According to the latest hardware rumour to rear its head, Microsoft is working on a new version of the 360 - codenamed 'Falcon'. The new model will allegedly reduce production costs and make the console more reliable.
According to Mercury News' Dean Takahashi, Microsoft plans to incorporate a new 65 nanometre (nm) production process for its IBM microprocessor and an AMD/ATI graphics chip into the manufacture of the 360. The process will replace the current 90nm production process.
If the report is accurate, a number of outcomes are possible. The move will cut production costs, meaning that savings could be passed on to consumers. Alternatively, Microsoft could take advantage of the smaller cooling system the 360 would need to streamline the machine, either making it smaller or incorporating the power brick into the console's innards.
Perhaps the most significant benefit in Microsoft's eyes is that the better cooling could potentially solve its billion dollar red ring of death problem.
If the rumours prove true, SPOnG would not be vastly surprised to see a 360 price cut following Sony's announcement earlier this week. Of course, when SPOnG spoke to Microsoft yesterday regarding a 360 price cut, we were met with, “No comment”.
When Peter Moore, head of games at Microsoft, was asked whether 'Falcon' is in the works, he was suitably evasive, saying, “We have a bunch of different projects that cost reduce and improve quality as you find issues, as does our competition. Once you get millions in the field, you learn about the box under all kinds of different circumstances, you can adjust and tweak what you do accordingly.”
Takahashi does not say where his information came from – 'industry insiders', no doubt – but SPOnG would be surprised if Microsoft isn't looking at a 65nm production process. As SPOnG reported in March, the technology has been available for a while and its just plain common sense for the company to make use of it to cut its costs. The question that remains is how it will impact the consumer.
According to Mercury News' Dean Takahashi, Microsoft plans to incorporate a new 65 nanometre (nm) production process for its IBM microprocessor and an AMD/ATI graphics chip into the manufacture of the 360. The process will replace the current 90nm production process.
If the report is accurate, a number of outcomes are possible. The move will cut production costs, meaning that savings could be passed on to consumers. Alternatively, Microsoft could take advantage of the smaller cooling system the 360 would need to streamline the machine, either making it smaller or incorporating the power brick into the console's innards.
Perhaps the most significant benefit in Microsoft's eyes is that the better cooling could potentially solve its billion dollar red ring of death problem.
If the rumours prove true, SPOnG would not be vastly surprised to see a 360 price cut following Sony's announcement earlier this week. Of course, when SPOnG spoke to Microsoft yesterday regarding a 360 price cut, we were met with, “No comment”.
When Peter Moore, head of games at Microsoft, was asked whether 'Falcon' is in the works, he was suitably evasive, saying, “We have a bunch of different projects that cost reduce and improve quality as you find issues, as does our competition. Once you get millions in the field, you learn about the box under all kinds of different circumstances, you can adjust and tweak what you do accordingly.”
Takahashi does not say where his information came from – 'industry insiders', no doubt – but SPOnG would be surprised if Microsoft isn't looking at a 65nm production process. As SPOnG reported in March, the technology has been available for a while and its just plain common sense for the company to make use of it to cut its costs. The question that remains is how it will impact the consumer.
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Microsoft
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deleted 10 Jul 2007 14:30
1/1
If this was really on the cards, would M$ annoucance over one billion in xbox repair funds, when then could simply reply "no problems with 360" and then release this and not lose face??, sure maybe they are launching a 65nm chips but will that really sort out overheating issues, no a redesgin of the motherbaord would be required with a better cooling system in place, why not liquid cooling like the Dreamcast had!!!