New Xbox for folding

[MeeLee]

The specs of the new Xbox look pretty good.
If there are any gamers out there, that are about to buy them,
I think it'll be possible to fold on (in between games); and fold pretty good.
More powerful than a PS5, and runs a Windows core... So compatibility *SHOULD* be there.
But since it's not out yet, it's hard to say if Windows will allow full access of the OS (that can run exe files), or limit it (to only store programs, no exe files).

[Joe_H]

Unless MS opens it up for non-game usage such as F@h, even having a "Windows core" (whatever that means in terms of libraries and other necessary support) is not going to be enough. This has been the basic problem with every gaming console, the PS3 was the exception that proves the rule. It was only supported because Sony opted in to provide programming support, etc. When Sony ended that support, folding ended on the PS3.

[bruce]

I wouldn't say proved anything. The client and FAHCore were custom desinged to run on the PS3 OS and hardware in response to very optimi\istic sales projections.

[bruce]

I wouldn't say proved anything. The client and FAHCore were custom desinged to run on the PS3 OS and hardware in response to very optimi\istic sales projections. It had several significant limitations which may or may not be retained in a new PS5. See my post here

[MeeLee]

Articles like this, make it seem, that the XBOX series X (the next version), might actually be capable of running a full version of Windows.
We don't know for sure if it will come shipped with one (I think not, as MS will be more stingy with their hardware).

I guess we'll know in November, when it is expected to be released.

[psaam0001]

I'm going to join Bruce in tampering any optimism for the XBOX X (or any of Microsoft's proprietary gaming systems) to run F@H, without Microsoft being involved in the app development.

Even if it is running an AMD CPU & GPU, they are likely to be specifically developed for running the XBOX O/S. As in my opinion, it would not serve Microsoft's interest to make it easier for someone to find a way to install/run their favorite distribution of Linux on it (after running a mod to remove/disable the XBOX O/S first).

Just my 2 cents.

Paul

[gunnarre]

If Microsoft (or AMD or other partner) think it is a PR benefit, they might explicitly support FAH in some way, but I would not pre-order an XBOX based on that hope. And as we saw with the PS3, the moment that the corporate executives see even a theoretical threat to their game sales, they'll likely break their promises and disable it.

[JimboPalmer]

And as we saw with the PS3, the moment that the corporate executives see even a theoretical threat to their game sales, they'll likely break their promises and disable it.

To un-conspiracy theory this explanation a bit, imagine you are Sony and have written your PS3 OS so that it fits in 12 meg. Memory chips are almost always a power of 2 so you will buy 16 meg EEPROMs to hold the OS. Some clever programmer realizes you have room for a F@H client and uses that 4 meg for Folding. As bugs come up, and enhancements are requested by the game developers Sony's OS grows to fill the 16 meg. It is a no brainer, Sony can optimize for gamers, or drop the game enhancements and keep F@H. All the money is in selling PS3's to gamers. And so it goes.

[gunnarre]

Sony's own explanation for removing OtherOS was "security concerns", so I fail to see how a single company's business decision (which they were successfully sued for) qualifies as a "conspiracy theory". Whether they truthfully thought that the OtherOS feature could be used to circumvent their game sales, or if they just didn't want to spend the developer resources, the main point is that their core business is selling games. The FAH client likely was hit by the second concern - why spend resources supporting a non-core business feature after customers have already paid for it, instead of enhancement for the latest micro-transaction packages?

[bruce]

Security is a valid concern in a device designed for kids. When was the last time you disabled your porn filter? I certainly don't want youngster going there.

[MeeLee]

For Sony there was the need for developing a new client, as it was built on ARM technology.
XBOX on the other hand, is made up out of off shelf PC parts.
It uses an AMD Ryzen CPU and an AMD RDNA 2-based GPU. A pity, because they could have gotten better results with an NVidia GPU, but I guess to 'seal the deal', they had to stick an AMD GPU in there as well.
That means that the GPU uses AMD's drivers that work on nearly their entire GPU line, and can use OpenCL for those drivers as well.
Another benefit is, that it's plain Windows, so it doesn't need any engineering team to create a FAH client.

From what I've read so far (rumors), is that the XBOX series X, will come with a modified Windows (for XBOX), however, from those same sources, they say that it might be possible to install a full on Windows version on the XBox.
And I think MS would want that (because that means an extra license fee on top of the hardware price for them).