The tech demos were running on early dev kits (probably the ones which were reported as having a HD4000 series card in them), and Nintendo have a history of showing tech demos which get completely outclassed by real games, so I wouldn't take the demos to be entirely accurate representations of the system. That said, I personally believe they look noticeably better than anything I've seen running in real time on the PS3/XBox360, so I'm expecting pretty nice things once we get to see real games running on final hardware.
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Wii U Speculation Thread 2: Can't take anymore of this!!!
- Thread starter ClovingWestbrook
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The tech demos were running on early dev kits (probably the ones which were reported as having a HD4000 series card in them), and Nintendo have a history of showing tech demos which get completely outclassed by real games, so I wouldn't take the demos to be entirely accurate representations of the system. That said, I personally believe they look noticeably better than anything I've seen running in real time on the PS3/XBox360, so I'm expecting pretty nice things once we get to see real games running on final hardware.
AceBandage
Banned
Is it more powerful than my Mickey Mouse Toaster?
ThatObviousUser
ὠαἴÏÏιÏÏÎ¿Ï Ïαá¿Ï εἶ
I take this to mean that 2 GB RAM is confirmed.
I tried to get wsippel to post this, but he felt it was nothing more than what I had already posted. However I disagree because it was still more than what I got and very relevant IMO. So I'm linking this anyway wsippel.
http://forum.beyond3d.com/showpost.php?p=1614288&postcount=406
The 2gb dream LIVES
Paul Gale
Member
...but I applaud you for having one.
I played with Wii U at E3 and thought the Zelda HD Experience alone looked a good deal better than God of War III by comparison and that game is quite attractive. I'm sure that when Nintendo busts out the real games at E3 this June, we'll be mopping the floor shortly after.http://paulgalenetwork.com/home/201...eenage-mutant-ninja-turtles-manhattan-crisis/
Unrelated...but I hope this game comes to Wii U...if at all.
http://paulgalenetwork.com/home/201...ports-2-a-july-launch-and-more-possibilities/
Related...my own choice would be to have Wii U be 1) Significantly more powerful than PS3/Xbox 360 so that "though weaker" can still compete with Xbox 3 and PS4 when they come out. 2) Cost $400 and have thrown in, Wii Sports 2: The game that will creatively bridge the gap of WiiMotion Plus gaming and U-control tablet fun. World wide launch July 8th, 2012-July 29th, 2012. Pre-orders begin on June 7th, with a several week marketing, super hype filled campaign.
Just a thought.
Personally, I'd love it if the next xbox came out in spring 2013. It would kick off the next gen in a much more meaningful way, and there's very little chance it could so completely outclass the Wii U that mutliplatform ports wouldn't be possible.
But some small part of me wants MS and Sony to remain completely mum about their next gen efforts this E3 and have nintendo surprise everyone with how powerful the console is. I don't mean some kind of 4gb 7850 monster, but just a solid machine that can't help but make people say "WOW." I want this to happen just to shut the goddamn mouths of all the haters out there (or just to see them flounder around trying to downplay a superb showing).
But some small part of me wants MS and Sony to remain completely mum about their next gen efforts this E3 and have nintendo surprise everyone with how powerful the console is. I don't mean some kind of 4gb 7850 monster, but just a solid machine that can't help but make people say "WOW." I want this to happen just to shut the goddamn mouths of all the haters out there (or just to see them flounder around trying to downplay a superb showing).
AceBandage
Banned
Nothing that makes toast with Mickey's Face and plays the Mickey Mouse Theme song can be outdated, good sir!
Hot Coldman
Banned
I tried to get wsippel to post this, but he felt it was nothing more than what I had already posted. However I disagree because it was still more than what I got and very relevant IMO. So I'm linking this anyway wsippel.
http://forum.beyond3d.com/showpost.php?p=1614288&postcount=406
That would be awesome...but, we'll get 1 gig. 1.5 gigs if we are really lucky.
brain_stew
Member
We've seen the case, let's not setup unrealistic expectations.
bgassassin
Member
Agree with the memory amount. Not quite sure on that bus (could be 96-bit), but would be nice though.
Paul Gale
Member
...you are correct!
I think the rumors of the Nextbox could have been a catalyst to power jump, Showing the WiiU off to the world and being completely bypassed is surely not something they will risk
THE:MILKMAN
Member
I think wsippel should get here and douse the flames lol.
The last ~30 posts have confuzzled me.........2GB RAM, 7000 series Radeon!?
The last ~30 posts have confuzzled me.........2GB RAM, 7000 series Radeon!?
AceBandage
Banned
The 2GB of ram is possible.
The 7000 series is not.
It'll be a mid-high range 5000 more likely.
I tried to get wsippel to post this, but he felt it was nothing more than what I had already posted. However I disagree because it was still more than what I got and very relevant IMO. So I'm linking this anyway wsippel.
http://forum.beyond3d.com/showpost.php?p=1614288&postcount=406
brain_stew
Member
1GB was always the minimum. Nintendo's whole strategy would fall apart with anything less.
bgassassin
Member
Honestly there's no need to really get hopes up for either.
AceBandage
Banned
Dreamwriter
Member
Of course, by "more powerful than anticipated", he means the vibration force-feedback in the controller will put out 250 foot-pounds of torque...
THE:MILKMAN
Member
Don't get me wrong, I'd love it to be true. It was just the specs went through the roof in 30 posts!
I do feel we're really close to getting more solid confirmation of what its got. *fingers crossed*
When you get punched in Punch Out Wii U you might just well... die.
Exterminieren
Banned
F Zero Wii U will produce powerful enough rumble to turn your wrists into dust.
BELIEVE.
Hot Coldman
Banned
The Yerlis need new pants confirmed.
bgassassin
Member
Dat PS Quadruple!
Oh dear!
Haha. Yeah my post was more about the other posts you were referring to. But yeah hopefully before E3 we'll know what's going on under the hood.
Won't matter when the PS4 is revealed and has 32GB.
There's no chance it'll be a 96-bit bus. If there's one thing Nintendo love, it's fast RAM. Worst case scenario is 128-bit, and I wouldn't put 256-bit past them (which would put them in the region of 100GB/s memory bandwidth).
bgassassin
Member
If there is 1.5GB then 192 and 96 are really the only options for six chips.
ThatObviousUser
ὠαἴÏÏιÏÏÎ¿Ï Ïαá¿Ï εἶ
Anything less would be a disappointment. Sony's hands are tied in this situation.
KeeSomething
Banned
What is the gif from?
The 2gb dream LIVES
At 96-bit, it'd be really unlikely to be able to handle much software at a native 1080p. The memory bandwidth at that bit width is too confining for the U to have any chance of inclusion in a unified multiplatform development model alongside MS and Sony's next systems.
bgassassin
Member
That's where the eDRAM would come in.
brain_stew
Member
Everything else we've heard suggests there's a huge chunk of eDRAM. A 96 bit GDDR5 bus will still allow them to offer triple the bandwidth of the 360 while being able to offload more bandwidth hungry tasks to eDRAM. It's more than enough.
That 3x 360 figure starts to make a lot of sense really. 3x the eDRAM, 3x the memory bandwidth, 3x the amount of main memory, 3x the L2 cache and 3x the amount of shaders all line up with what we've been hearing.
Then it'll be 192, or 128/256 if they've stumped for 2GB. I just don't see them settling for a bandwidth barely twice that of the XBox360.
Keep in mind that, even with the Wii, when Nintendo very explicitly set themselves the goal of "Don't make this thing too powerful", they still added the fastest RAM available (GDDR3) to the console. Now that they're actually trying to make a technologically capable system, fast RAM is the last thing I expect them to skimp on.
I guess I should, yes.
Devs had low expectations, and the final hardware supposedly exceeds those. That´s pretty much it. Nobody said it´s mindblowing or anything, just different and better than anticipated. But considering we don´t even know what the initial expectations were to begin with...
AceBandage
Banned
Initial expectations were weaker than the original Wii.
brain_stew
Member
If the entire 1080p framebuffer is going to be in eDRAM, it'll cope just fine.
I'm not sure that 1080p is really the target resolution for Wii U anyway. Early software will support it a s its a cheap way to make use of the faster hardware but going forward, dropping to 720p is going to be one of the key ways developers facilitate multiplatform development.
Hero of Legend
Member
Pff, fuck that, the Toaster from Brave Little Toaster would whoop its ass, now THAT is playing (toasting) with Wii U power!
That's a bit of a wash, though, isn't it? Because the next Xbox will probably also have an eDRAM solution on top of simply having a faster main memory pool.
I definitely agree with that. I'm expecting that most 1080p titles will either be Nintendo's internally developed software closer the beginning of the generation or 360/PS3 multiplats. Nintendo will probably make the shift to 720p as the new consoles come out in order to stay closer to parity with industry norms, and 3rd party stuff that's shared with the next MS/Sony boxes will be 720p or even lower.
Hero of Legend
Member
Just realized: Devs will have 5-6 months to toy with final hardware, so we should have a better chance of seeing even better results at E3!
Dang, it is true! I just checked and only 2 of my speakers are making sounds. Can't believe I just learned about this today; no wonder I've been thinking all this time that my home theater is a bit weak! Thanks for the heads up!
However, I have an Xbox 360 arcade with HDMI connected, so I apparently don't have an optical output slot
. Same for my DirecTV receiver it seems! Wow this really sucks. Now I really want the Wii U to have a dedicated optical audio slot.Fantastical
Death Prophet
Paul Gale's use of post titles confuses me every time.
http://knowyourmeme.com/memes/dimitri-finds-out
http://knowyourmeme.com/memes/dimitri-finds-out
Seeing the hype on this page for the confirmation that new kits are out is kinda funny to me. :lol
That being said, yay more developments on Wii U's development. The silence is almost over. Only thing left to do is to see how close I got with my estimations over the course of the announcement to re-reveal period. Also games, online structure, confirmation that pointer gaming will never die Air Man style, etc.
That being said, yay more developments on Wii U's development. The silence is almost over. Only thing left to do is to see how close I got with my estimations over the course of the announcement to re-reveal period. Also games, online structure, confirmation that pointer gaming will never die Air Man style, etc.
bgassassin
Member
Depends on how fast Xbox3's main memory pool is. If it's fast enough it could make eDRAM redundant and just an unnecessary cost.
brain_stew
Member
Modern GDDR5 on a 96 bit bus would get you over 60GB of bandwidth, that's a lot more than "barely double" the bandwidth in the 360, in fact you'd end up with almost exactly triple.
Factor in the extra L2 cache and eDRAM, and it becomes clear that main memory bandwidth isn't going to be a major bottleneck in such a system.
The series the GPU belongs too would be about its feature set, not its power though. I don't see why a GPU which is taping out in 2011/2012 couldn't have similar features to a 7000 series, why stick with 5000 level features?
brain_stew
Member
I don't expect either the PS3 or 360 to include eDRAM. You'd want at least 64MB (or ideally 128MB) for a high end console focused on 1080p rendering with high precision rendering and that amount of eDRAM just isn't feasible.
I'd expect both consoles to have just shy of 200GB/s of main memory bandwidth on a 256 bit bus.
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