bit-tech.net

New HDMI 360 does not use new 65nm chip

Published on 14th August 2007 by Joe Martin

The new HDMI-compliant version of the Xbox 360 premium is still using the old 95nm Zephyr chipsets.

The Xbox 360 is starting to confuse, confound and annoy me if I'm brutally honest. There's just too many hardware updates going on at different speeds for me to feel comfortable with. First off there was the news that a new heatsink was being added to all versions of the console, then there was the update that added HDMI to the premium - all without mentioning the continuing rumours about the new Falcon chipset.

The new Falcon chipset, which will update the the chip from 95nm to a 65nm variant, has long been rumoured to be in the pipeline for the Xbox 360 but Microsoft has refused to give any official detail.

Many 360 fans were hoping that the new version of the Xbox 360 Premium, which features HDMI output and the new heatsink, would also get the Falcon chipset added in. However, after the folks over at NeoGaf ripped apart a brand new version of HDMI Premium they soon discovered that the 360 is still using the original Zephyr boards used in previous versions.

However, it isn't all bad news as the freshly dissected console housed a new, quieter BenQ DVD-drive to address complaints that the 360 is too noisy.

The full selection of photos is available over in the original forum thread, but as this new information proves - when you've seen one 360 system, you've seen them all.

There's still no word on when Microsoft will be rolling out the new, smaller, hopefully cooler CPU chips but we'll let you know as soon as we do.

Which flavour of Xbox do you have and how is it holding up for you? Had a red ring yet? Let us know in the forums.

20 Comments

Discuss in the forums Reply

DXR_13KE 14th August 2007, 13:59

this is seriously starting to piss me off.......

Snaek 14th August 2007, 14:03

Come on Microsoft, make the switch already!

cjoyce1980 14th August 2007, 14:18

got my premium on launch, no ring of death and not overally noisey, (much quieter than my PS3, that blu-ray drive does sound like a rocket engine at times). not really bother about HDMI as i have the HD-VGA cable and that gives me 1080p.

Firehed 14th August 2007, 14:27

Hm... temped to get one of the new HDMI ones. I don't care much about the 65nm so long as it runs - and if it's the optical drive that was noisy before and that's been addressed, so much the better. Maybe once I get moved into the new house (which... ugh... pain... don't ask).

Anakha 14th August 2007, 15:48

I've got the Crystal Edition XBox... Oh, wait, you meant XBox 360? I don't got one of those. Not financially available at this time.

CardJoe 14th August 2007, 16:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by Anakha
I've got the Crystal Edition XBox... Oh, wait, you meant XBox 360? I don't got one of those. Not financially available at this time.

I'm in the exact same boat - CONSOLE BUDDIES! :D

Amon 14th August 2007, 16:28

Looks like Megasoft is cutting more corners than actually exist. Or they're tied up with other legal obligations.

iwog 14th August 2007, 17:45

Why dear god have they not seen sense and used the smaller cooler chip? I dont think i'll bother getting a 360 until they do. But what Amon says is true, they may have sign some stupid contract with the big chip manufactures.

centy 14th August 2007, 18:38

I'm not getting one until they do.

zoom314 14th August 2007, 18:58

Microsoft gets an F, While Sony(PS3) gets an A. :p PS3 can take anything:), XBox360 meanwhile just croaks. :(

SNIPERMikeUK 14th August 2007, 19:11

I have had enough!!! of the problems with the 360's failures (3 failed in 6 months, and I am not joking) that I do not think Microsoft will see anymore of my money their way (well at least not for the xbox this gen), got a wii with the money I got for my last 360 replacement, no fan-boy bull here, I am unbiased and would have all 3.

And I have to be honest I do not really miss it that much (well I miss gaming on LIVE), I have been a gamer virtually all my life, and the 360 is a great console when working!, but I got so sick of it failing, then having to pack it up or lug it back to the shop, I am gonna keep playing great games like Zelda on my wii for now and use the PC a bit more.

And maybe when Sony stop treating the UK and Europe like a bunch of leppers in a lepper collony, then I may sway towards a PS3, but thats not a deffo yet?.....

Manitowic999 14th August 2007, 22:11

Not too crazy about 360s right now. I have my second dead one sitting on the table waiting to be shipped off. I'm hoping my third one will be improved, and last longer.:(

Bl4ckM0onk3y 14th August 2007, 22:18

i dont give a F..K ;F PC gaming all the way , anyway PS3 is better build then M$crapBox

Firehed 15th August 2007, 03:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by CardJoe
I'm in the exact same boat - CONSOLE BUDDIES! :D

Bit's games article writer doesn't have a 360?

BurntKona 15th August 2007, 10:28

It's my guess that they are using up Zephyr motherboard stocks by placing them in Premiums as well as Elites so that they could get to using the Falcon boards as soon as possible. Which we should be seeing in the next batch, allegedly.

At least they are adding ports with the revisions, rather than taking them away...

skpstr 15th August 2007, 10:41

Will there be any indicator of which batch a new one you buy comes from? I'ts just that I'm hoping to get one in the next couple of months and I'd rather hold off for the new chipset and specify so at the time of purchase.

sinizterguy 15th August 2007, 11:42

I already have one of the normal premium 360s. Will keep with that until things have progressed sufficiently - with cooler chipsets and proper HDMI spec etc before I make the switch.

Planning my entertainment system with everything going into an amp/receiver and single HDMI cable to TV - the amp will convert any inputs into HDMI.

Lee @ Scan 15th August 2007, 11:53

My original 360 is going back to MS for repair for the 2nd time.

My 2nd console I have seems to be fine even after playing overlord on the weekend for over 12 hours with the odd food and ciggy break and this weekend I shall be pummelling Oblivion on it just to test it even more.

Bauul 15th August 2007, 12:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by Firehed
Bit's games article writer doesn't have a 360?

Bit-Tech own a couple of 360s IIRC, so why would Joe bother to buy one himself? He aint made of money, he keeps losing it in Poker matches, or so I hear. *titter*

CardJoe 15th August 2007, 13:16

GRR!

I'm going to get 360 soon, fo'sure. I've not had one before because I've either been a lowly student or I've had immediate access to one without owning one. As a result, all I have at home is an original Xbox, my Wii and a mid-high end PC. Got my DS lite and gameboy too though and I have access to every console and higher capability PCs in the office.