Misc Computer Graphics / Video Game / Tech News (09/30/04)

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R500 for Xbox2 to be ready at end of Q1 2005

According to reports, the next generation Xbox chip will be ready by the Q1 of next year. The card will be similar in architecture to R520, the upcoming desktop chip, which is code-named 'Fudo'. One major difference is the integrated frame buffer. It is believed that the card has at least 16 pipelines and 2 texture memory units, which should give almost twice as much power as the current X800 cardsthat have only one texture memory unit. The main benifit will be for games that utilize multi-texutring, which pretty much includes 99% of most games today. Performance might be more than 6 times faster than R800.

I think this is good news as it would indicate that Xbox2 progress is comming along strong. I have to say i am anxious to see the real specs as to what is can do and most importantly, how fast it can do it. Can we expect to get Unreal 3 graphics in run-time??? Would be nice!

More info can be gound HERE.

Speaking of which... New Unreal 3 Screenshots!!!

The screen shots are looking sweet. I know the performance isn't so good with current generation cards but keeping in mind that the game is aimed at the next generation hardware, it should play nicely in 1-2 years. Can't wait to see more real-time demos of this engine!

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