690°

Nintendo remains mum after hackers reveal the Wii U CPU and GPU specs?

If you are like me and you have read the news of late you would have come across the very disturbing news that came out a few weeks ago about the Wii U hack by a guy who goes by the name Marcan. In less than a month of the Wii U launch it had already been hacked? Yes, but the very interesting thing about the hack is that the truth about the Wii U CPU and GPU speed is now out in the open and everyone who has itched to know what was inside the console pretty much know about it now, even though we have not gotten an official word from Nintendo confirming or denying it.

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Neonridr4134d ago

What should Nintendo say? We can achieve the same level of games with a CPU that is running at 1/3 the clock speed and developers have only begun to scratch the surface of our system?

MasterCornholio4134d ago

That sounds great and if its true i wonder why Reggie didn´t even state this yet.

decrypt4134d ago

Article is pointless.

Console gamers.. Dont care about graphics.

Nintendo knows this. They dont really care.

darthv724134d ago (Edited 4134d ago )

the wii-u can be summed up as doing more with less.

@abizz below...but wasnt every new version of the pentium class cpu a modified version of the previous one? The pentium was an enhanced 486 class which itself was an updated 386 class. Even the P2 and P3 all were enhanced versions with increased clock and cache and some new instruction traces.

That doesnt mean the original is bad in any way. so what if they took a page from intel. If it aint broke, why fix it. you can improve it but no need to fix it as "fixing it" implies it was broken in the first place.

The design obviously hold some benefits for nintendo and the programmers that know how to use it.

TheoreticalParticle4134d ago

darthv72: No, that absolutely is NOT how CPU class upgrades work.

Every Intel chip from the 8086 to the i7 didn't change base number/brand until there was an architecture redesign. That's why they have a different number of pins, that's why they all need new motherboards to be slotted into.

They aren't "modified". They're entirely new chip designs.

4134d ago
showtimefolks4134d ago

wii-u is a new system it will take some time like every console to figure out the best way to get the most out of it. It will not be as strong as ps4 or next xbox but i am excited just to play nintendo's 1st party games in HD. that should be a great enough reason to buy one. when N announces a zelda game for wii-u i will buy the system

3rd party support has never been with nintendo and it won't be with wii-u either. here is a fun face the last Nintendo home console to get great 3rd party support was NES. now think about that for a second NES.

look at the lineup in 2013 most big games aren't coming out on wii-u. get bioshock,gta,tomb raider for wii-u nintendo you must

other than that give it some time for developers to figure stuff out and take it easy

sikbeta4133d ago

@decrypt

Gamers care about games and IF third party games are nowhere to be found on the Wii-U, they'll not care about said console, same story with the wii, not saying it's going to happen, but if "low specs" is used again from third parties as the problem to not port games for the U, then damn, that's a mistake Nintendo said I'd fix with the Wii-U, they said they wanted to get the core-gamers this time >:(

+ Show (3) more repliesLast reply 4133d ago
legend9114134d ago (Edited 4134d ago )

See, the problem is that these children don't know how architecture works. Are you going to tell me that my 3.0GHz Pentium 4 HT will beat an i5-2500k at the same clock? If you said yes, then please leave now. If you said no, then re-read the article and you will understand.

ABizzel14134d ago

That's true the i5 destroys the Pentium.

However, the thing that has everyone worried is the the Wii-U CPU, is a modified version of the same one used in Wii, which was a modified version of the same one used in the Gamecube.

It's technically an 11 year old CPU that's been modified for 3 console generations.

On top of that MANY developers have said the same thing, with a Metro 2033 dev. even going as far to say "I guess you don't need an powerful CPU for physics and AI when you're making Mario games." That's troubling.

I have no doubts we'll see some good things from the Wii-U, but here's Nintendo's next-gen console launching 6 - 7 years after the current-gen and instead of being hands down better than the current-gen, but instead there's all these rumors and speculation about how the Wii-U is a mixed boat of being better graphically, but being a dumber console thanks to a underpowered CPU.

If anything Nintendo could have copied the Xbox 360 down to the wiring, since they both have nearly identical components. They could have gone with a quad core version of the 360 CPU, a slightly better GPU, and 2GB of RAM, and still came out with a $299 - $349 console. On top of that it's using the Wii CPU+ / Gamecube CPU++, so why doesn't it have backwards compatibility with Gamecube games? If they had simply gone with the Xbox+ then all the games released for the console at launch would have ran just as good and most liekly at better resolutions and framerates than the current consoles. It makes no sense unless:

1. Nintendo's console doesn't cost as much to make as they said, which has been proven by several other sites (do a little research). So the Wii-U can make a small profit Day 1. A less expensive CPU (which can often translate into a weaker CPU), and not attempting to integrate Gamecube BC saved them money.

If that's the case then it's really sad, that Nintendo would rather nerf their system, to save a few bucks early on, than make something that Nintendo, developers, and their fans could be proud of.

I'm still interested in the Wii-U, but it's in a similar position the the Gamecube was in for me. I'll buy it at some point, and I'm sure I'll enjoy it like I did the gamecube, but it's not a must buy.

shutUpAndTakeMyMoney4134d ago (Edited 4134d ago )

Either way nintendo doesn't push technology software wise so what does it matter how much power they have?

FriedGoat4134d ago

It matters because they have marketed and hyped it to be a super powerful console and trying to bring in "hardcore gamers" when in reality, it isn't.

People are bored of the wii's gimmicks, if they can't bring in the hardcore, they aren't going to do too well now the soccer moms don't want wiifit.

Ihaa4134d ago

@ABizzel1 If you recall, the Wii CPU isn't bad at all. Let it be 11 years old but for one its based on the older architecture but by that sense, every CPU is usually based of some old architecture that got lots of changes to be improved. Plus the person who created the emulator for wii and gamecube actually said that although 360 runs at 3Ghz and has 2 threads, one of its cores is only 20 percent faster than one core from the wii. The wii isn't exactly 2 gamecube CPU's put together, it had architecture changes as well. People don't realize that the CPU in the wii, although low in Ghz was actually pretty fast.

ABizzel14134d ago

@Shutupandtakemymoney

It doesn't matter to Nintendo that's why they made the decision on which CPU to use.

But it matter a lot to other developers. Specifically 3rd party developers who Nintendo is suppose to try and get back on their side, or at least continue to develop for their console.

Nintendo's whole point of the Wii-U was to:

1. Keep the Wii audience, by allowing them to upgrade to the Wii-U along with all their Wii peripherals.

2. Get the core gamers and developers back in their camp with a HD console.

3. Make a console powerful enough to rival and surpass the current-gen HD console, while also being capable of holding it's own against the next-gen offerings from MS and Sony.

And they didn't live up to their goal in the eyes of many, especially people who had already wrote Nintendo off as a casual console.

@Ihaa

True most CPU's are based on the previous architecture, but not 11 year old tech. If anything it's based on a 4 - 6 year old version of the same CPU and the difference while there, isn't a large as an entirely new chip.

And this goes double for Nintendo. We know the Wii-U CPU smokes the Gamecube's and the Wii. But it's still not the jump they should have had if they had simply went with a more moderate CPU rather than one based on Dolphin. I have no clue what they were thinking with that. It makes no sense. I don't care how much over-clocking or tweaking you do, you can't turn 11 year old tech into gold.

They could have even used an AMD-A8 APU and it would have been better than what the Wii-U is currently capable of, not to mention it's only $100 and it covers their CPU and GPU needs.

Let me say that again $100 for an AMD-A8 APU (CPU + GPU) that's superior to the PS360 and what we've seen from the Wii-U thus far, and DX11 capable. If the PS360 runs a game in 720p @ 30fps, then this APU can run the same game at either 720p @ 60fps or 1080p @ 30fps locked.

When you look at things like that it really puts Nintendo's mindset into perspective. Their CPU + GPU combo must be dirt cheap, and Nintendo would rather save $20 and be on par with current-gen, then surpass it. It completely blows my mind that Nintendo would sabotage themselves just to save $20.

+ Show (2) more repliesLast reply 4134d ago
herbs4134d ago

Pointless article is pointless

ronin4life4134d ago

NO company ever comments on these things. That's just how it is.
Move along, nothing to see here...

avengers19784134d ago

Nintendo is going to have the same problems with Wii u as they did with Wii once 3rd party devs don't make games for Wii u that are on ps4, Xbox,and pc... they have a machine that can compete with PS3 and 360, but that is not what there up against... they better hope being first out the gate is enough. I can think of a few games that are going to PS3 and 360 that are not on Wii u as of now bioshock infinite, metal gear rising, and the new dark souls... not good for Nintendo, but there first party games will definitely help them, they need a Zelda, a metriod, and Mariopart, that really Wow there fan base.

GraveLord4134d ago

How about they actually man up and officially reveal these specs? In their website or the Wii U manual....

Consumers have a right to know what they are buying.

(Before you say that those buying Wii U don't care, let me say that we don't care about these stupid safety tips or legal shit, yet they still put it in there)

lilbroRx4134d ago

Nintendo hasn't revealed specs since the Gamecube. People begging for them despite knowing their policy is just idiotic.

rainslacker4134d ago

People know they're buying a game machine. It plays games. It plays games that they like. Nintendo builds solid products. I'm pretty sure most consumers know what they're buying when they pick up a Wii U.

darthv724134d ago (Edited 4134d ago )

this isnt genesis vs snes anymore. We have moved beyond the days of figurative numbers being a representation of reality.

The nerds have grown up (myself included) with all the tech jargon and now its being simplified. Is that so bad to just see the results on screen or do you need circuit evidence to make it mean something?

I mean, how many times did we hear about the EE of the PS2 being able to power nuclear missiles? You dont need the specs of the wii-u to know it will have the next iteration of zelda or metroid or smash bros.

Shnazzyone4134d ago

Yet another article to show me how terrible an aggregate site n4g is. This article says nothing new and only points out something that hasn't happened. the whole thing is 2 paragraphs and a picture. This isn't news. This is the continuation of N4g being an awful source for any actual news.

Dark-vash4133d ago

I think Nintendo doesn't have to say anything. I'ts pretty impressive that they can achieve and surpass the performance of a PS3 with a CPU clock like that!
Consoles are quitting the "horse power" race... I'm looking forward to see what Sony and Ms can achieve!

BullyMangler4133d ago

yehh . Nintendo is busy .. . and Nintendo will show this generation, what a properly equipped gaming machine is supposed to do . .. (: and NEXT GEN . . The overload of accidental dominance by Nintendo is just too alien to be reaL

+ Show (6) more repliesLast reply 4133d ago
jacksonmichael4134d ago

You expected anything else? Nintendo plays by their own rules. And those rules are almost always really annoying.

wishingW3L4134d ago (Edited 4134d ago )

not all the specs, only the frequencies of the CPU, GPU and Ram.

Apex134134d ago

Frankly who the F cares.

It's a good system as will the others be and offer different experiences.

Go back to sleep.

legend9114134d ago

Again, they pull off the same or better graphics (on launch titles too) with such "slow" hardware? Do the people who take this seriously know what or how the architecture of computer systems work?

kane_13714134d ago

the problem is that, this is a console, the consoles are made to work as good as possible with lower power than pcs.
That is what makes them so special, that is the reason a high pc of this day can't yet emulate PS3 and X360 games, cuz the way games and systems are engineered for those systems are way more complex than what is done on a PC.

You can easily port a game from PC to consoles but the other way around.....

To your answer, yes, it is possible to have a slow CPU and still enter the race, that is what a console is.
Nintendo knows it, and plays by that rule, now, does that affect their relations with 3rd party devs? yes, it does, does that affect their fanbase? no, it doesn't, Nintendo has a very special fanbase specially in Europe and they will stay by the nintendo's side, no matter the CPU and what not.
They enjoy the games and they get the games too.

rainslacker4134d ago

If I had to guess, I'd say a majority of the people complaining about the hardware have no clue what any of those numbers mean. Hell, I hardly know much about hardware in that respect, but I can at least see what they were going for with the design.

The system itself is great. I've enjoyed playing on it. I skipped the Wii, and I'm happy to now have a real Nintendo console.

My only real concern is it's long term viability when the 720/PS4 come out. But even then it would only matter for multi-plats, and even then I would just buy them on whatever other system I pick up. Nintendo games are fun, even the Wii ones, and I'm happy to be able to play them again whenever I want.

MEsoJD4134d ago

A console is an investment and I would like to know whats under the hood of my purchase.

Stroke6664134d ago

so is a pair of sneakers, have you asked nike for their chemical components of their soles?

MEsoJD4134d ago

@Stroke666
I don't currently own Nike's, but am the type to investigate origin and material of my shoes. The result is that my shoes usually last pretty long. Does that answer your question? :3 I'm not your average consumer, but should be.

OmegaSlayer4134d ago

Who bought a WiiU knew what he was buying and the future of the machine.
If people hasn't understood Nintendo's business model yet...their fault.

Show all comments (137)
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?"

purple1012d 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 ☝️

Zeref1d 16h 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.

DarXyde1d 14h 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.

PhillyDonJawn1d 14h ago (Edited 1d 14h 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.

Einhander19721d 13h 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.

MrBaskerville1d 12h 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.

shinoff21831d 4h 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.

Profchaos1d 3h 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 1d 3h ago
isarai2d ago

Is that why Hellblade 2 is digital only?

Zeref1d 15h 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.

MrNinosan1d 15h ago

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

mkis00719h ago(Edited 19h ago)

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

Einhander19722d 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.

2d ago Replies(3)
Einhander19722d ago

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

2d ago
1d 21h ago
Zeref1d 15h 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.

DarXyde1d 14h 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.

Einhander19721d 14h 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.

Einhander19721d 14h 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.

BehindTheRows1d 13h ago (Edited 1d 13h 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.

Zeref1d 12h ago (Edited 1d 12h 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.

Chevalier1d 10h 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.

Tacoboto1d 12h 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.

shinoff21831d 4h ago

Yay steam

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

Tacoboto1d 2h 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 1d 2h ago
Hofstaderman1d 17h 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?

crazyCoconuts1d 12h 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.

Xeofate1d 9h ago (Edited 1d 9h 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.

crazyCoconuts14h 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

FinalFantasyFanatic22h 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."

XiNatsuDragnel8d ago

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

banger887d 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.

Jingsing7d ago

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

PRIMORDUS7d 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.

mastershredder7d 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.

shinoff21836d 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.

80°

The Nintendo Partner Spotlight Sale Is The Perfect Excuse To Get These 6 Gems

Huzaifa from eXputer: "The Nintendo Partner Spotlight sale event has discounted a number of worthy titles on the Switch. Here are 6 of them you should check out."