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Emily Rogers: NX Not Using x86 Architecture - Won't Blow Away Current Gen Consoles

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https://arcadegirl64.wordpress.com/2016/05/13/so-about-nx/

After speaking to seven different people this week, I can say with confidence that this is false. NX is not using x86 architecture like PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. The NX has special, custom-made chips and the overall design of the hardware is very modern. The chips are industry leading because they are very modern chips, but having modern chips doesn’t necessarily mean Nintendo is aiming to create the most powerful hardware on the market. Furthermore, any NX rumors on “Polaris chips” and “Polaris architecture” are all wacky. There’s a good reason why those rumors are wacky.

In terms of raw power, numerous sources tell me that NX is much closer to Xbox One than PlayStation 4. Even that might be stretching it a tiny bit. Anyone who is claiming that NX is “two times the power of PS4 GPU” is being misled by their sources. Based on what I’ve heard, I don’t believe the NX will compete directly with PS4 (Neo) / PS4K in raw power.

There will be plenty of debates over the NX’s specs because it’s not simple to directly compare two apples (with x86 architecture) to an orange (that doesn’t use x86 architecture). But everything that I’ve heard (so far) indicates that NX isn’t going to blow away any of the consoles on the market today…except for Wii U.

Also from Eclectic Jabber Monkey over in the closed NX thread.

I saw something interesting on Semi Accurate today. The details are unfortunately for subscribers only so I have no hard info to post. I've been reading Charlies' stuff for a long time, since before he created Semi Accurate, and he is usually pretty well-informed with his educated guesses on things before he publishes them.

The part that caught my attention is bolded below.

"It’s new console time again and SemiAccurate brings you news of Nintendo’s NX silicon. If you recall our past guesses were pretty spot on and this time should be the same. You might also recall we made some pretty surprising calls on the console silicon front too, and this one will probably make most of you pick your jaw off the floor."

http://semiaccurate.com/2016/05/12/g...-nintendos-nx/

Most people have speculated an AMD APU will be powering the NX, so my interest is piqued by the jaw dropping part. AMD x64 silicon isn't jaw dropping to me. What could the jaw dropping part be referring to?

There is a forum thread at Semi Accurate where people make some interesting guesses, one being that Charlie isn't referring the CPU/GPU, but rather some other chip in the NX.

http://semiaccurate.com/forums/showthread.php?t=9162

For those unfamiliar with Semi Accurate, some content is locked behind a paywall, which it turn prevents forums from discussing the content as well. The info will probably trickle out at some point, but until it does I shall be waiting, interest piqued.
 

Artanisix

Member
NotLikeThis.png
 

Eolz

Member
Hope people read that it has a different architecture and not "omg it's an X1!" when it isn't.
 

ozfunghi

Member
Great, maybe someone should make a thread about what we REALLY were discussing before ModBot closed down the other thread. Being the Semi-Accurate article with the NX handheld using a Tegra chip?
 

Nirolak

Mrgrgr
I'm leaning back toward my initial reaction that the home console might be a set top version of the handheld's hardware, and thus both are ARM or NVIDIA mobile setups.

We did just get a Chinese console announced that runs on a Tegra K1 and is getting 360/PS3 games ported to it.

Great, maybe someone should make a thread about what we REALLY were discussing before ModBot closed down the other thread. Being the Semi-Accurate article with the NX handheld using a Tegra chip?

You can make one for that if you want too.
 

Delio

Member
Only good thing from that other thread was the rumors of the handheld being stronger than we figured. Console not being x86, doesnt that make ports harder now?
 
The real news would be if it actually turned out to be as powerful as, at best, the Xbox One.

Nintendo hardware being underpowered isn't news anymore, it's a sad and unfortunate expectation.
 
I never got why people thought nintendo would blow the top off with power when literally everything they've released recently has been really underpowered compared to it's competitors. PSP > DS, PS360 > Wii, PSV > 3DS, PS4/XB1 > Wii U etc.
 
x86 is inevitable. Was hoping it would have been this gen for all the console holders for the sake backwards compatibility.

That being said, the "leaks" have not given me high hopes for this machine.

P.S. Hey, Emily.

with nintendo's art style and more power combined, i am excited.

Something something, Captain Planet, something something.
 

exemp30

Member
Correct me if wrong but didn't she say the opposite first? I'm just going to wait until it's announced for any info.
 

Kaako

Felium Defensor
What in the hell man...
Close in power to the XB1? This is gonna be a shittastrophy if even remotely true.
 

Montresor

Member
Can someone dumb down in the simplest possible terms what it means to use x86 architecture and why it's a bad thing that they aren't doing so?

The only thing I know about x86 is that I think it means 32-bit. And that if you have a 64-bit Windows OS, then 32-bit applications get installed in "Program Files (x86)"
 
Great, maybe someone should make a thread about what we REALLY were discussing before ModBot closed down the other thread. Being the Semi-Accurate article with the NX handheld using a Tegra chip?
Yeah, can somebody make a topic about this? This is wayy more intriguing and new type news.
 
I would like developer input on this. x86 being a standard makes it easy to release on PC/Xbox/PS4. If NX wants to be the loner again on a different architecture, is it worth it to expend the resources?
 

chaosblade

Unconfirmed Member
That's completely unsurprising.

But of course people are going to be disappointed after the WUST2.0 threads started getting everyone hyped about Nintendo making a Neo competitor.

Not using x86 is also not a problem.
 

QaaQer

Member
The real news would be if it actually turned out to be as powerful as, at best, the Xbox One.

Nintendo hardware being underpowered isn't news anymore, it's a sad and unfortunate expectation.

Other credible rumours state Nvidia is taking a loss on the hh chips and they are tegra.
 

orioto

Good Art™
But last time the "most powerful than ps4" thing was a grade1 rumour with many sources...

What i hear here seems real bad, WiiU bad. A not so powerful console with a really different architecture...

Well that would mean there is a strong gimmick at least, cause it won't compete with the others then.
 
What in the hell man...
Close in power to the XB1? This is gonna be a shittastrophy if even remotely true.
How? Cus third party games do so well for Nintendo?

If they're unifying their ecosystem to play the same games across handheld and console then who will care about third parties when they will have the best Nintendo games available on both of their platforms. Like, the 3DS sold really well. Imagine a 3DS that plugged in at home to get better graphics... I'm sure many would be down for that to run their games in better quality.
 
Can someone dumb down in the simplest possible terms what it means to use x86 architecture and why it's a bad thing that they aren't doing so?

The only thing I know about x86 is that it means 32-bit. And that if you have a 64-bit Windows OS, then 32-bit applications get installed in "Program Files (x86)"

it's easy to develop for. it's what windows uses and what the current gen consoles are using, ensuring porting games is cheaper and easier than it would be between architectures.
 
Not x86 could be a detriment to third party support.

I would like developer input on this. x86 being a standard makes it easy to release on PC/Xbox/PS4. If NX wants to be the loner again on a different architecture, is it worth it to expend the resources?

There are far more developers working on ARM than there are x86 at this point.
Engine support for ARM is broad as well, thanks to the fact that ARM devices are far more ubiquitous than x86 consoles.
 

KingBroly

Banned
Can someone dumb down in the simplest possible terms what it means to use x86 architecture and why it's a bad thing that they aren't doing so?

The only thing I know about x86 is that I think it means 32-bit. And that if you have a 64-bit Windows OS, then 32-bit applications get installed in "Program Files (x86)"

x86 is standard PC architecture
 
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