Rumor: Nintendo to Unlock More 3DS Power for Developers

[heartgold]

it is well known that the other CPU is dedicated to WIFI. not os.
this story is fake.

OS is always running in the background which also takes up CPU cycles and it may be doing constant checks and alot more than we know. Second core is used for network communications features as well as running the main OS. Network communication runs along OS level to keep the system updated like street-pass, spot-pass etc...

Fair enough.
Although I remember reading that OS is run on the main core, not this core. This core was supposed to be for WIFI and IR exclusively. (this is how the circle pad pro works by accessing the IR which is constantly running from the second core, as well as all streetpass and spotpass data)
The main core handles screens, LED lights, switches, both screens, mic, GPU, speakers and sensors.

Hmm, I know the 3DS has two cores. One core is fully dedicated to developers to optimise their games and the other core is run other features of the 3DS like commuication, OS and certain other stuff.

 

[ferofax]

i'm still interested in all that DLC patching in the rumor. i have an idea on how they'd go about it, but i guess we'll all see sooner or later anyways, assuming they do it the way i think they should do it. the rumor also stated Nintendo will let the devs patch their games via eShop. it's not too far off to assume that it would include-- scratch that. i'm gonna go ahead and say that it's for devs with published games, enabling them to add patches/fixes/extra content to games that are already released. farfetched, but if i'm guessing right, very workable.

 

[Rydian]

This sounds like bull to me, a rumor made up by somebody who halfway knew what they were talking about. Most of it doesn't really make sense.

 

[heartgold]

This sounds like bull to me, a rumor made up by somebody who halfway knew what they were talking about. Most of it doesn't really make sense.

GoNintendo seems to have an inside source backing these rumours. :/

http://gonintendo.com/?mode=viewstory&id=166018

 

[Necron]

Well, if the game doesn't have wireless functions (real functions) this could help to make better games.

 

[jalaneme]

ah that is a shame, so when exploits are found or glitches in games that can be exploited patches will be able to remove them just like the ps3 and i hate that also patches annoy me because they take so long to update and i could use that time to play my game, i really do hate current gen gaming sometimes with all these patches updates and firmware updates, that is just me, i don't expect anyone to agree with me.

 

[DarkStriker]

Better games>Wirelesss


ForeverAlone

 

[mysticwaterfall]

Would seem to me somebody was jealous of how good SM3DL was and then justified it by saying it used the extra power to do that. When obviously, RE seems to be doing just fine without it.

 

[shakirmoledina]

i think nintendo is still unsure about its own system is working. not a bad thing because they created an awesome machine that has many mysteries within it.
i hope the 25% is truly 25% without having 50% less efficiency

 

[Gamer4life]

how much is 25% more anyway what if its just like 10mhz or something

 

[lostdwarf]

The CPU is DUEL ARM11MPCORE 45nm CHIP running at 266MHz. These chips can be clocked up to 800MHz although this is unlikely.
The gamecube was 486MHz and the 3DS already wipes the floor with it.
If they upped the clock speed to something similar to Gamecube on the 3DS it would make a HUGE difference.
BUT it would reduce the battery a lot and also heat up the system a lot more.
The Graphics card is also underclocked at 133MHz, it is designed to do 200MHz-266Mhz
add in
128MB RAM from Fujitsu
4MB of dedicated VRAM

This is one powerful bit of kit

 

[heartgold]

^ actually 6MB VRAM. =)

http://www.3dbrew.org/wiki/Hardware

 

[KingVamp]

I was actually watching this before I seen this thread and I think he has some good points.

Spoiler

At the same time, I'm fine at where Resident Evil is now for handheld games.

 

[DiscostewSM]

The 3DS has much the setup like the DS, where one CPU/core handled all game-related stuff and the other handled simpler things like WiFi which really didn't require a lot of processing (developers could only access the ARM7 via Nintendo's own API through the ARM9. They weren't allowed to program for it). Unlike the DS and its games, however, the 3DS can be updated so that resources can be shifted to other areas. It makes sense that if they can reduce power consumption and are not using the full capabilities of the system, they can take advantage of the situation. Not just with newer games, but update/patch older games too.

how much is 25% more anyway what if its just like 10mhz or something

25% is still 25%. Besides, you think RE:R is running off a 40Mhz processor (which is a lower frequency that the DS's ARM9)?

We still don't know the true power of the 3DS, and only a few items are confirmed (like the 128MB of RAM).

 

[Chaaru]

So what does this mean for games that were released before this additional CPU power boost?

Do they have to be patched? ( Which will mostly likely not happen for nearly all except 1st party games)

Or will the games just spontaneously make use of the additional CPU boost?

Like fps increases and such. Namely BlazBlue:CSII, which has a terrible frame rate.

 

[Deleted User]

Hmm. Why didn't they do it in the first place?
Anyways, sounds great, anyway.

 

[Ericthegreat]

So what does this mean for games that were released before this additional CPU power boost?

Do they have to be patched? ( Which will mostly likely not happen for nearly all except 1st party games)

Or will the games just spontaneously make use of the additional CPU boost?

Like fps increases and such. Namely BlazBlue:CSII, which has a terrible frame rate.

No porob not, not only nintendo has done this, it is so that better looking games come out for the system over time. But hey you never know I am just stupid.

 

[KingVamp]

Hmm. Why didn't they do it in the first place?
Anyways, sounds great, anyway.

For the people who keep saying this, maybe they just wasn't thinking about a power boost at time, figured it didn't need it.
Now whatever time they thought of doing so, maybe they was taking the time to find the way to not drain more battery life in the progress or
where to take it from.

Other words, they weren't thinking and working on a power boost 'till later on.

If this is all true, that is.

 

[GreatZimkogway]

You know what I find absolutely funny about GBAtemp now? You can go into any thread, any thread at all, pertaining to the 3DS, and you'll find bashing that just gets ever stupider and stupider.

Nintendo finding a new way for the 3DS to work, and a way to do so without hardware changes, is nice indeed. 25% is 25%, people, that's a lot. And, as stated, the PSP did that too. But no, the 3DS is something that must be absolutely bashed into the ground because it is a mistake of nature.

Grow the fuck up.

 

[Rydian]

25% of the second core, not of total power. If the second core is dedicated to WiFi naturally, it's not like it's gotta' be that powerful. After all in the DS the ARM7 was used for WiFi, same sort of scenario (which is likely where this rumor came from)... And Nintendo allowing something like this that would knowingly degrade WiFi? A decrease in processing power like this does no translate to a decrease in range or anything like that, it would translate to dropped packets, meaning disconnects and online games not functioning properly. Why the hell would Nintendo allow that?

As presented, this story is bullshit. Now whether Nintendo's unlocking more power or not I cannot say, but the story as given is bull.