The Game Chip Makers: IBM, Nvidia, ATI Score; Intel loses
As a new video game console war kicks off, no one is happier than IBM, which is selling ammunition to all sides.
Big Blue has managed to persuade the makers of all three consoles to use different versions of IBM's PowerPC microprocessors. It ousted Intel from Microsoft's Xbox 360, which is set to make its debut in the fall. IBM also will supply chips for the next-generation Sony and Nintendo consoles that go on sale in 2006.
"It's a master stroke for IBM to get into every console,'' said Jon Peddie, president of Jon Peddie Research. "Just like that, Intel is out of the console business.''
Now that the console makers have announced their plans, it's easier to discern the winners and losers who will have a shot at supplying tens of millions of chips and other components to Microsoft, Sony and Nintendo. Beyond the core microprocessor and graphics chips, these consoles use dozens of chips to handle a variety of functions, from playing DVD movies to accessing the Internet. Since Microsoft, Nintendo and Sony are expected to sell well over 100 million consoles, the next round of competition could generate billions of dollars in sales for many of the chip makers.
"There's going to be winners and losers,'' said Mark Edelstone, an analyst at Morgan Stanley. "But overall it's a win for the industry.''
For the rest of the story, go to:
http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/business/11762392.htm
Big Blue has managed to persuade the makers of all three consoles to use different versions of IBM's PowerPC microprocessors. It ousted Intel from Microsoft's Xbox 360, which is set to make its debut in the fall. IBM also will supply chips for the next-generation Sony and Nintendo consoles that go on sale in 2006.
"It's a master stroke for IBM to get into every console,'' said Jon Peddie, president of Jon Peddie Research. "Just like that, Intel is out of the console business.''
Now that the console makers have announced their plans, it's easier to discern the winners and losers who will have a shot at supplying tens of millions of chips and other components to Microsoft, Sony and Nintendo. Beyond the core microprocessor and graphics chips, these consoles use dozens of chips to handle a variety of functions, from playing DVD movies to accessing the Internet. Since Microsoft, Nintendo and Sony are expected to sell well over 100 million consoles, the next round of competition could generate billions of dollars in sales for many of the chip makers.
"There's going to be winners and losers,'' said Mark Edelstone, an analyst at Morgan Stanley. "But overall it's a win for the industry.''
For the rest of the story, go to:
http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/business/11762392.htm
1 Comments:
Hi,
You have a great blog with great info on popular video games. I must confess that I am a gaming freak, but haven't met much people who think like me. I mean
you won't find many people that would say that playing video games is helpful in any way. But now even these guys need to rethink. West Virginia state
government plans to install the famous in each of its public schools. Research has shown that the video game helps in fighting flab in kids. I guess now I will
have more people who think like me as far as gaming is concerned.
Thanks,
Tom
Post a Comment
<< Home