Valve Boss: New Intel CPU Allows a "Console-Like Experience" on the PC

[pokepuke]

This is only one half's push, I think it was Nvidia was looking at hybridising CPU and GPU roles. Eventually you'll probably have two components that each have a preferred role but can take over from each other as needed. That way you can kick basic UI display onto the CPU and devote the GPU (with it's onboard RAM) to a large job.

Nvidia has a funny habit of acting like the GPU is all that is needed for processing tasks, despite it's narrow usefulness. They just want to take the wind out of Intel's sail. GPGPU functions are still extremely limited, which is why most people only use video cards for gaming and Folding@Home.

Other than that, what we are seeing is specialized chips becoming more fashionable to handle tasks that are growing in popularity, such as video encoding, which is why Intel added Quick Sync and the other guys are gonna play catch-up ASAP. Video decoding has already been around a while from everybody.

And I meant it's useful for upgrading an old computer to at least be usable these days. If they released these chips in 775 it'd be a nice way to up-gun an office machine wihtout having to replace everything.

No chip-maker allows for that these days. Especially now that the landscape is so in flux, platforms are unreliable for upgrades. Maybe that will change once they reach maximum efficiency for integrating all the functions on a single chip. Then I see where your point comes into play.

 

[the_pleasure_is_mine]

Really? They'd have no reason to. I assume of course that you're baiting them out udner the implication that 'consoles are better than pcs' in the news post.

However, the content of the post doesn't support this.

I'll reserve judgement myself.

Consoles and PCs have different strengths and weaknesses. I reserve no judgement to which is better.

I was more expecting to see the news article baiting out elitists with it's headline then they post a rage filed argument which quickly gets torn apart.

The Escapist wasn't actually that bad with its elitism here... I wonder how other, less moderated forums fared.

 

[the_pleasure_is_mine]

So you assume the civility of the people in this thread to be caused by fear that they might be banned?

Why not just assume the news doesn't inspire people to "post a rage filled argument"?

The escapist has a fairly clever userbase, I wouldn't put them all down by insinuating they are pretending.

No I assume civility through those who are uncivil already being banned.

I could assume that but it's a far greater treat to read a rage-induced post and then it's subsequent dismantling. Can I not enjoy the little things in life?

I fully agree there's a clever userbase but you never know what new or infrequent poster may stumble across something they find displeasing. I would say no one in this thread is pretending, but hey that's the small portion of optimism I hold that treks out once in a while.

I have no quarrel with you or your views, I respect that neither of us have turned this into a flamewar, I hope you can game some insight into my opinion on the matter

(I feel in an oddly content mood today...)

 

[the_pleasure_is_mine]

Thats good to hear.

No doubt you're contented by the knowledge that Gabe Newell hasn't died yet and that CPU's are still trying to get better.

I don't hold much love for old Gabe I'm afraid ._. I find him to be a professional troll of sorts.

And but of course ;D My Dual core (while fine for now) will not stand up against new technology forever! I will need more POWER!

 

[JaymesFogarty]

Oh, Gabe, it looks like your fat is starting to take control over you. Lose weight why don't you? Get yourself more bello in the jello, it's very outnumbered right now.

That's right Gabe; you look ridiculous, and your service Steam is in shambles!


OT: Good! This could make PC gaming more accessible to less adept gamers.

 

[veloper]

Intel claims the new hardware will outperform 40 to 50 percent of the standalone graphics cards currently on the market

Meh. That means it's only faster than low-end budget cards, that make up the majority.

So you'll have a core i7 setup that can play games on low/medium detail.

Makes alot more sense to glue such to a much weaker cpu. Maybe the slowest core i3 would be a good fit.
Then you'll reach consumers who may occasionally want to try a game or two.

 

[ZippyDSMlee]

"Valve Boss: New Intel CPU Allows a "Console-Like Experience" on the PC"
WTF is that suppose to mean? Dumber more generic experience on the PC?

 

[nofear220]

Oh I can't wait to see the PC elitists raging about this one.

I don't know about the elitists, but as a PC gamer, I think this might really be a good thing. The variety of graphics cards has undeniable negative side effects on PC gaming and I'd be glad to see it gone, or at least the eternal arms race between the few major manufacturers reduced.

The problem that I see with this is that integrated graphics cards (I know this isn't the same thing, but it's similar) were already attempted and were an unmitigated disaster. I hope this turns out better.

Isn't making PC gaming "more console like" a step in the wrong direction?

Not in this case, no. The phrase isn't reffering to gameplay and mechanics bening simplified to the console level (which is what that phrase usually means) but rather cropping the hardware variety which is making developing for the PC a pain and putting people off PC gaming in the first place.

Hardware diversity is what makes me enjoy pc gaming. I am proud to have built a watercooled quad-sli monster rig that can max any game out there. Sandy bridge's onboard gpu is not enough to run any of today's games, anyway either.

 

[Tom Phoenix]

While I am not sure if integrated graphics cards are the solution, one thing that is preety clear to me is that PC gaming would greatly benefit from some sort of standardisation.

One way of implementing this outside of releasing closed off systems is to establish a standard set of specs by which most PC game developers would develop for a set number of years. Not only would this drastically narrow the number of system configurations which developers would have to take into account, it would also allow hardware manufacturers to mass produce PCs that would carry the standard label and would be guaruanteed to play games developer with that standard in mind with relatively few issues (although completely avoiding issues is impossible; this is the PC we are talking about, afterall). Overall, it would simplify access to PC gaming for less tech-savvy individuals.

Hey, what do you know? The PC Gaming Alliance would actually be useful at establishing such a standard! But are they doing anything? Nope...

 

[BabyRaptor]

If I wanted the console experience, I'd be on a console. Leave it there...I deal with enough immature 12 year olds on WoW.

 

[RhombusHatesYou]

Integrated GPU trying to push the dedicated graphics cards out of the market?

I smell Communism!

It's capitalism. It's Intel trying to leverage their position as the most popular CPU manufacturer to unload their shitty, shitty GPU tech on people with their new APUs and there by cutting the sales of both AMD and nVidia discrete GPU cards... and as an added bonus, hopefully increase their CPU market share at AMD's expense.

 

[RhombusHatesYou]

Sorry, I'm siding with AMD's Bulldozers. Integrated graphics is almost never a good thing for any power users.

yeah i can imagine that thing being a ***** for cooling and overclocking

That's the reason why, despite the impressive performance of the 2nd gen i7 CPUs, there will only ever be crappy GPUs on the APU die - with a 'enthusiast' level GPU they'd be impossible to keep cool without switching up to watercooling. Trying to OC them would probably require a freon or N2 system.

 

[Sinclair Solutions]

Where is the obligatory "Gabe Newell Trollface" image? It should have been here by now. Wait a minute...

Spoiler

There we go.

Oh Gabe, every one of you press releases becomes instant comedy gold.

 

[DarkBlood626]

When I read this I think of some one trying to make a bike more like a car.

They have those and there a shit combination of both, watered down in all aspects that attempt to distinguish them. If I put the time money into a gaming PC and have the patience to learn how to work it I think that states I don?t want a console experience.

If however it is an attempt to entice some new blood into PC gaming fair enough, just let the fucktards stay with the consoles and welcome to everyone whose obstacle to PC gaming is money or the reputation PC gaming has for being expensive.

He needs to provide a context if he is trying to make present or future PC?s into glowing Xboxes then we will have a problem if it?s a rail to lean on when buying or developing for one fair enough.

 

[veloper]

While I am not sure if integrated graphics cards are the solution, one thing that is preety clear to me is that PC gaming would greatly benefit from some sort of standardisation.

One way of implementing this outside of releasing closed off systems is to establish a standard set of specs by which most PC game developers would develop for a set number of years. Not only would this drastically narrow the number of system configurations which developers would have to take into account, it would also allow hardware manufacturers to mass produce PCs that would carry the standard label and would be guaruanteed to play games developer with that standard in mind with relatively few issues (although completely avoiding issues is impossible; this is the PC we are talking about, afterall). Overall, it would simplify access to PC gaming for less tech-savvy individuals.

Hey, what do you know? The PC Gaming Alliance would actually be useful at establishing such a standard! But are they doing anything? Nope...

PC land is already 99% standardized.

In the case of GPUs, it's all M$ directx compliant and since dx9c there's very little wriggle room left.
The only thing a clueless needs to do is visit xbitlabs and compare the overal benchmarks to know how fast the device goes for the money.
Installing a card has always been trivial.