xbox 2 = overhauled mac g5? what the....

[stevietat]

quote from ign

The "Xbox Next" will use PowerPC-based architecture similar to the chipset powering Apple's G5 computers. That being the case, Microsoft's early "Xbox Next" development kits have been little more than modified Apple G5 systems pre-packed with "Xbox 2" emulation software. "I heard [Apple CEO] Steve Jobs found it pretty ironic and funny that Microsoft has been shipping Apple systems to developers," one studio source joked to IGN on the subject.

http://xbox.ign.com/articles/523/523...html?fromint=1

Ok, I know IGN may be exaggerating here, but this is the first I've heard of xbox using mac g5 similar chipsets. Is this really old news, or just totally exaggerated cuz I'm finding it to be pretty hilarious right now, lol.

[gerbick]

quite old information/hype.

been talked about in the past here, here, here, and here...

[PAlexC]

Yeah, but if they're really just shipping G5's with an emulator, that's poor.

[gerbick]

until final silicon ships, that's how a lot of stuff is developed. I remember seeing a row of little white boxes - regular looking PC's. they were the dev boxes for the Sega Dreamcast before they shipped the actual thing. It was a windows machine that emulated the Hitachi SH-4 chip/environment of the Sega Dreamcast.

[stevietat]

oops sorry for the repost, and tx for the links Read through them, but something I still don't understand about all this (pardon my tech ineptitude)....

So does microsoft literally order some g5s from apple, rip em out the case (or just scratch the apple off, lol) put in the xbox emulation software and ship it off as dev kits? The ign article made it to sound like they literally are shipping off apple computers

Or does microsoft simply buy powerpc (or wutever else) components for the kits that are also used by apple to make g5s, and thus you have the g5 comparison. I mean would there be legal issues with microsoft reselling macs in this sort of way, or is it only the emulation software that matters (so the mac is just the hardware its packaged with)

Or maybe im totally off on all acounts, lol.

[gerbick]

so far, it seems as if IBM will be producing the chips for Microsoft. IBM makes a chip, called the PowerPC chip. In it's latest iteration, the PPC970, it's called the G5 by Apple.

Well, it seems that a PPC970 variant might be the one that goes into the XBOX2. And the current development systems are indeed Apple G5's running a custom OS/development system.

But beyond that, it's speculation about what chip will finally be in the XBOX2.

I hope that clarifies it.

[Subway]

I heard the G5's are not even modified. Only difference is that they run Windows NT. By the way, the developer tool features the Apple logo on the bottom right corner. I still not read an explenation for that, maybe Apple did help MS designing those tools ... who knows, or it's just some weird licensing reason or someone did a joke on us, always possible on the net.

What will be different are the PowerPC chips. Those in the X-Box will be no G5's (PPC970) and not what Apple will get next (PPC975). It will be something similar, but not one of those two (It will feature three cores).

Fredi

[stevietat]

Originally posted by gerbick
I hope that clarifies it.

yup, thanks man, makes sense now.