The Xbox 360 is set to get its innards updated with a new motherboard code-named 'Jasper', according to The Xbox 360 Uncloaked author, Dean Takashi.
According to Takashi, the motherboard will feature a 65 nanometre graphics chip from ATI technologies (reduced from 90nm), as well as smaller memory chips. The new motherboard, apparently, will begin to feature in new 360s from next August.
This might not seem like a big deal at first glance, but the smaller graphics chip would put Microsoft in a position where it could potentially cut the price of its console again. In a nutshell, the 65nm process produces a better yield of chips with fewer having to be discarded due to deficiencies, bringing down production costs per chip. For a fuller discussion of the ins and outs of the 65nm process see SPOnG's report from March.
As SPOnG told you back in August, Takahashi reports that the 65nm Xenon CPU (codenamed 'Falcon') is already shipping in Xbox 360s currently making their way into stores. He links this to the recent 360 price cut. Of course, since Microsoft won't comment on what goes into the guts of its machines this remains unconfirmed.
As well as reducing costs, the Jasper could improve the reliability of the 360, helping to negate its notorious Red Ring of Death problem. Smaller process chips mean less heat, and less heat means less chance of the runny solder and warped motherboards that cause the problem.
Takahashi rightly queries just why it is taking Microsoft so long to fully incorporate the 65nm process into its 360 production, since the technology has been in use by Intel for some time now.
Source: Mercury News
According to Takashi, the motherboard will feature a 65 nanometre graphics chip from ATI technologies (reduced from 90nm), as well as smaller memory chips. The new motherboard, apparently, will begin to feature in new 360s from next August.
This might not seem like a big deal at first glance, but the smaller graphics chip would put Microsoft in a position where it could potentially cut the price of its console again. In a nutshell, the 65nm process produces a better yield of chips with fewer having to be discarded due to deficiencies, bringing down production costs per chip. For a fuller discussion of the ins and outs of the 65nm process see SPOnG's report from March.
As SPOnG told you back in August, Takahashi reports that the 65nm Xenon CPU (codenamed 'Falcon') is already shipping in Xbox 360s currently making their way into stores. He links this to the recent 360 price cut. Of course, since Microsoft won't comment on what goes into the guts of its machines this remains unconfirmed.
As well as reducing costs, the Jasper could improve the reliability of the 360, helping to negate its notorious Red Ring of Death problem. Smaller process chips mean less heat, and less heat means less chance of the runny solder and warped motherboards that cause the problem.
Takahashi rightly queries just why it is taking Microsoft so long to fully incorporate the 65nm process into its 360 production, since the technology has been in use by Intel for some time now.
Source: Mercury News
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Comments
realvictory 10 Oct 2007 18:01
1/1
This might not seem like a big deal at first glance, but the smaller graphics chip would put Microsoft in a position where it could potentially cut the price of its console again.
The genius thing is, unfortunately, that by having 2 SKUs, they can have a really cheap version, which everyone can afford, and an expensive version, that stops the XBox 360 itself appearing to be a budget console. So they can be affordable without appearing to be cheap. People who buy the cheap version will think they're got a bargain.