The new CPU will be built using technology that can reduce heat and power consumption, as well as potentially increasing speed. It will also help Microsoft cut the console's cost. The improved Xbox 360 CPU will be manufactured using 65 nanometre technology starting in the first quarter of 2007, Chartered Semiconductor of Singapore said. The existing CPU uses 90nm technology. As is common with advances in chip building methods, the 65nm technology that the new Xbox 360 CPU will use can provide lower power consumption and reduced heat output compared to older production methods. In theory the new 65nm technology is also capable of running software faster than that used in the existing Xbox 360 CPU, yet the company did not state whether the CPU's performance when running software would be upgraded in any way to take advantage of this potential due to possible incompatibility issues. Anyway, the thing isnt coming to market until 2007, so dont hold your breath. Source Gizmodo PS: I wonder if this means MS wont do any price cuts until 2007...
Wholy f'ing crap (sorry for the language), their just now making a 65nm cpu for the console? That was what the launch systems were supposed to use, and what the systems design was built arround. Well, at least now their is an estimated time for when 'reliable' 360's will be available for purchase.
Yeah but 2007? I cant wait to that, not with stuff like GoW and CH in the way. On the other hand, the price cuts may be just in time for the release of the PS3.
This has been known since before release. Early systems will use 90nm, work will be done on cutting it down to 65nm. Smaller Process=lower power=smaller power brick. This has been done before in other consoles - Some models of the ps2 run at 294MHz, others at 299MHz from when they changed processes, and its such a small change that its pretty much impossible to notice.
The original Ps2 went through some alterations in the manufacturing process right off the bat, way before they made a single-chip solution.
the first 2.000.000 Japanese PS2's are my favourite ones, although people blame them alot for being heavy. They could also do any region DVD straight out of the box ^_^
Publicized Can anyone explain to me why this is being publicized more than any other console CPU change in the past?
Because 360 is notorious for overheating and going bye-bye. You would think they would want to keep this low-key, doesn't do much for confidence in the product.
it's the kind of news that buying a 360 depends on. I surely wouldn't go for the first "oven" edition if I could avoid it.
Of course that first revision also broke (as in they simply wouldn't run on the new models) a few of the early PS2 titles. Developers weren't too keen on that one. heh -hl718
But what sux is that the onechip solution for the PS2 heats up quite well and the PStwo's case design does not allow for optimal cooling.
I think the worst problem in PStwo is the lack of the IDE port. A friend of mine installed a small fan to solve the heat issue, but what about loading times? the NA in the original PS2 was a charm, and now I've to play like in 1996...
Eh, the lack of the IDE port in the PStwo isn't a big deal unless you're a FFXI player. Virtually zero games used it outside of Japan and even inside Japan it was a horribly small percentage that had HDD support. -hl718
