New Xbox 360 Coming in August - Cooler and Quieter

[The Lucario Trainer]

http://www.xbitlabs.com/news/multim...rs_Up_to_Release_Xbox_360_with_New_Chips.html

Microsoft Gears Up to Release Xbox 360 with New Chips.

Microsoft Corp. reportedly plans to release a new version its Xbox 360 video game system code-named Jasper in August and has already assigned IBM and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. to make chips for the new game console. However, there are other important rumours: TSMC got orders to produce the chip for code-named Valhalla Xbox 360 design, which is rumoured to combine microprocessor and graphics chip in a single piece of silicon.

The code-named Jasper design of the Xbox 360 game console will use ATI Xenos graphics and memory controller hub (GMCH) made using 65nm process at TSMC as well as IBM Xenon central processing unit (CPU) produced at IBM’s 65nm nodes. The new system design is projected to consume less electricity, use less complex cooling systems and also produce less noise.

By contrast, current Xbox 360 design named Falcon utilizes GMCH and eDRAM cores manufactured using 90nm process technology at TSMC as well as CPU built at IBM using 65nm fabrication process. The first-generation Xbox 360 used 90nm chips.

TSMC is chosen to make the 65nm GMCH chips, Advanced Semiconductor Engineering (ASE) is contracted to package and test the chips, and Nanya has won orders to supply flip-chip packaging substrates, reports China Economic News Service.

What is, perhaps, more important than the facts that TSMC again got orders to produce ATI Xenos GMCH and IBM land orders on IBM Xenon CPU at expense of Chartered Semiconductor (which once promised to start making 45nm chips for Advanced Micro Devices in 2009), is that “chips” for next-generation Xbox 360 code-named Valhalla will also be made at TSMC. Earlier rumours transpired that Valhalla features a chip that combines CPU and GMCH. In order to build such chip at TSMC, Microsoft either needs to disclose certain design rules of IBM’s fabrication process to the Taiwan-based semiconductor manufacturer, or completely rework the CPU according to fabrication process of TSMC.

Microsoft did not comment on the news-story.

Microsoft Xbox 360 console is based around triple-core microprocessor developed by IBM, high-definition visual processing unit designed by ATI Technologies, I/O controller engineered by SiS and some other key components. The gaming machine provides a broad set of multimedia capabilities in addition to games. Currently Microsoft Xbox 360 is available for $279, $349 or $449 in the USA depending on the version.

This sounds pretty great, if what is said about the single chip is true. Though I would think this would cause some compatibility problems for certain older games with the redesigned architecture. Noise-wise, however, I really don't know how they could reduce the overall output that much without a quieter disc drive. But hey, that's what you get with 12x, for better and for worse.

The big news is the final extermination of the RROD. The 65nm fabrication process of the GPU will finally do that problem in.

 

[bell02+]

I would think xbox owners would be pissed off at this by now, there are basically more xboxes packages and types than there are DS or PSP types. Heck, I wouldn't be surprised if there were more types of xboxes than the 360 face plates.

 

[GuitarHero]

I'm more excited at the thought of the existing 360 models maybe going down in price when the new model comes out, than I am about the "new and improved" model itself. I'm not really wanting to buy a 360, but another price drop might be the push me and other people w/o 360's needed.

I wonder though... if Microsoft is gonna keep the same general look of the 360 (with this newer model) or if there gonna change it up a bit.

 

[Dogasu]

Microsoft did not comment on the news-story.

Yeah...I think I'll wait until an official announcement is made.

 

[Doctor Oak]

Guys, this isn't a new model like the DS Lite, this is just a new chipboard for the Xbox that will replace the ones used now.

They already did the same thing the other year, this will be the second new chipboard for the 360 and wont have any bearing on the current SKUs - all 360s, Arcade, Premium and Elite will simply start using these chipboards in manufacturing and will slowly replace stock of the older models.

There wont be any immediate bearing on the price either, although if it's cheaper to produce then it makes room for a price cut at a later date - no time soon though, considering they only just did a price cut on all the models a few months ago.

I would think xbox owners would be pissed off at this by now, there are basically more xboxes packages and types than there are DS or PSP types. Heck, I wouldn't be surprised if there were more types of xboxes than the 360 face plates.

There are 3 Xbox SKUs available - there have been 4 in total. Basic has been replaced by Arcade and includes 5 XBLA titles in trade-off for not having a hard-drive. Premium is the same as it has always been and Elite's the only real new unit they've released - which was the first to make use of the aformentioned new chipboard before, has HDMI support and a larger harddrive - aside from that it's identical to the other SKUs and does exactly the same thing.

It's not exactly confusing for anyone, there's an HDD-less version, one with a HDD and one with a larger HDD. Pretty simple. Compare that to the PS3, which has changed, fazed out, brought back and fazed out again about 6-8 different SKUs and hasn't even kept those consistent worldwide, it's amazingly simple to know what you're buying.