While Microsoft tries to figure out if it should take
Tegra-powered Zune HD in a gaming direction or the Xbox in a portable direction, there are wild rumorings from the underground that claim Nintendo is planning on using Tegra to power a next generation DS handheld. The primary source on this comes from
Bright Side of News (which doesn't have a big track record to judge by), who claims the debut is planned for late 2010 and conjectures that the device could either use the upcoming 40nm 2nd-gen Tegra tech, or the existing, tried-and-true 65nm chip. There were rumors from
Yahoo! Games of a Tegra DS afoot at GamesCom in August, with higher resolution screens and full backwards compatibility, and
PC Perspective also claims its own NVIDIA insiders are confirming this -- the evidence is certainly stacking up. If it turns out to be true it's going to mean a pretty dramatic jump forward in portable gaming power, but either way this generation of handhelds seems due for a refresh, and there's plenty of ultra compact silicon floating about to make a graphical leap possible.
[Via
PC Perspective; thanks, Fernando]
posted Oct 13th 2009 5:37PM
Eh..sure why not..
Cause DSi is the next gen DS and it's barely out of the gate? It still has a grand total of zero actual games for it at this point. Just minigames and mario-themed calculators.
Nintendo will just keep 'upgrading' the DS like they did with the DSi/Wii. Just add more gimmicks and processing power.
Tegra is not an option.
The DSi is not the next DS system... it's just another version of the DS, kinda like the PSP Go.
@Fernando: Actually, the DSi is kind of like the GBA to the GBC. It does have more horsepower than the DS Lite so there must have been a reason for it other than to serve as a stopgap.
Err ...NO! If at all, the DSi is to the DS like the GBC is to the original GameBoy. Though that's not that accurate either. But the GBA was a different generation than the GBC entierly.
The DSi is just a minor upgrade, just like the "color" in the GBC.
A DSx with full backwards compatibility and upgraded hardware would fit Nintendos current MO pretty well. Might be a pipe dream, but sure is possible.
@Extinction
You're dumb. Go back to the Ice Age or something.
@Ben: You're a moron. Call me when you grow a clue
Works both ways.
@Fernando Rocker
Yeah as if the hardware nintendo has ever mattered, the exclusives on ps2 probably outnumber the multiplatforms in the gamecube, also lets not forget that the Jak series, a ps2 exclusive, looked better than pretty much everygame on gamecube and xbox...with the exception of a couple...on XBOX. I also believe some games looked better on ps2 in 480p since nintendo ditched component cables.Let's face it, even if nintendo has the superior hardware, they don't do crap with it....
The DSi's upgraded specs are only for media capabilities as far as I'm concerned. Sure, some games may take advantage of it but it will barely be noticeable. Seeing how poorly and unemphatic Nintendo is promoting the DSi, it makes sense that they're planning on a true next gen DS within 2 years.
if you want to campare it to the gb try gba to gba sp, similar, slightly different form factor.
@jpsrpv20
Obviously you never owned Metroid Prime or R.E 4. :D
must buy o.o if that's true sorry sony, nintendo got you AGAIN
But who is to say between now and the next gen there isint something better that develops? And with all that power the tegra has do you REALY think that Nintendo will use it? Its going to be used for prettier 2d games
Nintendo's systems always are the weakest. Sony will no doubt come out with something more powerful.
"Powerful" does not equal market leadership.
@SharpShooter: You mean like how the gamecube was more powerful than the PS2?
@SharpShooter:
lulwut? If I remember correctly, PS2 was the weakest of the big 3 last gen.
And the Wii is the weakest this gen.
Being powerful have absolutely nothing to do with sales...
and how the 64 was way more powerful than the PlayStation.
Notice a pattern? The weakest (graphically) is the market leader every time. NES, SNES, PS1, PS2, Wii
SharpShooter
What are you talking about? This is the first gen when Nintendo has the weakest hardware.
The Snes was more powerful than the Genesis... the N64 was more powerful than the PS1 (but the PS1 had more storage capacity thanks to the CD-ROM)... the Gamecube was more powerful than the PS2 (just read multiplatform games reviews... Gamecube multiplatform games always ran better, with better effects, framerate, etc).
@Zune Claus:
Almost agree with you there, except that SNES > Genesis, hardware-wise.
@BigD
Nintendo has ruled the roost in mobile gaming for over 20 years. No reason to think that's going to evaporate.
the question isn't "which one will be more powerful", it's "when has Nintendo ever let me down with a Game Boy".
now what would get me to buy on day 1 would be if they kept the dual processors, added the new tegra chip, and then told us that it would come with emulators so you could play NES, SuperNES, N64, GB, GBC and GBA games through DSIWare.
@anexanhume : Apple would like to think otherwise, but I haven't really seen DS vs iPhone gaming sales quantified so I'm not sure about that.
Win. This would actually make the games look pretty good. That's my only nitpick with the DS.
Sounds like a good idea but I am sure there will be a new Tegra processor by the end of 2010 and I wonder if the DS will incorporate that one or the Tegra that exists today.
If this is true then...
Goodbye PSP it was nice knowing ya.
aint that the truth...
Hmm...two of them in one place...Well anyway, aren't you jumping the gun a little there? The next-gen portables are a ways off from now, and with the way technology develops, there is no way to know which will be more powerful, until actually spec confirmation from both companies. Heck, for all we know PSP 2 could be powered by the Zii stem cell chip, snapdragon (which i doubt)or something better, so you never know. Well, I've enjoyed my DS, so I hope this rumor is true. At least then, I know the DS2 won't have such ridiculous limitations as the DS (I really hope there is backwards compatibility). With Tegra in place, I hope Nintendo can work out true integration of the next DS and the virtual console, with N64 games and down playable on the portable. Oh, Nintendo would be stupid to choose the 1st-gen 65nm Tegra over the much better 45nm 2nd-gen Tegra. I don't care if they had to delay the DS 2 till early 2011, using the 2nd-gen Tegra would be the better choice in terms of power, energy, portability and just about every aspect you can think of. For next-gen, Nintendo better not try to push their luck by taking the ridiculously underpowered route again, with either the next Wii or DS. The DS will be fine with the 2nd-gen Tegra, but the Wii needs to be bumped way up in power, too many Wii's are collecting nothing but dust, and too many core-gamers are migrating to other systems. Building a market of casual gamers is fine for initial sales figures, but in the long run it will burn both third party and first party developers. I wouldn't be crazy to say that the next Wii should match or be better than a 7800 GTX in power.
That would get me to finally upgrade my DS Phat. Just add some decent PMP capabilities to it, and larger screens.
"Just add some decent PMP capabilities to it, and larger screens. "
You just described the DSi.
Decent PMP does not describe the DSi. It doesn't even do video or MP3
what ever they are cooking up, I'm also interested in to replace my DS phat. These news totally destroy my want interest in the DSi. Here's hoping backwards capability with DS games.
@Extinction:
He DID described the DSi WITH M3i Zero =)
Won't that make it more graphically powerful than the Wii ...
Zing!
Heck, It'll even be capable of HD output o.O
interesting thought, could they just use the new processor in BOTH platforms? The new Nintendo "Wii HD" and the Nintendo "DS HD"? And have the best of both worlds? Maybe on the go gaming that works in tandem with their in-home platform? Just a thought...
"HD" is the new lowercase "i"
da BOOM!
goes the dynamite
HA! Exactly what I was thinking.. Nintendo handheld out performs Nintendo Wii on all benchmarks! Aweosme... Just great..
How true. There next handheld might be HD capable but their home console isn't. This world is going to hell in a hand basket.
Well if its going to happen can i ask for bigger screens with higher resolution ? plz?
Enjoy your 20 minute battery life.
PSP's 3-5 hours with 480*272 is fine
While this is totally possible, I find it surprising that Nintendo would jump to Nvidia for the GPU on a new DS. If I remember correctly, both the Game Cube and the Wii use ATi (AMD) chips.
Either way, this sounds like good news to me. The Ion platform seems to be relatively beastly and it seems Nvidia could use the break after this current turf war with Intel.
Competition FTW!
Wii uses Gamecube's chip...
Console makers don't usually have much brand loyalty.
Graphics:
Xbox: nVidia. 360: ATI
Can't seem to find info on PSs or N64.
The Wii has an ati logo on it.
True, the Wii uses an ATi chip, but the original Xbox used a nVIDIA chip and the 360 uses an ATi one.
The PS1 and PS2 both use a custom in-house design. N64's graphics hardware was designed by SGI.
@PCIV, the Wii's GPU is about 50% faster than Gamecube's. Not the same chip.