Yeah I define PC less by the hardware but whether I can install whatever OS I want and whatever programs I want without restrictions, which consoles don’t let you do. And consoles these days are way more powerful than PCs from decades ago yet still crippled when it comes to expected PC functions.
I guess it depends on how you define PC. But older consoles also used CPUs that were found in desktops (and laptops), although they weren't PCs in the strict sense.
- Sega Mega Drive (and other consoles) used the Motorola 68K that was also used on Macintosh and Amiga.
- Game Gear and Sega Master System used the Zilog Z80 which was also used in the ZX Spectrum and other computers.
- N64, PSOne, PS2 used MIPS CPUs which were often used in high-end computer systems (SGI).
Consoles did often have custom GPUs though.
That being said, these days both Playstation and Xbox are literally locked down, custom form factor, AMD Ryzen CPU + Radeon GPU PCs.
Lfrith@lemmy.ca 20 hours ago
Truscape@lemmy.blahaj.zone 22 hours ago
I think the bar is effectively “x86 architecture and could theoretically at least run linux” (in which case the original xbox would qualify)
Agent_Karyo@piefed.world 21 hours ago
I wouldn't limit it to x86 though.
Playstation 2 supported Linux and it ran MIPS, which was the architecture used in SGI Indigo systems, perhaps most famously seen in Jurassic Park's "it's a UNIX system" scene.
It seems that even Playstation One has an (early) public Linux port.
Truscape@lemmy.blahaj.zone 21 hours ago
I mean… Yes… But you wouldn’t be able to run steam or install games designed for the PC platform on the hardware, which is what the 8th generation consoles (at least a hacked PS4, Xbox 1 is unhacked) are able to do. I supposed even with that in mind, the Original Xbox and PS2 would count because Doom, but still.
Bringus Studios PS4 Linux PC gaming vid
AnUnusualRelic@lemmy.world 9 hours ago
There was a doom port I think.
Of course there soon was a doom port for pretty much everything, so it’s not saying much.