Should there be a Universal Binary?

Lugas · Post by **Lugas** » Thu Apr 20, 2006 12:36 pm

CIK wrote:Running windows on an Intel iMac is a poor choice for Myth.

I agree. It would only be a good idea if Myth 2 was platform specific like Myth 3 was. Plus I'm not entirely convinced about Intel's performance. It strikes me as an attempt by Apple to make themselves more like Windows. *shudders*

CIK · Post by **CIK** » Thu Apr 20, 2006 2:03 pm

Having access to both systems and doing some serious benchmarking this is what I can say about performance. The iMac 1.83 Intel Core Duo has very similar performance to my G5 2.0 DP. They both are slightly faster for certain benchmarks. The big difference is my G5 puts out a fair amount of heat vs very little from the iMac. Which is one of the reasons for Apple's switch, though more so for the future improvements in this area. In '07 Intel will have some very fast CPUs that will run very cool. The notebook issue is probably the bigger reason though.

The intel switch has more to do with the future then it's about today. Esp take notice the PowerMac G5s have no Intel version, because Intel can't touch them performance wise. And based on the fact that Apple is using off the self standard PC stuff they could R&D a tower product in no time. In fact I have one here in the forum of a DTK system that I need to return some time soon. Though I suspect the Dual core Xeons Intel just released are probably what will go into the new tower machines. Since a standard Pentium D isn't gonna be fast enough to replace the G5 in a PowerMac.

Post by **haravikk** » Fri Apr 21, 2006 5:22 am

Actually the Intel Core Duo's roadmap includes 64-bit support pretty soon (possibly somewhere around July this year if we're lucky), and speeds up to around 2.8ghz iirc. This will make it the ideal chip to replace the G5's, so long as the floating point units in them are being beefed up as well (it's hard to find reliable FPU stats on the core duo's, which leads me to believe they don't excel in that area).
But yeah, the PowerMac line should be switched soon as well. I don't think they'd use the Xeons as the Core Duo's and related chips are Intel's new flagship processor, and with good reason. I think the next one in line is essentially the xeon replacement though, it may also have things like more onboard cache etc.

However, a universal binary isn't going to be that important for the moment, Myth runs fine under Rosetta does it not? That isn't going to be dropped for a LONG while yet, as the PPC machines are still very competitive and will be in use for a while to come!

CIK · Post by **CIK** » Fri Apr 21, 2006 6:17 am

The reason I said Xeon is because that is the only solution Intel will be shipping that can a 4 core solution(dual 2-core chips). And to replace the current 2.7 ghz 4 core G5 with something that is a good speed bump you are gonna need something like the new dual core Xeons.

The report is there is massive input lag running under Rosetta, I've been too lazy to verify it. FPS are just fine though, which is what I have tested. From reading things it seems that some of the old Carbon APIs we use for OS 9 compatability cause major lag issues.

Edit:
There are several vintage games(updated for OS X) that should just scream on the new machines that run very poorly. I think the issue is Apple never tested Rosetta with older software(not that Halo runs great anyways).

Edited By CIK on 1145618411

William Wallet · Post by **William Wallet** » Fri Apr 21, 2006 6:23 am

Well, in my view the .smk cutscenes going out the window is a step in the right direction.
Weren't they up at Flying Flip hotline *yonks* ago? (They went down again, last time I checked).

It's a shame the same treatment can't be given the TFL ones. Still, that M2 prologue cutscene looks fantastic in hi-res.

CIK · Post by **CIK** » Fri Apr 21, 2006 3:18 pm

We don't have the TFL ones in high-rez which is why we can't do the same with the them. FF only allowed you to download them at like 14kps which is fine I guess but some of us don't like spending 5 hours downloading a file. But even with it being turned down to 14kps no one wants like a 2000 people downloading a 200 to 300 meg file all in a week or 2 time period from their host. Mb I should try using H264 compression on them and see if I can shrink them down further, only problem then is it will take a bit of CPU power to renderer them.

FYI: The uncompressed original of that prologue screne is like 2 gigabytes if I remember or mb it was only 1. Either way it is freaking huge.

William Wallet · Post by **William Wallet** » Fri Apr 21, 2006 11:36 pm

Aye - not that I like to speculate on what I don't know, but I was under the impression that ye folks like Magma and Flying Flip had primarily M2 and M3 stuff, and that TFL stuff was long gone.

And don't get me started on uncompressed video... just using DV gives me hypertension.

Post by **haravikk** » Sat Apr 22, 2006 4:02 am

I have all the Myth 1 cutscenes that were available on the FF hotline. Some of them are in fairly poor condition for the sound quality though, a very annoying constant level of hissing whenever there's any other sound

They look alright though.

William Wallet · Post by **William Wallet** » Sat Apr 22, 2006 7:31 am

Hah, archiving old video-game cutscenes is FUN.

I've got, what:

Interstate '76, best cutscenes ever.
Dark Forces II : Jedi Knight
Klingon Academy.

I've tried weasling Starfleet Academy and Wing Commander out of people, but the filesizes are prohibitively biggo.
Shame really. I just wish they'd had a bit of foresight when making the TFL ones so chincy in quality, because the cartoons themselves are a hoot.

... I mean. Bagrada. Kickarse.

GodzFire · Post by **GodzFire** » Sat Apr 22, 2006 8:44 pm

Buying a legal copy of Windows......hahaha yea what a good joke.

toffuuu · Post by **toffuuu** » Sun May 21, 2006 9:50 pm

Yes I just got this MBP, and still have the CD for Myth 2 and well i could install it and let Rosetta take care of it, but I'd really would like to put my intel mac to the fullest possible use with myth 2 with my current Hardware, so please make a Universal binary!.. that'll make me really happy!

Lugas · Post by **Lugas** » Mon May 22, 2006 12:01 pm

I'm now convinced that (despite that i started this poll!) there is no need to UB Myth 2. I don't know this for sure, but Myth 2 may already utilise the full power of the Intel chip.

toffuuu · Post by **toffuuu** » Mon May 22, 2006 2:07 pm

No it doesn't, not if its a "PowerPC app" and since its that it has to use "Rosetta" which is alot like "Emulation" it may look good and all, but it be better if it is a Universal App, where the installers has both the Universal or Intel, and the PowerPC App

Point · Post by **Point** » Mon May 22, 2006 3:10 pm

cant the mac os now run on all windows computers as well.... I mean how long before the clone wars start again.

I plan to play myth on my g3 wallstreet with os 9 that way i know its utilzing all its power. and i think ill use my xp weilding pc for chess...

toffuuu · Post by **toffuuu** » Mon May 22, 2006 4:59 pm

OS 9 bleach!!!!!!!!!!

The Tain

Should there be a Universal Binary?

Should there be a Universal Binary?