Nvidia Unleashes GRID Powered Microconsole for Ultra Slim Form Factor Gaming

The Nvidia GDC 2022 outcome just ended and information technology had some pretty interesting mentions throughout. However probably the affair to go nigh excited about is the Nvidia'due south new micro-console. Information technology doesnt have a chip in either the PS4 or the Xbox Ane and it looks like they will be entering the panel market with their own offering. And while SoC Course devices cannot really be expected to keep upwardly with high performance APUs (that are present in the likes of Xbox One and PS4) this is exactly what Nvidia aims to do (and might actually succeed at) by using Grid's distributed computing.

SHIELD Internals An official render of the Tegra X1 powered internals. @Nvidia Public Domain, All screens via Anandtech.com

'World'south Starting time 4k Android Console Tv' - Launches with ~100 total titles and Yes it can run Crysis

I admit I accept mixed feelings well-nigh this release. What Nvidia is claiming to achieve is preposterous, somewhat washed before and unlikely to succeed at the same fourth dimension. Yet, information technology is without a dubiousness, something that is potentially confusing. If this product takes off, information technology will be successful across anything that nosotros could accept imagined. Tiny form factor, 4K playback and AAA gaming with a competitive price tag is most definitely something with a very big market. Before we get into the nitty gritty of the microconsole hither are some official remarks and the specifications of the SHIELD entertainment device.

Built on Android TV, SHIELD can play top-quality 4K video content, includes one-click access to Google Vocalism Search and provides the richness of Android'due south app ecosystem.SHIELD is a sleek device that comes loaded with cutting-edge NVIDIA technologies, including the recently launched NVIDIA® Tegra® X1 processor. SHIELD is also the gateway to the NVIDIA Filigree™ game-streaming service.

Powered by GeForce® GTX™ supercomputers in the cloud, GRID delivers an on-demand "Netflix for games" experience at up to 1080p resolution at 60 frames per 2nd. "SHIELD volition modify the mode we enjoy digital entertainment at habitation," said Jen-Hsun Huang, president and CEO of NVIDIA. "It'south an incredibly powerful, efficient and advanced living room entertainment device. It's the best Android Boob tube experience. And information technology can transform into a serious gaming machine. Information technology's made to game."

Specifications

Processor		NVIDIA Tegra X1 processor with 256-cadre Maxwell GPU with 3GB RAM
Video Features		4K Ultra-Hd Ready with 4K playback and capture upward to lx fps (VP9, H265, H264)
Sound Features		7.1 and 5.1 surround sound pass through over HDMI
		High-resolution sound playback upwardly to 24-chip/192kHz over HDMI and USB
		High-resolution sound upsample to 24-bit/192hHz over USB
Storage ^one		16GB
Wireless		802.11ac 2x2 MIMO two.4 GHz and 5 GHz Wi-Fi
		Bluetooth iv.1/BLE
Interfaces		Gigabit Ethernet
		HDMI 2.0
		Two USB 3.0 (Type A)²
		Micro-USB 2.0
		MicroSD slot (supports 128GB cards)
		IR Receiver (compatible with Logitech Harmony)
Gaming Features		NVIDIA GRID streaming service
		NVIDIA GameStream^™
Weight and Size		Weight: 23oz / 654g
		Pinnacle: 5.1in / 130mm
		Width: 8.3in / 210mm
		Depth: i.0in / 25mm

ⁱ Portion of storage occupied by organization software. ² Supports NTFS, HFS+ and exFAT for USB drives.

The beginning thing we noticed is wow, that thing is slim. Even though this is something to be expected from an SoC class product, the SHIELD device is definitely a looker. The device will have 2 interface methods: remote controller and the SHIELD controller.The remote controller merely has a few buttons and volition be mostly phonation activated while the SHIELD controller is pretty much self explanatory. The remote will be used for navigation and general interface while the controller will exist used for gaming (naturally).

Now hither is the thing, vox recognition is a engineering science that still isn't perfected, and when you are taking a stand this prominent, you need to make sure everything goes smoothly. If the tech doesn't perform every bit expected, it could seriously harm Nvidia'due south sales because of a uncomplicated lack of intuitive use. The remote itself doesn't actually announced to be that much of a looker, and while information technology gains points for the militaristic pattern, manner is not really i of its strong suites.

Now lets talk a bit about GRID streaming on the panel. Basically, GRID is the supercomputer or distributed calculating infrastructure that Nvidia previously used for compute purposes. Graphical horsepower in such a venture is obviously not an issue, latency, lag and stream quality is. You can minimize lag and latency by compromising on streaming quality and pinch but if Nvidia wants this to be a disruptive thing and really compete with the proper consoles, not merely Ouya, the tech needs to be perfect (once once more).

While I did not notice any serious lag or latency issues, deciphering pinch quality is obviously impossible on a live stream. Go along in mind that the maximum output of the device is 4K while Filigree computing outputs 1080p sixty frames per second. On a 4K output device, you are already getting blurriness due to the lower resolution and pinch losses/artifacts won't make information technology better.

The microconsole will feature two gaming modes. Inhouse or local gaming and gaming over GRID aka streaming.The local gaming volition be powered by the 256 Maxwell cores present in the Tegra X1 while Grid gaming will utilize Nvidia's vast distributed calculating architecture over the cloud. Local gaming horsepower is roughly twice that of the Xbox 360 while cloud gaming horsepower will be roughly thrice of the Xbox I. If cloud is something that floats your boat, in a manner, you are looking at 1 of the near powerful panel/microconsole in the market.

The games that run locally will be mostly AAA titles ported over to the Android platform. Nvidia already demoed Crysis three running at 30fps (resolution non mentioned) which is pretty damn impressive. Virtually 50 titles have already been ported and volition exist available at launch. So that's about 50 total AAA titles on the GRID and 50 ported AAA titles on the console itself. The list is given in the slides above and you are looking at a combined full of 100 titles (GRID and local combined) at launch. That'south more a fair deal for the price tag of $199 although whether everything works is a completely different question - you lot will have to wait for third party reviews before that.SHIELD will exist bachelor in May, starting at $199 with a controller. Optional accessories include additional controllers, a remote control and a stand up enabling the device to stand vertically.