Analysing Hardware of game platforms. (P2,M2 and D2)

Hardware technologies for game platforms. 

 

 

 

CPU: The CPU of the XBOX 360 is called the XENON. The processor was initially called “water noose” which was named after a character from monster Inc. There are four types of xenon’s due to the Generations and modifications of the XBOX 360 over the years. They are called xenon- XCPUES, XCPU Zephyr, XCPU falcon and XCGPU. The speed of the xenon is measured in GHz. The cache is a smaller, faster memory which stores copies of the data from frequently used main memory locations. The speed of the XENON is measured in GHz and is clocked at 3.2 GHz.

Address Bus: A collection of wires connecting the CPU with main memory that is used to identify particular locations (addresses) in main memory.

 

GPU: Graphics processing unit. The Xbox 360 boasts the new, custom-built 500-MHz ATI Graphics Processor card with 10 MB of embedded DRAM.GPU clock is the graphics processor unit's (GPU) clock speed, measured in megahertz (MHz).
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Memory types: on the x box 360 you can buy certain memory types e.g. 120GB or the 250GB hard drive x box 360s these massive hard drives give you the option to be able to install games onto your hard drive so if the disk scratches you can still play the game. You can also connect you portable of flash drives and move or play or use files of them And equally install games on them.

Also you have different memory types such as hard drive and flash drive.

Hard drive: A portable hard drive is a type of digital storage device. It is generally convenient to transport and has a large storage capacity. Such a device is compatible with most computers and will generally operate with Windows and Mac. People tend to store things such as games and game saves on them also movies and songs.

 

 

Advantages:

• Large amounts of memory
• recovers data much faster than a floppy disk or CD-ROM
•  data is not lost when you switch off the computer

Disadvantages:

•  hard disks ultimately fail

Flash Drive: A small, portable flash memory card that plugs into a computer USB port and functions as a portable hard drive. USB flash drives are touted as being easy-to-use as they are small enough to be carried in a pocket and can plug into any computer with a USB drive. USB flash drives have less storage capacity than an external hard drive, but they are smaller and more durable because they do not contain any internal moving parts. These can also be used to store games and loads more depending on the game storage.

Advantages:

• Portable
• uses little power
• Data stored on flash drives is impervious to mechanical shock, magnetic fields, scratches and dust

Disadvantages:

• Can only sustain a small amount format life cycles.

 

Other memory types include:

RAM: Random access memory, a type of computer memory that can be accessed randomly, that is, any byte of memory can be accessed without touching the preceding bytes. RAM is the most common type of memory found in computers and other devices.


SRAM:A

type of memory chip which is faster and requires less power than dynamic memory.

Human-computer interface: the study, planning, and design of the interaction between people (users) and computers. My study is about the x box 360 

Interface: is a type of computer device that interacts directly with, and most often takes input from, humans and may deliver output to humans. The interface device for the x box 360 is the gamepad which involves analogues as well as the d pad. The controller has 2 types, wired and wireless, the wired controller connects to one of the four USB ports that can be found on either the front or back of the console, whereas the wireless controller connects via an infrared sensor planted on the console also.  

 

 

Game storage medium: for the X box 360 include flash memory and DVD drive.

 

 

Flash memory: Can be used on the latest consoles to transfer data, saved games, downloaded files, profiles and is a useful means of extra storage for consoles with low memory built however only new consoles support flash memory therefore they already have the necessary hard drive capacity needed.

 

DVD: is another means of storage as they can be used to store data, boot operating systems, run games, videos and music. DVD allow users to travel with the data easily as there small and most gaming devices are compatible with them.

Advantages:

• Portable
• data stored in compact format

Disadvantages:

• Easily corrupted

UMD: Universal Media Disc, ) is an optical disc medium developed by Sony for use on their PlayStation Portable handheld gaming and multimedia platform. It can hold up to 1.8 gigabytes of data and is capable of housing video games, feature-length films, and music.
Advantages:

• portable
• multiple storages options such as (games, videos and more)

Disadvantages:

• Only has 1.8 Gb memory
• only works on some versions of the PlayStation portable

Connectivity: For the x box 360 include USB ports, Wi-Fi and Lan.
USB ports: are a way of connectivity because you can connect  devices such as flash drives, hard drives, Kinect sensor and the wired controller. without these the use of the x box would be of lesser use and meaning.

  Wi-Fi: enables the X box 360 to be connected to the internet wirelessly and effortlessly. This enables the x box to access its online feature which is x box live, this enables gamers to be able to play and interact online with millions of other gamers worldwide.

 
Lan: enables you to play system link on the x box 360, System link play is a form of multiplayer gaming that lets you connect two Xbox 360 consoles by using a cable or up to 16 consoles through a network. With linked consoles, multiple players can play the same game. This type of multiplayer gaming is different from split-screen multiplayer gaming, in which all the players are connected to the same console
Other types of connectivity include WAN, GPRS, WAP and Bluetooth.

WAN: Wide Area Network, Wide-Area Networks are commonly connected either through the Internet or special arrangements made with phone companies or other service providers.

GPRS: General packet radio service, is a packet oriented mobile data service available to users of the 2G cellular communication systems global system for mobile communications (GSM), as well as in the 3G systems.

WAP: wireless application protocol. Wireless Application Protocol, a secure specification that allows users to access information instantly via handheld wireless devices such as mobile phones, pagers, two-way radios, smartphones and communicators.


Bluetooth: A standard for the short-range wireless interconnection of mobile phones, computers, and other electronic devices.

 

 

Power supply: The power supply is incredibly vital because it controls the power going in and out of the console and it controls what voltage to run at so that it does not overheat.