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[Hollywood]

From the specs announced, is it feasible for it to be able to emulate current generation consoles? I don't know the rules for emulation, but the increase in RAM and processor speed is the biggest overall leap in console history (500 mhz to 3ghz) and maybe biggest exponential leap (like 6 times as powerful as the last generation console).

Would it be hard with the specs mentioned to make a GC or PS2 emulator on it, or is that just out of the question?

 

[The Faceless Master]

it'll probably run Xbox/GCN games under emulation as good as Xbox runs PSX and N64...

and PS2 worse because of architecture...

 

[SantaC]

I heard that you need a 3.5- 4 gigahertz pc to emluate the current generation perfectly. I am not sure it will be able too, but we'll see.

 

[Hollywood]

I heard that you need a 3.5- 4 gigahertz pc to emluate the current generation perfectly. I am not sure it will be able too, but we'll see.

I've heard the Xenon will have more than one 3 ghz processor though. Does that make a difference?

 

[SantaC]

I've heard the Xenon will have more than one 3 ghz processor though. Does that make a difference?

3 ghz x 2? Now That's expensive..

I heard that both of us should wait to E3.

 

[Izzy]

3 ghz x 2? Now That's expensive..

I heard that both of us should wait to E3.

Even more than 2. 3. MS suggests to developers to dedicate two of them to geometry processing - you can quote me on that.

 

[Hollywood]

Even more than 2. 3. MS suggests to developers to dedicate two of them to geometry processing - you can quote me on that.

Yes, those are the specs I heard. Thing is, the most important thing in the long run isn't the processor - for emulation that is. It's the RAM. And the specs I read has 256 MB RAM. I imagine something like 512 MB would be a lot more ideal for emulation.

 

[Izzy]

Well, I've been considering the rumoured 'PC' version of Xenon. It is bound to have more RAM and a HD - excellent for emulation.

 

[AtomicShroom]

256 mb for emulation is fine. Emulation only requires as much memory as the ROM's size. And seriously, how many roms do you know that are over 256mb, besides maybe some Neo Geo games? Games that were on discs are not even an issue, since, like the game itself, the emulator will only load what it needs from the disc image, not requiring much RAM.

What really matters for emulation is raw processing power.

What worries me the most, however, is that (fan-made) emulation quality has been dropping consistently with each new generation of console. There is no N64 or PSX emulator out there that is as good as ZSnes is for SNES. I think we're very, very, very far away from seeing good emulators of current consoles that will run over 80% of the games flawlessly.

 

[mr2mike]

isn't it actually 3 *multithreading* cores?

if so, woulnd't emulation capacity be *Epic*?

 

[BuddyC]

There were specs announced?

 

[mr2mike]

well, patents, block diagrams and rumblings from within the industry seem to coincide...

 

[Hagindaz]

Unless Xenon is running a full Windows operating system, 3ghz + 256mb ram should be able to do it.

From the specs announced, is it feasible for it to be able to emulate current generation consoles? I don't know the rules for emulation, but the increase in RAM and processor speed is the biggest overall leap in console history (500 mhz to 3ghz) and maybe biggest exponential leap (like 6 times as powerful as the last generation console).

The leap from SNES to PSX/N64 was a lot greater than 6 times. SNES had a 3.5mhz cpu, PSX had ~30mhz, N64 had ~90.

 

[Agent Icebeezy]

Well, I've been considering the rumoured 'PC' version of Xenon. It is bound to have more RAM and a HD - excellent for emulation.

This is the only version that matters

 

[Phoenix]

isn't it actually 3 *multithreading* cores?

if so, woulnd't emulation capacity be *Epic*?

(3) 3.5 Ghz cores IIRC were the 'specs' I recall reading. I'd sooner wipe my ass with those specs than believe them.