Inside Microsoft's Xbox 360

[DrDevin]

http://www.anandtech.com/systems/showdoc.aspx?i=2610

Anandtech released a good article on the XBOX 360. It shows packaging, how to take it apart and some more information on the hardware itself. Good read even if you know a lot about the console already.

There are 48 shader units in the Xbox 360 GPU, but given that we're dealing with a unified shader architecture, you can't compare that number directly to the 24 shader pipelines of the GeForce 7800 GTX for example. We roughly estimated the shader processing power of the Xbox 360 GPU to be similar to that of a 24-pipeline ATI R420 GPU.

The logic and embedded DRAM on the daughter die is what allows the Xbox 360 GPU to essentially offer "free" anti-aliasing, which Microsoft enforces through requiring developers to support a minimum of 2X AA in all Xbox 360 titles. Although we were originally told back at E3 that all Xbox 360 titles would support 4X AA, it seems that the statement has since been revised to 2X or 4X AA. We're not certain why the change was made, as 2X and 4X are both effectively "free" on the GPU, but there may be something we're missing.

There is no out of box DVI or HDMI support, nor is there any Microsoft support for either of those video interface standards at this time, although Microsoft has indicated that they may offer HDMI support when it makes sense to. There is, however, an optical output, but the cable is not included.

If you don't have a HDTV but you have a VGA monitor that you'd like to use, Microsoft does offer a VGA cable that will allow you to connect your Xbox 360 to a VGA monitor. If you don't have a HDTV or a monitor but still want a higher quality output, Microsoft also offers a S-Video AV cable.

 

[Beerdude26]

Coolness :O

But when ATI fixes their Crossfire I am SO going to buy 2 state-of-the-art ATI's

 

[`unreal]

Looks like the Power Supply is more bigger than my ass still

 

[The Monkey]

When is it released?

 

[Adabiviak]

...only semi related...

Has anyone actually seen a difference in video quality when switching between coax, s-video, VGA, composite, etc., cables? Me neither. I understand that the only difference between s-video and VGA is that the sync signal has its own dedicated line. How long has it been since video decoders had a hard enough time separating the sync out of the green (I believe) signal in VGA signals to cause image degradation?

I'm really surprised, honestly, that they don't have HD support - that seems like a relatively inexpensive addition compared to how much advertising power it would buy. Is it that hard to add? Maybe it's a tall order for the game manufacturers?

 

[-Psy-]

I thought there was gonna be a bunch of mice and dust inside.

 

[The Mullinator]

I thought there was gonna be a bunch of mice and dust inside.

"As you can see... Our genetically engineered hampsters running those cute little wheels is what gives the Xbox 360 all its power. Neither Sony or Nintendo can compete because from what we last heard Sony is using several smaller white mice while Nintendo has decided to go with one large ground hog for power. None of those could even hope to compete with our 360 hampsters though."

 

[dream431ca]

MY GOD...that's a big power supply..what the hell are the specs for the power requirements...yikes.

EDIT: The power supply is longer than the system itself...that's pretty scary. I wonder if it hums when it's powered...not the system the power supply...BIG transformer...good find too.

 

[The Mullinator]

You could probably kill someone by swinging that PSU around like a flail.

I almost hope it does hum when its being used. I mean anything that big should give you the idea that it is really powerful, and humming would just add to that effect.

 

[OCybrManO]

Ahhh, yesss..... I see the rumoured "PowerBrick360" made it into the retail package after all!

 

[DeusExMachina]

I don't care how big the damn power station is dammit. Good read though.

 

[dream431ca]

I don't care how big the damn power station is dammit. Good read though.

Sure you do! It's interesting to see a power supply that big..for a console of course.

 

[destrukt]

you people are so desperate to bash microsoft/x360 that you'll pick on misc things like a very large power supply.

 

[The Mullinator]

you people are so desperate to bash microsoft/x360 that you'll pick on misc things like a very large power supply.

Whose bashing? I see only joking and commenting.

 

[DrDevin]

By now you have undoubtedly heard about the massive external power supply that comes with the Xbox 360 and you can see it in the lower left hand corner of the picture above.

We are all making fun of it, not bashing. I love the console yet I find it funny that the power brick is nearly a third of the size of the console itself!

Oh and: would you like some CPU with that heatsink?

 

[destrukt]

pyscho, devin and some others were making jokes, not everyone is/has.

 

[DrDevin]

The article has been updated with disassembling the Xbox 360 HDD.

Microsoft previously used a regular 3.5 inch desktop drive in the old Xbox but this time has chosen a smaller unit that is separate from the main console. We're quite certain that this move allows them to offer upgrades for those who want to add more storage capacity to their systems as upgrades become available. Currently, the HDD that ships with the Xbox 360 Premium package is a 20GB drive running at 5400RPM. The drive is manufactured by Samsung although it isn't listed on their website as it is an OEM drive for the Xbox 360. The drive itself uses a standard Serial ATA connector (both data cable and power cable) so attaching other drives or the Xbox 360 drive to a computer for data transfer is very possible.

 

[<RJMC>]

why the controller hav a litle hand painted?
is to show where to turn it on?

"oh my control dont work arrrrrr"
"oh yeah must follow the hand oh it show me where to turn it on this is the most creative and inovator thing ever eeeehhh"

 

[destrukt]

5400 rpm :s

 

[Stigmata]

why the controller hav a litle hand painted?
is to show where to turn it on?

"oh my control dont work arrrrrr"
"oh yeah must follow the hand oh it show me where to turn it on this is the most creative and inovator thing ever eeeehhh"

My guess is, it's some sort of "guide" sticker, simply stuck onto the controller so you can have an optional visual aid to point you in the direction of the most important button on the controller.

 

[VirusType2]

...only semi related...

Has anyone actually seen a difference in video quality when switching between coax, s-video, VGA, composite, etc., cables? Me neither. I understand that the only difference between s-video and VGA is that the sync signal has its own dedicated line. How long has it been since video decoders had a hard enough time separating the sync out of the green (I believe) signal in VGA signals to cause image degradation?

I'm really surprised, honestly, that they don't have HD support - that seems like a relatively inexpensive addition compared to how much advertising power it would buy. Is it that hard to add? Maybe it's a tall order for the game manufacturers?

The difference is like Night and Day. VGA is clearly the best, S-video is already pretty nice. RGB is pretty good and much better than Video. Coaxial cable is pretty bad IMO If you are refering to a "Video" connection which is the yellow plug. Or Coaxial, which is what standard Cable t.v. comes through in USA, This is going to be a horrible picture quality.

And it does have HD support. Where have you been?

 

[Gargantou]

I think he might mean HDMI support, HDMI is definitely the way of the future, and afaik the PS3 will be supporting it from launch.

You see the best thing with HDMI is that it does not compress the picture, sound, signals in ANY way, thus not comprimising the quality even 0,00001%.

 

[OCybrManO]

I think he might mean HDMI support, HDMI is definitely the way of the future, and afaik the PS3 will be supporting it from launch.

I believe it has dual HDMI outputs.

 

[Gargantou]

I quote the article OCybrManO.

"There is no out of box DVI or HDMI support, nor is there any Microsoft support for either of those video interface standards at this time, although Microsoft has indicated that they may offer HDMI support when it makes sense to. There is, however, an optical output, but the cable is not included."

Notice I said SUPPORT.
Hopefully they'll support HDMI later on so people can make use of their HDTVs to the TOTAL MAX.

 

[OCybrManO]

What are you going on about?

 

[Gargantou]

What am I going on about?
What are YOU going on about?
Sorry.
*Confused as hell*

 

[OCybrManO]

I think he might mean HDMI support, HDMI is definitely the way of the future, and afaik the PS3 will be supporting it from launch.

I believe it has dual HDMI outputs.

 

[Gargantou]

Oh I missunderstood you, sorry, I thought you meant the 360, sorry for the confusion mate.

 

[Asuka]

Wow thats cool stuff.