Official Thread XBOX Hardware

My Current Console Is....


  • Total voters
    37
Status
Not open for further replies.
New Xbox update is really nice. Cortana integration and voice recognition is so much better than the old way, it's not even funny.

The best box keeps getting better. I have really fallen in love with the X1's new UI. It's so much easier than it used to be and Cortana was the cherry on top. Well done Microsoft.
 
Nice bit of totally unbiased journalism


Good article and brings up some valid points. Microsoft has to deliver the most powerful system hands down, and Sony is in the position to just sit back and watch what they do. However, if MS can deliver, one has to wonder how far Sony is willing to go in order to match or out do what Microsoft does.

On the flip side of that coin, MS has much deeper pockets than Sony and can afford to take a loss on the most powerful hardware. Chess match for sure. Should be fun to watch.

Dude, does sound super based though...
 
Last edited:
Reading the article again, all Microsoft has to do is show games running in real time on the Scorpio with release dates at the end of the demos (2017). No need to divulge into the specs, no need for specific dates.
 
Watching some Ray Donovan on Vudu? Update kicks in like The Dark Knight. 5 min in? 17% I dont know whether to be pissed or happy. I love me some Ray Donovan, but I want my update too. This has been a crazy week.
 
Nice bit of totally unbiased journalism




What is funny is they say the releasing of new console is great for everyone because a generation is defined by its weakest platform. And yet the current weakest platform will remain as is, so how is it great for everybody?
 
any Aussies still wanting to get an xbox one or a 2nd console?

BigW has xboxone with lego movie game, minecraft and name your game token for $299(US$220). Insane!!!
 
What is funny is they say the releasing of new console is great for everyone because a generation is defined by its weakest platform. And yet the current weakest platform will remain as is, so how is it great for everybody?
It's great because every game will likely be at least 1080/60. If those stats are important to you, at least. Having that low end limiter is what allows for headroom. That's why PCs can run games at 4k, or 120fps- because they build games so they can run on lesser hardware.
 
It's great because every game will likely be at least 1080/60. If those stats are important to you, at least. Having that low end limiter is what allows for headroom. That's why PCs can run games at 4k, or 120fps- because they build games so they can run on lesser hardware.


But that also means all games are made and not taking advantage of the new hardware. So still not great for those with a new console, and old console rockers are no better off either.
 
But that also means all games are made and not taking advantage of the new hardware. So still not great for those with a new console, and old console rockers are no better off either.
That's why you have to look at it as a premium console instead of a new playstation. Same games, better performance. They will still be a benefit. Like the the elite controller.
 
The real problem, as is now in the PC scene, when the minimum specs needed to run a game cannot be achieved on old hardware. That has to happen with this X1 roadmap as games will be ever tethered to 2013 hardware otherwise?
 
Last edited:
Interesting, from 2011. Looks like they've been working on this concept for a long time:

http://arstechnica.com/gaming/2012/07/will-there-be-multiple-versions-of-the-next-xbox/

Will there be multiple versions of the next Xbox?

"Scalable" architecture patent points to systems with variable hardware power.

Microsoft's patent for a "Scalable Multimedia Computer System Architecture With QOS [Quality Of Service] Guarantees" describes a design for a game system that is capable of "allowing platform services to scale over time." Those "platform services" include pretty much everything the hardware does besides directly running games—everything from maintaining the basic operating system, handling network traffic, and interpreting inputs to potentially streaming content to nearby tablets or recording TV shows.

A standard console configuration might explicitly devote one entire CPU/GPU combo to handling those basic platform functions, while other processors are dedicated to the game-playing "application" functions. But Microsoft's patent describes a new "communication fabric" framework that would let the system allocate computing resources more flexibly between platform and application tasks concurrently, while also ensuring that the game-playing portion doesn't dip below a certain quality threshold. So the operating system would be able to use as much processing power as it wants, as long as it doesn't interfere with the performance of a game that's running at the same time.

That's important, because it would also let Microsoft design multiple hardware configurations of the same basic game system, all of which run the same games, but some of which allow for additional "platform" features that use the extra hardware power. The patent even hints at this kind of configuration diversity. While "lower cost embodiments" of the system might be forced to share a single GPU between the platform and application systems (theoretically limiting the power of the platform aspects), the patent suggests that subsequent versions of the hardware could provide "more platform services... due to hardware improvements." In other words, as computing standards increase, newer versions of the system would be equipped to provide additional functions, while still running games designed for earlier versions of the hardware.

What might those extra "platform services" entail? How about converting your game console into a general purpose computer? The patent describes one "embodiment" of the design that could be equipped to run "a different general purpose operating system (e.g. Windows)" including "Internet access via a browser, word processing, productivity, content generation and audiovisual applications." In this configuration, the hardware would be able to easily switch between a game-playing mode and "general purpose computer mode," without requiring separate processors for each distinct part.

But the added services don't have to be that elaborate. Other configurations discussed in the patent could be designed to "be operated as a participant in a larger network community" (read: act as a home server), handle basic audio/visual functions (like persistent on-screen chat or streaming music), or make use of a third CPU to speed up storage access times and process complex inputs (read: Kinect) faster and more accurately. Theoretically, the more advanced hardware could even improve the graphical rendering on games designed for earlier configurations.

The "Xbox 720" document that we reported on last month discussed a potential system architecture that was "designed to be scalable in frequency/number of cores," and have a "modular design to facilitate SKU updates later in lifecycle." And while the leak was labeled as "for discussion purposes only," it's dated just a few months before the December 2010 patent filing (the patent application was only published online by the US Patent and Trademark Office late last month, and found by Internet sleuths earlier this week).

Taken together, these documents present an interesting middle way to combine the PC world of constantly upgradeable hardware with the console world of standardized design. While developers would still have a set baseline "quality of service" configuration to aim for with their designs, the console would also be able to evolve to make use of new standards in computing power as time goes on. Combined with some sort of subsidized monthly fee model, which includes regular, cell-phone style upgrades, Microsoft could ensure that its players aren't using obsolete hardware even years after the system launches. With average console lifecycles continuing to increase, it might not be such a bad idea.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: Frozpot
Interesting, from 2011. Looks like they've been working on this concept for a long time:

http://arstechnica.com/gaming/2012/07/will-there-be-multiple-versions-of-the-next-xbox/

Will there be multiple versions of the next Xbox?

"Scalable" architecture patent points to systems with variable hardware power.

Microsoft's patent for a "Scalable Multimedia Computer System Architecture With QOS [Quality Of Service] Guarantees" describes a design for a game system that is capable of "allowing platform services to scale over time." Those "platform services" include pretty much everything the hardware does besides directly running games—everything from maintaining the basic operating system, handling network traffic, and interpreting inputs to potentially streaming content to nearby tablets or recording TV shows.

A standard console configuration might explicitly devote one entire CPU/GPU combo to handling those basic platform functions, while other processors are dedicated to the game-playing "application" functions. But Microsoft's patent describes a new "communication fabric" framework that would let the system allocate computing resources more flexibly between platform and application tasks concurrently, while also ensuring that the game-playing portion doesn't dip below a certain quality threshold. So the operating system would be able to use as much processing power as it wants, as long as it doesn't interfere with the performance of a game that's running at the same time.

That's important, because it would also let Microsoft design multiple hardware configurations of the same basic game system, all of which run the same games, but some of which allow for additional "platform" features that use the extra hardware power. The patent even hints at this kind of configuration diversity. While "lower cost embodiments" of the system might be forced to share a single GPU between the platform and application systems (theoretically limiting the power of the platform aspects), the patent suggests that subsequent versions of the hardware could provide "more platform services... due to hardware improvements." In other words, as computing standards increase, newer versions of the system would be equipped to provide additional functions, while still running games designed for earlier versions of the hardware.

What might those extra "platform services" entail? How about converting your game console into a general purpose computer? The patent describes one "embodiment" of the design that could be equipped to run "a different general purpose operating system (e.g. Windows)" including "Internet access via a browser, word processing, productivity, content generation and audiovisual applications." In this configuration, the hardware would be able to easily switch between a game-playing mode and "general purpose computer mode," without requiring separate processors for each distinct part.

But the added services don't have to be that elaborate. Other configurations discussed in the patent could be designed to "be operated as a participant in a larger network community" (read: act as a home server), handle basic audio/visual functions (like persistent on-screen chat or streaming music), or make use of a third CPU to speed up storage access times and process complex inputs (read: Kinect) faster and more accurately. Theoretically, the more advanced hardware could even improve the graphical rendering on games designed for earlier configurations.

The "Xbox 720" document that we reported on last month discussed a potential system architecture that was "designed to be scalable in frequency/number of cores," and have a "modular design to facilitate SKU updates later in lifecycle." And while the leak was labeled as "for discussion purposes only," it's dated just a few months before the December 2010 patent filing (the patent application was only published online by the US Patent and Trademark Office late last month, and found by Internet sleuths earlier this week).

Taken together, these documents present an interesting middle way to combine the PC world of constantly upgradeable hardware with the console world of standardized design. While developers would still have a set baseline "quality of service" configuration to aim for with their designs, the console would also be able to evolve to make use of new standards in computing power as time goes on. Combined with some sort of subsidized monthly fee model, which includes regular, cell-phone style upgrades, Microsoft could ensure that its players aren't using obsolete hardware even years after the system launches. With average console lifecycles continuing to increase, it might not be such a bad idea.

I dont mean to sound fanboyish here. Let me be clear that I enjoy my console regardless if its the first or last system in the console wars. (Cortana is amazing!) For me personally, I think this industry needs a leader who is willing to innovate and push the industry forward. Without innovation, without that push things can stagnate and gamers lose some of their passion for games. In my humble opinion, that leader is Microsoft, not Sony.

Sony has had tremendous success this generation, no doubt. They began with a clear message and delivered a product gamers understood, and more power under the hood than the competition (even if only small percentage) But Sony arent innovators...AT ALL. Sony appears to be about the numbers moreso than leading the games industry forward with fresh ideas that gamers and developers embrace and take risks on. This is why I dont believe this current generation has even begun. Its more about petty issues because there isnt something better to distract gamers from focusing on the mediocre. Microsoft tried to bring innovation to the industry, but unfortunately stumbled over their own messaging and communication so badly, gamers and the media were allowed to take the reins of Microsofts vision and control it. This was bad for the industry on a much larger scale than most realize.

The industry lost a leader, and allowed a more traditional company to come and set the tone for everyone else. One who is known for creating great hardware, but not much in the way of leading with a grander vision of the future.

Thats the end of my rant fellas, and I dont expect anyone to take any of it as gospel and Im sure many wont agree, and thats cool. Still, you gotta wonder.....
 
  • Like
Reactions: Kreten
I dont mean to sound fanboyish here. Let me be clear that I enjoy my console regardless if its the first or last system in the console wars. (Cortana is amazing!) For me personally, I think this industry needs a leader who is willing to innovate and push the industry forward. Without innovation, without that push things can stagnate and gamers lose some of their passion for games. In my humble opinion, that leader is Microsoft, not Sony.

Sony has had tremendous success this generation, no doubt. They began with a clear message and delivered a product gamers understood, and more power under the hood than the competition (even if only small percentage) But Sony arent innovators...AT ALL. Sony appears to be about the numbers moreso than leading the games industry forward with fresh ideas that gamers and developers embrace and take risks on. This is why I dont believe this current generation has even begun. Its more about petty issues because there isnt something better to distract gamers from focusing on the mediocre. Microsoft tried to bring innovation to the industry, but unfortunately stumbled over their own messaging and communication so badly, gamers and the media were allowed to take the reins of Microsofts vision and control it. This was bad for the industry on a much larger scale than most realize.

The industry lost a leader, and allowed a more traditional company to come and set the tone for everyone else. One who is known for creating great hardware, but not much in the way of leading with a grander vision of the future.

Thats the end of my rant fellas, and I dont expect anyone to take any of it as gospel and Im sure many wont agree, and thats cool. Still, you gotta wonder.....

Microsoft hasn't done anything that I would call great or innovative since Xbox Live.

Cloud computing is interesting but as of right now they haven't done anything with it, but even if they do companies like Nividia were doing this sort of thing a long time a go. MS would just be bringing the feature to the masses.
 
Hi all, can someone answer this for me. If I have two X1's on the same network at home, 1 upstairs in the man cave and 1 under the TV can I still use my gamer profile as log as one of em is off?
 
It's great because every game will likely be at least 1080/60. If those stats are important to you, at least. Having that low end limiter is what allows for headroom. That's why PCs can run games at 4k, or 120fps- because they build games so they can run on lesser hardware.
That depends on what dev priorities are. With increased power, they just beef up the particle and lighting effects or make the game 4k/30 fps.

Ever since 3D gaming came about during the PS1/Saturn/N64 days, there hasn't been one generation where consoles focused on 60fps gaming. So I wouldn't be surprised if Neo/Scorpio ditched 60 fps focus either.

The most 60 fps gaming was 1980s gaming. Figure that one out.
 
You guys knew Limbo was free yesterday, right? Downloaded and still have the license too. Guess its legit!
No, why are you telling this today, to hurt my feelings?

Edit: fixed horrible spell correct. Also, I guess it's still free!
 
Last edited:
We need a 1.5 thread. It's a new day, yes it is!

jWPaPIa.gif
 
Status
Not open for further replies.