360 Cores and Premiums with HDMI? An inside source spills the beans

Ars Technica says that they've heard from an inside source that Microsoft will start making Core and Premium systems with HDMI ports after the exisiting stock has sold through.

'According to my source, Microsoft wants to cut through all their existing inventory of hardware. They will then quietly "soft launch" a new version of the Core and Premium hardware in late August or September that will include an HDMI port. It's also expected that this new hardware will feature the 65nm process for the CPU and quieter DVD drives. The new hardware will ship in boxes very similar to what we saw on store shelves now, but there will be a small "call out" on the box so you know you're getting a system with the HDMI connection.'

[Syko]

Makes sense. This will cut costs on the mainboards due to having only 1 board for all 3 models. Plus it will be a "surefire" way to know that you are getting the 65nm chipset with the 2nd heatsink and epoxy fix. So then you will have no fear of those magical Red Lights that sent my box to the Xbox summercamp in Texas.

I just wish there was a way to know if I will recieve back a 65nm chipset with my repair or a 90nm with the additional heatsink? Oh well I will get this version and make my brother buy this one from me.

[Dlacy13g]

Keeping the core unit the same as the elite, premium and Elite makes this system EXTREMELY easy to manufacture. All you are doing really is adding in a HDD drive of 20GB or 120GB....

[nasim]

but it makes no difference becuase you have to pay 200$ for an HD DVD add on and 50$ per year for useless LIVE with text achievements.

x360 has no wifi....and no HDMI 1.3 support.

all new x360s including elite support upto HDMI 1.2 only

what a way to rip customers with defective consoles

[crck]

ps3 owners feel about eating a $100 price drop plus 5 free bluray movies only 7 months after launch.

[Makroyale]

And I'll also be waiting for the 360 to decide on an HD internal drive. Then I'll buy one.

[SofaKingReetodded]

that emphatically stated that "HDMI is not necessary" and now show what noobs they are by wanting to change all their console versions to it.
PS3 got it right out of the gate. There is a reason MS is doing this, unlike their fanboys they can clearly see who is winning the graphics battle and it's not the 3fixme.

[Nemesis]

nasim said:

"it makes no difference becuase you have to pay 200$ for an HD DVD add on"

No we don't, it's optional. That's the whole point you dipshit.

"x360 has no wifi....and no HDMI 1.3 support"

Wifi sucks. I stopped using Wifi over a year ago because I was fed up of dropped connections. A wired network is well worth the trouble. Unless your living with your parents and they won't let you run a cable, of course.

And don't even get me started on HDMI 1.3. The Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD codecs would be superfluous for playing games. What's the point in your console using value CPU time to encode a TrueHD or DTS-HD audio stream on the fly, only for your home theatre receiver to have to decode it again?

Devices that encode on the fly should either stick to a more efficient codec or just transmit their audio streams as uncompressed PCM.

The only other advantages to HDMI 1.3 are the possible future improvements in picture quality. I say possible improvements because I don't believe the PS3 will ever yield a better quality picture based on these new features. Remember the PS3 is a budget consumer level product. It's simply not capable of doing justice to the new HDMI 1.3 specification. That's the domain of high end blu-ray and HD-DVD players, costing thousands of dollars. Sony only included HDMI 1.3 to win the specs war and to fool ignorant Sony fanboys, like yourself, into believing that the system is superior.

Don't believe me? Head over to AVForums and educate yourself. See what the tech gurus say about HDMI 1.3. Many of these guys spend more on an HDMI cable than the PS3 costs.

SofaKingReetodded said:

"yet this is the same company that emphatically stated that "HDMI is not necessary" and now show what noobs they are by wanting to change all their console versions to it."

HDMI isn't necessary. It's simply another way of connecting the console to your TV. MS probably only decided to include it because of all the bragging PS3 fanboys. Personally, I couldn't give a toss; component works just fine for me.

And do you remember when Sony said that rumble was a last generation feature? Double standards or what.

Here's an idea. Why don't all you PS3 kiddies piss off and stop spamming the 360 section. I know you must feel frustrated at having no games worth playing, but that's no excuse for behaving like ignorant little brats. Go and spank your monkey or something instead.

[achira]

i thought this was not needed ? lol.

[killercam19]

Get out u slut u are not needed u co*k juggler

[Al]

"Get out u slut u are not needed u co*k juggler"

- ands thats how you deal with fanboys.

Edit: to the worst

Great, now I get to try...

*Ahem*- "Get out u slut u are not needed u co*k juggler"

[the worst]

suckersssssssssss

[Tempo]

That's frickin priceless stuff right there .... "get out u slut....!!" LOL

[Kyur4ThePain]

they stick with HDMI 1.2

[Odion]

I think the logic is this.

They won't really tick off the early adopters because those people, like me don't care really about HD, and the cord is good enough.

It won't make the Elite people angry because they have the best.

But it will be like hey new and improved 360, cooler stuff, its more quiet and it comes with an HDMI port to be there if your tv allows it.

[AuburnTiger]

"It won't make the Elite people angry because they have the best."

That is until they release the "Super Premium Turbo Xbox 360"

[Odion]

oh look the Sony Trolls have come, welcome fellas, here take a seat take a load off, grab a controller we can play some gears and have a smile then tommorow you can show me MotorStorm.

[Kyur4ThePain]

instead of wasting space with [email protected] like that.

So, do you think they'll stick with 1.2 or have 1.3?
Do you think they should have included this from the start?
Why do you think they are deciding to include it now?

(Of course, assuming this is true)

[AuburnTiger]

I'll give my opinion

"So, do you think they'll stick with 1.2 or have 1.3?"
In my opinion they'll go with the 1.2 simply because they won't what to 1up the Elite.

"Do you think they should have included this from the start?"
They're more likely saying that this is giving the gamer a "chioce"

"Why do you think they are deciding to include it now?"
probably to keep all of the boards the same to keep costs down.

[Nemesis]

I too think they'll stick with HDMI 1.2 so as to not annoy the Elite owners. Though according to the PS3 fanboys, all our 360's are doomed to fail with the RROD anyway. I expect MS will start to replace the mainboard of any 360 sent in for repair with the new 65nm type. This would probably be cheaper than having to keep calling the same faulty boards back in for repair every few months.

I've never understood though, why some people place so much importance in HDMI 1.3 on a games console. For the reasons i've stated above (#1.6) it offers little to no benefit over HDMI 1.2. Only the real AVphiles who spend huge sums on high end equipment are going to benefit from this new specification. Though I suppose it couldn't hurt to include it just to silence the PS3 fanboys and spec whores.

[pilotpistolpete]

Pretty cool, but too bad for everyone who's already bought it without the HDMI port.

[DrRage77]

not really, because a majority of people still DO NOT have a tv that has an hdmi port, so it is a feature that can only be utilized by a minority. the last estimate on hdtv's in north american homes was at about 20%. it will obviously increase, but it is stupid how there are people out there that keep complaining about things they can't even use.

i have 2 hdmi ports on my hdtv, but i have not complained about not having an hdmi port on my 360 once. it is a convenience of connection for some, and a useless feature for most that can't use it. then there is a large part of the minority that do have an hdtv, but complain they want an hdmi port to have the best picture, despite playing on a screen size smaller than 42", where you can't tell the difference AT ALL between an hdmi connected picture and a VGA or component connected picture.

i have commented before how i did think microsoft was going to do this since all the complaining and whining people have been doing. microsoft is at least good at listening to the whiners and implementing things if enough of them make noise

[snoop_dizzle]

many people who have hdmi on their tv wont even will use it.

Some people i know have HD sets with an hd source and they only use composite(ancient yellow cable) at most component. And one of my friends uses composite with his PS3.

[Wii60_FTW]

my tv has not one, not two, but THREE HDMI ports. DAAAMNIT!!!!!

no biggie. Ive been using the VGA input with 1 to 1 pixel mapping with my 360 and it's 99.9% as good as HDMI. so, HDMI is not needed if u have PC input on ur LCD HDTV. period. just get the VGA cable.

[Wii60_FTW]

u need to disown your "friend." he sounds like a typical sony fan ;) "I have a ps3 and an HDTV with HDMI but ill just use composite cables anyway" lmao.

[FadeToBlack]

I have an Elite and have connected it via VGA, Component and HDMI. When using the VGA connection the colors get washed out to hell and the picture has a slight blur compared to the other two. Component and HDMI have a much more similar look. You can tell that the HDMI is slightly sharper and colors are a little more accurate in my opinion. But the differences are so small that most people couldn't even tell the difference. My HDTV has 2 HDMI inputs so I use those for my elite and PS3. I also have a Wii and Directv HD receiver connected via Component.

PS: Snoop if anyone that owns an HDTV and connects their HD devices to it via composite need to have their head examined.

[aiphanes]

All good HDTVs made in the last year have HDMI...all new TVs made since this august are comming with HDMI 1.3.

HDTV is the standard...and if you are going to buy one you have to make sure it has HDMI...and most have at least 2 HDMI ports.

Most of the new TV comming out late this year are 1080p also. 1080p is now the stardard tv..1080i is last years models. A lot of the plasmas are still 1080i...but most LCDs that are 47 inches and higher are 1080p

If you are buying a new Tv you want it to be 1080p, with 120HZ refresh rate, and HDMI 1.3 and x.v.Color™ technology, and 1080/24p Input Capable. Anything less than this and you are on old tech.

Just trying to set things straight...

You can get the following TV a 60 inch Sony Bravia KDS-60A3000 for $2699 MSRP...it just came out...and has all the above standard tech.

http://www.sonystyle.com/we...

[rancor]

buy a tv w/ HDMI 1.3? 1080p? 47"? And what do those of us without six figure job buy?

[Rhezin]

they said MS isn't taking any risks this time in some article, and they are putting in the 65nm chip plus and additional heatsink with all new 360 units.

[beavis4play]

this isn't very fair to the 10 or 12 million people who have no hdmi in their systems, nor is it fair to the millions who have experienced 1 or more red rings of death. also, why would anyone buy one of the current systems without these upgrades when they could just wait?

[Al]

I mean, don't get me wrong, its a great addition and all... but do I really care about upgrading a few more pixels. Thats how i see it. So let the new onwers enjoy their upgraded console- when it comes to Gears on Live, i'll still have the upper hand.

[Darkiewonder]

I accidently "break" my 360. and all their old models are gone and such. Will they give me the new 360 with all that goodness?

[snoop_dizzle]

make our 360s overheat in a few months and we will get 360s with an HDMI port and less heat issues.

For free

[Al]

Nope, I thought it was only the 3-red light problem covered. You could be right.

Edit: to Snoop (Double Gizzle)

Well, if that's the case then break out those matches!

[snoop_dizzle]

three lights of death.

Maybe not though

[ThaGeNeCySt]

not that I have a TV with an HDMI port yet... but as a launch purchaser (and still running strong) i feel a tad shafted lol

[DrRage77]

you are exactly the type of person that makes me want to scream profanities in frustration...you have ZERO need for an hdmi port, yet you feel as if you are getting shafted if there is any kind of newer feature added to whatever item you have, even when you admit you CAN'T use it....

do you also complain every year when a car manufacture adds a few new features to a car that you might have purchased a few years ago? should the car manufacturers be required to give us all new cars every year so we don't feel shafted by them as well??

[ThaGeNeCySt]

"not that I have a TV with an HDMI port yet"

yet

yet

yet

yet

yet

yet

yet

yet

yet

yet

yet

yet

yet

"i feel a tad shafted lol "

tad

tad

tad

tad

tad

tad

tad

tad

tad

tad

tad

tad

[SofaKingReetodded]

I was an unbiased 360 owner until I realized that the HDMI dongle I was waiting for would cost $479 and be the size of another console. At that moment I FELT SHAFTED BY MS. Who da fok are you to tell people how they should feel about their purchase??

MS could still have me as a 360 owner if they knew what the hell they were doing. This move clearly shows they don't and are just playing catch-up to Sony and the PS3. The technology business leaves little room for error and MS has made too many to give me any confidence in their products ever again.

[gta_cb]

who the fok are you to go all mad and start targeting members on this site? i can see what hes saying and i own an Xbox 360 Premium and i own a HDTV with HDMI do i mind that i dont have a HDMI slot on my Xbox 360? no! component HD looks amazing and unless you have an extremely big tv (about 50>) you wont even notice the difference between them.

so if you no longer like MS for their "mistakes" then who cares, go play your PS3, or Nintendo Wii just stop having a go at someone just because they get annoyed by people who complain about not having something they cant even use.

[tethered]

I'm glad I am waiting.
I think early 08 (Feb, March) I am going to pick up mine.
Do you think they will have HDMI and 65nm chip by then?

[SDS Gamerfiend]

Are July manufactured 360`s for the 100 billionth time already! If you are still scared, then wait til september and get the ugly Halo 360! Just get an Elite 360 with a July manufactured date with 73005 as the last 5 numbers in the serial! "OR" Lot# 0728 or later!!!

[ZombiesNJ]

...and built in Wi-fi...where's that at? I'll probably pick one up right before Halo 3 comes out.

[gta_cb]

just wondering why the fuk would you even want WiFi? as it IS slower, it can disconnect at any time, with Ethernet you never lag, and you ALWAYS have a rock solid connection at all times, if you wanna play online then go Ethernet dont go WiFi, if you just wanna download stuff then yeh go WiFi as there wont be a wire laying around.

[Infernus]

I don't know about you but I have my wireless router in a different room already hooked up to a comp by ethernet so I don't want to have to move my entire router setup for a console oso Wifi is more convenient. Wifi works just fine for my PS3 anyway, no probs online with Motorstorm or Resistance.

I don't want wires everywhere and the PS3 gives you that. No wires for the controllers, no need for add-ons that provide extra wires, and wi-fi to prevent the need for even more wires.

Wifi is more convenient than ethernet if you can't have the console in the same room as your router...

[ZombiesNJ]

My Wi-fi works great with my PS3 and it's a steady connection that never disconnects! I would like the same functionality built in to the Xbox 360 without having to pay $100 for it! To run an ethernet cable to where my router is on the other side of my upstairs area in my house would be really difficult. My laptop and PS3 already work flawlessly with my Wi-fi.

[AuburnTiger]

I personally don't have any problems with My ps3 on the wireless. Given I don't play any of the multiplayer online, I mainly just use it for the browser and PS store. Wireless rocks!!!!

[Bloodmask]

I don't know if HDMI makes that much of a picture difference. I do have an HDMI port on my television. But currently I am not using it.

Main reason is that my stereo receiver does not support it. Do not feel like upgrading receiver for new one. Or splitting up the connection.

[the worst]

suckersssssssssss

[A Man]

LOL. Please leave, anyway this is a great move from MS.

[snoop_dizzle]

would probably happily mention that the 360 gets the rod alot.

And if this is the improved version that means a lot less problems. And chances are this would be its replacement.

Hey anyways, isn't there an 80 gig PS3 version coming soon?

Multiple versions of consoles really aren't that bad. Think ps2 slim, and in some ways that was a downgrade because you couldn't use a hard drive with it.

[radzy]

isnt the ps3 in us different to the europe ps3(emotion engine).
yet i dont hear too many people complaining.

[zonetrooper5]

HDMI only improves sound and that is it, its not like i'm gonna cry because I don't have a HDMI connection. I'm using a VGA cable at the moment and it looks awesome so be happy.

[ThisPlaceSucksBye]

I can buy a 360 by mid-September and not expect it to explode or give me a red ring of death, correct?

[snoop_dizzle]

OR you could possibly buy one now and if it does give you the ring, you send it in and possibly gets on of these new consoles.

Lol i really don't know about that, but supposedly these new 360 are going to solve the hardware issues it had

So yes you should be fine.

[Syko]

Buy one now MS still says the failure rate is 3%, I believe em', LOL.

Seriously It's my understanding that if you look at the serial on the back you can tell if it is a 65nm or not as they are already in production. But if you want HDMI on a non-Elite than you will have to wait a little longer till this is "Official".

[tom1595]

Hold on a second. So does this mean that we are gonna have the core with HDMI, no HDD; the premium with a 20GB HDD and hdmi; and the elite with the HDMI a 120GB HDD and HDmi. So the only difference will be will be the size of the HDD’s. is that right?

they gotta get some SKU's out and stick to them. all this changing of boxes is annoying.

[SKullDugger]

It says they will also be using the new 65nm chip sets and a second heatsink and the new DVD drive which is much quiter. I have an ELITE with the new DVD drive and its very quite no problems at all.

[Charlie2688]

Hold on a sec...didn't they told us that we "don't need HDMI"

MS...MS >.>

To be honest I am getting SICK of MS patching the 360 little by little and releasing new SKUs...again...and again...and again only to leave a sour taste with the 360 hardware experience and 2 conclusion

-the 360 launch was rushed
-MS doesn't give a f*ck about early adopters

Thanks MS...

but dont worry people MS will release a SKU with incorporated WiFi in a couple of months and then another one with something else they forgot in the rushed launch SKU

-_-

[gta_cb]

i see you as one of those annoying little fangirls people hate on this site, all companies will say they dont need blah blah blah and most of the time they will be wrong, which is why they change there products and make them better, or firmware updates (who has countless of those? SONY!) anyway didnt Sony also say stuff like "we dont need rumble etc" exactly they all do it, and i still think i dont need HDMI on my Xbox 360 Premium even tho i do have a HDMI slot on my TV. your a fangirl, deal with it and stop talking sh!t

[ALIEN]

M$ is fuking this up. They are going to have like 20 different models of the 360. It seems like they will be adding a new blu-ray pretty soon.

[gta_cb]

talking sh!t again are we? if this is true and the rumor of the core being dropped is true then there will only be 2 SKUs total... and how many do Sony have? the 20GB model, the 60GB model and the 80GB model... that in my eyes is stupid, if your only going to offer more HDD space in an upgraded SKU make it worth while and make it more then 100GB.

[PS360PCROCKS]

K I am totally waiting til the end of August or til I know this is true...

[Hypnotic]

This is great news for people who don't have a 360 yet.

[Tempo]

"i thought this wasn't needed" Sony also presumed that emulation "wasn't needed" for B/C but the new 80GB model will have just that. So whats you're point, i think thoughout consumer eletornic history you'll find almost everyone makes hardware revision on products, this is no different--same coin different sides nothing new move on

[HateBoy]

I'm kicking it with VGA on my hdtv. Too bad for the ones that bought the elite cause of the hdmi, sucks to be you. Still want the elite though, its black...

[Testo]

How are you comparing that to a fully different feature.

Wait, explain what Sony said they are leaving out!?

[agent864]

i suppose i could rent forza 2 to try to get it to RROD and pray i get a 65nm back. I think i'd rather just buy a new 65nm elite .... once they're out in the wild and get field tested a bit. Would really like a slot loading drive but that prob won't happen till redesign much later. then again, love the 360 but hate to reward ms for selling me defective hardware in the first place. i'm torn.

[medziarz]

does the PS3 also have VGA output?

[omansteveo]

No.