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Xbox 360 GPU To Go 65 Nano

April 30, 2007 in News comments 4

The Xenon CPU utilized in Microsoft's Xbox 360 is already scheduled for a CMOS process technology upgrade from 90 nanometers to 65 nanometers, meaning fabs should begin producing smaller, more energy efficient versions of the console's processor. The Commercial Times reveals that the CPU won't be the only thing getting a die shrink; major fab Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) is reportedly gearing up to prepare 65 nanometer version of the Xenos GPU for the Xbox 360 as well.

According to the Chinese report, production on the smaller GPUs will reportedly begin as early as May. TSMC is expected to reap some benefit from sales of their 65nm Xbox 360 products by mid-2007, so that could also be an indicator as to when these will finally be incorporated into new Xbox 360 consoles. As you may know, the new Xbox 360 Elite did not feature any of these upgrades, but that doesn't mean it cannot beneft from 65nm parts in the near future all the same.

The paper cited the sources as saying that an engineering version of the 65nm-made Xenos has been sent out and production will start in May. TSMC projected sales contribution from 65nm would amount to 5% during mid-2007.
Wolfwood via digitimes.com »
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  • 0
    Sayyed Apr 30, 07
    Well that sucks even more for people who already bought the 360. First the elite and now this.
  • 0
    volacide Apr 30, 07
    Indeed, they've done an absolutely terrible job at planning all of this and I think it's only going to hurt them in the end.

    I would have bought an Elite under a couple conditions... if they would have integrated HD-DVD playback and if they would have used the 65nm CPU or at least found a way to make the 360 more quiet.

    My 360 is way louder than my decked out gaming PC with 8 total fans and that is just plain unacceptable.
  • 2
    Redemption May 1, 07
    Add integrated WiFi to volacide's list. That would make the Elite elite. As it is... meh.

    The final checklist should be:

    • integrated wifi (preferably Wireless N draft, upgradeable to Wireless-N spec via firmware update when available)
    • integrated HD-DVD which is mucho quieter than the current drives
    • HDMI (w/ HDCP)
    • 65nm CPU
    • quieter fans
    • forget about the 80GB drive, 20GB is fine if videos aren't allowed directly on the drive.


    Then ... allow video streaming via X360 and home PC's (currently only MP3's and pictures are supported), but don't limit it to just WMV, allow AVIs, H.264, Xvid, DivX, the works.

    The final product would be something worthy of being called a true console and entertainment centerpiece.

    Oh... and it will make the X360 Elite a really good competitor to the PS3 as the HD-DVD posterboy (vs the PS3's Blu-Ray poster boy status).

    This is a lot of features to ask for, but it sure would give the platform some much needed kick.
  • 1
    volacide May 1, 07
    Funny thing about your list is that the PS3 basically meets every single one of those specs, and did so from the beginning. I mean the PS3 is very quiet, especially in comparison to my 360. I think my PS3 and PC are about the same when it comes to noise output.

    I love Wi-Fi, something I definitely overlooked when naming my conditions I would have bought an Elite under.

    Just the other day I moved my PS3 downstairs to watch a Blu-Ray movie (of which I do very often, I have about 12 BR movies and it's growing by the week) on the big screen with my family and it was really cool to get downstairs and turn on my PS3 and have it automatically find and sign into the PSNetwork in a matter of seconds.

    Paying 100 bucks just for the WiFi adapter is ridculous. Especially when you can find a PCI 802.11g card for about 30 bucks at the absolute lowest and right around 40 or 50 as an average.

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