ATI: Xbox 360 will outperform PS3

  • By James Yu, Tim Surette, GameSpot
  • Posted Jun 10, 2005 7:19 pm PT

"I think PS3 will almost certainly be slower and less powerful," says graphics guru Richard Huddy; backward compatibility explained.

In an interview with Web site bit-tech.net, ATI developer relations manager Richard Huddy waxed technical about Microsoft's upcoming Xbox 360 and ATI's role in the machine. The 360 will be using ATI's Xenos graphics processor, and Huddy's job is to chat with potential developers and then help them develop the tools that best use Xenos' capabilities.

With regard to the console's architecture, Huddy says, "It's way better than I would have expected at this point in the history of 3D graphics." He sees the unified pipeline, rather than segregated pixel and vertex engines, giving the 360 a huge advantage in accessible processing power.

Huddy goes on to shed some light on backward compatibility. Each Xbox game is written with specific Xbox hardware in mind, and the 360's move to PowerPCs and ATI graphics doesn't jibe with the Xbox's Intel chips and Nvidia graphics processors. To add to the difficulty, the 360 wasn't designed for backward compatibility early on in development.

To solve this, Microsoft has implemented the use of emulator programs that will let the Xbox 360 play Xbox games. According to Huddy, "emulating the CPU isn't really a difficult task. ...the real bottlenecks in the emulation are GPU calls--calls made specifically by games to the Nvidia hardware in a certain way. General GPU instructions are easy to convert: an instruction to draw a triangle in a certain way will be pretty generic. However, it's the odd cases--the proprietary routines--that will cause hassle." Once complete, the Xbox emulators could come preloaded on the unit's hard drive or be downloadable via Xbox Live.

Huddy also dispels the notion that the PlayStation 3's higher graphics clock speed (550MHz versus the 360's 500MHz) means the Sony console will outperform the Xbox 360. He believes that its ATI's unified pipeline will make the biggest difference between the Xbox 360 and PS3. ATI archrival Nvidia, which is providing the RSX graphics processor for the PS3, has chosen not to go the route of a unified pipeline.

"This time around, [Nvidia doesn't] have the architecture, and we do. So they have to knock it and say it isn't worthwhile. But in the future, they'll market themselves out of this corner, claiming that they've cracked how to do it best. But RSX isn't unified, and this is why I think PS3 will almost certainly be slower and less powerful."

15 Comments

  • jemlay

    Posted Apr 30, 2007 3:02 pm PT

    I found this article hilarious. The processing power of the PS3 is leaps and bounds more intense then the 360. Graphics wise they're about the same.

    Take Folding@Home. If you put F@H on the 360 it wouldn't do half the work the PS3 can do.

    Keep dreaming 360 fanboys!

    Other way to look at it, the PS3 stomps my overclocked Core2Duo 3.0Ghz when it comes to processing power. So what's next? 360 owners are going to claim thier 360 has quad power?

    Another note - I just got myself a new elite! Now to sell my old 360.

  • HyperMetaDragon

    Posted Nov 26, 2006 3:51 pm PT

    You don't need to take ATI's opinion to know that the Xbox 360 will outpeform PS3.

  • jakeboudville

    Posted Aug 29, 2006 7:00 pm PT

    very interesting.....

  • jon1233

    Posted May 20, 2006 10:17 pm PT

    How much did M$ pay them to say that? Look at the comparison tards.

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_seventh-generation_game_consoles

  • tollandkid

    Posted May 12, 2006 5:19 pm PT

    xbox 360 rapes all

  • Dark058

    Posted Apr 22, 2006 4:57 pm PT

    Ok i am a HARDCORE xbox/microsoft fan and i have just read http://www.anandtech.com/video/showdoc.aspx?i=2453 thanks to the person above me. I would be so happy to see the xbox dominate but i just want to say this could go either way!!!!!

  • theoath

    Posted Jan 18, 2006 12:25 pm PT

    Zironn1,

    For the love of god, please research before you post.

    This will help you: http://www.anandtech.com/video/showdoc.aspx?i=2453

    I hope programmers get the hang of cell programming.

    TheOath

  • Zironn1

    Posted Jan 11, 2006 7:10 pm PT

    Ive been a big fan of Microsoft for a while, and the reason xbox 1 did so well was because of the chip. And who made the chip? Nvidia!! so its not hard to figure out whos gonna win this round. Xbox made a BIG mistake when the lost Nvidia
    President of Sony said and i Quote"Next Generation doesnt start until the PS3 is released." Why do you think xbox360 rushed so hard to make it to Christmas.?!?!?!?!? beacause they knew Nvidia would rape ATI just like they always do!
    Check out the PS3 trailers THAT IS REAL TIME MAN!!!!!
    lets do the math
    8processors VS 3processors
    which number is bigger???

  • swanlord

    Posted Dec 18, 2005 8:14 am PT

    What it is is what it is xbox360 will be faster

  • pspmad1

    Posted Dec 12, 2005 9:28 am PT

    i've played some of the 360 and its gd and halo's great soz gta and ps

  • pspmad1

    Posted Dec 12, 2005 9:26 am PT

    i've still not decided becausethey are going to be great!!!!

  • desertrat_90

    Posted Dec 1, 2005 12:02 pm PT

    I'm getting both, well my bro is getting PS3 and I'm getting 360. 360 comes out tomorrow in England so I'll be getting it for christmas! Can't wait to compare them both

  • rexoverbey

    Posted Nov 30, 2005 11:07 am PT

    I believe the GPU will be better in the 360, but nobody denies that the Cell will be more powerful than the tri-core CPU in the 360.

  • doseyclwn

    Posted Nov 20, 2005 9:36 am PT

    1)I could care less about playing with 8 people on one console. That would piss me off. The most I want to play with is 2

    2)If the PS3 really does have blu-ray, it will be around $600. Blu-ray is expensive as hell

    3)My TV can't do 1080p. It can, however, do 1080i which the 360 does support. I have no plans to buy a new TV to play games on, so I could care less since the 360 supports what my TV can do.

    4)While he may be saying it's better because he works for them, the FACT is that I will be playing next gen games while you slave away on your slow as hell ps2.

  • SpeedFreak14

    Posted Nov 17, 2005 5:40 pm PT

    I'll say this, Hes just saying its better because he worked on xbox360, ps3 is going to S*** all over xbox360 with blu ray, 1080p, and up to 8 players on a single console, thats huge stuff people. whats xbox360 got? hddvd 720p at most and umm 4 players? thats about all i can say.

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