Multicore processors in consoles

neocon · 8 Sep 2007 at 20:51

Are multicore processors in consoles just a advertising gimick?

Does anyone know of a game that utilises the ps3/360's multicores?

Kreeeee · 8 Sep 2007 at 20:53

Most new games will use the cores. GoW, Dead Rising, CoD4 etc all use the multiple cores pretty well.

Only very early/lazy 360 games don't use them.

BlairH · 8 Sep 2007 at 20:54

I'm sure I heard somehwere that GRAW uses at least 2 of the 360's 3 cores, so I'm guessing that subsequent games have probably made (better?) use of them too.

As for the PS3, I honestly have no idea!

tomanders91 · 8 Sep 2007 at 21:02

i dont think devlopers are really doing much with the PS3's cell atm, give it a while then maybe.

rp2000 · 8 Sep 2007 at 21:04

neocon said:
Are multicore processors in consoles just a advertising gimick?

Does anyone know of a game that utilises the ps3/360's multicores?

I am sure I read somewhere that 1 core of the 360 is always being used for the Dashboard?

rp2000

NokkonWud · 8 Sep 2007 at 21:06

rp2000 said:
I am sure I read somewhere that 1 core of the 360 is always being used for the Dashboard?

rp2000

No, that's the PS3 which always has one SPU for it's XMB.

FrankJH · 8 Sep 2007 at 21:25

Im not sure about the XBox360 cpu - but the cell isnt truelly a multicore cpu anyway ( compared to a Barcelona or Q6600 for example)

The Cell only has one main core and 6 partial cores (so I believe anyway) Im sure someone around will describe it better

Margaret · 8 Sep 2007 at 21:28

tomanders91 said:
i dont think devlopers are really doing much with the PS3's cell atm, give it a while then maybe.

Oh god.

Kreeeee · 8 Sep 2007 at 21:35

rp2000 said:
I am sure I read somewhere that 1 core of the 360 is always being used for the Dashboard?

rp2000

That's the PS3 not the 360 mate.

melchy · 8 Sep 2007 at 21:40

The main core on the PS3 and the 3 on the 360 are multithreaded.

Kainz · 8 Sep 2007 at 21:43

Think it goes without saying that the titles we have atm pale in comparison to what we will see in future. A lot of 360 games are multi threaded at the moment spreading their load (ick) over the cores. As devs get more familiar with the hardware, we'll see them using the cpu's with better effienciency.

Memphis · 8 Sep 2007 at 21:49

neocon said:
Are multicore processors in consoles just a advertising gimick?

Does anyone know of a game that utilises the ps3/360's multicores?

When you understand how a multicore system works, then you will realise how silly your question actually is.

neocon · 8 Sep 2007 at 22:16

Yesssssssssss....

dalin80 · 8 Sep 2007 at 23:39

well the cell isnt really multicore...ish. one main ppu and 8 spu's (1 spare and 1 reserved for for the OS) the ppu acts as a conventional processor while the spu's can be utilised for anything from ai onwards, a spu is even capable of AA separate from the graphics card.

the ps3's power is the spu's and there utilization something thats taking a while for dev's to truly adapt too.

Shamikebab · 8 Sep 2007 at 23:52

I believe PGR 3 was the first 360 title that properly utilized the multiple cores, I could be wrong though. As for the PS3 I dont think anybody knows, probably not even the developers!