A 65nm production process has reportedly now been adopted for the Xbox 360's graphics processing unit. Currently 360s feature 90nm GPUs. The smaller chip will be used in the revised 'Jasper' motherboard-based Xbox 360, apparently scheduled to ship in August.
The 65nm production process has already been adopted for the 360's central processing unit in the 'Falcon' model of the 360.
So how, you may be wondering, does a microscopically smaller chip affect the consumer? Well, for one the process is cheaper thanks to the higher yield of chips the process produces. It's cost cutting like the reduction of chip sizes that enables hardware manufacturers to reduce the cost of their consoles.
For two, a smaller chip is easier to cool, which could help resolve the 360's infamous Red Ring of Death, console-killing problem.
The chips are reportedly being produced by Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC), Advanced Semiconductor Engineering Inc. (ASE) and Nanya PCB Corp.
Sources: CENS, Daily Tech
The 65nm production process has already been adopted for the 360's central processing unit in the 'Falcon' model of the 360.
So how, you may be wondering, does a microscopically smaller chip affect the consumer? Well, for one the process is cheaper thanks to the higher yield of chips the process produces. It's cost cutting like the reduction of chip sizes that enables hardware manufacturers to reduce the cost of their consoles.
For two, a smaller chip is easier to cool, which could help resolve the 360's infamous Red Ring of Death, console-killing problem.
The chips are reportedly being produced by Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC), Advanced Semiconductor Engineering Inc. (ASE) and Nanya PCB Corp.
Sources: CENS, Daily Tech
Companies:
Microsoft
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Comments
p 11 May 2008 00:22
1/2
An XBox that doesn't die ever 12 to 14 months and sounds less like hairdrier would be a good thing. That said when the full fan on my PS3 kicks in, I'm suprised it doesn't start move foward under it's own power, not great during quiet bit in a film.
SuperSaiyan4 12 May 2008 09:36
2/2
The problem with Microsoft is that they have not moved away from using conventional PC parts or drives, with Sony they understand technology very well and have created an amazing machine with everything in the box including the power supply.
I think that as technology moves forward and with these smaller chips less cooling will be needing hopefully eliminating noise from fans altogether.
Also lets not forget smaller processor and gpu's also mean smaller console...
Oh and lastly CPU and GPU on die together on one chip is possible and if AMD/ATi can do that for the next Xbox I am sure we will see something pretty impressive.
I think that as technology moves forward and with these smaller chips less cooling will be needing hopefully eliminating noise from fans altogether.
Also lets not forget smaller processor and gpu's also mean smaller console...
Oh and lastly CPU and GPU on die together on one chip is possible and if AMD/ATi can do that for the next Xbox I am sure we will see something pretty impressive.