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Hot Chips: Microsoft's Xbox One SoC has 47 MBytes Cache / 204 GB/s peak BW

Msoft XBox One SoC has 47 MBytes cache in 363mm2 die!

In the pic of the architectural design you'll see the "theoretical throughput" of 204 GB/s peak BW. Confirming Digital Foundry's inside claims.

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semiaccurate.com
greenpowerz3896d ago (Edited 3896d ago )

K

Buttery popcorn is needed

Convas

They were right in what context and the popcorn? Seems to be unexpectedly stronger than originally thought.

" Bandwidth is at a premium in the Xbox One owing to the slower DDR3 memory employed in the console, which does not compare favourably to the 8GB unified pool of GDDR5 in the PlayStation 4. The 32MB of "embedded static RAM" within the Xbox One processor aims to make up the difference, and was previously thought to sustain a peak theoretical throughput of 102GB/s - useful, but still some way behind the 176GB/s found in PlayStation 4's RAM set-up. Now that close-to-final silicon is available, Microsoft has revised its own figures upwards significantly, telling developers that 192GB/s is now theoretically possible."

http://www.eurogamer.net/ar...

SuperLupe3896d ago (Edited 3896d ago )

Can somebody please explain what the heck does all this mean ? Sorry Im no spec nut :)

3896d ago
NewMonday3896d ago

it means only 32mb can go threw the fast ESRAM, witch means very limited application for it, the bulk of data will have to go threw the slow DDR3 ram, this mostly effects textures and loading time.

HammadTheBeast3896d ago (Edited 3896d ago )

Essentially, this: http://images.wikia.com/dra...

Basically this just confirms the rumors, the same things from a week ago are true.

LaChance3896d ago Show
MysticStrummer3896d ago

It means nothing has changed, but some people forgot the definition of the word "theoretical".

3896d ago
thechosenone3896d ago (Edited 3896d ago )

Gaf breaks it down...nothing has changed it's still...

PS4 > Xbone :D xD :P :3 :O

http://www.neogaf.com/forum...

3896d ago
black0o3896d ago

ESRAm helps nothing more .. and thanks to it we may see the same thing happened this's cur-gen where Xbox holds ps back just to let games being fit into HD-DVD instead of bluRay
MgS4 30+
GOW 40+
UC3 40+ GB ..etc mean while FF13-2 were 7 GB for the poor x360

now will have to deal with files been fit into 32mb or 47 mb so x1 can run it smother, while the ps4 is setting on 8 GB

I bet ps exclusive will shine more this up coming gen much more the cur-gen

ThatCanadianGuy5143896d ago (Edited 3896d ago )

PS4: 1152 Shaders
Xbone: 768 Shaders

PS4: 72 Texture units
Xbone: 48 Texture units

PS4: 32 ROPS
Xbone: 16 ROPS

Not even counting the the superior ram and ram setup, still just Means that PS4 is massively more powerful then xbox.

tokugawa3896d ago Show
tuglu_pati3896d ago (Edited 3896d ago )

@tokugawa

agree

anyone can go and sign up in neogaf and comment, the info from there is as reliable as in here.

Ritsujun3896d ago

GP and her nasty green mind.

NewMonday3896d ago

people angry at facts

notice non of the XB1 fans try to give a credible explanation because the truth is hard to take.

georgeenoob3896d ago Show
tuglu_pati3896d ago

The ESRAM is still essentially its own thing, memory read/writes to it can be 109 gbs right through to 204gb/s, but it's now a two way communication, not just a framebuffer cache like it was on the 360.

What that really means is post processing/defferred rendering is slick. Hellishly slick. Rendering is again, a one way traffic system, but any post processing can happen soon as the frame is created in the ESRAM. No GPU to DDR3 read/writes. All win win stuff (like last gen).

Clock speed increase means it has a throughput advantage (over PS4)in terms of the rate at which it process data, with almost zero stall pipeline in place. Very slick. OP/s still low compared to the opposition, but there is enough here to suggest that it will run efficiently enough.

Outside of the raw compute advantage on the GPU (for PS4), the Xbox one has a faster HSA bus, running at 30gb/s compared to "nearly 20gb/s).
It's all half a dozen of one and 6 of the other, someplace's XBO has advantages, others it doesn't.

Raw rendering, hell I wouldn't be at all concerned, it appears there's more than enough caches, and with the esram, and the dedicated swizzle hardware, this will hold it's own.

A good solid piece of kit that shows what a closed box customized system can do to beef up individual components.

Color me far more impressed with the dedicated silicon than I would have been if they had just taped the GPU and CPU together.
There is some smart stuff in here, wherever they know the CPU or GPU are gong to be bogged down doing mundane stuff, they have added silicon to alleviate it.

http://www.neogaf.com/forum...

that seems like a good summary.

Bigpappy3896d ago

Nice to see N4G has so many engineers. Hope to get a chance to use their products in the near future.

As far as the spec's are concern, I am a Tech, not an engineer. I know what FSB, clock speed, Bandwidth... ) all that tech stuff means. I am no engineer though. I will look at the quality of the games an discuss those when released. The features, which make the console more of a pleasure to use, are also more important that over all power. But if the PS4 turns out to do way better graphic than Xbox 1, that could be a selling point for many gamers, if it turns out like this gen, People talked up Teraflop and cell to high heavens, then when the games came, most looked better on 360, could happen here.

release the games and let's see. That is all that really matters in the end. No?

ChrisW3896d ago (Edited 3896d ago )

@DayZ,

Yet... Even with Kinect, XboxOne should be cheaper because of its crappy low specs. Seriously! Isn't it odd that it's not?!?

Ritsujun3896d ago Show
tuglu_pati3896d ago (Edited 3896d ago )

Also, what the 8GB Flash memory are for? Really interesting...

Tw1tch3D3896d ago (Edited 3896d ago )

What needs to be taken into consideration, is that this is an SoC. A single chip system, everything is on a "silicon die".

So as a result if the ESRAM points directly at the GPU, that alleviates the CPU in it's own right committing to other tasks. Just because it's DDR3 don't mean it's slow, it's fast because of low latency, significant Data Flow.

The design was built from the ground up, no beefy components simply put together.

Don't want to ruffle any feathers, but that is a major leap in architectural design Microsoft brought it's A game here folks.

@ tuglu_pati

Yes very interesting. What's more, is that Microsoft had a tutorial yesterday at Hot Chips called "Flash Trends: Challenges and Future".

We'll find out more once the techies hop on this. But I'm on beyond 3d as we speak and it's as much buzz. Very interesting, scratches that exotic architecture itch i've been hoping for out of the new optimized hardware.

badz1493896d ago Show
Rockxy3896d ago Show
rainslacker3896d ago (Edited 3896d ago )

To expand on Dayz comment, since big numbers are nice, but not as nice as knowing what you're getting with those big numbers, I offer the following.

Shader: A program that is used to do shading. Basically, when you have a polygonal model, the models aren't always completely lifelike. For instance, a sphere can look blocky. A shader can help make it look smooth. In addition shaders can apply special effects to models, or even 2D images. Shaders handle how the final texture will look when on the screen. The more shaders, the more can be done at one time.

Texture units: These are used to map the actual textures onto a model. Textures are flat images that have to be drawn on the model's polygons. These textures can be used not only as the basic colors of the image, but also the light texture, bump textures(which give it more realistic looks), or any number of other special textures used to effect the way a model looks when it's finally rendered. Basically, the more you have, the more that can be done at one time.

ROPS: Short for "Raster Operation Unit". This is a bit more complex, but the basics of it is that before the image is displayed, each pixel is processed to give it it's depth information. This is where AA comes from, as well as many other nifty pixel and screen effects. Again, the more you have, the better the image can theoretically look.

Otherwise, I can offer this to those that don't care what all this means. All these specs discussed here means that the X1 will be able to play next gen games. It's not a bad set up. Has advantages and disadvantages, and like all consoles to date will require talented devs to make the most of what it offers.

stuna13895d ago

Microsoft is lying! Plain and simple, with those specs it just doesn't add up once you add in the fact that they said they up clocked the CPU.

TheKayle13895d ago

@black0o

do urself (and to us!!) a favour PLS before u start try talking technically again..go to study...

whta u said is a freaking big nonsense BS lol

MagnusX3895d ago

Microsoft is revising there specs saying that "its much faster then we previously calculated" lol

DonFreezer3895d ago

No we can't. Why haven't you asked the same when Sony pr chaps talked shit about teraflops , rops and shit?Why do you need explaining know when most of you played it computer engineers when Sony talked nonesense.Shut your mouth ps fanboys.Xbox One has won before the game even started.

UltimateMaster3895d ago

Yeah, cuz you know if it comes from a website called semiaccurate.com then it must be true :D!

Kryptix3895d ago

@DonFreezer

Pre-order numbers for PS4 games say otherwise.

http://www.vgchartz.com/pre...

Wait, you're denying the higher PS4 numbers? Damn, you're more blind than I actually thought.

+ Show (27) more repliesLast reply 3895d ago
NextGen24Gamer3896d ago

This is something I knew a ways back and thought that Microsoft would explain that to the masses. They never did and it's obvious this is "HUGE" news to those who think that "RAW" power means anything.

Microsoft has been showing & talking about the next gen games, while Sony has been talking about the numbers.

Maybe now people can stop talking about numbers and let the "GAMES" do the talking.

I know this for a "FACT"...Developers have been pleasantly surprised once they got the final Xbox one specs & software tools.

It's actually BETTER than they initially thought.

I've said it before and I'll say it again.

"It's all about the games"

My personal taste is I love xbox exclusives a little more and I love the xbox live community a lot more.

No_Limit3896d ago

Agreed Elite,

Games as it should be. Specs is fine the way it is.

LaChance3896d ago

This would explain why there is no gap whatsoever in graphics betwen Xbox One and PS4. On the contrary, Xbox One games are actually looking to be more impressive graphically.

Its just that MS shows the power rather than talking about it.

I have yet to see a game that looks as good as Ryse running on the PS4. And with all that incredible power Cerny is talking about I would have thought Driveclub could give Forza 5 a run for its money. On the contrary, Forza 5 is making DriveClub look last gen.

Its quite surprising to see that all these N4G engineers were completely wrong about the power of both consoles ... NOT !

zebramocha3896d ago (Edited 3896d ago )

@elite the reason Sony talked about numbers is they already have devs to really utilize the hardware,killzone 2 and halo 3 weren't launch games but there is a difference in the way the look and I'm not to talking about art direction differences,considering bungie had been with Ms longer than gg with Sony

black0o3896d ago

there's gap between ps4 and x1 is the same gap between ddr3 and GDDr5

UnHoly_One3896d ago

Most gamers won't choose their console because of a bunch of specs that they don't understand anyway.

They are going to choose it based on the games, and how they look. And right now, the PS4 can't touch Ryse, it's not even close.

XabiDaChosenOne3896d ago

Am I missing something? What is being confirmed here that hasn't been in the rumored specs for months now? What's wrong with you people?

black0o3896d ago Show
UnHoly_One3896d ago

God of War 3 is a fantastic game, yes.

But I am strictly speaking graphics, which is what "Joe Average Gamer" will see in commercials and base his decision on.

And in that regard, yes, Ryse looks better than anything they have shown on the PS4 so far.

I'm not trying to start an argument here, I'm getting a PS4, too, it's all good. (I just wish inFAMOUS Second Son was a launch title, because I don't care about any of the other games announced for the PS4 so far.)

jony_dols3896d ago Show
bobshi3896d ago

Nothing says 'I admit the Xbox One is weak next to the PS4' like saying 'who cares, it is about the games'.

Dat Wii U defensive technique.

Did it ever cross your mind that those games would be even better if the console was not so weak compared to the competing console?

Good_news_every13896d ago

So now that devs have been saying the ps4 is more powerful and then we get this news confirming the ps4 is more powerful , we now are talking about games ? Lol you xboners are funny, if you haven't seen anything that looks better than ryse you aren't trying very hard , second son looks miles ahead and it's open world kill zone looks far better and it's 1080p 60fps and even forza looks better on the same system lol you guys are crazy or just blind.

Nfs has been said to look like a pc game on one console , which as we know now via specs is the ps4 and yoshi pretty much confirmed it days ago, the ps4 doesn't need pc gameplay to look good it runs on the actual hardware , most games still haven't even been seen running on the xbone.

Well at least now we can put the power argument to rest , we ALL know now that the ps4 is at least 40% better

UnHoly_One3896d ago

"those games would be even better if the console was not so weak compared to the competing console"

And

"it would undoubtedly run just as pretty if it was on the PS4's more powerful hardware"

Ummmmmmm... Ok, so why isn't it? Not Ryse, obviously, it's an XB1 exclusive, but if games in general are going to look better on this "more powerful hardware", where are they? Why haven't we seen anything that looks better?

I have no doubt that the PS4 will produce some amazing looking titles, but as it stands RIGHT NOW leading up to launch, the XB1 is winning in the visual department.

starchild3896d ago

@Bobshi

Why? That's what Sony gamers are always telling us PC gamers. "who cares if graphics are better on PC, it's all about the games", they tell us.

So why is it wrong for Xbox gamers to say the same thing?

Besides, that doesn't seem to be what most of them are saying. They are saying that they think Ryse looks better than anything on PS4.

ZeroX98763896d ago

can someone make it clear for me, what console got the most preorders? what's the most wanted console after seeing what we needed to see?

shadow27973896d ago

"Microsoft has been showing & talking about the next gen games, while Sony has been talking about the numbers."

Are we being serious right now? Microsoft unveiled their console and talked about TV. Sony unveiled their console and talked about games. And they've been talking about games ever since.

Sony also released the spec's of their console because some people are interested in that (me included). Microsoft refused to release the specs of their console until today.

Your interpretation of that history, is that Microsoft is all about the games, and Sony is all about the numbers? Even though Sony was first to allow self-publishing and has given the lime-light to small indie titles. Yep, all about numbers.

I'm getting both consoles. PS4 first, probably. But man, your perspective is off with that statement.

Oh and Killzone: Shadow Fall looks better than Ryse.

MysticStrummer3896d ago (Edited 3896d ago )

@Kobe - "Am I missing something? What is being confirmed here that hasn't been in the rumored specs for months now? What's wrong with you people?"

You're not missing anything. Just some grasping at straws.

It's really weird to me that people hold Ryse up as the visual pinnacle so far. There are better looking multi plats and exclusives on both consoles.

"PS4 can't touch Ryse"

Laughable. smh

But, that type of person shows that graphics discussions are indeed meaningless. If they think Ryse looks amazing compared to titles (on both consoles) that are demonstrably more impressive visually, then what's the point of arguing? They either have a different definition of what looks good, or their vision needs checking. Either way, changing their mind is out of the question.

MRMagoo1233896d ago Show
Mr1Y3896d ago (Edited 3896d ago )

What if the devs for need for speed were actually talking about the Xbox one since they thought that the Xbox one would be weakier.... So the game would look better on the Xbox :0

pivotplease3896d ago

I would be open to preferring Xbox exclusives if there were enough (not just timed). Have people already forgotten that the last 3 years of the 360's life have had a dismal lineup? Disagree with the truth if you want. It also doesn't help that 343 is on halo now and cliff has departed from epic. Fable has also been going down the crapper in a similar manner to insomniac if not worse.

pivotplease3896d ago (Edited 3896d ago )

Ugh the fanboys are blind. Ryse will get mediocre scores but if we're talking graphics it's hardly leaps and bounds ahead of what we saw with god of war this gen. Of course the people saying otherwise wouldn't know though since they didn't play any of the ps3 exclusives. Also have you see the HD footage of killzone multiplayer? The games not even done but it blows away every other fps graphically and even somewhat high end games like ryse (which is essentially scripted cutscenes that depend on qte).

Edit: your disagree makes you objectively right buddy.

Dasteru3896d ago (Edited 3895d ago )

UnHoly_One:

RYSE does look good but to say nothing on the PS4 is even close is a blatantly fanboy statement.

http://www.youtube.com/watc...

Maybe not quite as good but not so far behind as to be considered "not even close" It is also fully open world and has a very high level of environmental destructability which makes it much more impressive than it seems at first sight.

http://www.youtube.com/watc...

KZSF is no slouch either, Again some very open environments.

http://www.youtube.com/watc...

Multi-Platform, Completely open world, and online multiplayer with real time dynamic events.

The PS4 isn't nearly as far behind as you make it out to be. Also it hasn't even launched yet. Give it a year or 2 after launch for some of the heavy hitter first party titles to launch and you will start to see what the PS4 can really do.

As far as people comparing Driveclub vs Forza 5, According to the developers of Driveclub, the most recently shown gameplay video is still Pre-Alpha footage, around 35% complete, Pre-Alpha means the completed textures aren't even in the game yet.
I'm not saying Forza 5 won't still look better, i don't know one way or the other, just saying wait til after launch to decide.

neoMAXMLC3895d ago

lol @ Ryse being claimed as the best looking next gen game. That is just pure comedy.

+ Show (19) more repliesLast reply 3895d ago
DoesUs3896d ago

It means as was "leaked" before really, only this goes into absolute detail(s). The peak bandwidth figure is the theoretical maximum. But remember, although the BW available on the ESRam is very high, only 32 meg can be utilised.

Ju3896d ago

The 204GB/s is a best case if you can exactly issue one read and one write access @ 102GB/s which is very unlikely and a pure theoretical value.

HammadTheBeast3896d ago ShowReplies(2)
GraveLord3896d ago

It's isn't any more or less powerful than it was 1 month ago.

quenomamen3896d ago

Well in theory I could fart so loud that I could break the sound barrier, but pobably not gonna happen. This is just MS trying to make up for the hardware shortcummings. Yea, we know, if you use a bunch of technical mumbo jumbo then it makes it true.

DoctorJones3895d ago (Edited 3895d ago )

Well no, theoretically you couldn't fart so loud that you would break the sound barrier because you aren't capable of delivering a fart that could be faster than the speed of sound. It's about how fast something is, not how loud it is. Every time you fart and make a sound - it's not a sonic boom, it's just the sound of the gas exiting your body.

So in conclusion - The Xbox IS theoretically capable of what is being said, whereas your fart isn't theoretically capable of what you are saying it is theoretically capable of.

Yes.

3896d ago Replies(5)
Evilsnuggle3896d ago

32 mb is to small for graphic or frame rate the PS4 has a large pool of unified memory that can be used for anything the developer want . The PS4 memory has no limitations the xbone does. Mark cerny look at eSRAM but did not use it becuase of its limitations . So the xbone is still 62GB/s for graphic and frame rate .difference, and was previously thought to sustain a peak theoretical throughput of 102GB/s - useful, but still some way behind the 176GB/s found in PlayStation 4's RAM set-up.

imt5583896d ago

Did someone noticed that DDR3 bandwith is shrinked :

http://i.imgur.com/LkCN75O....

Oh, i forgot! eSRAM can't do read/write operations at the same time so it's not 204 GB/s it's 102 GB/s.

Convas3896d ago

Sorry to burst your (enthusiastically INCORRECT) bubble, but ... http://i.imgur.com/gqyaZAM....

Yeah. DDR3 BW is still the same. :)

awi59513895d ago (Edited 3895d ago )

PS fans all they can say DDR5 DDR5 DDR5 DDR5 lol.

DDR5 wont mean crap at all to games. AMD used DDR5 for years before nividia made the switch and AMD cards still lost out in performance and FPS in games on max settings. The AMD cards that gen were cheaper and thats why people bought them but DDR5 didnt help one bit they still got their asses kicked in-game FPS performance by the so called slow nividia cards with DDR3.

andrewsqual3896d ago

It was pretty much proof when Microsoft were terrified to just tell us the specs back on 21st May. And even these documents are STILL not directly from the source.

MazzingerZ3896d ago

Que? Games won't look better than PS4 first party titles even if you could control a satellite with the x1 so...

FrigidDARKNESS3896d ago

In all honest the xb1 clearly will out prtform the ps4 . 47mb cpu vs a 20gb cpu. Still waiting for ijnfo on how many threads coan be done on the cpu. The gpu hasnt been revealed yet.

pyramidshead3896d ago

How's that HSA Kaveri working out for the XB1 there frigy? ;)

Metfanant3896d ago

WTF!?....

i mean you've got to just be joking right now right??...or you just have no clue...

wtf does 47mb cpu vs 20gb cpu even mean!?

MysticStrummer3896d ago

In all honest you're wrong. You keep saying "X hasn't been revealed yet", even though every time we get rumors confirmed it's the same hardware we've all been talking about for months. Nothing has changed, and PS4 is still more powerful.

marison3896d ago

He's a boy that don't know anything!

M-M3896d ago

"47mb cpu vs a 20gb cpu"

I think you need to do some research on CPUs before you say anything lol.

rainslacker3896d ago

Perhaps you can explain the difference between a 47mb cpu and a 20gb cpu to those that don't understand tech that well.

deadie3895d ago

@FrigidDARKNESS:

wow - in all honesty you should stop making xbox one look like the perfect hang-around for people with mental problems.

ThanatosDMC3895d ago

Never go full retard.... even on N4G that's just embarrassing.

+ Show (5) more repliesLast reply 3895d ago
imt5583896d ago

About XO presentation and about bandwith. Microsoft's bullshiting again!

Ars Technica

Similarly, the company claimed that there was more than 200GB of bandwidth within the system. Again, the number had no context or clarification and if rumors are to be believed, it suggests some rather creative accounting: 68 GB main memory bandwidth, 102GB bandwidth to an embedded SRAM buffer for the GPU, and 30GB bandwidth between the CPU and GPU. While that does add up to 200GB, there are no two parts of the SoC that can communicate with each other at 200 GB/s.

AnandTech

According to their data, there’s roughly 50GB/s of bandwidth in each direction to the SoC’s embedded SRAM (102GB/s total bandwidth). The combination of the two plus the CPU-GPU connection at 30GB/s is how Microsoft arrives at its 200GB/s bandwidth figure, although in reality that’s not how any of this works.

TechPowerup

Xbox One chip is a slightly different beast. It uses the same eight "Jaguar" 1.60 GHz cores, but a slightly smaller Radeon GPU that packs 768 stream processors, and a quad-channel DDR3-2133 MHz memory interface, which offers a memory bandwidth of 68.3 GB/s, and holding 8 GB of memory. Memory between the two subsystems are shared in a similar way to PlayStation 4, with one small difference. Xbox One chip uses a large 32 MB SRAM cache, which operates at 102 GB/s, but at infinitesimally lower latency than GDDR5. This cache cushions data-transfers for the GPU. Microsoft engineers are spinning this off as "200 GB/s of memory bandwidth," by somehow clubbing bandwidths of the various memory types in the system.

Cryptcuzz3896d ago

There is no way to look at it otherwise. The facts are as clear as day that believing otherwise is just delusional. Thanks for gathering all the relevant information in one concise comment. Cheers.

humbleopinion3895d ago

Yep. Exactly like the PS3 "512 MB or RAM" last gen where in fact it was two different pools.

kryteris3896d ago

I first heard that 192ish G/Bs was possible, but then it switched to 102. But I really dont care, this is just more trouble for devs to use esram, and it is still limited vs having the full pool of ram.

Gameratheart3895d ago

Yeah, so much trouble, because they haven't gotten used to using that type of ram set up for the last 8 years, you know, the one that was so much easier and better than the ps3 ram set up.... Ok, you fanboys keep telling yourselves that developers don't know how to use it. Sure.

B-radical3896d ago

Why did you get disagreed for your telling the truth

nosferatuzodd3896d ago

wow microsoft is trying very hard give em props

3896d ago Replies(2)
theWB273896d ago

I was reading that AnandTech article PSboys like to throw out there about how much better the PS4 is and a few things jumped out...especially with the confirmation today that , indeed, the X1 has 47mb of cache.

Memory Subsystem
"To make up for the gap, Microsoft added embedded SRAM on die (not eDRAM, less area efficient but lower latency and doesn't need refreshing). All information points to 32MB of 6T-SRAM, or roughly 1.6 billion transistors for this memory. It’s not immediately clear whether or not this is a true cache or software managed memory. I’d hope for the former but it’s quite possible that it isn’t. At 32MB the ESRAM is more than enough for frame buffer storage, indicating that Microsoft expects developers to use it to offload requests from the system memory bus. Game console makers (Microsoft included) have often used large high speed memories to get around memory bandwidth limitations, so this is no different. Although 32MB doesn’t sound like much, if it is indeed used as a cache (with the frame buffer kept in main memory) it’s actually enough to have a substantial hit rate in current workloads (although there’s not much room for growth)."

"Vgleaks has a wealth of info, likely supplied from game developers with direct access to Xbox One specs, that looks to be very accurate at this point. According to their data, there’s roughly 50GB/s of bandwidth in each direction to the SoC’s embedded SRAM (102GB/s total bandwidth). The combination of the two plus the CPU-GPU connection at 30GB/s is how Microsoft arrives at its 200GB/s bandwidth figure, although in reality that’s not how any of this works. If it’s used as a cache, the embedded SRAM should significantly cut down on GPU memory bandwidth requests which will give the GPU much more bandwidth than the 256-bit DDR3-2133 memory interface would otherwise imply. Depending on how the eSRAM is managed, it’s very possible that the Xbox One could have comparable effective memory bandwidth to the PlayStation 4. If the eSRAM isn’t managed as a cache however, this all gets much more complicated."

"There are merits to both approaches. Sony has the most present-day-GPU-centric approach to its memory subsystem: give the GPU a wide and fast GDDR5 interface and call it a day. It’s well understood and simple to manage. The downsides? High speed GDDR5 isn’t the most power efficient, and Sony is now married to a more costly memory technology for the life of the PlayStation 4."

"Microsoft’s approach leaves some questions about implementation, and is potentially more complex to deal with depending on that implementation. Microsoft specifically called out its 8GB of memory as being “power friendly”, a nod to the lower power operation of DDR3-2133 compared to 5.5GHz GDDR5 used in the PS4. There are also cost benefits. DDR3 is presently cheaper than GDDR5 and that gap should remain over time (although 2133MHz DDR3 is by no means the cheapest available). The 32MB of embedded SRAM is costly, but SRAM scales well with smaller processes. Microsoft probably figures it can significantly cut down the die area of the eSRAM at 20nm and by 14/16nm it shouldn’t be a problem at all.

"Even if Microsoft can’t deliver the same effective memory bandwidth as Sony, it also has fewer GPU execution resources - it’s entirely possible that the Xbox One’s memory bandwidth demands will be inherently lower to begin with."

An answer to the people complaining about the X1 and it's power brick.

"Compared to the PlayStation 4, Microsoft should have the cooler running console under load. Fewer GPU ALUs and lower power memory don’t help with performance but do at least offer one side benefit."

Ju3896d ago

I think one line is enough:

"Microsoft should have the cooler running console under load"

That's why they have the bigger box and an external power supply. This must be it then.

moparful993895d ago

Really? Last I checked the 360 has always had an external power brick but had an abysmal failure rate compared to the more complex and powerful PS3.. Just because the brick is external doesn't mean it will run cooler..

ThanatosDMC3895d ago

PS4 = more powerful, cost less, no power brick

Xbone = less powerful, cost more, big ass power brick

ALLWRONG3896d ago

All the talk about specs and yet X1 games look better.

MagnusX3895d ago

It is true Ryse is the best looking game on any next gen console period. 1080 60fps if PS is such a power house And easier to develop for where are the yields!?

truth is the consoles are close in specs...Again! Just like last gen it will be up to developers to max out console potential.

cesuf3896d ago

For all these number crunching console fanboys arguing over table scraps and such petty numbers and "facts" and I could give my gaming pc specs and put your numbers to complete shame.

But it would be pointless to such brain washed fans because then the fall back excuse I would get would be 1 of 3: we have exclusives 2.) sony loves us and baptized our children. Hopeless bunch. 3.) consoles are better because they are cheaper

Gamer19823895d ago

That ESRAM will help the dashboard NOT the games as theres just not enough of it to make a big enough impact.

BallsEye3895d ago

Clearly have no idea what you're talking about.

marcofdeath3895d ago

ps4- 1.6 billion triangles/s, 1.6 billion vertices/s

XB1- 1.71billion triangles/s, 1.71 billion vertices/s

imt5583895d ago (Edited 3895d ago )

I was thinking in my head for some stuff. So, MS showed bandwith on XO presentation yesterday. 204 GB/s, right. So, GPU uplock happened. Before uplock eSRAM bandwith was 102 GB/s ( it's not 204 because eSRAM can not do read/write operation at the same time ). Now, after uplock, bandwith increased to 109 GB/s, or math like Microsoft - 218 GB/s.

I have a question. Did anyone noticed on presentation why MS didn't showed 109 GB/s for eSRAM or 218 GB/s on some slides?

What Beyond3D said :

Q:

I'll start: where does "204MB/s" come from? we know It is assumed that bus from eSRAM to GPU is not dual so how can it be possible to read and write simultaneously? even if it's possible why is it not 109*2 =218 GB/s?

A:

It based on during only alpha transparency blending. So it just created math.

Its like saying my car can do 250 MPH*

*When drop off a cliff.

It doesnt have real world performance like that.

So, Microsoft has no idea how RAM works and how many bandwith's has in XO. BRAVO Microsoft!

ALLWRONG3894d ago

"Microsoft has no idea how RAM works"

One of the pioneer's of PC doesn't know how RAM works? You should have thought about that before typing.

+ Show (21) more repliesLast reply 3894d ago
Convas3896d ago (Edited 3896d ago )

The machine is even stronger than Digital Foundry reported then?

ROFL

Where's my popcorn!?

GAF Thread for those interested: http://www.neogaf.com/forum...

Interesting tidbit, GPU is 1.31 Tflops, Direct X 11.1+

Metfanant3896d ago

actually its just about the same...remember that peak b/w is only available to the embedded RAM...not the 8GB of DDR3...that is still significantly slower...

PFFT3896d ago

Isnt the Xbox One a DX11.2 machine??? I thought MS already confirmed this.....?

FrigidDARKNESS3896d ago

It is will be done thru software whereas next gen gpu g cards it will be embedded.

BallsEye3895d ago

It is and they did confirm it. DX 11.2 is yet to be released so they write about dx11.1+ (plus as works with future version)

3896d ago Replies(2)
Wikkid6663896d ago ShowReplies(4)
Popoffboy1877183896d ago ShowReplies(1)
OC_MurphysLaw3896d ago (Edited 3896d ago )

this is gonna get interesting.

edit: I should say it will be ugly here, but could be an interesting debate on NeoGaf. Sorry N4G but I am not holding out hopes of a civil conversation here.

majiebeast3896d ago

True neogaf has dbz comparisions.

iamnsuperman3896d ago

I am on NeoGaf right now. They make it easier to understand

Show all comments (310)
270°

Microsoft’s Surface and Xbox hardware revenues take a big hit in Q3

Microsoft just posted the third quarter of its 2024 fiscal financial results. The software maker made $61.9 billion in revenue and a net income of $21.9 billion during Q3. Revenue is up 17 percent, and net income has increased by 20 percent.

Read Full Story >>
theverge.com
darthv721d 3h ago

Xbox content + services up 62% while hardware down 31%... seems about right with the way they tout you don't need the hardware to play. People can play on their phones or smart tv or other means. I don't hardly play on my consoles directly since getting devices like the logitech g-cloud and ps portal. Which is to also say I have been playing more digital than physical because of these devices.

solideagle14h ago

you should apply in MS PR team buddy, I think you will do a great job in my humble opinion :)

Sonic188112h ago

I thought darthv72 and Obscure_Observer already work for Microsoft 🤔

dveio11h ago

MS: "Xbox services and content without AB up 1%, with AB up 62%. Hardware down 31%. In total a loss of 350 mill."

darthv72: "Seems about right."

MS: "Excuse m ..."

darthv72: "I don't hardly play on my consoles directly."

MS:

Lightning777h ago

What he said was facts. How he plays games is no concern of you. Don't get too mad about it.

Cacabunga14h ago

I can tell people like you are an absolute minority..

If service is up means their fans and fanboys accepted this model and subscribed to it. The near future you will see a big decline because the service is saturated.

darthv7232m ago

to you it may seem like the minority... but your bubble is shrinking because more and more are following suit. convenience is a hell of a drug and its also why physical sales only amount to 30% of overall game sales. times are changing, you either get with them or you get left behind.

shinoff218313h ago

But that's been ms for years. When things aren't going their way they try to change the way things are said. For instance console sales are down, they stop telling how many sold instead telling us how many hours spent in halo or headshots. So it makes sense console sales down just say people are playing on more devices then previous. What they won't say is how many xbox players jumped ship to ps5.

Cacabunga12h ago

Hardware sales are so bad that Sony and Nintendo are blowing the sales off the water with their hardware.

If Xbox are losers, others aren’t..
Xbox already tried everything with Xbox live then subscriptions went down so much that they had to find something else. Their fans subscribed then reached saturation rather quickly.

Hardware and exclusive games is where it’s at! Keep gamers excited, announce decent software and people will support you

itsmebryan8h ago

@shin
Well keep it simple Sony 's operating income is down 26% and Microsoft's is up 32%. No MS spin there, just facts. 😉
Cheers

S2Killinit1h ago

MS is after diminishing consoles as a medium. They want to destroy this market because they couldnt win. MS’s vision is to dissolve console gaming.

romulus237h ago

Odd that a company that touts you dont need the hardware to play is already touting another console in the works.

darthv727h ago

They are not reliant on the HW but still want to maintain a presence (no matter how small) is a good thing. It shows commitment to the craft. It reminds me of SNK and how they made games for their own hardware (Neo Geo) while also making them for others because they knew there was a market to do so. They knew they would sell more to others but also sell to their own niche fan base.

TheEroica49m ago(Edited 48m ago)

Perfectly reasonable post down voted by insecure corporation friendly folk.... But not gamers. Real gamer want accessibility and ease of acquisition for all.... Company shills are the only ones still telling us that hardware locking people from games is good for us.

+ Show (3) more repliesLast reply 32m ago
purple10117h ago

Xbox hardware revenue tanks to lowest point of Xbox Series generation

Profchaos16h ago

I'm not surprised surface is struggling they aren't relevant anymore

DOMination-6h ago

In the last two years they've started exiting the consumer market altogether. All of the newest Surface products are business models only. They can't seem to work out what they want to do with it.

XBManiac15h ago

Too expensive hardware when others offer the same or more for less? Good work, Green Team.

SimpleDad15h ago(Edited 15h ago)

"Despite some early successes for Xbox games on rival platforms, Xbox hardware is down by a massive 31 percent this quarter."
"Without Activision Blizzard, Microsoft’s overall gaming revenue would have actually declined this quarter."
"Xbox content and services would have only been up a single percent without Activision Blizzard..."
"It looks like next quarter is going to be a similar story for gaming at Microsoft, too."

That is crazy... so A/B/K is carrying the whole Xbox gaming.
Oh and Microsoft will be fine. Windows, Office and Cloud are growing with each pc purchase.

purple10115h ago

Activision: "we gonna need a bigger rucksack/backpack please"

Microsoft: "why's that"

Activision: "to carry yo' weak ass'

Profchaos14h ago(Edited 14h ago)

Top brass have also wanted to start seeing returns on the 100 billion they have put into various Xbox related moves so seeing more multiplatform games is highly likely especially from abk

It's basically saying that PlayStation is the reason Xbox is afloat right now thinks to Ps5 versions of COD

Kornholic13h ago

So basically PS and PC gamers' money is keeping Xbox on life support.

MrDead6h ago

The only growth MS will get out of the console industry is if it supports it's rivals platforms. Xbox is a pointless machine now. I can see them on a big push for live next, and they won't give up on trying to buy Steam.

+ Show (1) more replyLast reply 6h ago
Show all comments (39)
300°

Microsoft Seemingly Closes Bethesda France

As part of its plans to cut 1,900 jobs, Microsoft has reportedly shut down operations at Bethesda France, letting go roughly 15 people

Read Full Story >>
insider-gaming.com
Hereandthere2d ago

Microsoft should have left them stay 3rd party

GamerRN1d 21h ago

If they are let go, they can be whatever they want. They ARE 3rd party now... 🤦

Barlos1d 19h ago

Yeah, they're also jobless.

GamerRN1d 12h ago

They can form a company if they want, they are just as jobless as if "Microsoft had left them as 3rd party".

peppeaccardo1d 14h ago

"MIcrosoft leaves Bethesda do what they know how to do best" ... close! Oh the irony ....
(Citation from a week old article)

ChasterMies1d 10h ago

I think Microsoft and other game publishers are letting people go because they think ai will replace them. Doesn’t matter how much profit they make. They were always going to be let go.

PassNextquestion2d ago (Edited 1d 23h ago )

Bethesda France was made up of roughly 15 people... they couldn't of being doing much

Bethesda France mainly did publishing and marketing within the region

blacktiger1d 21h ago

that's a shame for you to say that, i'm sure Elite loves hearing what you just said.

Mr Logic1d 8h ago

What a stupid thing to say. The elites give 0 fucks what we say on an obscure website in the comments section.

Crows901d 7h ago

You can always reach out and give them jobs at your company man. Don't wait

blacktiger4h ago

You own nothing snd be happy. I'm sure you heard that

Profchaos2d ago (Edited 2d ago )

Bethesda France focused on publishing and marketing in the region. And 15 people lost their jobs as part of the closure.

I wonder if this is part of Microsoft's strategy to abandoned physical media or possibly gamepass advertising makes their roles redundant you don't need to market a game as hard when the majority of players get the game as part of a sub which already promoted upcoming games

Tacoboto1d 23h ago

It's France too, there's a high likelihood only 1-2 people on the team even had an Xbox.

Profchaos1d 23h ago

Possibly guven all the leaks we know the Xbox brand is really struggling in the region.

Yi-Long1d 20h ago

Well, if your consoles and games are barely found in any stores any more, of course you're gonna struggle finding consumers ...

XiNatsuDragnel1d 22h ago

Tbh Microsoft I think Bethesda being 3rd party same with Activision would probably more competitive than thus scenario imo

Profchaos1d 21h ago (Edited 1d 21h ago )

I think it would have been better for all parties really especially gamers

TheColbertinator1d 21h ago

The recently purchased Activision French offices might take over all the licensing and marketing for Microsoft in France from now on.

Show all comments (23)
280°

Xbox's Preservation Step Sets A Much-Needed Example, Especially For Nintendo

Hanzla from eXputer inquires: "If Xbox can care about preserving its games and legacy, what exactly is wrong with Nintendo, trying to kill game preservation single-handedly?"

purple10113d ago

Ahh yes the good old game preservation of saving all your games to a removable hhd on the Xbox 360, taking it round your mates house, setting up multiple tvs to
Be met with “save data corrupted, please re download”

Or how about removing 360 games
From the store
, download them now or else, and, better hope to god that save data doesn’t corrupt, or it’s lost for ever

Nice one ☝️

Zeref12d ago

It's better than what Nintendo and Playstation is doing. It might not be perfect but at least they are TRYING. Unlike the others.

DarXyde12d ago

Trying? Take off the blinders for a moment, mate.

1. A failure to preserve games is just that: a failure to preserve games. Don't try to sugarcoat it: NO ONE is doing it properly. Better than awful is nothing to write home about.

2. At the time of this comment, isn't it the case that you need an internet connection to play Xbox games even if you buy physical discs that are hardly in circulation anymore? I don't have a Series X and I can't verify, but I think that is correct. I'm fairly certain you can at least play PS5 games at version 1.0 (not much of a win really when many games require day one patches). I think Microsoft's all digital, licensing approach is by far more aggressive than anyone else's. They really try to push you to game pass where you lose your entire library by umm.... Skipping a month of payments.

I don't think anyone is doing it right whatsoever. Don't get me started on Nintendo, who goes after anyone looking to preserve their games better than they ever would with extreme litigation.

Don't be a simp for any of these companies. Get it together.

PhillyDonJawn12d ago (Edited 12d ago )

@DarX never speak on Xbox again. You lost all credibility with your internet connection comment. Smh you have 0 clue and misinformed yet speaking on something you don't no squat about.

Einhander197212d ago

What has Sony done exactly? You guys keep deflecting to Sony but I am not actually seeing any results, and ai am certain nothing that you can come up with even comes close to what Microsoft has done and what they have tried and failed to do, like tie all your disks to your account on xbone.

Microsoft removed their whole indie section when they moved to the xbone because they were going to only allow games on the service that came from a publisher, id@xbox started after xbone launched and it only exists because Sony embraced indie and Microsoft was forced to cancel their plans and reverse course.

And every single game that was part of games for windows live including disk games (I have gta 4 on disk that won't work) so hundreds of games that use that DRM no longer work unless the company themselves patched it out which of course very few did.

MrBaskerville12d ago

Not trying. Tried. they killed of the backcomp program years ago. They set something up again, but sounds like it's more of an attempt to save the current library on whatever they are planning next. With luck they save everything and more, but let's see. I could see them killing off parts of the OG xbox and 360 libraries. Can't imagine that they would allow us to play Forza 5-7 in the future.

With that said, I do like what they've done and really wish they could have done more.

shinoff218312d ago

Zeref

So killing off physical media is trying what exactly. Ms don't really give a fk if you think they do your kidding yourself.

Profchaos12d ago

They are not trying this team is established for forward compatability the team is. It interested in preserving Xbox or 360 games.

+ Show (3) more repliesLast reply 12d ago
isarai13d ago

Is that why Hellblade 2 is digital only?

Zeref12d ago

Just because it's digital only doesn't mean you can't preserve it. Just put it on an external and you have the exact same functionality of what a disc does.

MrNinosan12d ago

Guess you're trolling, but if you actually think that's how it works, I'd recommend buying some braincells.

mkis00711d ago (Edited 11d ago )

Volitile vs nonvolitile data. A disc will not corrupt either. A drive can be corrupted.

Einhander197213d ago

This is just a scammy PR move to distract from the fact they are going digital only and trying to push streaming and subscriptions only.

No gaming company has pushed harder to remove ownership than Microsoft.

Without discs there is no preservation, preservation can't be done by the rights holders it can only be done by the consumers, anything else is a lie.

12d ago Replies(3)
Einhander197212d ago

Anyone remember xblig which Microsoft removed their whole 360 indie section removing hundreds of games from people?

12d ago
12d ago
Zeref12d ago

Do you know you can put your games on an external and preserve them that way? There are no benefits to discs. ZERO. Idk why some of you are still obsessed with them.

DarXyde12d ago

Because games like Persona 5 exist. It's STILL V1.00. On Playstation, that's a win because 1.00 is installed on the disc—no need to download anything.

If a game does not require any updates, it's all on the disc.

Extremely low bar in the modern era, of course. It's not much of a win by any stretch.

But for now, physical media does have a purpose, at least on Playstation.

Einhander197212d ago

That is factually not how game licensing works, try plugging your hard drive into someone else xbox, It's not going to work, and it won't work if the licensing servers ever go down.

Einhander197212d ago

Anyone remember games for windows live.

I have around a dozen games, some on Steam itself that will not work because Microsoft shut off the licensing servers.

BehindTheRows12d ago (Edited 12d ago )

I do. I STILL have games (Gears of War being the big one) I cannot access because Games for Windows LIVE is total garbage and no one has held Microsoft accountable.

Zeref12d ago (Edited 12d ago )

You don't have an Xbox apparently. Because you can 100 percent plug in your external and play games from it on any Xbox console lol. You just have to be logged in to prove ownership.

Chevalier12d ago

"You don't have an Xbox apparently. Because you can 100 percent plug in your external and play games from it on any Xbox console lol. You just have to be logged in to prove ownership."

Damn how many times do people got to explain your idiocy to you? You can take a copy of Persona 5 like someone used as an example and play that game on ANY console WITHOUT logging in which means I can lend the game to a friend without internet and they can play my game. Can you lend your hard drive to anyone without logging in for them to play? NOPE. That is a huge difference and if you think otherwise then sorry you're an idiot.

Tacoboto12d ago

"No gaming company has pushed harder to remove ownership than Microsoft."

Ubisoft is literally erasing games people bought from their libraries... My PS1-3 discs are useless on modern hardware. Nintendo's re-published and resold almost their entire Wii U library, and the eShop is completely dead with no BC mechanism in the Switch software. Microsoft publishes everything they make today day one on Steam and Xbox/Windows. Sony only brings to PC the titles they think you might want some years later and Nintendo won't even design a functional long-lasting joystick.

You're absolutely trolling and not serious if you think Microsoft today is the worst offender.

shinoff218312d ago

Yay steam

Not everyone fks with computers though. The disc is still the best way as a console player. Period.

Tacoboto11d ago

How do Sony and Nintendo feel about these discs from 2001-2013?

Don't be stupid, you know Xbox is the best at this today.

+ Show (3) more repliesLast reply 11d ago
Hofstaderman12d ago

Nobody wants this. Sales or the lack of it in the case of XBOX is very telling. I wonder how the adorably all digital series X will fare. Adorably dismal perhaps?

crazyCoconuts12d ago

Only time will tell, but for from someone like me suspecting that Xbox is trying to gracefully exit the console market, that "forward compatibility" team is trying to get Xbox games playing on Windows PCs. I mean, it's nice that they're not planning on exiting with a "enjoy your games while the hardware still works" message, so that's nice. They still have a brand to protect via Microsoft so probably feel obligated to have a better exit strategy.

Xeofate12d ago (Edited 12d ago )

That is not their plan, their plan is to transfer users accounts to the cloud.

Phil Spencer himself said as much a few months back, plans could have changed but I think people are reading way too much into one statement where Phil said he would allow Epic on xbox because he wants to be able to sell xbox games directly on other platforms. Aka, instead of selling Sea of Thives through PSN he wants to have an xbox store to sell his games on PlayStation without giving PlayStation any money.

Again, it's extremely unlikely that Phil plans to put PC on xbox and licensing would prevent them from just giving out other publishers games purchased on xbox copies of thier games on PC, Microsoft does not own their games.

crazyCoconuts11d ago

The thing that doesn't align with the cloud strategy is the giving up on exclusives. You'd still need strong exclusives for cloud streaming - it's still a "platform" , just with a lower upfront hardware investment. I feel like they've learned what PS learned with PSNow long ago. We're not ready to stream games and it's only gonna lose them money to try at this point

FinalFantasyFanatic11d ago

I would love that, I'd buy up some of the Xbox games if they could run on PC, like the Rare Replay, Lost Odyssey and Dead or Alive Ultimate, probably a pipe dream though.

Show all comments (43)