Microsoft launches CPU-GPU combined Xbox 360 SoC

Software giant Microsoft has announced the release for the new SoC (System-on-chip) processor of the new Xbox 360 250GB Slim Kinect-ready model.

Microsoft has designed the processor particularly to counter the market threats from AMD’s next generation Bulldozer and Bobcat processor technology.

The processor has been manufactured with the IBM/GlobalFoundries 45nm process and is the first production desktop-class processor which will combine CPU, GPU, memory, and I/O logic onto a single silicon and can be a tough competitor for AMD’s Fusion and Intel’s Sandy Bridge processors.

Officials at Microsoft announced that the combination has been made to allow better power efficiency. The processors are expected to be cheap as manufacturing will be inexpensive due to fewer chips. The heat management has also been enhanced and the sizes of the motherboard and the power supply unit have been drastically reduced.

[AstroZombie1]

That sounds like a price cut in the wings for the future.

[showtimefolks]

around the same time maybe a few weeks before wii-u launches for both ps3 and xbox360 with move and kinect included in the system for a new low price would be smart

[SonyPS360]

So supposedly this guy is "yaSonyfan" but owned 15 xbox 360s.

I smell bullshit.

[Stryfeno2]

After 4 RRODs, you still kept coming back? I think I have a bridge to sell you. Interested?

[evrfighter1]

wait am i reading this right?

to counter bulldozer and sandy bridge???

and how in the hell do they plan on countering those with just a die shrinkage and a lower tdp?

[ProjectVulcan]

Hardly big news TBH, not only that, this was known nearly a YEAR ago- http://www.techradar.com/ne... Shrinking components and fitting all the chips onto one amalgamated die isn't new. The later slim PS2 models did exactly the same, with a combined CPU and GPU.

"first production desktop-class processor.....tough competitor for AMD’s Fusion and Intel’s Sandy Bridge processors"

This is nonsense. The article somehow writes this up as a rival solution to x86 based chips for home computers? Its a custom console part. Nothing whatsoever to do with x86 desktop computers or their processors.

I also question that the number of transistors being only 370m. The GPU alone will be 330m, before you throw in the CPU and bus designs. The article is inaccurate and ancient, to say the least.

How does this junk get approved?

[bozebo]

""first production desktop-class processor.....tough competitor for AMD’s Fusion and Intel’s Sandy Bridge processors"

This is nonsense. The article somehow writes this up as a rival solution to x86 based chips for home computers? Its a custom console part. Nothing whatsoever to do with x86 desktop computers or their processors. "

yeah, this ^

+ bubble for well said

I was going to say the same thing. They are in totally different markets. There is no way in hell that AMD and Intel's hardware is competing with the 360's internals.

[gamingdroid]

Price cut has been possible a long time now. MS just don't have the competitive pressure to do so when at the current price it's sales are having record growth.

I hope the new combined processor makes into the Gears of War console!

[fr0sty]

They've been selling dead last worldwide for months now. PS3 had been on top until last week when Wii finally got a boost that put it ahead for the week. But MS is still sitting in third. They definitely have the market pressure to keep trying to reduce price and increase demand.

This combined chip will definitely allow them to reduce their costs. In fact, it'll probably give them an advantage to cut lower than PS3 could, which could prove to be an issue for Sony in the future because as far as I know there were no plans in the Cell/RSX roadmap to integrate the 2 onto a single piece of silicon.

[r1sh12]

Even though MS have been last in sales for months they are still selling quite well in their most favoured markets.
The only time they will price cut will be when Sony decide to.
Its a simple waiting game to outdo sony which makes sense.

[EarthLover]

@frosty

What? You do know PS3 is STILL in last place right, and do you have any proof what so ever that the 360 is selling dead last world wide?

All we know for sure is that PS3 is getting raped in the USA, Canada, Mexico, Australia, and UK. We dont know what the sales are in EU because they dont have the organizational capabilities to actually count the sales apparently.

The NPD territory sales advantage 360 has more than offsets any sales advantage PS3 has in EU, IF there even is one.

[IdleLeeSiuLung]

@EarthLover

Not only that, but the gap has now widened between MS and Sony.

"Going by latest sales figures, the Xbox 360 is five million ahead of the PlayStation 3, which as of last month had sold 50 million consoles globally."

http://www.eurogamer.net/ar...

Also: "Xbox 360 Top Selling Console 10 out of the last 11 months"
http://www.slashgear.com/xb...

[2v1]

on the US what about the world?.

[spektical]

@Earth

what are you smoking. ps3 is raping the 360 everywere except the US.

and the gap is shrinking a lot. Won't be long till 360 is in last place WITH a year head start.

[JellyJelly]

@spektical - Care to back that up with some form of source?

[ct03]

<<and the gap is shrinking a lot.>>

You haven't looked at Sony's and Microsoft's financial reports?
They sold exactly the same in quarter 4/2010. However, in quarter 1/2011 Microsoft sold 600,000 units more. So the gap increased.

Here's the graph for the worldwide gap based on official financial reports:
http://www.abload.de/img/ga...

[evrfighter1]

and the worldwide argument the ps3 fanboys had been clinging to for dear life the past 6 months has just gone right out the window.

[TVippy]

MS was doing it from the beginning with slim models.
And BTW, absolutely ignorant article. And again... on the MAIN page. What on Earth!?

[Blacksand1]

It sound like Microsoft try to see if this work before they bring out the 720. A few months ago it was a articles saying 720 mite be a gaming-computer all in one.

[Delicious Malicious]

@yaSonyfan, Your an Idiot.

[zealottt]

you're*

[evrfighter1]

lol still a classic

[50Terabytespersec]

Warning! Sound like more RROD!! lmao.

Anytime this incompetent hardware company and hardware or software tinkering occurs/ changes occur you get a lot of BS.
(Vista,Windows mobile,Xbox360,ME,etc.etc.

[SonyPS360]

Like when they fixed the RROD completely years ago.

Funny how that's all you're able to bring up though, year old problems that have since been fixed.

[graemed-ps3]

@sony 360
yup rrod has been fixed.
but rdod hasnt!

[starchild]

Give me a break. RDOD isn't common at all. It might even be less common than YLOD.

No electronic device is 100% failure-proof, but RROD has not been a widespread problem for years. It is now a miniscule problem similar to what you would expect from any electronic device.

[Redgehammer]

I thought this was old news, or is this an improvement over what they talked about when they initially released the Slim?

[ATiElite]

this is OLD NEWS.

this is what currently is in the Xbox 360 slim.

[Foxgod]

Impressive, they took the 360 its hardware to max efficiency.
Small, cool and cheap to produce.

Sounds promising for the next xbox, they learned a lot on making efficient hardware with the 360.

They took the system from unreliable, to as reliable as a system can possibly become.

[kneon]

Don't be surprised if the Xbox.next has discrete cpu and gpu for the first couple of years. They may not be able to combine them on a single chip until later in the life cycle of the product. Same goes for the PS3.

[GunShotEddy]

It doubles every two years. It's called "Moore's Law". "Moore's law describes a long-term trend in the history of computing hardware. The number of transistors that can be placed inexpensively on an integrated circuit doubles approximately every two years."

edit: directed @ Angry TypingGuy

[kneon]

I'm well aware of moore's law, I'm old enough to have witnessed it's entire history.

But current GPUs run pretty hot and the next gen console CPUs will also be pushing the limits. If they weren't then they could have made them faster.

[gamingdroid]

It's actually closer to 18-months or so (don't blindly trust wikipedia) than two years.

That said, the issue was never transistor size. It was the technical difficulties of combining the components CPU/GPU i.e integrating them and ensure correct operation.

[Rhythmattic]

Moore's law.. I get it, but still dont believe it...

Theoretical power via multi core CPU's do the concept justice, But where is my 100Ghz single die cpu ?

Moore is less , as far as i'm concerned..

[viper101222]

Moores law cannot be considered valid in today's world of computing due to the sheer heat produced by the transistors in modern CPUs. This is why you cant have your 1000 GHz CPUs (which is around what it should be at now)

This is why multi core CPUs have been introduced in order to combat the problem of overheating.

Interesting fact: if CPUs had kept to Moores law then in a few years time our processors would probably reach the temperature of the surface of the sun

[Rhythmattic]

viper101222

Absolutely.

In music applications for example, if I use a plug - in Real time, its polyphony and quality is determined by the speed of a single core.... Off line, in play back, a differnet story.. The multithread code shares across the CPU's...

As we know, a single cpu , clocked @ 4 .5Ghz is better than a Dual 2.66 for gaming..

moore's law is no more.

[AngryTypingGuy]

Isn't it amazing how quickly technology advances?

[fryday]

Analysts are expecting an ARM Chip for the next Xbox

[DragonKnight]

Woah, what?

"They took the system from unreliable, to as reliable as a system can possibly become."

That's actually incorrect. For about, oh, 3 reasons.

1. RROD can still happen because MS' basic console design and materials are flawed.

2. Disregarding RROD, there's still that E37 or whatever that happens, as well as the X-Clamps that scratch up discs.

3. Disregarding both of those, the most reliable a system can possibly become is having a 0% error ratio. Meaning there's is absolutely nothing wrong with the tech or materials in the console. And that sure as hell ain't the 360.

Just saying man, 360 still carries the fear of crapping out more than the other two consoles.

[Armyntt]

Im goin to disagree in that you say 3 reasons without stating how those facts are quanitifiable and true.
1. What in the design and materials are flawed specifically?
2.The E37 is not as big as the RROD and in fact i dont know a person that its happen to. Not saying it doesnt happen but its not such a huge problem imo.
3. Your third point gives no reasoning to your conclusion. What tech that M$ uses is unreliable? DVD's? The chip design? What materials? You have to support your conclusions.

Now im not saying what your saying is incorect but you need something to backup what your saying.

[greatjimbo78]

"as well as the X-Clamps that scratch up discs."
Wait, what? Care to clarify that point?

[EarthLover]

Well I'll go ahead and say he's incorrect.

"Disregarding RROD, there's still that E37 or whatever that happens, as well as the X-Clamps that scratch up discs."

E37 or whatever? X-clamps that scratch disks???

Dude the X-clamps are what caused the RROD not scratch the disks, you have no idea wht you are talking about, yet you shoot your mouth off ripping MS, typical Sony fanboy, why does any one listen to you people any more, you have been wrong about everything this generation.

[DragonKnight]

I retract my X-Clamp statement, I actually confused it with a problem the disc drive has. But anyway, RROD was chiefly caused by poor soldering which melted in the heat that the 360 produces and the chipset would then dislodge and move around, in addition to the x-clamp problem. The 360s still uses the exact same design, it just runs cooler thanks to the cooler chips. X-Clamps are still there, the soldering is still the same (lead based solder, which is quite soft), a free-floating disc drive which is the actual cause of the disc scratches. These are all still present in the current 360 design. The only difference is the chips.

"you shoot your mouth off ripping MS, typical Sony fanboy, why does any one listen to you people any more, you have been wrong about everything this generation."

LOL, someone is a butthurt MS fanboy. Wrong about everything this generation eh? Care to provide some examples for me to shoot down? This isn't about fanboyism. I responded to the incorrect statement that the 360 is the most reliable a console can ever get. I made no mention of anything but the 360's shortcomings, and you got all upset because I hurt the feelings of your plastic box. Grow up.

[greatjimbo78]

"the soldering is still the same (lead based solder, which is quite soft)". Again you're wrong. It was using Lead-free solder that caused the problem. Using lead based solder in manufactured goods, is banned in the EU I believe?

[SonyPS360]

Statistically all new models of the 360 has the smallest failure rate now.

If you're gonna talk like you know the facts, at least present actual facts and not just talk out of your ass, basing everything on stupid fanboy opinion.

[DragonKnight]

@greatjimbo: Although lead based solder has been a standard for decades, it is NOT the strongest available electronics solder, and is in fact quite soft when compared to alternatives. Lead based solder was banned in the U.S. for plumbing applications only.

@Sony360: Smallest failure rate compared to what? Itself? Like older 360 models or all 3 consoles? Because if that's what you're talking about then that's certainly NOT true. And again, what fanboyism? Where did I insult MS? This is a typical defense mechanism of people who don't want to accept the truth that the 360 was and always has been poorly built.

If you don't believe me, then refute the following.

Does the 360 have x-clamps? Yes or No?
Does the 360 have a free-floating hard drive? Yes or No?
Does the 360 use bumpers that scratch the disc surface? Yes or No?
Does the 360 use a low melting point, lead-free based solder? Yes or No?

A yes to these answers indicates subpar materials and/or design choices. But seeing as how you believe yourself to be so knowledgeable, then you can accurately refute these questions yes?

**EDIT** Changed the solder question. Not trying to run away from anything here. This isn't about fanboyism or anything of the sort. Some of you are far too defensive. I was simply answering the incorrect statement that the 360 is at the pinnacle of reliability.

[graemed-ps3]

@DragonKnight
That was a well thought out and level headed comment, dont know why every ones attacking you.

[Aarix]

1. Were not disregarding the rrod but it's not much of a problem especially compared to the ylod.

2. X-clamps? You also have the option to not have the disc spin at all. So...no scratching for it.

3. No piece of hardware has a 0% failure rate. That's impossible. But for the processing power we have today. Were doing a good job of keeping it within reason.

Now go troll somewhere else.

[greatjimbo78]

"**EDIT** Changed the solder question. Not trying to run away from anything here. This isn't about fanboyism or anything of the sort. Some of you are far too defensive. I was simply answering the incorrect statement that the 360 is at the pinnacle of reliability."

You can't do that and be taken seriously. Please just give up. It's embarrassing for you and for us to watch. Simple fact is, you were wrong. You then continued to argue your point, until it dawned on you that you were wrong.

This was followed by one of the most stupid back tracks I've ever seen. And all of this on top of your "X-Clamps that scratch up discs." gaffe.
One thing you have done is brought the lulz and for that, I thank you.

[DragonKnight]

@Aarix: "1. Were not disregarding the rrod but it's not much of a problem especially compared to the ylod. And now their reducing the failure rate."

Here's the thing many of you fail to understand about the alleged YLOD. YLOD on the PS3 is not a specific problem. YLOD on the PS3 is just an indicator that any number of problems has occurred. RROD is a very specific problem. Next, YLOD is not nearly as prevalent as RROD ever was and it never will be. Third, what do you base the assumption that YLOD is so widespread on? You should have used the PS3's known blu-ray diode problem, then you'd have had a leg to stand on.

"2. X-clamps? You also have the option to not have the disc spin at all. So...no scratching for it."

In order to do that, you first need to place the disc inside the console and install the disc on the harddrive, exposing it to the possibility of being scratched. Can't install the game without getting the disc to spin at least once. Also, my mistake was that it's the bumpers, not the X-Clamps.

"3. No piece of hardware has a 0% failure rate. That's impossible. But for the processing power we have today. Were doing a good job of keeping it within reason."

We're? Do you work for MS or something?

greatjimbo: I changed the wording of the question about the soldering because I made a typo, but knowing how typical fanboys such as yourself love to bring up that there are edits to a post, I decided to share that I made an edit in an attempt to show that I'm not hiding anything. I also freely admitted my mistake about the X-Clamps. Point remains that no refutation of my questions has been made, and you're attacking me simply because you don't want to accept the truth. The 360 is a poorly designed console. And the 360s literally only changed the chipset to a cooler type. How is that a better design if two parts of the major RROD problem was not changed?

[greatjimbo78]

You and I both know it wasn't a typo. You used it here, "(lead based solder, which is quite soft)" and then again in your response until you edited it.

You were wrong, fact! You realised you were wrong about the solder and edited it from you post. Something you couldn't do to your previous post, so the evidence is there for all to see. You didn't just change the wording, you changed the entire type of solder. Because you realised you were incorrect and that's fine, people can be wrong. But you've contiuned to attack and frankly, any other points you made can't be taken seriously.

Please, don't call me a "fanboy". You came into a thread and tried to troll and failed, twice! So instead of trying to dig yourself out of the grave, you dug yourself in further. You can't seriously countinue to go down this road can you? Just admit you were wrong about the type of solder and we can move on.

[DragonKnight]

I have never evaded being wrong about anything, you're just looking to label me an anti-MS fanboy, when in fact you're the fanboy. You fail to acknowledge the truth about the 360, and rather than address the questions I've asked, you choose to attack and label me instead. But whatever, do what you will. Can't change the fact that the 360 is poorly built anymore than I can change the fact you'll never admit to it. This was never about trolling, or fanboyism. I responded to an incorrect statement, and was in turn bombarded with massive hate as though I had just raped someone dear to your heart.

And since I'm now out of bubbles, I can't continue anything here, if there was even a point in continuing. I fully admitted to editing the soldering question. And rather than actually answering the question you, in typical fanboy style, chose to dwell on the edit rather than the question. Had you actually wanted to end this, you'd have answered the question and it'd probably be done by now. But nooooooo, no one is allowed to question the reliability of the almighty 360. It's a console built out of adamantium with insides so cool they are the temperature of liquid helium. /s

[Hyperbomb69]

I dont think Ive ever seen so many MS fanboys on this site before... one person simply states the facts and they all get all butthurt about their system as if they just made fun of their children or something... pathetic! Face it fanboys! It aint 2007 anymore, you got no games and no reliabilty. go have fun with your Sesame Street GOTY Kinect title....

disagrees = your fanboy tears!

[greatjimbo78]

Oh DragonKnight. You still don't get it do you? Two of your so called questions were factually wrong. How can I answer your questions, if the information used to ask them is wrong?

You based one of your questions around the soldering used but got the type of solder wrong. You realised this(Google is wonderful is it not)and edited it to lead-free.
You see, your mistake is a pretty big one to consider when answering your question. In fact, it arguable leaves the whole question worthless.

But no, you can't see that and decide to call anyone who corrects you a MS fanboy. I can admit you had some valid points. But I can't debate with someone who I can't take seriously.

Take some time out and learn how to stealth troll properly. Also, don't try to play the victim. It doesn't suit you.

[gamingdroid]

LOL! DragonKnight again....

[bozebo]

er, its only possible because they are aiming at old gen performance. The 720 will follow the traditional approach of cpu and gpu in different chips.

[MGRogue2017]

wtf... I'm confused.. Isn't this already available? You know.. That new "slim" redesigned model?

[DeadlyFire]

Redesign slim 2nd or 3rd generation is all. Easier to produce cheaper to sell = more profit. That is all.

[MGRogue2017]

k, cool.. I don't know how many times Microsoft are going to keep bringing out new revisions of the 360.. kinda pointless, really. The "slim" redesigned model that came out a long while back is fine as it is to be honest.

Xbox 360 is old tech now, They should really concentrate on bringing out a new console.

[Foxgod]

I am pretty sure they are focusing on a new console.
But that doesnt mean they might as well try to stay ahead of the competition for the remainder of this gen.
Otherwise they might end up dead in the water.

[kneon]

@enkeixpress

Why is it pointless? Less power, less heat, lower cost, higher reliability. Those seem like some pretty good points to me.

[gamingdroid]

because each revision brings down the cost.

If you produce 10-15 million consoles a year, even a $2 reduction results in $20-30 million savings. How is that pointless?

Of course the consumer (side-)benefit are lower power consumption, less heat, more reliable and potentially lower price!

Regarding new console... there is no pressure on MS to do so! Unfortunately, as I want a new console cycle now and Nintendo is sketchy in terms of my wants i.e. great controller, robust online and other forms of entertainment (not just games like movie streaming and etc).

[No Way]

Sony and Nintendo do the same thing, as Microsoft, as well..
It's not a new console or a new 'sku,' so to speak, just a revision.
It's not pointless, to them, as it makes it cheaper to produce and sell.

[B1663r]

Yeah, this is old news... This is from a year ago when they originally reworked the processor for the slim.

[Burning_Finger]

Sounds like a Cell processor..

@Sin151

The Cell processor can also act as a GPU and rendered Graphics on its on. This is what Microsoft are pushing right now. A processor and GPU on the same chip.

http://lanl.gov/orgs/hpc/ro...

I think u are the one that needs homework and research.

[JsonHenry]

Not even close to the same.

[IAmCornHolio]

Actually, the Xbox, PS3, wii, and now the WiiU cpu's are all made at the same IBM facility...

The only thing different about the different CPUs is the microcode that goes into the different chips.

It is one of the reasons Sony has received so much crap for their decision on the Cell, because they have this exotic chip design, and have realized no real benefit from using it.

[Foxgod]

Who the heck even agreed with him?
The whole setup of having all cores and the GPU on a single chip, is the complete opposite of how a ps3 works.

[joeorc]

ok for people that just do not get it. DR. Dr. Hofstee you know one of the major designers of the d@mn chip in the PS3.

already showed how the PS3 works an has shown for a few years what the chip is.

before you guy's slam (Burning_Finger) what he posted is correct. If you have not noticed the CELL is a Hybrid Core CPU/GPU on a single die already..that's one of the key point's of the Cell, it's a graphic, an physic's accelerator!

if you have not noticed, the Arm core design for Multiple cores on chip along with GPU cores are designed along the same lines..SOC's the Cell processor is a SOC.

d@mn people read what he posted!

@sin151

"You are a troll and a moron, Cell the structure works on a 6 core CPU, with the GPU entire separate.. SoC work by combining the two which they can then lower the GPU speeds because there is no transfer to the CPU leading to dramatic increases in speeds, do your fucking homework junior. "

no it's one PPE
PLUS 8 SPE'S

1 SPE DISABLED FOR "MESHED ERA REDUNDANCY"
1 SPE USED ALONG WITH THE PPE for PS3's OS
an 6 SPE'S that are free for developers to use.

the SPE's can be used for graphic an physic's acceleration such as for example:

From an interview with David Kirk of NVidia at WatchImpress:

David Kirk: SPE and RSX can work together. SPE can preprocess graphics data in the main memory or postprocess rendering results sent from RSX.

David Kirk: Let SPEs do vertex-processing then let RSX render it.

David Kirk: SPE and GPU work together, which allows physics simulation to interact with graphics.

It's not just the RSX that drives the graphical quality, then - the Cell can also really be used to improve the graphics.

[joeorc]

why because

Its something I know what it is.

for instance CPU's can do graphic's but What makes a GPU a GPU what determines the classfication of what is or is not a GPU?

would a chip that can do 36 billion shader opp's/sec be classed as a GPU?

because the Cell by itself can

at one time in the GPU market that was the heyday are those PCi or AGP cards Any less OF BEING a GPU since the day they were manuf. an put out for the consumer to buy?

the Cell processor

"For example we showed the demo that renders London City, it's not rendered in the GPU but the CELL does lighting and texture processing then outputs it to the frame buffer. Even without GPU, only CELL can create good enough 3D graphics."

that's without the RSX.

[divideby0]

burning.... you are correct..

in fact the PS3 did not have a GPU back when it was being designed

just look at the lack of credible remarks in this thread

SOC has been in the works for years, and its not MS, its the hardware companys.

at the end of the day its still 45nm and since 22 technology is shipping later this year, just shows you this is not a big deal.. yes less heat, yes cost reduction...

[Peaceful_Jelly]

OMG, the misinformation in this thread of comments is incredible. 0__0

The Cell doesn't even uses cores and while it can do GPU stuff thanks to the SPE's it doesn't mean that the CPU is a GPGPU or a CPU/GPU combined. The CELL still needs a GPU because it has too few stream processors. What MS is doing is making the CPU and GPU to be in a single chip to reduce cost and power usage, nothing more. There's nothing out of this world about that and that's why I was surprised when I saw the comment count (almost 100) and the high Heat-Degree for this article.

And then I see you people talking all this nonsense and I'm like: what the hell is going on?

[Falaut]

I really like SoC design. I think AMD is going to kill it with Fusion. So this is really neat. But doesn't SoC in its truest sense include memory as well?

[AngelicIceDiamond]

All this for better performance? Yeah Microsoft needs to elaborate more.

[BeastlyRig]

AMD ships it 4,6 & 8 core cpus in 3 months & will bulldozer them!

And are doing good already with fusion!
- http://www.physorg.com/news...

Plus who wants MS to monopolize even more?

@sin151
"You are a troll and a moron, Cell the structure works on a 6 core CPU"

lmao!

[Foxgod]

Actually, MS their cpu's are IBM cpu,s.
IBM designs the cpu for all the consoles in the market, including the Wii-U.

And IBM focuses on the business market (PowerPC, Risc).
IBM got nothing to fear from Intel and AMD, as they are more into the consumer market.

Intel and AMD are competition of each other, IBM got nothing to do with them.

And Sin partially right, The cell consists of a single CPU with separate calculation units that function as cores.

[hiredhelp]

INTEL and AMD nothing to do with MS. BeastlyRig.

but yes amd are comming with a new cpu upto a 8 cores same as intels codenamed 2011" cpu sandybridge.

i know intel runs on the HD2000/3000 graphics.

[Blaine]

I'm surprised MS is still working on improving the 360. Good for their fans, I guess--shows they won't just abandon it like they did the original Xbox when its predecessor is launched.

As for the chip, I'm more interested to learn when these things'll make their way into laptops. They sound perfect for portable machines, being more power efficient and all.

[IAmCornHolio]

Microsoft didn't abandon the original xbox, NVidia did. Nvidia stopped making the gpu that was in the original xbox, and that was a wrap... Microsoft had to rush the release of the xbox 360... Which also explains a bunch of its compromises... Like the DVD drive, and perhaps the rrod as well.

[Fallouts]

Someone actually knows what happened! Wow....

You are right. Ms also tried to convince them to still make it for them but nvidia was never going to lower the cost of making the chip either.

[kevnb]

More of a cost thing, nvidia wouldn't lower the cost to microsoft which made the xbox too expensive to make and still compete with the ps2. I think nvidia tried to kill microsofts console business, sometimes I wish they did lol.

[Blaine]

I could be wrong, but if memory serves didn't MS shut down the XBL servers for the original console very early into the 360's life? No more gpus is one thing, but I'd say shutting down XBL is a clear sign that MS abandoned the system.

But if I'm remembering this wrong and making it up, then I stand corrected.

[Fallouts]

@ blain

You are half right. They did cut off live on the original xbox but it wasn't early on in the 360 it wasn't too long ago that they did it was like a year or 2 ago.

What's worse ms closing down live on xbox or Sonys half attempt at online play with the ps2. If my memory serves me right it was like a nintendo of online kinda thing

[ForROME]

This article is lame, MS is not competing with AMD, they embrace AMD now and for their next system.

[Convas]

Wow, this is pretty cool! Now all MS needs to do is find some way to get a 25GB storage medium to work with existing 360 disc drive lasers.

That would really give the 360 a kick in the seat of the performance pants!

[IAmCornHolio]

I think the WiiU will show the way this generation will transition to the next... The next xbox will be based on this same PowerPC cpu, but they will add a bunch of special purpose cores and enhance the GPU, but it will all retain backwards compat. Then the xbox 360Plus and there will be "Plus" enhanced games for a few years, then eventually, games will require a Plus once the install base is large enough...

[Motorola]

Soo its kinda like an APU?

[Foxgod]

Actually, an APU is a physical unit that sells slushies.

[maniacmayhem]

Hilarious!

[Motorola]

I meant the Accelerated Processing Unit lol

[militant07]

isn't current slim model have those in single chiP??!

[otacon68]

They have cpu and gpu merged. This is SoC with memory and controller also integrated in one chip.

[militant07]

oh, thanx.

that's cool, I may buy slim version if they drop the price.

[Peaceful_Jelly]

you're wrong Otacon, the RSX and CELL are not merged in the PS3 Slim, they just made its components smaller. And stuff like the bluetooth and wi-fi were integrated into the motherboard instead of having its own board.

http://www.rapidrepair.com/...

edit: sorry were you talking about the X360 Slim? My bad... Is just that I forget people call the newer X360 models "Slim" too.

[SkittlesLikesPopcorn]

"tough competitor for AMD’s Fusion"

uhh no.

[xer0]

yeah, I'm not sure if this article makes much sense.

How can it be a tough competitor to amd fusion, when it's using an amd GPU? Last I checked, AMD and ATI are one in the same company.

[kevnb]

That and the damn chip wont even be found in anything but xbox 360s...

[You Noob]

it remain a fail

[Sarcasmology]

Microsoft could give me a 360 with Kinect for free and I still wouldn't use the damn thing. The system just feels too out of date, too plastic-y, too Fisher Price. I'd probably just end up selling it.

[Redgehammer]

If I am ever given a PS3, and you are given a 360, lets trade.

[Sarcasmology]

Well, I'd sell that too, as I already have one. Yet if you need a 360, I'd be glad to help, if I ever got my hands on a free one.

[kevnb]

How does this compete with bulldozer? Did I miss something?

[EvilDonkey]

It does not, not at all.

"Microsoft has designed the processor particularly to counter the market threats from AMD’s next generation Bulldozer and Bobcat processor technology."

This is 100% pure poo, Bulldozer is x86, while IBM's chips are not. The new "chip", that contains CPU from IBM and GPU from AMD, is for Xbox360's only.

[kharma45]

Whoever wrote the article has clearly no clue about chips.

[SweatyFlorida]

hmmm Should've spent the time/money making this on new IP's/studios instead :/

[Gambuzin0]

This shit is from last year...!!!!

[dragonelite]

Yeah man also thought wtf is going on.

[godsinhisheaven]

Price cut please :)

[Xi]

this is going to be the basis for microsoft next box I'm guessing (not this particularly, but the all on one chip idea, possibly even multiple cores).

It'll be interesting to see.

[airforcex]

Nothing new. As I understand this, the stealth-box released last year uses this. Someone probably read an 2010 E3 article and thought it was new.

[ilkercruiser]

All Current Slim Models are already powered by 45nm CPU-GPU combined chips. What are you talking about?

Update: All right! All right! Current ones have multiple units in ONE-CHIP but not one silicone that have all capabilities.

[fireplace]

Guys it's about the Slim model, the one that's already on the market!

There's been articles about this for a long time.

"The big news is that the CPU and GPU are combined into one single package, with a die-shrink from 65nm for both components down to the more power-efficient, cooler 45nm. "

http://www.eurogamer.net/ar...

Date: June 14th, 2010

http://channel.hexus.net/co...

August 2010

[Gambuzin0]

yeah, your right, but there will be a new xbox 360 motherboard revision coming in the fall

[XboxInnovation]

Xbox brand has turned casual. Only Sony left, don't do it SONY!

[Gambuzin0]

That's what sucks with xbox right now..and it's funny that their biggest selling games are all hardcore

[Redgehammer]

I don't see anything that sucks about 360. There are more games than I can play coming out, and it is a great investment for my families fun quotient.

[qwertyz]

its not exactly turned casual...YET but its geting there they are still selling so many consoles because casual gamers are buying 360s because of kinect. its was the fact that the wii was a casual console that made it such a success and MS is trying to get a piece of that market. they knew kinect gaming will be VERY limited but they did it anyway because the know that if you give people something they've never seen before they'll buy it without really thinking and guess what ? its working

[mcstorm]

Sounds good to me they should nring out a 360 mini lol i expect this to be the last 360 update as i think ms will show off the new xbox at mext years e3 and release it just before xmas next year with halo 4. I also think the next xonsole will bring the xbox pc and windows phone names closer together. Look at windows 8 windows phone n the new 360 dash they are all starting to look yhe same so i see the next console being even closer to the pc and bringing xbox live to all 3 platforms even closer.

[ATiElite]

Who approved this shite!

this is what comes in the Xbox 360 slim! this story is so so OLD!

"counter market threats from AMD" are you F-N kidding me? The 360 has an AMD chip inside it designed in a co-op between AMD and IBM PLUS Microsoft is NOT I repeat is NOT a chip manufacturer.

System on Chip (SoC) are nothing new. AMD had a SoC called the AMD Geode back in 1999 and I'm sure ARM had one before then. They are becoming more popular today because well more popular mainstream shite uses them.

[qwertyz]

very true

[zmack]

Okay, so the article says this is to compete with AMD future line of processors and Intel's current Sandy Bridge!? Well, let me get the words right. They stated that it "can be a tough" competitor. Okay, first off this would be a replacement for a current console GPU/CPU. It would not be used for a desktop PC.

Secondly, Intel and AMD are already on 32nm and AMD will integrated their 6 series GPU, which is more powerful than what the Xbox has for it's GPU. Also, they already have plans for 22nm. Finally, AMD originally made the damn GPU for the Xbox. How the hell would they let IBM compete with them using in the desktop market with their own technology?

If Microsoft some how got the rights to modify the processor, I doubt they could really do much damage in the actual desktop market because AMD has much more powerful GPUs than what Microsoft currently has in the Xbox 360. This is one of the reasons why developers want a new console generation sooner rather than later this also includes the memory limitations developers face as well. Instead at E3 we got all of this kinect BS. They should have started to talk about a new console IMO.

The main benefit is less power use and lower temps. This isn't some sort of magic performance upgrade that will make the combination compete with Intel or AMD.

Edit:

I read that this article is old and they have already had the integrated GPU/CPU combo. Like I said before lower temps and less power. It isn't some magic competition factor and it doesn't impact the desktop market.

[dragonelite]

Yeah man it was news around the slim launch it had codename valhalla.

[OpenGL]

How is it "the first production desktop-class processor which will combine CPU, GPU, memory, and I/O logic onto a single silicon" when it's not even an x86 processor and it only has 512MB of RAM?

[z0d]

I was about to buy one of these today.. should I wait for this 'new' model or does the current 250gb slim already have this cpu-gpu technology?

[SuperSaiyan4]

I knew about this like last year, it was something that was announced to be in the new S anyways.

[primesuspect]

I cannot even begin to describe how much bullshit this article is.

First of all, why would Microsoft need to "compete" with AMD's Bulldozer (a CPU platform?)

Second of all, Microsoft is not a chip manufacturer.

Third, they cannot change what's already in the Xbox. They can buy smaller and more power-efficient parts, but they cannot change the architecture.

This is an article about a process shrink, which is a totally natural evolution in the console lifecycle. ATI doesn't even exist as a company anymore. This article is just garbage.

[ATiElite]

this article is about what is actually in the Xbox 360 slim which came out like a year ago!

SoC = System on Chip has been around since 1990's. what do you think have been in cell phones for all these years and other high end devices.

the part about competition from AMD is totally stupid for 1. the chip in the Xbox 360 is made by AMD and IBM. 2. Microsoft is not a CPU manufacturer, they are a Software company.

Also ARM (Advance Risc machine) have been making Desktop grade SoC for a while. The Apple eMate 300 was a high dollar laptop using an Arm chip to power Mac OS back in 1997

basically this article is Very Old and full of SHITE!

[TABSF]

This is a joke surely, SoC has been out for years
Plus this is not even a desktop processor.

If this only has around 350 million transistors then game over
With Sandybridge we are looking at 995 million plus remember the Xbox has the GPU.

Like OpenGL said its a completely different market, they could not release this chip on PC unless Windows 8 supports a even wider range of architectures.

[justlikeme]

I just bought a 250GB 360 slim for cdn $199.99 plus tax last week at future shop. :D

[OC_MurphysLaw]

Basically old news. All this really does is reinforce the reality that MS could price drop at any time they wanted right now.