Year 1 - Sound and Display - Understanding hardware technologies for game platforms

Sound and Display - Understanding hardware technologies for game platforms

Sound:

What do we use sound chips/cards for?

A component that can be discrete or integrated allowing a device to connect to parts for general use as well as games. They are built into the motherboard of devices but you can also purchase an external card with advanced features to connect to the PCI slot on some PCs. Integrated sound cards are ones that are built in and discrete ones can be purchased.

Channel set ups:

Mono Channel - One channel of sound, even with several speakers connected the same channel is                                  outputted.

2.0 and 2.1 Channel Stereo Systems - Two channels of sound, 2.0 is left and right and 2.1 is the same                                                              with a subwoofer (loudspeaker component made to reproduce                                                                very low bass frequencies).

5.1 Channel Systems - Home theater receivers are told apart from two-channel by having further                                              amplifier channels to support movie theater sound.

7.1 Channel Home theater Systems - Three front channels, two surround channels, and another two                                                                 rear channels. It also has the subwoofer.

Sound specifications for the following:

Mobile Phone - Stereo Sound (Huawei P9 Lite) - you would not need an external speaker setup

Nintendo 3DS - Virtual Surround Sound - you would not need an external speaker setup

Xbox 360 - 5.1 Surround Sound - you would need an external speaker setup

Xbox One - 7.1 Surround Sound you would need an external speaker setup

PS4 - ? -  you would need an external speaker setup

Displays:

What do we use displays for?

To display the image rendered by the graphics chip, this could be a TV (for things like a PlayStation), a monitor (for a PC) or built in (like a Nintendo 3DS). 

Different types of displays:

LED - Light Emitting Diode, can be quickly switched on or off giving better control of light than an               LCD. They can be arranged in a grid across a display or in a ring around one, this offers much             better control of light. LEDs do not consume as much energy as LCDs

LCD - Liquid Crystal Display, used by most monitors, televisions, tablets and smartphones. Consists             on a panel of liquid crystal molecules that with electrical fields can be controlled to take                       certain patterns to block out light or allow it through.

Different resolutions available to current technology:

Resolution Name	8K	“Cinema 4K”	UHD	2K	WUXGA	1080p	720p
Horizontal x Vertical pixels	7,680x4,320	4,096x2,160	3,840x2,160	2,048x1,080	1,920x1,200	1,920x1,080	1,280x720
Other Names	—————	4K	4K, Ultra HD/High Definition	—————	Widescreen Ultra Extended Graphics Array	Full HD, FHD, HD, High Definition	HD, High Definition
Devices	Concept TVs	Projectors	TVs	Projectors	Monitors, Projectors	Tvs, Monitors	TVs

What is HDR?

High Dynamic Range, Largens the TVs contrast ratio and colour palette to offer a higher realistic feel than what's possible with a standard HDTV. Its theory is that the larger the dynamic range, the more realistic the picture is. HDR for TVs has practically the same idea. Its term originates in photography referring to a technique that heightens the dynamic range of the picture (basically the contrast between the brightest whites and the darkest blacks). It requires a device as well as display, capable of outputting HDR.

Max display resolution technology supported :

Device	Xbox 360	Xbox One	PS4	Nintendo 3DS	GeForce 1080 Graphics card	iPhone 7 Plus
Max Display Resolution Technology	1080p	Cinema 4K	Cinema 4K	800x240 (top) 320x240 (bottom)	8K	1080p
Support HDR?	No	No (Xbox One S can)	Yes	No	Yes	Yes

References:

http://www.gamespot.com/forums/system-wars-314159282/does-xbox-360-support-hdr-25838117/

http://www.trustedreviews.com/opinions/xbox-one-s-vs-xbox-one

http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2016-09-13-your-original-ps4-now-supports-hdr-but-no-games-currently-make-use-of-it

http://www.guru3d.com/articles-pages/nvidia-geforce-gtx-1080-review,2.html

http://recomhub.com/blog/how-to-use-hdr-camera-on-iphone-7-and-iphone-7-plus/

http://www.theinquirer.net/inquirer/review/2471697/iphone-7-vs-iphone-7-plus-specs-comparison

http://www.geforce.co.uk/hardware/10series/geforce-gtx-1080/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nintendo_3DS

http://uk.ign.com/wikis/playstation-4/3D_Technology_and_4K_Resolution

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xbox_One

http://support.xbox.com/en-GB/xbox-one/console/tv-resolutions