered PC crashes originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 03 Nov 2009 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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AMD touts the ATI Radeon HD 4870 x2 as the 'world's fastest graphics card'

Andrew Yoon — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 00:01:00 EST

Filed under: PC

AMD (ATI) has just launched its newest assault against competitor Nvidia in the ever-continuing graphics arms race. It is touting the awkwardly-named ATI Radeon HD 4870 X2 as the fastest graphics card ever made, with 2.4 teraFLOPS of processing power. (In comparison, Nvidia's RSX GPU found in the PS3 promises performance of 1.8 teraFLOPS. ATI's chip in the Xbox 360 promises 1.0 teraFLOPS.)

The performance is achieved by simple arithmetic: combining two ATI Radeon HD 4800 series GPUs into a single card, and a whopping 2GB of onboard memory -- the most of any graphics card on the market. The HD 4870 x2 is the first card that supports AMD's upcoming "Cinema 2.0" effort. However, until there's software that supports the endeavor, purchasers of AMD's latest cards will have to simply appreciate playing current games like Oblivion at 2560x1600 with 24X AA -- y'know, the way games are supposed to be played.

The ATI Radeon HD 4870 X2 is immediately available from various "e-tailers" with a pricetag of $549 SRP. A cheaper, less powerful little brother, the ATI Radeon HD 4850 X2, will be available in September at an estimated price of $399.

AMD touts the ATI Radeon HD 4870 x2 as the 'world's fastest graphics card' originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 12 Aug 2008 00:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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AMD launches budget-friendly Radeon HD 3800 cards

Ludwig Kietzmann — Fri, 16 Nov 2007 19:30:00 EST

Filed under: PC

They're the ones featuring atrocious fantasy box art which tries to create a link between the cutting-edge graphics card inside and some poorly rendered ice queen, wolf-man and/or wizard grasping a glowing bauble. Alright, so that doesn't narrow it down in the slightest -- you'll have to look out for AMD's new ATI Radeon HD cards by their general model numbers (38XX) and their pleasing price tags ($179 - $219).

Recent tests place the DirectX 10.1-compliant Radeons slightly behind Nvidia's latest budget solution, the GeForce 8800 GT, though they compare favorably with other mid-range cards. Reviewers also seemed to like the series' 55nm chipsets and the resulting reduction in both heat and noise. If you're wondering how well these cards respond to Crysis situations, peer past the break for a comprehensive set of benchmark links.

[Via Engadget]

Continue reading AMD launches budget-friendly Radeon HD 3800 cards

AMD launches budget-friendly Radeon HD 3800 cards originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 16 Nov 2007 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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New iMacs feature DirectX 10-compatible ATI Radeon GPUs

Ross Miller — Tue, 07 Aug 2007 13:39:00 EST

Filed under: Mac

Just unveiled at the Apple's latest press conference is a new line of iMacs. And while we still won't be able to upgrade anything except for the RAM, each of the three new models feature graphics cards from ATI's Radeon R600 series that support Microsoft's DirectX 10, which is sure to bring a smile to the handful of Mac users who see dual-booting Windows Vista a viable gaming solution.

The low-end model ($1199) features a 20-inch display, 2.0 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor and Radeon HD 2400 XT. The high-end model ($1799) features a 24-inch display, 2.4 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor and Radeon HD 2600 Pro. (Comparison) If hardcore gaming is your primary concern, then the iMac is still not a long-term, cost-effective option. However, for those who love the design and using Mac OS X for non-gaming means, this looks to be a pretty good setup.

A new keyboard was also revealed today, showing a design more akin to what has been seen with the Macbook laptops. Gamer-friendly? We're just not sure at this point. Though the picture shown after the break doesn't have it, we're pretty sure the above image shows a numeric keypad still on the right side of the keyboard. The new iMacs are available starting today.

Continue reading New iMacs feature DirectX 10-compatible ATI Radeon GPUs

New iMacs feature DirectX 10-compatible ATI Radeon GPUs originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 07 Aug 2007 13:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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ATI responds to Nvidia, clears up post-takeover rumors

Ludwig Kietzmann — Thu, 27 Jul 2006 17:30:00 EST

Filed under: PC, Business

Not too long after Nvidia CEO, Jen Hsun-Huang, described AMD's purchase of ATI as a "gift" and as a sign of their main competitor "throwing in the towel," comes this retort from the newly formed CPU-GPU monster:

"The PC market is a tough place to be without any friends. ATI now has all the resources of AMD behind it, and will be producing faster, more compact GPUs and reaching the channel more effectively than ever before. Nvidia's words are bravado, designed to confuse the market while the company tries to find a way to compete now that it's standing alone."

Oh my, such comments are in desperate need of thermal paste and an officially endorsed heatsink and fan combination! Or, um, burn. While Nvidia is hardly "alone" in the market, the point ATI makes is not entirely without merit. In a considerably competitive hardware market, combining resources and technology couldn't easily be labeled as a terrible strategy and certainly not as a white flag flapping in the wind. Both companies have valid points -- we'll see which is more convincing once they start releasing their next generation of wares.

The rest of AMD's response is aimed at several rumors that have cropped up since the original takeover announcement. They pledge to remain committed to GPUs and to support graphics solutions on Intel platforms, rubbishing the suggestion that Intel is revoking ATI's license. Perhaps that's where Nvidia and ATI can agree: having a strange PC hardware format war would be unpleasant for all parties involved.

[Via Voodoo Extreme, thanks devian!]

ATI responds to Nvidia, clears up post-takeover rumors originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 27 Jul 2006 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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ATI teams with Havok for boundless gaming

Alan Rose — Wed, 07 Jun 2006 15:30:00 EST

Filed under: Hacks, Mac, PC, Action, First Person Shooters, Online, RPGs, MMO

ATI made some noise today with a pair of announcements regarding their new physics processing technologies. The 3D graphics leader is introducing the CrossFire X1900 multi-GPU solution, which gives gamers a choice of asymmetrical physics configurations -- what ATI has coined "boundless gaming". The setup requires either one or two graphics cards for rendering, and a separate card for physics processing. "Boundless" refers to the open architecture that allows for different cards to be used in each role, so gamers can decide between various high and low end cards to handle each function. ATI maintains an updated list of CrossFire certified components.

ATI will also be working more closely with middleware provider Havok to promote the Havok FX SDK. Games that have leveraged the Havok technology include Half-Life 2, Perfect Dark Zero, FEAR, and the Splinter Cell series.

See also:

ATI teams with Havok for boundless gaming originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 07 Jun 2006 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Fanboy Roundup: That's a good look for you

Christopher Grant — Wed, 01 Feb 2006 04:00:00 EST

Filed under: Nintendo DS, Sony PSP, Microsoft Xbox 360

Let's talk redesigns! DS Fanboy has an interesting consideration of Nintendo's converging design aesthetic, from the Game Boy micro, to the Revolution controller, to the new DS lite. PSP Fanboy wonders where the different colors are in Sony's black & white world; you could always upgrade the look of your PSP with a nice external battery though. And, with the announcement of the first replaceable cases for the console, Xbox 360 Fanboy considers the impending surge of Xbox 360 case modders. Here are the Fanboy highlights for the week:

DS Fanboy
Linux on the DS: Now with Wi-Fi support
Nintendo Power has a flood of Metroid Prime Hunters info
Nintendo: Converging design

PSP Fanboy
Pigs fly! Get eight hours of play on a PSP!
Multicolored PSPs missing in action
Will Rez sound off on the PSP?

Xbox 360 Fanboy
Radeon equivalent to Xbox 360 over $500
Xbox 360 replacement case concepts
Xbox 360 could still be MIA through spring

Fanboy Roundup: That's a good look for you originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 01 Feb 2006 04:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Radeon equivalent to Xbox 360 over $500

Christopher Grant — Thu, 26 Jan 2006 19:30:00 EST

Filed under: News

Pundits predicted the next-generation of consoles, specifically the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3, would maintain graphical supremacy for at least several years before their PC equivalents arrived on the scene. Of course that wasn't going to happen: specs of the unreleased ATI Radeon x1900 XTX indicate it's very similar to the ATI XENOS GPU found in the Xbox 360.

Both Hard OCP and Tech Reports report that the x1900 XTX sports 48 pixel pipelines, a 650 Mhz processor, and 512MB of 1.5GHz RAM. The Xbox 360 also has 48 pipelines, a 500MHz processor, and 512MB of 700MHz RAM. It looks like ATI may have just one upped the custom GPU design they just sold to Microsoft.

The problem with computer games tends to be that only a couple games even try to take advantage of monster cards like this one; most of them go for the lowest common denominator, opting to build an engine that is scalable enough to look great on all manner of systems.

Here's the real kicker: the x1900 XTX commands a whopping $500 plus! For that price, you could get an Xbox 360 and have enough left over for a game and a Live membership!

[Via b Xbox 360]

Radeon equivalent to Xbox 360 over $500 originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 26 Jan 2006 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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