The New Xbox or the New Nintendo

The New Xbox or the New Nintendo

The period that video gamers have been waiting for has finally arrived – the release of new generation video game consoles that have been anticipated for years. These are the Xbox 360 by Microsoft, the PlayStation 3 by Sony, and the Wii by Nintendo. They are advanced from their predecessors, so advanced that the graphics seem real.

Following the long-awaited releases is the dilemma every avid console gamer must face – what to buy. There are different factors involved and each type of console often offers something unique. We will take a look specifically at the Xbox 360 and Nintendo Wii.

What to buy, Xbox 360 or Nintendo Wii? As a potential buyer, you want the one you can afford, as well as offer the best value for your money. Here are several factors.

Price – The Wii is the most inexpensive with a market price of $250 while the Xbox 360 has a lower-end model at around $300 and a mainstream model at $400. The $150 difference between both mainstream models is a big one and can be the catalyst that will determine what you will purchase.

Processor – The Xbox 360 has a 3.2 GHz PowerPC with three processor cores while the Nintendo Wii has a 729 MHz IBM Broadway processor. By simply taking a look at the difference in MHz, you can safely conclude that the Xbox is the more powerful unit in terms of speed.

Video graphics – The Xbox 360 comes with an ATI-based custom video graphics processor with a speed of 500 MHz, while the Wii comes with an ATI Hollywood processor with a speed of 243 MHz. In terms of Video RAM, the Xbox can use up to 512 megabytes of GDDR3 system RAM, while the Wii can use up to 24MB of system RAM. The Xbox is graphically superior in this case.

Streaming – The Xbox 360 supports streaming video, streaming audio, and streaming photo slideshows while the Wii doesn't support all three.

Controllers – Both consoles can hook up to four wireless controllers. The Xbox can also use wired controllers (via USB) while the Wii can use the wired controllers from its predecessor, the GameCube.

Compatibility with previous versions – The Xbox 360 only has partial compatibility with games of the original Xbox. The Wii offers more, since all GameCube games are compatible with the Wii and it also allows users to download older games from older consoles, for a small fee of $5 to $10.

These are just some factors. It would seem the Xbox 360 is superior, but it is also around $150 more expensive. The choice is yours.