NX- AMD Arctic Isles, 14nm Chips Rumors

I saw this on another board. I have suspected this since March this year when I originally read the rumors about AMD working on Arctic Isles. X86 means ports and the use of 14nm chips could not only mean a revolution in lower temperatures but a visible step up in graphical performance.

''wccftech.com has released a lot of information the past few months about the likely NX chip, last ones yesterday.

There’s also strong evidence to suggest that Nindendo’s next generation gaming device “Nintendo NX” – which is coming next year – will be powered by an AMD semi-custom SOC. Making it a very likely candidate to feature AMD’s 3rd generation “Arctic Islands” GCN architecture.

AMD Updating Entire Graphics Line-Up In The Coming Quarters - 14nm/16nm Arctic Islands GPUs Arriving In 2016

Interestingly, all whispers point towards that semi-custom design as being Nintendo’s next generation gaming device dubbed “Nintendo NX” which coincidentally is pegged for a 2016 holiday launch, right around when AMD expects to start generating revenue from the upcoming semi-custom ramp mentioned above.

If Nintendo’s chosen semi-custom design is x86 based then any game that’s been released on either the PS4 or the XBOX ONE can be ported over to the new device with relative ease. Allowing Nintendo to jump in on the competition rather than form a niche of its own as it did with the Wii U. With a device that’s rumored to have “industry leading chips” which are “incredibly powerful” not only can Nintendo come out with a device that’s compatible with all the current and upcoming gaming titles, it can do so with hardware that’s potentially better than that of the competition. Something which Nintendo has struggled to achieve over several previous console generations but has the perfect opportunity to accomplish now.

Rumor: AMD Making Custom x86 SOC For Apple's 2017 And 2018 iMac Designs - Nintendo NX Likely Powered By AMD As Well

It was widely speculated that the ARM semi-custom chip would end up as the processor that would power Nintendo’s new handheld device, while the x86 chip announced alongside it would be a tailor-made server chip. Today, VentureBeat reports that the third and latest semi-custom chip would actually power Nintendo’s upcoming living room device, the Nintendo NX game console.

Nintendo choosing AMD for the second time goes beyond AMD’s traditional strong points with APUs. It allows all the developers that worked on games for the PC, PS4 and XBOX ONE to can carry over their experiences to the Nintendo NX without having to go through another the hurdle of working on a different architecture like IBM’s PowerPC. All the while backward compatibility to older Wii U games can be maintained through emulators enabled by the significant performance jump that the new x86 CPU is bound to bring.

It’s quite obvious that the Nintendo NX is set to launch during next year’s holiday season. Which makes TSMC’s 16nm FinFET or Samsung’s 14nm FinFET the perfect manufacturing nodes for it rather than the old 28nm node that current console chips are based on. This means that it will actually go head to head with Sony’s and Microsoft’s upcoming console refresh with smaller devices enabled by that very same FinFET technology. The new process will enable AMD to make the processors for these devices a lot smaller and significantly more power efficient. Which would in turn allow for more affordable systems that feature much more compact and sleek designs.So expect the Nintendo NX to boast a small and sleek form factor as well as an attractive price point.

AMD Is Likely Making The Processor For Nintendo NX - Announces Third Semi-Custom Design Win''

Its got me hyped for e3, cant wait to see what NX will be exactly. Im hoping it will be 200% more powerful then the PS4, but more energy efficient. Show us the future of conservatism.

14nm ain't gonna happen if the NX launches in 2016.

You got your hopes too high. Nintendo is not going to build a box thats going to cost them more then $349 to sell. I'd expect 50-100% more powerful and thats it.

Honestly I dont want to pay $399 for another Nintendo console unless its a FULL generation ahead of the PS4, meaning 500-800% more powerful.

@DarthaPerkinjan: True, cant have that price too high, i think $299 would be good price. Its a nice sounding launch number. $199 for the new handheld would be sweet.

Both MS and Sony consoles followed AMD's PC GCN ver1.1 28nm product releases e.g. AMD Bonaire and Hawaii i.e. it's 8 ACE design for PS4.

My body is ready..

Would be great if Nintendo uses something that is *new*. :P

I think that I have fallen out of love with Nintendo. More specifically their management teams. They really make it hard to be a fan. Basically giving us Federation Force when we all shouted for a new Prime game. A 2.5D Metroid with all the bells and whistles would have sufficed as well. Delaying Zelda, though that was needed. Where is Xenoblade? How many delays are we on now? To be fair, I haven't kept up on it that may be my fault. And as always Mario is just Mario. The last game that made me play my Wii U that is now boxed and in my closet was Bayonetta 2. To be blunt, the NX better come out and blow my socks into orbit or Nintendo will not be getting my money next gen, or current gen or cross gen, whatever this console will be classified as.

I probably wouldn't mind skipping this gen and/or getting the NX.

28nm was out like two years before the PS4 and XB1 were released, so it was already a mature fabrication process. The NX is coming out within the same year that 14/16nm will go into mass production so I don't see them going for the newer fab process, especially with potential yield issues and limited supply.

Anything is possible at this point.

Entirely new president and probably a whole new direction for the company.

It's going to likely catch a lot of hardcore Sony/Microsoft fanboys off guard.

Any rumored performance specs?

if you want the most ports possible you have to make it very powerful so the dev can be a bit inefficient and still get the game to work

It really doesn't matter, since the past two generations of consoles have proven that pure numbers means nothing when trying to discern real-world performance.

The PS3 is a massive example of this.

Nintendo is not going to jump into a new manufacturing process. Too many risks. It only makes sense for them to ship a 28nm chip.

@foxhound_fox: If it's a similar architecture as the PS4/XB1 then it should give us an idea.

I hear the NX chip is so small it would fall through your hand.

The majority of specs were finalized when Iwata was still alive. The only changes they can do in regards to hardware going forward is clock speed boosts, or decreases.

Exactly.

Also, 28nm has seen improvements over the GCN architecture found in the PS4/XB1's APUs, so its a safe bet Nintendo will just stick with 28nm.

i'm ready for next years e3.

If NX is going to be released in late 2016 then a reveal before E3 needs to happen. Like within the first couple of months of 2016. Make an NX direct to give people an idea of what the NX is and then have a full blow out at E3 showing games and announcing launch plans.

@emgesp: e3 is when the world watches, i think it would best to release key NX info then so that way a massive audience is informed of what NX is and less confusion will follow.

Announcing a new console only 5 months before release probably isn't the smartest decision. Sony got it right announcing the PS4 9 months before release. It also would build even more hype for their 2016 E3 Direct/Press Conference.

@emgesp: Yeah, but we are in a rush this time, have to get it out asap. Strike while the irons hot. Cant waste no time waiting, have to beat PS4 now.

@mesome713:

Exactly, that is why I'm saying Nintendo needs to make a big impact out of the gate in early 2016.

First, do an early reveal to get the hardcore Nintendo fans excited, then at E3 get everyone else excited.

They have to build up as much hype for this new console as possible and 5 months ain't gonna cut it.

@emgesp: Its too long of a time and wouldnt be as big of a platform to announce, Nintendo wants to announce it to the world, and at e3 the world will be watching. Its why people launch consoles at e3.

Might be the reason that Sony said this. http://www.gamespot.com/articles/high-power-ps4-model-something-sony-might-consider/1100-6431669/

Cows you might not have the most powerful console next year.

I want this to come out and just lay hands on ps4 and xbone. Swing em around like a rag doll.

Make me want a console again.

Again, look at how much hype the Feb 2013 PS4 reveal event built up, so it is a none issue.

I really wish AMD's APUS used 14nm. Rumor is there APUs next year will still be using 28nm, which is a shame. It's really holding them back.

A console coming out 2 yrs after other consoles is more powerful? You don't say.

But again, we have hype that NX is coming, what we need is a platform to show everyone its coming. And its best to show when the most eyes are watching. If Nintendo wanted to tell its fans about a new console, then sure, do a direct right now. But if they want to show the world that a NX is coming, e3 i think is best.

and try to keep under $400..

This is Nintendo you are talking about, so you never know. ;)

Yes, we are hyped because we do research, but the common gamer doesn't even know the NX is a thing yet.

To me having two NX events in a year is better than one event, especially when all signs are pointing to a 2016 release. Yes, E3 will be their major blowout, but they still only have a finite time to talk about it before launch.

I would not be surprised if the first Nintendo Direct in 2016 is the first time they talk about the NX in some detail.

@Heil68: I agree, if Nintendo wants people to own the handheld NX and home console NX in the long run, then acquiring both should cost around $500 together i think.

The handheld should be priced at $199, its a magic number. And the home console for $299. They can do it, theyve done it before with the Gamecube.

@mesome713:

I forgot to add that Nintendo isn't just revealing a console in 2016. They are revealing a line of NX products in 2016, so they need a lot of time to discuss about what the NX platform truly is. They are trying to take a page from Apple with their iOS platform.

@emgesp: I think Nintendo might rush the hype so Sony and Microsoft dont have much time to react. Nintendo has an epic chance right now, both consoles have already announced price drops, not much they could do to fight a competitively priced and superior NX.

Honestly, I don't think Microsoft and Sony sees Nintendo as a threat in the home console space. Nintendo got lucky with the original Wii, they aren't likely to repeat the same success again. Anyways, its Nintendo that should be worried as they are launching a new console mid gen and have a lot to prove.

@emgesp: Good thing there games are proven, now we only have to convince them of our hardware. If 14nm is releasing 2016 also, maybe we can use that hype also. Everyone loves AMD, well kinda.

I'm 99% confident that Nintendo will stick with 28nm as its a more mature and reliable fab process at this point. You can still make a console with a 28nm APU that blows the PS4 away.

Global Foundry's 14 nm process tech is from Samsung hence it's not new for 2016. Samsung plans to move towards 10 nm process around 2016.

http://www.eetimes.com/document.asp?doc_id=1326670

http://www.tweaktown.com/news/45110/leaked-intel-roadmap-reveals-10nm-cannonlake-skylake-q3-2016/index.html

Intel Cannonlake to 10 nm in Q3 2016.

In 2016, AMD would be rendered functionally bankrupted if AMD doesn't keep up Intel. 28nm products against 10nm products in 2016 is just silly.

@ronvalencia said:

@intotheminx said:

I really wish AMD's APUS used 14nm. Rumor is there APUs next year will still be using 28nm, which is a shame. It's really holding them back.

Global Foundry's 14 nm process tech is from Samsung hence it's not new for 2016. Samsung plans to move towards 10 nm process around 2016.

http://www.eetimes.com/document.asp?doc_id=1326670

http://www.tweaktown.com/news/45110/leaked-intel-roadmap-reveals-10nm-cannonlake-skylake-q3-2016/index.html

Intel Cannonlake to 10 nm in Q3 2016.

In 2016, AMD would be rendered functionally bankrupted if AMD doesn't keep up Intel. 28nm products against 10nm products in 2016 is just silly.

Do you believe Nintendo would risk shipping their new console with a less mature fab process? Wouldn't they be worried about yields?

This is a great post, and nice detective work!

The only part that confuses me is the X86 tailor-made server chip, that doesn't have anything to do with Nintendo NX correct?

Sigh, this happens every time, lets all hype up everything the next Nintendo system wont be. Happens with their games, trade shows, also. I've been burnt far far too many times to trust rumors on anything Nintendo. Plus Nintendo stopped giving out specs after the Gamecube, we all have to literally wait until the system is out and someone tears one apart. I'm looking at track record here, and Nintendo and publishers track records show that no specs get released at all from any of them. There are no slips, no leaks, those are all fake, just speculation which leads to massive disappointment.

@emgesp said:

@ronvalencia said:

@intotheminx said:

I really wish AMD's APUS used 14nm. Rumor is there APUs next year will still be using 28nm, which is a shame. It's really holding them back.

Global Foundry's 14 nm process tech is from Samsung hence it's not new for 2016. Samsung plans to move towards 10 nm process around 2016.

http://www.eetimes.com/document.asp?doc_id=1326670

http://www.tweaktown.com/news/45110/leaked-intel-roadmap-reveals-10nm-cannonlake-skylake-q3-2016/index.html

Intel Cannonlake to 10 nm in Q3 2016.

In 2016, AMD would be rendered functionally bankrupted if AMD doesn't keep up Intel. 28nm products against 10nm products in 2016 is just silly.

Do you believe Nintendo would risk shipping their new console with a less mature fab process? Wouldn't they be worried about yields?

Global Foundry's 14 nm process technology is not new i.e. the technology was licensed from Samsung.

Also,

read http://www.fudzilla.com/news/processors/37647-globalfoundries-14nm-process-has-volume-production-levels

read http://www.kitguru.net/components/graphic-cards/anton-shilov/globalfoundries-we-are-producing-14nm-chips-for-our-customers-yields-on-track/

GlobalFoundries on Wednesday confirmed that it is had initiated high-volume production of chips for its customers using 14nm FinFET (14LPE) process technology. The company claims that yields of its 14nm semiconductors are comparable to yields at Samsung Foundry, the company that developed the 14LPE.

“Our 14nm ramp is right on track and our yields are on par with our partner Samsung,” said Jason Gorss, a spokesman for GlobalFoundries.

GlobalFoundries does not disclose how many wafers it can start to process per month using the 14nm LPE [low-power early] manufacturing technology. However, the company indicates that a significant portion of equipment needed for commercial production of chips using 14nm FinFET process has already been installed.

@sailor232: This could change for the NX though. They stopped releasing specs after the GameCube because the Wii and Wii u were both underpowered compared to the competition. If their next machine is powerful and high tech they'll probably go back to releasing specs to make a point of the technical superiority.

I really really hope so, I still buy Nintendo products because they have a lot of charm, I'm a massive Zelda and Metroid fan, I love my Mario Galaxy type games, It's just a shame I haven't been happy hardware wise since the Gamecube. I just cynical as all hell though, been burnt too many times by Nintendo, the Cranky Kong thing was the worst, then there Metroid this past E3, then there's Star Fox looking like crap when fan made versions look 100x better. I mean for every good thing Nintendo does (MK 8 DLC is amazing) it does a tonne of rubbish things (Smash Bros DLC skins and characters are a joke).