Hardware (Rumour) Wii U Specs Leaked

[heartgold]

• The Wii U CPU, as we know from Nintendo, is made by IBM and is based on their POWER 7 architecture, and will be built on 45nm.
• The new details reveal that the Wii U CPU is modeled after the 710 Express IBM server processor, which as standard has 6 cores and runs at speeds of up to 3.7 GHz. The 710 Express chip can also execute 4 threads per core at the same.

But...

• In order to save on production costs, Nintendo has scaled down the processor for the console
• The Wii U version of the CPU will scale down the cores to 4, the clock frequency to 3 GHz, and threads per core will go down from 4 to 2
• This means the Wii U CPU will be able to execute 8 threads at the same time. The current Xbox 360 CPU, also made by IBM, can execute 6 threads at the same time.
• On paper it looks like the Wii U is “around 50% more powerful than current gen systems” as analysts suggested last year, but in reality, the console is likely to be much faster than the raw numbers suggest. This is due to the new features and the architectural improvements of the POWER 7 design.
• Wii U CPU is said to be 20X faster than the IBM Broadway chip found in the Wii.

http://wiiudaily.com...aster-than-wii/



Sounds just about right what we have been expecting, too bad if true Nintendo only went for two threads per core instead of four! Damn possible 16 threads would have been a beast.

 

[Hielkenator]

• The Wii U CPU, as we know from Nintendo, is made by IBM and is based on their POWER 7 architecture, and will be built on 45nm.
• The new details reveal that the Wii U CPU is modeled after the 710 Express IBM server processor, which as standard has 6 cores and runs at speeds of up to 3.7 GHz. The 710 Express chip can also execute 4 threads per core at the same.

Butt...

• In order to save on production costs, Nintendo has scaled down the processor for the console
• The Wii U version of the CPU will scale down the cores to 4, the clock frequency to 3 GHz, and threads per core will go down from 4 to 2
• This means the Wii U CPU will be able to execute 8 threads at the same time. The current Xbox 360 CPU, also made by IBM, can execute 6 threads at the same time.
• On paper it looks like the Wii U is “around 50% more powerful than current gen systems” as analysts suggested last year, but in reality, the console is likely to be much faster than the raw numbers suggest. This is due to the new features and the architectural improvements of the POWER 7 design.
• Wii U CPU is said to be 20X faster than the IBM Broadway chip found in the Wii.

http://wiiudaily.com...aster-than-wii/




Sounds just about right what we have been expecting, too bad if true Nintendo only went for two threads per core instead of four! Damn possible 16 threads would have been a beast.

Remember it's NOT a PC.

 

[yuyuyup]

Obviously I'm praying these are damned lies

 

[Foxi4]

That's all fun and dandy, but when you think about it, the CPU used is not as important as the GPU used, the amount of available Random-Access Memory and the VRAM. This is what we should really be interested in as these are the only aspects in which current generation systems are lacking. If not for the laughable amounts of memory and the aged GPU's, the PS3 and the 360 could remain on the market for another few years.

Of course all improvements are welcome, but I hope Nintendo will put its money on the right horses and that they won't but corners in those vital areas which became the make or break factors of game-related hardware.

---

 

[Rydian]

This looks like bullshit made up by comparing PC specs, like we always get before new systems come out.

But to humor it, here's why this looks bad if true.

Efficiency > ghz.

• Efficiency = less power used and less heat created for the same sort of "speeds" (remember that ghz is NOT a unit of speed). Having a CPU that draws less power and makes less heat means the ability to include a more powerful GPU (and GPUs when compared to CPUs of the same age draw more power and make more heat), and that's what matters for the graphics.
  
• Higher ghz = more power used, more heat produced. The original Wii was clocked at less than a ghz for various real reasons. We don't want another RROD situation.

Also more cores does not instantly equal more speed, and the more cores you have, the harder it is to make use of them. Hell, most PC games don't get any benefit from going past 3 cores right now (with an even larger majority topping out at 2 cores they benefit from total).

 

[heartgold]

This looks like bullshit made up by comparing PC specs, like we always get before new systems come out.

But to humor it, here's why this looks bad if true.

Efficiency > ghz.

• Efficiency = less power used and less heat created for the same sort of "speeds" (remember that ghz is NOT a unit of speed). Having a CPU that draws less power and makes less heat means the ability to include a more powerful GPU (and GPUs when compared to CPUs of the same age draw more power and make more heat), and that's what matters for the graphics.
• Higher ghz = more power used, more heat produced. The original Wii was clocked at less than a ghz for various real reasons. We don't want another RROD situation.

Also more cores does not instantly equal more speed, and the more cores you have, the harder it is to make use of them. Hell, most PC games don't get any benefit from going past 3 cores right now (with an even larger majority topping out at 2 cores they benefit from total).

Actually these specs are really on par with inside information people have over on neogaf and it really isn't over the top. Wii U is expected to have 4 cores and one of the cores reserved for the OS. So practically developers have 3 cores to work it.

You know the both the X-box and PS3 were clocked at 3.2GHZ, it isn't any higher than them.

Too many cores you say? Well say hello to X-720 and PS4 when they come out with 6-8 cores.

 

[frogboy]

Obviously I'm praying these are damned lies

May I ask why? Those specs are rather promising so-far.

He's probably a Sony fan.

Honestly, I hope ALL next gen consoles make an effort to blow each other out of the water. I love competition

 

[Fibrizo]

It’s been confirmed by GTTV host Geoff Keighley that Wii U won’t support the next generation Unreal Engine 4. Keighley referred to a GDC comment from Epic CEO Mike Capps which apparently stated that Unreal Engine 4 won’t be running on Wii U. Spike TV has already announced that it was be running an Unreal Engine 4 special during E3.

 

[Rydian]

Oh yes, the 360 that was notorious for years for heating itself to death, and the PS3 that, while it didn't have as many heat issues (for PS3 owners the "yellow light of death" is a nightmare as well), was and still is notoriously difficult to code for given the need to separate workloads into many threads for the various cores.

For the Wii U 4 threads at once I'll believe (there is still a benefit to 3-4 threads), but not four multi-thread cores. They may be using a model with multi-threading disabled or something like that (or cut it down to 2 cores, and people assumes 4 threads meant 4 cores).

 

[chris888222]

It’s been confirmed by GTTV host Geoff Keighley that Wii U won’t support the next generation Unreal Engine 4. Keighley referred to a GDC comment from Epic CEO Mike Capps which apparently stated that Unreal Engine 4 won’t be running on Wii U. Spike TV has already announced that it was be running an Unreal Engine 4 special during E3.

... Tells me it's going to end up like the Wii.

But UE is never Nintendo Friendly I heard.

 

[Walker D]

Is it good? I mean, 20X faster then the wii is a pretty good evolution ..but relative to the competition, it's not that much different.

Looks like Nintendo isn't even trying to be able to compete in the next-gen game.

Wouldn't a Xbox 720 or PS4 make it looks like a Wii all over again? o.o

 

[heartgold]

For the Wii U 4 threads at once I'll believe (there is still a benefit to 3-4 threads), but not four multi-thread cores. They may be using a model with multi-threading disabled or something like that (or cut it down to 2 cores, and people assumes 4 threads meant 4 cores).

Based on this report It's actually cut down to 2 threads per core similar to X360. So it will only have 6 threads in total for gaming, assuming one core is locked out for devs and used for OS.

 

[yuyuyup]

It’s been confirmed by GTTV host Geoff Keighley that Wii U won’t support the next generation Unreal Engine 4. Keighley referred to a GDC comment from Epic CEO Mike Capps which apparently stated that Unreal Engine 4 won’t be running on Wii U. Spike TV has already announced that it was be running an Unreal Engine 4 special during E3.

... Tells me it's going to end up like the Wii.

But UE is never Nintendo Friendly I heard.

It makes sense to me. The next generation approaches. UE4 will obviously feature incredible graphics, not 50% better than 360 graphics (assuming I can gleam that figure from rumored specs. Even at 100% better graphics it wouldn't be enough.) God I hope they bring more to the table with the tablet idea. I've seen very little to actually justify a frickin tablet controller (with no analog triggers, what the shit.) The hide-and-seek game looked cool, FPS motion control is cool, Silent Scope is cool, but I wonder how many more ideas they actually have for this thing ? They haven't offered any compelling uses beyond these and a few gimmicky ideas (oooooh menus, I still have to look away from the main screen to see them. Why not just pause?)

Edited this for xxxtreme clarification

 

[Shano56]

That's all fun and dandy, but when you think about it, the CPU used is not as important as the GPU used, the amount of available Random-Access Memory and the VRAM. This is what we should really be interested in as these are the only aspects in which current generation systems are lacking. If not for the laughable amounts of memory and the aged GPU's, the PS3 and the 360 could remain on the market for another few years.

Of course all improvements are welcome, but I hope Nintendo will put its money on the right horses and that they won't but corners in those vital areas which became the make or break factors of game-related hardware.

---

 

[Foxi4]

There's a difference between being actively sold and being a creative force on the market and an actual player. The interest in the 360 is dying down, the PS3 is at the end of its renaissance, the two will soon stop being the focus of developers much like the PSP and the DS are in a decline of releases.

Provided that the WiiU's SDK will be approachable, it might become the primary console for developers until something superior enters the market.

The PS2 is sold to this day, but who seriously develops games for it today other than big companies that can afford to waste time downporting?

The moment the PS4 and the 720 enter the scene, current gens will enter a realm of obscurity. Until then, they might start recieving downports from stronger, more approachable hardware.

 

[Midna]

This sounds about right. Higher clock rates mean more heat and power. This looks actually really good.

 

[VMM]

Is it good? I mean, 20X faster then the wii is a pretty good evolution ..but relative to the competition, it's not that much different.

Looks like Nintendo isn't even trying to be able to compete in the next-gen game.

Wouldn't a Xbox 720 or PS4 make it looks like a Wii all over again? o.o

WiiU looks pretty good compared to previous gen, we expect something much better than this for PS4 and X720.
I completely agree with what Walker D said.
The biggest challenge in the eighth generation is making a powerfull console, that gets as many third party games as possible, without heating problems.
WiiU looks like a new Wii, no third party games, poor hardware compared to it's concurrents, and lack in many things gamers like/need:
Descent online store, appropriate media, DLCs, Achievements, descent control, good online gaming experience...

 

[DiscostewSM]

It’s been confirmed by GTTV host Geoff Keighley that Wii U won’t support the next generation Unreal Engine 4. Keighley referred to a GDC comment from Epic CEO Mike Capps which apparently stated that Unreal Engine 4 won’t be running on Wii U. Spike TV has already announced that it was be running an Unreal Engine 4 special during E3.

That was exaggerated, as they said they have "not confirmed platforms for Unreal Engine 4 beyond PC."

 

[Anon10W1z]

At least the Wii U will be more possible to act like a PC than a regular ol' Wii.

Why is this bad? The PC I'm typing this on is driving my crazy-
*whirr* *whirr*
You heard it.

 

[Fear Zoa]

How can people say the wii U isn't as good as the competitors when we have absolutely zero information about the competitors, we don't even have confirmed wii U specs for that matter. Stop jumping to conclusions people.