Xbox 360 gets first upgrade.

BoomAM · 21 Apr 2006 at 17:40

Dunno if its a report or not. I couldnt see anything in the first 3 pages.

Microsoft will upgrade the CPU used in its Xbox 360 games console early next year, the CPU's manufacturer announced today. 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 new 65nm technology is also capable of running software faster than that used in the existing Xbox 360 CPU, Chartered said. But 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. It is uncommon for manufacturers to increase the speed of chips in games consoles which are already on the market, because this can cause unexpected compatibility issues with games developed for the original hardware design, as well as bad feeling among existing owners.

http://www.xbox360news.com/Blogs/NewsCom/hqs/blr_3417.aspx

Cant see them doing the speed increase thing.
Less power/less heat/cheaper to make is enough really.

McManicMan · 21 Apr 2006 at 17:46

Its normal procedure's for revised hardware to be slimmed down, ect,ect. Was to be expected.

GuruJockStrap · 21 Apr 2006 at 17:46

Never mind a die shrink for the CPU, do something about that blasted DVD spinning at 100% all the time and sounding like a hair dryer!

Duradrum · 21 Apr 2006 at 17:58

Maybe some better news here. Sourced from a Spanish website:

These claims apparantly from someone who works for Microsoft.

- The premium pack will cost ~100$ less in october

- The core system will cost ~80$ less in october

- Gears of War will be out in the last week of October with a huge budget for the advertising.

- HD-DVD out in September ~100$

- New hard disk 100GB But no price and date available

- webcam "My Eye on You", in September ~50$ and 75~ with a game

- More than 50 new Xbox games in June compatible with the 360

- The bandwidth of the server will be increased by 5

- Halo 3 will be in the market in March 2007, first video at the E3

- Possible exclusive right for a "urban game" think gta, Microsoft in working on it

- The price of the xbox live Gold will be reduced or even free with commercials on the dashboard for October.

- The production of the xbox360 is increasing by 2 in all the factories.

- Exclusif agreement with Paramount picture for High definition content in the xbox live.

- Agreement with NBC, to see through xbox live all the tournaments as a spectator.

- Agreement with Epic record for exclusif content in the xbox live

- New dashboard for kids

- Kameo 2 is on the way

- New feature, download and play is coming

- Before October the xbox360 will be virtual console, playing all sega games.

- A lot of Arcade Xbox Live games are coming

- New dashboard is coming

Microsoft is preparing huge things before the PS3

Kainz · 21 Apr 2006 at 17:58

GuruJockStrap said:
Never mind a die shrink for the CPU, do something about that blasted DVD spinning at 100% all the time and sounding like a hair dryer!

They'll most possibly upgrade the drive to a newer quieter model too, as it is a major complaint. For a second when I quickly scanned through the OP's post, I thought they were adding in quicker cpu's on a smaller die, that would cause an uproar lol

chaparral · 21 Apr 2006 at 18:21

Duradrum said:
- The core system will cost ~80$

There's no way this can be true...

da_mic_1530 · 21 Apr 2006 at 18:23

chaparral said:
There's no way this can be true...

i think they mean current price - 80 dollars

chaparral · 21 Apr 2006 at 18:23

Duradrum said:
- The core system will cost ~80$

There's no way this can be true...

Or do you mean $80 less then todays price???

Duradrum · 21 Apr 2006 at 18:23

chaparral said:
There's no way this can be true...

Edited, supposed to read $80 less.

punky_munky · 21 Apr 2006 at 18:32

It's not really an upgrade, just a revision that happens with all consoles. Compare an old PS2 to a more recent model (not even the slim ones). They're a lot quieter.

dannyjo22 · 21 Apr 2006 at 18:37

When a really decent second or third revision is out I will buy a second one anyway. I want another for the TV downstairs, so I dont have to un route cables etc.

Werewolf · 21 Apr 2006 at 18:43

I wouldn't call it an upgrade, as others have already said it's a hardware revision, you get them with any peice of hardware that is in production for more than a few months.

The only reason they will be moving to the new process is because it cuts the manufacturing and support costs, not because they are going to increase the speed of the system - the chances are that the only thing we as consumers will notice (without opening it up) is that the label gives a slightly different model number (say the current one says x360-EU1 it might change to x3600-EU1.1), and possibly a price drop although I wouldn't bet on it being related to the hardware revision (that would be more likely to be determined by the marketting people).

You just have to look at TV's, VCR's, other games consoles to see similar changes between the launch version and units bought 6-12 months later.

BoomAM · 21 Apr 2006 at 19:08

Duradrum said:
- The production of the xbox360 is increasing by 2 in all the factories.

Not exactely.
Whats happening is that for a while the 90nm and the 65nm production plants will both be producing 360s.
Then i'd imagine a small amount of time where its just the 65nm, while the 90nm plant is upgraded, then back to both plants again.

turtle3 · 21 Apr 2006 at 19:28

so some people may have better performing 360' than others?? seems a bit unfair really??

deSade · 21 Apr 2006 at 19:30

turtle3 said:
so some people may have better performing 360' than others?? seems a bit unfair really??

That's the trouble with early adopting though.

FeFiDoh · 21 Apr 2006 at 19:36

im more excited bout the rest of the stuff planned, gonna be a very good year for gaming :cool:

punky_munky · 21 Apr 2006 at 19:37

turtle3 said:
so some people may have better performing 360' than others?? seems a bit unfair really??

Better performing? As in faster? No they won't.

deSade · 21 Apr 2006 at 19:38

punky_munky said:
Better performing? As in faster? No they won't.

I'm guessing he means better performing as in quiter & cooler.

turtle3 · 21 Apr 2006 at 19:44

deSade said:
I'm guessing he means better performing as in quiter & cooler.

Yeah I kinda focused on this part

''The new 65nm technology is also capable of running software faster than that used in the existing Xbox 360 CPU, Chartered said''.

So it will be faster but limited in some way??

Werewolf · 21 Apr 2006 at 19:48

I doubt it will be faster, whilst the 65nm process may enable chips to run faster it's not necessarily what they will do - look at how AMD and Intel deal with things when they move to a smaller process, initially they tend to keep chip speeds the same but use the move to save money, and let the chips run cooler.

I seriously doubt MS will up the speed of the 360, rather they will will probably just take advantage of the fact it will save them money and run cooler.