110°

Nintendo Wii U Clock Speeds: Much Ado About Nothing?

forbes.com: Nintendo’s Wii U may not have the most impressive tech specs at first blush, but comparing clock speeds makes little sense.

TruthbeTold4157d ago (Edited 4157d ago )

Very interested in seeing this silly tit for tat amongst these writers who've helped push the crap-storm of Wii U hate/misinformation to the pinnacle, and wind people back up the staircase to reality. That reality that shows that whatever the raw numbers may say, the Wii U is a more capable machine than the older HD consoles. It would be absurd for it not to be. It's even more absurd to hope it to be otherwise, and find personal enjoyment in fantasizing that it's 'weak'.

'Oh noes! Nintendo and the Wii U might get a nasty lead over the next console that I've already decided I want even though I know next to nothing about it! I have to talk crap and dissuade people from buying it so that when my choice comes out and surmounts that lead I can talk even more crap!'

Ugh...

The Wii U at launch, easily ports PS360 games, has more modern graphics technique capability built in and available at low resource cost and shows it when developers use its more modern textures and lighting techniques.

The hard Ugly truth here is this:

People who never planned on buying the Wii U, in addition to wanting its 'lead' to be small, are worried that the fact that the Wii U isn't a huge jump forward graphically is indicative of what's in store for us from Sony and MS. They don't believe it. But they worry. And it makes them upset.

At the same time though, people don't want to spend $450+ on a new console and $70+ for games, so what's truly needed amongst us is some acceptance of reality.

If you TRULY want the best in graphics, build yourself a gaming PC.

If you TRULY care about specific game series', and gameplay, then buy the consoles that provide them, and quit pretending that the graphics capability of Wii U on up isn't satisfactory.

/mini rant

TruthbeTold4157d ago (Edited 4157d ago )

Here's a simple example for the 'GHZ' mongers, so that hopefully we can all understand and move on:

If the current gen HD consoles (in terms of raw GHZ functionality) for the purposes of this example, figuratively represent the U.S. Dollar, and the Wii U the Euro, then arguing that the Wii U is weaker/less capable/slower/etc. is akin to saying that because you have a dollar and 10 cents in your pocket, you have more money than the man who has a single Euro in his pocket. When in reality, the man with the Euro in his pocket has roughly a dollar and thirty cents.

1 GHZ in 2012 > 1 GHZ in 2005. By far. Not unlike the British Pence while being the similar monetary concept of the U.S. penny is worth roughly 50% more.

When you consider things such as MHZ/GHZ/etc. or currency, you have to know and understand the value of each unit.

To understand what each unit means to the Wii U, one must take into account what the architecture of the Wii U means to the whole picture. What the role of the more modern graphics card is intended to be. What that means for creating a game when a game is developed with the method that the architecture requires to bring out its best. etc.

Porting a game to Wii U from another HD system, using the resources in the PS360 way still brings about good looking games. But nowhere near optimal ones. Just as it would be if you had a Euro in your pocket and wanted to buy a loaf of Bread in America. You go up to a guy on the street for an exchange so that you can try to buy something, and you will not get full value since you didn't go through the proper process to ensure that you get the full value of your exchange.

ProjectVulcan4157d ago (Edited 4157d ago )

Well you mostly understood it but not entirely.

"1 GHZ in 2012 > 1 GHZ in 2005"

Really NO comparison between clockspeeds should be made in isolation, not even this one. For example 1ghz on a 2012 ARM Cortex A5 mobile processor (about 1500 MIPS) versus a desktop X86 processor clocked to 1ghz from 2005 (even an ancient 600mhz pentium 3 is 2000+ MIPS) will still end with the 2005 processor probably winning in most raw number benches.

We can look at Wii U's CPU in context, by seeing its die size and knowing its power consumption- knowing what chip it is based on.

All these factors coupled with the now known clockspeed still show that it is rather slow.

You can't judge the chip based on only its clockspeeds but you can make a determination with all the other factors. Wii U's CPU is still slow relative to 360/PS3 and any half decent x86 CPU from the past 7 years. Not just because of its clockspeed, but because of all the other evidence we have to go along with that.

FriedGoat4157d ago

Thank you Vulcan. I was reading what Truthbetold wrote and just laughed.

lilbroRx4157d ago

I applaud you for this post good sir. This is something I've said many times but never quite so eloquently.

Well done.

shutUpAndTakeMyMoney4157d ago (Edited 4157d ago )

"Very interested in seeing this silly tit for tat amongst these writers who've helped push the crap-storm of Wii U hate"

And those 3 misinformed devs also.

+ Show (1) more replyLast reply 4157d ago
PopRocks3594157d ago (Edited 4157d ago )

I'm a strong believer in games speaking for themselves as oppose to raw numbers (numbers which to me should apply more to PCs than to consoles).

So far we've yet to see any games really take advantage of this hardware. Mostly just third party ports that were thrown together in about half a year. I think the only game built from the ground up for the Wii U so far is Nintendo Land and that's just a compilation of small games. I still want to see how Retro Studios' game will look as well as Nintendo's HD Zelda.

Do I think it will EXCEPTIONALLY new and different looking? No, not really. But I do think this platform is capable of having some really fun as well as good looking games.

guitar_nerd_234157d ago

To be fair, on all this Nintendo Cpu business. I think people usually get Nintendo products because of the software you can get on it not what it's running on.

Axonometri4157d ago

Wii U having a slower clock speed is a great thing! It gives us more time to play the games, right?

metroid324157d ago

Got a wiiu and the thing has at least a 750mhz gpgpu and a 4 core 3.4ghz cpu my guess going off the graphics ive seen.

madjedi4156d ago

Lol that is just silly. But then again coming from the guy who kept saying the wii u was going to be a total beast of a system prior to launch, not exactly a shocker. Better luck next time.

Yes it's slightly more powerful than the ps3/360 supposedly, but considering how old they are that isn't saying anything especially encouraging to alot of ps3/360 gamers.

Bloggers can spin this all they like it won't change the fact that nintendo released another low power/marginally improved last gen console, that will run into issues with ps4/720 multiplatform ports.

The next gen might not be as big a jump as this gen, but they damn sure won't be as weak as the wii u.

I already have 2 current gen systems don't need a 3rd late entry system costing $350+.

Triggytrolls4157d ago (Edited 4157d ago )

I've owned a 360 since launch and also a ps3 when they released the 80 gig model, and I can honestly say I'm excited to buy a WIIU.

For me this gen as dragged on and on to the point it's become boring. (mY PS3 breaking didn't help)

hopefully the WiiU will help me enjoy playing games again, if not there's always next gen.

Show all comments (15)
80°

Nintendo's Massacre Of The 3DS And Wii U Is Finally Complete, Regrettably

Hanzala from eXputer: "The cruel hammer of Nintendo has fallen. Farewell, 3DS and Wii U, you surely brightened my life and many others; you won't be forgotten."

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?"

purple1016d 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 ☝️

Zeref5d 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.

DarXyde5d 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.

PhillyDonJawn5d ago (Edited 5d 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.

Einhander19725d 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.

MrBaskerville5d 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.

shinoff21835d 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.

Profchaos5d 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 5d ago
isarai6d ago

Is that why Hellblade 2 is digital only?

Zeref5d 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.

MrNinosan5d ago

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

mkis0074d ago (Edited 4d ago )

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

Einhander19726d 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.

6d ago Replies(3)
Einhander19725d ago

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

5d ago
5d ago
Zeref5d 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.

DarXyde5d 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.

Einhander19725d 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.

Einhander19725d 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.

BehindTheRows5d ago (Edited 5d 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.

Zeref5d ago (Edited 5d 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.

Chevalier5d 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.

Tacoboto5d 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.

shinoff21835d ago

Yay steam

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

Tacoboto5d 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 5d ago
Hofstaderman5d 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?

crazyCoconuts5d 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.

Xeofate5d ago (Edited 5d 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.

crazyCoconuts4d 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

FinalFantasyFanatic4d 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)
90°

Nintendo's War Against Player-Made Content Will Hurt The Company In The End

Danish from eXputer: "Nintendo has historically gone against player-made content and emulation of its games. This has done much to harm the company's image."

XiNatsuDragnel12d ago

I agree nintendo hire some these folks to help in your games it'll help imo.

banger8811d ago

They need to stop announcing these mods and fan remakes until they're finished. Finish it, upload it, and then if Nintendo dmca's it tough shit. Once it's online, people can share it around, even if the original download gets taken down.

Jingsing11d ago

True, but most modders need constant admiration during the process to motivate them.

PRIMORDUS11d ago

Yup, once it's a torrent nothing can be done Nintendo is helpless at that point. But it would be wise if they just had a site on the dark web, it's also easy to use with Tor and no one will bother you.

mastershredder10d ago

This is all coming from the mouth of short-sighted fandom and grifting madness.
No.... it wont. There is a clear defined reason why they don't. This is nothing new. Make your own shi7 from your own original ideas especially if you are trying to capitalize of it it. Duh.

Yeah, hire people that have zero respect or understanding for an established process. Wow. Yep. Totally makes sense.

shinoff218310d ago

Those guys that made that sonic game got a gig from sega or something along those lines and that game was dope as hell. One of the best sonics as of late.