Wednesday, March 16, 2005

Multi-Core Processors and Upcoming Games: What's the Effect? Unreal 3 Developer Answers Questions

11:19 pm | Yaroslav Lyssenko

AnandTech continues to investigate how multi-core will affect different aspects of computer performance. Since the main driver for computer development and search for higher performance has been games, AnandTech tries to find out what performance boost can game developers gain from multi-core CPUs, and which additional problems they may encounter.

“Writing multithreaded code means much higher software development costs while CPU development gets easier and thus cheaper (compared to even more complex superscalar CPUs). No wonder that the CPU developers are very motivated to hype the multi-core route, but the software development community is probably less enthusiastic,” AnandTech web-site expresses its doubts.

At the same time, game developers seem to be optimistic about upcoming multi-core microprocessors.

“You can expect games to take advantage of multi-core pretty thoroughly in late 2006 as games and engines also targeting next-generation consoles start making their way onto the PC,” claims Tim Sweeney, founder of Epic.

• AnandTech: The Quest for More Processing Power, Part Two: “Multi-core and multi-threaded gaming”.

Nintendo DS Handheld Console Reviewed. Nintendo Responds to Sony’s PSP

11:12 pm | Yaroslav Lyssenko

With the launch of the Sony PSP game console, the world of mobile gaming has been significantly changed. Now other game consoles manufacturers are trying to make something better than Sony’s handheld device. TrustedReviews web-site has managed to take a closer look at Nintendo’s latest offering for gamers on the move, the Nintendo DS.

“Admittedly, Nintendo hasn’t made the DS the easiest machine to love. After the slick, streamlined, pocket-sized GBA SP, the DS is a return to the cludgy old days of the first-generation GBA. It feels at least 10 per cent bigger than it ought to, and while the plastic construction feels solid enough, it’s still a little cheap and toy-like. The direction pad, four face buttons and two shoulder buttons are all within easy enough reach, but that doesn’t stop you wishing for something more slimline. And while the two 3in, 256 x 192 resolution screens are a step-up from the GBA SP (not to mention a vast improvement on the original GBA) the PSP and most PDAs have better quality displays. On the positive side, onboard audio is better than you might expect from the twin stereo speakers, and very clear through the headphone socket at the base of the unit. Nintendo might be stretching things with talk of surround sound, but the audio capabilities are easily up there with the old Nintendo 64,” writes TrustedReviews

• TrustedReviews: Nintendo DS - Handheld Console.

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