QUOTE(Kagaya @ Jul 1 2007, 11:47 AM)
Console (lowyah spec) vs. Uber gaming rig (loaded spec) ehh?
SPECIALIZATION and OPTIMIZATION is the key to performance at breakneck speed, optimum usage of hardware assets will makes it value for money.
This once crossed my mind with a PC having 3 BIOSes; 2 BIOS for the regular booting with one as backup, and another BIOS which is a standalone, embedded OS strictly for gaming. Just a menu selector or a flip switch to boot the PC in Gaming Mode or Normal Mode.
Of course, there's the hassle to restart the PC everytime to play a game at the best possible level, I believe true gamer wouldn't mind. But to implement that, the mobo, chipset and games must be optimized for all the situation/mode. For me, I don't mind restarting it to boot into another mode for death-defying gaming experience...

if only such platform exist lah.
Slimmer OSes don't really help much (despite all those Linhuggers out there running WoW at 2 FPS). Giving the HAL (No, not
2001) the middle finger is the key. Without the HAL, expect great lengths with seperate hardware, even mainstream current hardware like the 7600.
On the other hand, w/o the HAL, EVERY graphics config would need to be coded for, same applies to CPU. And nVidia/ATi being focused on HAL platforms, won't likely have some nice tricks/cheats in hardware to exploit.