IBM, please explain

[Hank_Reardon]

I will admit up front that I do not entirely know what I'm talking about here, which is actually why I'm making this post. Maybe someone else can explain to me what the heck is going on.

Microsoft XBOX360 = 1x tri-core IBM Power5 at 3.2 GHz for projected $299
Apple Powermac G5 = 2x single-core IBM Power5 at 2.7 GHz for $2999

Actually I'm not particularly concerned about the price delta, as I realize the video game console market is a relatively unique market place where hardware is generally sold for a substantial loss, which is recouped with software licensing fees. What does strike me as odd though is, after well over a year of alleged architectural roadblocks to delivering a 3.0GHz+ G5 Powermac single-core processor, IBM manages to deliver a triple-core processor at 3.2 GHz that will run in a tiny box! Could someone a little more well versed than I on the hardware side of things please explain? Surely these can't be the same processor line, right? And if they are, is anyone for arranging a picketing outside Big Blue headquarters?

 

[Tamer Brad]

I will admit up front that I do not entirely know what I'm talking about here, which is actually why I'm making this post. Maybe someone else can explain to me what the heck is going on.

Microsoft XBOX360 = 1x tri-core IBM Power5 at 3.2 GHz for projected $299
Apple Powermac G5 = 2x single-core IBM Power5 at 2.7 GHz for $2999

Actually I'm not particularly concerned about the price delta, as I realize the video game console market is a relatively unique market place where hardware is generally sold for a substantial loss, which is recouped with software licensing fees. What does strike me as odd though is, after well over a year of alleged architectural roadblocks to delivering a 3.0GHz+ G5 Powermac single-core processor, IBM manages to deliver a triple-core processor at 3.2 GHz that will run in a tiny box! Could someone a little more well versed than I on the hardware side of things please explain? Surely these can't be the same processor line, right? And if they are, is anyone for arranging a picketing outside Big Blue headquarters?

Power processor does not = G processor

Video game consoles do not use the same processors as computers.

There is already plenty of talk about this in the news forum.

 

[Platform]

Power processor does not = G processor

Video game consoles do not use the same processors as computers.

There is already plenty of talk about this in the news forum.

Yes that is very right......there is a lot of difference

 

[daveL]

That XBOX price is sans disk, from what I understand. In addition, when you're selling 20 - 30 million units, you tend to get a good price break from your component suppliers. Finally, you can cut your profit margin to the bone, since the money is really in the games and online subscriptions, not the console itself.

 

[ravenvii]

This is getting a little tiring. I don't usually say this, because I know how much the search engine on the forums suck... But for this case I will say... Do. A. Search.

 

[James Philp]

This is getting a little tiring. I don't usually say this, because I know how much the search engine on the forums suck... But for this case I will say... Do. A. Search.

What he said. This has to be at least the 10th thread on this topic.