Nintendo Wii U may run on quad-core PowerPC chip
updated 10:30 am EST, Tue December 6, 2011
CPU said to be similar to Xbox 360 chip
Nintendo's upcoming Wii U will reportedly be powered by a quad-core processor based on Power architecture. Although the gaming company has yet to fully detail its next console, unnamed developers who are claimed to have early access to the device have told Tom's Guide the U's 45nm 3GHz processor is "very similar" to the 3.2GHz PowerPC chip used in the Xbox 360.
If true, the chip choice follows a familiar pattern with Nintendo's console lineage. Both the Wii and GameCube utilize CPUs based on Power architecture.
Other hardware specs are said to include 768MB of DRAM embedded in the CPU and shared with the GPU, which is claimed to be a 40nm component designed by AMD. The upgraded hardware also falls in line with the company's strategy of targeting serious gamers, bridging the gap between the current Wii and the Xbox 360 and PS3.
The Wii U is not expected to arrive until late in 2012, likely in time for the next holiday shopping season.
