Looks like Intel quad cores will be this november
 

"It was reported earlier that the launch of the new Extreme processors by Intel, the quad-core "Kentsfield", was moved formward to the last quarter of 2006. The processor would initially be released in the first quarter of 2007. Eweek.com now claims to have information that this chip will be officially released as soon as November, less than two months from now.


The Kentsfield is basically two Core 2 Duo chips on one die, similar to the early Pentium D processors. The chip will run at a clockspeed of 2.66GHz and sport an FSB of 1066MHz, same as the current Core 2 Duo chips. The earlier release means that the processor can most likely be found in desktop PC's from OEM manufacturers this year."

Awesome!

Isn't that always the way - just bought a Intel Core 2 Duo and then 3 months later its out-of-date!

Not just out-of-date but half-as-fast out-of-date!


Bloody technology!

Whats the point of quad core though? Why not just make duo core faster and faster? I mean what next? 5,6,7,8,9 core processors?

I believe there already are 8 core processors.

The whole point is the chip designers have reached physical barriers in getting the speed increased so the best way of improving is to multiply rather than waste money.

Its like building skyscrapers - there is a limit to how high you can go so build another one next to it... and so on...

Playstation 3's "Cell" is 8 core.

After looking at the new Core2 dual cores, if you look at the silicon the chips are embedded on to, they're shown to be only half full (one core in two corners) - the other two corners are empty.... It's as if dual core was only ever meant to be a transitionary phase to quad core (ie. that they've already got the means to do it, but they are 'trickling out' the technology in order to reap the best financial curve.)

Thats exactly what they're doing...

They know how to milk it!


I didn't realise the PS3's are going to be 8 core! Wow

Now imagine using the PS3's processing speed for audio...

It's nice to dream ;)

damn ps3 sounds nuts... and i'm glad i'm waiting for the mac pro I knew it was coming

I was just planning to get a mac pro, so I will probably wait and buy a cheaper quad mac or 8-core mac next spring. :D

Yup, have you seen some of the graphics previews of that machine?! It's getting freaky!

Will try to dig 'em up. It's like nothing ever before.... It's like the sexy pre-rendered intro vids of current games, but in realtime, all the way through, with every little minor interaction happening. The sheer scale of the in-game physics and the attention to every ambient detail and scene renders are nothing short of staggering.
It makes the PS2 look like a Commodore Amiga.

Back on topic, I think it's partly why Apple dumped IBM and joined Intel, because IBM were concentrating most of their efforts on the Cell for Sony, and Apple got neglected (in the power vs. heat stakes, when comparing themselves with Intel). Apple/IBM never did bring out a G5 laptop (due to efficiency/heat issues).

ps3
 

Anyone have an idea of the pricing regarding the quadcore cpus? I guess it's going to be better to wait a few months..


And yeah the PS3 graphics are pretty much awesome to say the least :)

Here are a couple in-game shots of games developped by the company I work for:







:)

You work for EA Sports?

omg if thats not real i dunno what is anymore !!!! SICK!!!

wow!!!
Given the scaled back launch number, I can only imagine what the lines will be like for people waiting to purchase the ps3 when it comes out.

Don't beat yourself up too much. Quad cores coming out in November is still just speculation and even if they are released, it will probably take some time before they reach the channels for distribution.

Also, if I remember reading correctly, the boards that were made to handle the core 2 duos are also reportedly able to handle the quad cores.
So a year or so from now, you will probably be able to pull out the dual core and pop in a quad core without any problems (plus the quads should be cheaper by then)

Not to mention the increased heat dissipation of quads!

The PS3 isnt actually 8 cores. Its 1 core with 7 co-processors, not quite the same thing. They actually ran into some major problems with that architecture. Its sort of like 1 main processor that passes off math tasks to one of the co-processors.

Drammy: Yeah I'm working for EA :) I've been there for a few months now, mostly as a marketing artist(doing ads, updates on the website) but recently joined production.

I am sooooo looking forward for those quadcores. Maybe one day I'll be able to run my projects in realtime! I hate bouncing stuff :(

Mice one MadStation - EA have made some of the best game sthrough over the years!

If you need beta-testers for FM2007 - I'm your man! :wink:

Are they really the ingame screen shots!? Bloody hell!!! What sort of frame rates are they getting with graphics like that though?

Anyway, I'm in for some beta-testing too Mad! Really nice place to be on the payrole mate. Half ya luck!

Re: ps3
 

I thought Fight Night was developed at EA's Chicago office?

Just out of curiosity, what is your position at EA?

those are in the uncanny valley and look fucking weird.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uncanny_Valley

Oddly, that's exactly what I was thinking to myself, Ledge, but didn't realise there was a "name" or a hypothesis for it.

The PS3 will certainly have the ability to generate such detailed and life-like scenarios completely in realtime, literally lifting coders previous limitations and restrictions cleanly away. Ironically now the restrictions will be placed on them, the coders, and their knowledge and algorithms in an attempt to try and pull off convincing humanoids or whatever. I guess few developers might initially have the experience or knowledge to pull off the reality stuff convincingly just yet, so it might be a bit of a curse at first.

... That first boxer doesn't look too bad imho, in a semi-cartoony kinda way, but that second one... is just plain vacant, and it's like the head and body are completely separate, like it's been stuffed on as an afterthought. His neck is also unusally displaced, lol. Like the "Uncanny Valley" thing, people will pick up nuances that might be repulsive in the same way. I think a disconcerting thing about the Tiger Woods pic is that they cropped and placed him on a stark monochrome background where there should be some sort of texture or grain to make it look more natural and give it depth (it kinda looks like a cardboard cutout). Not sure if the real Tiger Woods is cross-eyed, either, lol?



It's always the eyes and their surrounding area. They're vacant, and just stare piercingly in a weird way.

I guess a few years down the track, enough time + money will have been pumped into this sort of stuff to pull off ultra-realistic humanoids and expressions.

The anime stuff (Final Fantasy) will be huge, though, as it's not attempting to be ultra realistic anyway but more cartoony, and the 3D graphics have been known and used for years already.

Simulator and 3D and other non-humanoid games will be shit hot.

Array: Just sent you a PM.

Some of you guys posted some really valid points. The graphics are now pretty good but it's only as good as it's weakest link. I believe the humain eye is far more picky when it comes to graphics that are almost life-like. Even a small glitch in the animation system/lighting/modelling or textures is enough to throw off the whole composition.

I'm looking forward to see what next-gen will bring in non realistic settings.

I will be upgrading to Core 2 Duo soon...If everyone kept waiting for the latest Pc gear noone would ever upgrade cause there is always something new around the corner...Are these new quad CPUs 775 socket??

I believe they are (can't be certain though) - I have been told that I should be able to replace a duo core with a quad core on the same mobo...

Nice :)

yeah, I had read this as well, but have yet to confirm it and figure out which socket will allow this.