Xbox 360 going to 65nm in Autumn

Author: Brett Thomas
Published: 1st May 2007
Comments (10) Stumble
Xbox 360 going to 65nm in Autumn

"Honey, I shrunk the GPU" -- The Xenos graphics chip will be 65nm this Autumn.

News on the wire over at Digitimes has said that the Xbox 360's Xenos graphics chip will be getting a bit smaller come fall. According to equipment manufacturers in China, the new version of the chip has already been taped out and will begin production soon.

The original Xenos chip, designed by ATI, was manufactured using TSMC's 90nm fab process. The new tape-out will bring the chip down to 65nm and is set to begin full production this month. According to reports, sales of the new chip will amount to 5% of TSMC's profits for mid-year, so apparently sales of the 360 aren't down all that much after all.

The die shrink will bring all the usual benefits to the 360, including lower electricity usage and thus a drop in thermal output. This may be some good news to budding Xbox 360 owners, as current owners have been complaining about the heat output of the console.

Whether or not the decrease in production cost drops the price of the end unit will be anyone's guess - we may just need to wait until fall for that. Until then, do you have a thought on the die shrink? Leave it with us in our forums.
Quote DougEdey 1st May 2007, 09:42
Should of happened in the Elite.
Quote GamingHobo 1st May 2007, 09:43
I'm not sure how this is good for current Xbox 360 owners, I can't see myself shelling out for another console unless mine fails - which is perfectly possible I suppose. Could the Elite look any worse now?
Quote Bindibadgi 1st May 2007, 09:44
Quote:
Originally Posted by GamingHobo
I'm not sure how this is good for current Xbox 360 owners, I can't see myself shelling out for another console unless mine fails - which is perfectly possible I suppose. Could the Elite look any worse now?

Why would you? It's like the PS2-Slim.

EDIT: It's not even a PS2 slim cause at least that was a size change but the PS2 and even Xbox itself went through about a dozen revisions.
Quote LVMike 1st May 2007, 09:52
Not a consern to me, mynbox is working just fine. And its not like we didnt know this was going to happen, I mean come on. If the price drops so what the 50-80 that it may drop is of little concern to me and is more than made up for given the amount of utils i have recived in the mean time.
Quote DougEdey 1st May 2007, 10:10
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bindibadgi
Why would you? It's like the PS2-Slim.

EDIT: It's not even a PS2 slim cause at least that was a size change but the PS2 and even Xbox itself went through about a dozen revisions.

8 actually, but they were just PCB layouts and anti mod chip mods. Nothing major like reducing the temperature/noise output.

I'm putting a silent fan on my 360 as soon as I find the Vinyl dye.
Quote Veles 1st May 2007, 11:28
Quote:
Originally Posted by DougEdey
I'm putting a silent fan on my 360 as soon as I find the Vinyl dye.

I'd rather put a louder fan in the TBH, it's hot enough as it is without decreasing the airflow even more. I think the ones in there are delta fans anyway, so theres not much better you can get without proper modding, or one of those crappy intercooler things.
Quote DougEdey 1st May 2007, 11:29
My housemate has one fitted and it doesn't seem to adversely affect the system in any way. He hasn't even had one stall yet
Quote devdevil85 1st May 2007, 16:06
The NYKO intercooler fits really really snug and it's better than what I thought it'd be. 3 fans can really help pull out that excess heat, but for the cost idk if it's really worth it unless you've noticed problems. 65nm will be worth buying now, but not upgrading to. Hopefully the price will drop, but who knows it's Microsoft; somehow, someway they will get your $.
Quote David_Fitzy 1st May 2007, 20:05
It seems microsoft is competing with sony for the most irritating console manufacturer award.

I was thinking of getting an 360 but now I think I'll wait. Wait for a month after the 65nm release for the next announcement HDDVD/Wifi built in?

Maybe in 2/3 revisions time we'll see what the elite should be now.
Quote naokaji 1st May 2007, 23:33
Quote:
Originally Posted by devdevil85
The NYKO intercooler fits really really snug and it's better than what I thought it'd be. 3 fans can really help pull out that excess heat, but for the cost idk if it's really worth it unless you've noticed problems. 65nm will be worth buying now, but not upgrading to. Hopefully the price will drop, but who knows it's Microsoft; somehow, someway they will get your $.

i don't think they will drop the price... why? they would have to lower it too much to compete with the wii at the price front, and the ps3 isn't going to be a threat price wise anytime soon... so i don't really see a reason for them to lower the price.
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