X360 65nm already out there

[Iced_Eagle]

http://www.engadget.com/2007/08/01/xbox-360-65nm-chips-out-there-45nm-chips-in-the-future/

I remember reading from multiple people that they won't buy a 360 until they start using the 65nm process. Well, they've been producing them for the past two quarters already, so probably anyone who has bought their 360 recently has the new design. I doubt there's a way to tell unless you rip open yourmachine to look at the innards though.

So for those on the fence, go at it! The 45nm version which should help even more will come out within the next two years.

In other news, I bought the 360 HD DVD player today and it only cost me only $150! I love it when Best Buy screws up. Too bad I don't have an Elite w/ HDMI or VGA or else I'd be able to watch it in 1080p which would be amazing.

 

[ricera10]

This post makes me hungry.

 

[Asus]

Since the manufacturer of the chips are producing 65nm versions, does that also mean that MS are shipping them in Xbox360's to retailers or are they holding back?

Are you going to hook up the HD DVD drive to your PC?

 

[No Limit]

Too bad I don't have an Elite w/ HDMI or VGA or else I'd be able to watch it in 1080p which would be amazing.

Analog signals from a component cable are perfectly suitable for 1080p. Don't buy in to the HDMI myth, its a conspiracy to prevent you from watching unapproved content :cheers:.

 

[Warbie]

The trick is finding a display that accepts 1080p over component. Some modern ones do, most don't.

 

[Iced_Eagle]

Well, it's weird then.

The 360 and all games are displayed in 1080p. However, once I put in a movie, it changes the resolution to 1080i.

So I assume my TV supports 1080p over component. Not sure what the issue is then otherwise.

Oh, and yea I will probably hook it up to my PC eventually. There is much '300' watching to be had though on my 52" screen though before downgrading to a 17" one

*Edit* Back on topic, I would assume that MS has already begun shipping these. It's not like they are saving and then going to tell everyone "Go buy the 360 because it has 65nm!" and release them all at once. It's a silent process that happens usually. Plus, if it will help offset the cost of their new warranty, I'm pretty sure they want to get these cooler machines out there ASAP. However, to this day, I still have no trouble with my 360 bought back in Dec '05.

 

[No Limit]

The trick is finding a display that accepts 1080p over component. Some modern ones do, most don't.

Thank your friends at AACS for that. Many televisions still don't buy in to this stupid standard. I think mitsubishi, phillips, and a lot of the "no-name" brands such as westinghouse don't so they can transmit 1080p over component perfectly fine. Though its just a matter of time before they get bullied in to accepting this.

 

[VictimOfScience]

The problem is how do I know if I am buying a 65nm version and not the one that has been sitting on the shelf for a while?? Once I can find out definitively then I will run out and buy the sh1t out of one!! :E

 

[destrukt]

Your best chance for 1080P movies (HD-DVD & upscaled DVDs) would be to get a 1080P with a VGA input so you can use 1080P and not have to worry about content restrictions.*

* I may be wrong about content restrictions with VGA.

 

[ricera10]

I think the problem is that the HD-DVD drive is set by microsoft to only put out 1080i over anything not HDMI or VGA.

 

[Iced_Eagle]

The problem is how do I know if I am buying a 65nm version and not the one that has been sitting on the shelf for a while?? Once I can find out definitively then I will run out and buy the sh1t out of one!! :E

That's the thing, there's no way to tell because MS doesn't want people to do that

They've been doing this for the last two quarters so more than likely if you pick one up at the store, especially high-profile stores like Best Buy or such, then you will find a 65nm version.

It's not like your games will run any better or such, and even if it does crap out, you have a three year warranty which will probably last you up until the next Xbox comes out.

I see no reason why you shouldn't go out and get one now.

*Edit* I have an Akai HD TV. I'm pretty sure as well that it's just Microsoft enacting that standard on the 360. Silly nubs.

 

[VictimOfScience]

It's not like your games will run any better or such, and even if it does crap out, you have a three year warranty which will probably last you up until the next Xbox comes out.

I see no reason why you shouldn't go out and get one now.

Yeah, I think once Bioshock releases I will likely pick one up. This gives me a little more time for research beforehand as well since its in a couple of weeks I think.

 

[Icarusintel]

I see no reason why you shouldn't go out and get one now.

It doesn't cost $299 for the Elite with the wireless thrown in for free. That's my reason to not buy.

 

[Iced_Eagle]

Yeah, I think once Bioshock releases I will likely pick one up. This gives me a little more time for research beforehand as well since its in a couple of weeks I think.

Hm, just read on Shacknews, that they have actually been producing them, but they haven't been shipped yet.

http://www.shacknews.com/onearticle.x/48254

It says they won't be out until Fall That's just dumb because I would think MS would want these things out there ASAP so they would have less calls to tech support since these won't overheat really.

Icarusintel: Wait a few years and your dream may be realized.

 

[VictimOfScience]

Hm, just read on Shacknews, that they have actually been producing them, but they haven't been shipped yet.

http://www.shacknews.com/onearticle.x/48254

It says they won't be out until Fall That's just dumb because I would think MS would want these things out there ASAP so they would have less calls to tech support since these won't overheat really.

See now, that is what I have been thinking for a while! Damint. I wish they would get off their ass and just recall all of the potentially faulty ones, take the loss (something they are getting very good at in that division), and put the improved ones on the market!! Ugh...what a pain. Now my Bioshock and Mass Effect days will be postponed indefinitely!!

 

[Asus]

They just want the other stuff out of there before they switch. They are not making the old version so they are already getting the cost savings by making the smaller chips. They don't need to put them on the market to do that.

Wonder how many are filling the retail space just sitting there... might be awhile.

 

[VictimOfScience]

Just read this post on Evil Avatar:

Getting hardware updates is nothing new. The original Xbox went through 6 models - did you ever hear any official word from Microsoft about that? What about the PS2 ... wasn't it something like around 20 revisions over the years without a peep from Sony?

If you're looking for a Falcon, look into Elite units (because these went out of stock recently and the new supply is direct from the factories). You can tell which one is new even without opening the box. Open the flap on the box and behind it you can see the serial number of the unit. The important are the last 5 digits. The first digit from those last 5 is the year of manifacturing. 6 means 2006, 7 means 2007. The next two digits are the week in the year the unit was made. Look at a calendar and you can calculate yourself which month it is. The last two digits are the location where the unit was made and you can ignore those.

Another way to tell if it is a Falcon is the white label on the box. It shows the lot number. Look for lot number 0728 or higher. Lot 0728 is the first of the Falcon ones ... (Falcon = 65nm chips) . The lot number digits don't mean anything month/date related - just take it as a number. Good luck ...

Lots between 0720 and 0727 should have the new heatsink and the epoxy fix but still the old 90nm chips

About repairs. AFAIK the consoles sent for repair at this point still get replaced with refurbs with old chips, no epoxy either, but the heatsink gets upgraded with the new bigger one. I don't know when the repaired units will start getting the new chips

Source.

Interesting, to say the least. I may take a run over to EBGamestop and see what I can find out. And I may just bring my cash with me...:E